Chapter 217
No sooner had Sophia disembarked from the ne than she received a call from Lukas. “Are you
back?”
“Yeah, I just got off the ne.”
“Okay. Alfred will pick you up.”
Smiling, Sophia stepped onto the esctor. “Sure.”
“Spend some time with Grandpa. I won''t be in Doveston for the next few days, but I''ll be visiting
Jadeborough next month. We can have dinner then.”
“All right.”
“Be careful.”
As Lukas was a busy man, Sophia knew how much she meant to him when he made an effort to call.
All this while, she could never understand why Katherine was envious of those with an elder brother.
But now that she had one herself, it became evident to her.
Sophia saw Alfred waiting the moment she came out of the airport.
“Ms. Yarrow.”
“Alfred.”
Alfred had been working for Perrin for decades and was in his elderly years. Perrin would only send
him to pick up special guests.
Now that Perrin had instructed the semi-retired Alfred to meet Sophia, it was clear how much the
former adored his granddaughter.
Sophia was moved by the gesture, so she said respectfully, “Thank you foring all this way, Alfred.”
While leading the way, Alfred replied with a smile, “Don''t be a stranger, Ms. Yarrow. You don''t know
how happy I am that Mr. Dawson doesn''t mind my age when he sent me to pick you up.”
With a grin, Sophia bent down and got into the car. “How''s Granddad?”
“Good! Ever since you returned to the Dawson family, his appetite has improved greatly. His arthritis
hasn''t been acting up as well since the weather here has been wonderful.”
“That''s good news.”
“Ms. Yarrow, get some rest. You must be exhausted from the flight.”
Sophia nodded. “Okay.”
It was silent in the car. Sophia tilted her head to look out the window.
After leaving the airport expressway and stopping at a red light on their approach to the city, Alfred
turned around and gave Sophia a nce. She''s gorgeous! One should expect no less from a member
of the Dawson family.
Twenty minutester, they arrived in front of a mansion.
Sophia alighted from the car and saw Kylie waiting to wee her. “Aunt Kylie.”
“You''re back! Did you not eat well? Why have you lost so much weight?”
When Kylie gave Sophia a hug, thetter felt embarrassed. “I''ve actually gained three pounds, Aunt
Kylie.”
Despite that, it wasn''t obvious from her slender frame.
Kylie broke into a grin. “Three pounds is nothing! Your granddad is dying to have you gain ten pounds.”
Sophia didn''t doubt her words at all. As both of them chatted while walking into the house, they were
quickly met by Perrin.
Even though he hadn''t put on much weight, Sophia quickly noticed how vibrant he lookedpared to
more than a month ago.
“Granddad.”
“You''re back! I''m sure you must be exhausted from your flight. Dinner is ready. You can get some rest
after you eat.”
Although Sophia wasn''t tired, Perrin still felt bad that she had to suffer through a long flight.
Once dinner was over, Sophia apanied Perrin on a stroll before he hurried her off to rest.
Thereafter, she resigned herself to retiring to her room upstairs.
Shortly after emerging from the shower, Sophia saw Alexander''s name on the caller ID.
He had been on a business trip for the past two days and had made it a habit to call at that particr
time.
Cocking her brow, she walked out to the balcony to enjoy the breezy wind while answering his call. “It''s
me.”
“Have you had dinner?”
“I have.”
Alexander had attended a business dinner that evening and had a little to drink. Suddenly missing
Sophia and feeling bored at the table, he had found an excuse to return to his hotel.
The moment he went back, he gave Sophia a call. “I miss you so much, Sophia.”
As this wasn''t the first time he had said those words, Sophia let out a chuckle. “Mr. Xenos, haven''t you
been gone for only two days?”
“Mm-hmm, but I still miss you.”
As the night breeze was a bit chilly, Sophia walked back into her room. Just as she wanted to inform
Alexander that she was in Doveston, he said, “I''ll be back tomorrow.”
I''ll be able to see her the next day.
Sophia stroked her cheek. “I flew to Doveston today.”
Alexander fell silent.
Sophia pursed her lips and continued, “I came here to visit Granddad.”
“Oh...”
When his voice audibly deepened, Sophia raised her brows. “Are you upset?”
“No. Can I go see you in Doveston?”
The city was only half an hour away from Faike by high-speed train.
Recalling Perrin''s words on the phone from the day before, Sophia replied, “I would rather you not
unless you want to be kicked out by Granddad.”
“When will you return to Jadeborough?”
“The morning the day after.”
“All right. I''ll pick you up then.”
He spoke with conviction, eliciting a smile from her face.
“What are you going to say if we''re photographed together, Mr. Xenos?”
Alexander was momentarily stunned. Thereafter, he responded calmly, “I n to tell it as it is.”
Of course, Alexander knew that it would remain a desire of his, for Sophia would never allow him to
disclose their rtionship.
At that thought, he suddenly grew anxious. “Sophia, would you still marry me?”
After all, he had destroyed the idealistic fantasies she had about love and marriage.
“Not at the moment.”
“What about the future?”
Sophia evaded the question. She noticed that Alexander was particrly talkative that evening. “Have
you been drinking?”
“A little.” Just as he spoke, he thought of something. “But I''m not drunk.”
In fact, I couldn''t be more sober.
“Okay. In that case, go to bed early. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Upon ending the call, Sophia stared at her phone, her mind drifting elsewhere.
Perhaps it was Alexander''s questions and the change of environment because she didn''t get a good
night''s sleep.
Despite that, her rm was still set for seven thirty in the morning, for she knew that Perrin would be
up early due to his advanced age.
As the objective of her visit was to spend time with him, Sophia would not allow herself to sleep the
morning away.
After turning off her rm, she washed up before heading downstairs.
Perrin was exercising in the garden; Kylie, too, was already up. Surprised to see Sophia up so early,
thetter asked, “Having trouble sleeping?”
Sophia replied in embarrassment, “A little.”
Kylie chuckled. “You shoulde back more often. You''ll get used to it that way.”
“Sure.”
Sophia reciprocated with a smile before heading off to see Perrin.
“Granddad.”
Perrin, too, didn''t expect to see her. “What are you doing up so early?”
Sophia stood beside him and followed his movements. “I wanted to exercise with you.”
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“Hahaha, that''s wonderful! Come, just do as I do.”
Sophia''s sharp memory and excellent psychomotor skills made her a fast learner. All Perrin needed
was to show her the steps once.
“You''re so much better than your brother. He failed to pick it up no matter how hard he tried.”
Sophia cocked a brow in surprise. There''s no way he would be bad at this. He must have done so on
purpose.
Of course, Sophia would not call him out.
After exercising together for fifteen minutes, Sophia apanied Perrin upstairs for breakfast.
They had just finished their food when Sophia heard a female voice echo from the staircase. “Aunt
Kylie! Granduncle!”
Kylie nced at Sophia and exined, “It''s Susan. Your granduncle''s granddaughter.”
No sooner had Sophia nodded than she saw Susan Dawson emerging from the staircase.
This was the second time Susan saw Sophia. Her face turned grim momentarily. However, she quickly
recovered the smile on her face as she sat down beside Kylie. “Aunt Kylie, who might this be?”
“Hello, I''m Sophia Yarrow.”
Susan cocked an eyebrow in response. “Ms. Yarrow, your reputation precedes you. I have heard your
name many times.”
Sophia broke into a t smile. “Is that so? Perhaps I''m famous.”
Susan''s insinuation failed to achieve its desired effect.