Chapter 168


    Carrying her bag, Sophia went to buy another bottle of cologne. She left the mall with her haul at six


    o''clock in the evening.


    Katherine had been busy after the New Year holidays. Sophia had not tried to buy so many things by


    herself for a long time.


    On top of that, Sophia splurged more than three hundred thousand on one trip. Truth be told, she felt


    satisfied after her shopping spree.


    She had to thank Bethany for that. If thetter had not insisted onpeting with her for the bag,


    Sophia would not be so persistent in purchasing a bag for herself.


    Her phone rang just as she put her things down.


    Seeing that it was an unknown number, Sophia got into her car and locked it before answering the call,


    ”Hello?”


    “Hi, Ms. Yarrow. I''m the salesperson from Arterius. Well, Ms. White decided not to purchase the bag


    you were interested in just now. Do you still want the bag?”


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Sophia raised her eyebrows, finding the situation amusing. “I have no interest in buying things that


    other people don''t want.”


    Moreover, especially when that person was Bethany.


    The salesperson immediately apologized, “I''m sorry, Ms. Yarrow. I didn''t mean to be rude. I thought you


    were interested in that bag earlier. Since you don''t want it anymore, I won''t bother you again. I hope


    you have a great day.”


    After hanging up, Sophia could not help but let out a snort.


    If I knew that Bethany couldn''t afford to pay for the bag, I wouldn''t have left so quickly. Wouldn''t it be


    nice to stay and witness her getting embarrassed? That was a miscalction on my part. What a


    shame!


    Sophia looked at the time. It was quarter past six. Collecting her thoughts, she put her phone away and


    drove to Mirage.


    After getting caught in traffic, Sophia reached Mirage at half-past six.


    It was impolite for her to bete for the first meeting.


    Yvonne had already arrived. Upon seeing Sophia, she greeted, “Over here, Ms. Yarrow.”


    Nodding, Sophia looked at the other two men at the table.


    It was not hard to recognize Lukas as Sophia had seen his picture before. Besides, she also saw him


    at Darrell''s birthday banquet a few days ago.


    Sophia put down her bag and took her seat. “I''m sorry for beingte, Mr. Dawson. I was caught in traffic


    just now.”


    “It''s fine.”


    The man exuded a cold aura. Even though he was smiling, he still looked unapproachable.


    Sophia nced at him before asking, “Mr. Dawson, are you familiar with the food in Jadeborough?”


    “Yes,” he answered.


    Despite the curt reply, Lukas fixed his gaze on Sophia.


    For some reason, Sophia was not offended by his keen gaze. If anything, it was affectionate and pitiful.


    Sophia sniggered at her thoughts. I must be overthinking.


    After all, Lukas was a politician who came from a prestigious family. He was not a yboy like


    Horatius, who could easily develop an interest in a woman.


    Sophia ordered a few signature dishes. She spoke up first before the dinner began. “Mr. Dawson, you


    seem to be interested in my mother.”


    Lukas'' cold expression changed drastically when he heard her question.


    “Yes, I am,” he answered frankly.


    Taking a sip of coffee, Sophia probed, “Mr. Dawson, is this our first time meeting?”


    Sophia had a good memory. She would undoubtedly remember Lukas if she had crossed paths with


    him in the past.


    Lukas had a clear goal for this meeting. Besides, Sophia was trying to sound him out. Therefore, he


    decided not to beat around the bush. ”Did your mother tell you that she wasn''t your grandparents''


    biological daughter?”


    For once, Sophia was stunned by the revtion. The smile on her face faded considerably.


    Rachel had never told her about these matters. “I''m sorry. She didn''t,” Sophia admitted.


    Lukas was spot on with his guess. Taking out a photo from the inner pocket of his clothes, he ced it


    in front of Sophia. “They are my dad and grandpa. And that''s—”


    “My mother,” Sophia interjected.


    It was a ck and white photo of a family of four. Sophia recognized her mother, Rachel, at first nce.


    Rachel looked around seven to eight years old in the photo. Her hair was tied into two braids. With her


    delicate features, she was already a beautiful girl despite her tender age.


    Suddenly, Sophia realized her mother''s true identity. She looked up at Lukas with aplicated


    expression.


    At that moment, the door of the private room was pushed open. The waiter pushed the serving cart and


    began to serve the dishes.


    Two minutester, Lukas spoke again when the door was closed. “Your mother is my aunt. Our family


    lost her when she was ten years old. We never gave up looking for her all these years. However, we


    failed to find her.”


    Upon hearing his exnation, Sophia finally understood why Delh called her an ungrateful brat when


    she was a child. Furthermore, she also knew why Delh always asked Rachel for money first


    whenever her mother took her back.


    When Sophia was young, she could not fathom Delh''s actions. She always felt that thetter was


    biased. Despite having a son and a daughter, Delh''s attitudes toward her children could not have


    been more different.


    Atst, she finally discovered that Rachel was not Delh''s biological daughter.


    “I have no news of Aunt Rachel until I saw you at Old Mr. Swain''s birthday banquet a few days ago.


    You resembled her as well as your granny when she was younger. That night, I sent someone to


    Coldbridge to investigate you and your mother. She went by the name Zoey Sharp in the past. Later,


    she changed her name to Rachel after she got married. Her birth name was Rachel Sharp. She was


    nicknamed Ray because she was a ray of sunshine for our family,” Lukas exined.


    He continued, “After Aunt Rachel was abducted from Doveston that year, she was sold to Old Mrs.


    Sharp''s family. They renamed her Zoey. They were hoping for a son. Three yearster, Old Mrs. Sharp


    finally gave birth to a boy. Since then, she no longer cared about Aunt Rachel. However, your mother


    wanted to repay them for raising her. She waited until you turned four before cutting ties with the Sharp


    family.”


    Sophia clearly remembered what happened next without further exnations from Lukas.


    Delh lied about having a serious illness and asked Rachel for a lot of money. Delh''s true purpose


    was to buy a house for her son. After finding out that Delh had a terminal illness, Rachel decided to


    return to the countryside to see her for onest time during that New Year. Much to Rachel''s surprise,


    Delh was alive and kicking. Thetter lied about her illness to squeeze Rachel for money.


    On that fateful day, Sophia''s parents drove back to Coldbridge. They were crushed underneath the


    wheels of arge truck driven by a fatigued driver. That ident took ce on the road across their


    house.


    Sophia learned the truth after she ordered someone to investigate the Sharp family. Hence, Sophia did


    not show any kindness to both Delh and Rupert when they reached out to herst month.


    She could not have cared less about the harshments from theizens. In her opinion, if it were


    not for Delh''s lies, her parents would not have driven back in such a hurry that day after their


    argument with Delh. Therefore, they would not have died so tragically.


    Nevertheless, Sophia finally realized that there was a hidden story behind this.