Free Web NovelChapter 101: Chapter 101: Master, I’m Here
"I hope we have the chance to work together in the future."
This from Yuri was a significant affirmation for Sophie; not just anyone could catch his eye.
Sophie smiled faintly. "I hope so too."
After finishing their dessert and coffee, the two of them walked out of the café.
Yuri drove her back to Maplewood Estate.
Alaric Blackwood stood leaning against the window, arms crossed. When he saw her get out of the black Bentley, his temples were still throbbing.
They had been gone for one hour, three minutes, and forty seconds.
Sophie thanked Yuri, watched the car drive away, then turned and went into the courtyard.
When she got back inside, she found the living room TV on. Alaric Blackwood was sprawled on the sofa, looking utterly lazy, sitting like he owned the place.
The broken cup fragments and coffee stains on the floor had been cleaned up.
The house was as tidy and bright as usual, with a faint, subtle floral scent lingering in the air.
"I’m back."
Alaric Blackwood lazily lifted his eyelids and grunted, "Mm," before saying in a flat tone, "Mom said we’re going to the old family estate for lunch and dinner."
"Okay, I’ll go to my room and get ready."
Sophie went upstairs with her bag and changed her clothes. She put on a slim-fit, thin black sweater, paired with light-brown, wide-leg trousers, a matching silk scarf, and a dark brown overcoat. The look was simple yet elegant.
She put her hair up with a claw clip, applied some light makeup, and came downstairs with her purse.
"I’m ready."
She walked over to the sofa. Alaric Blackwood gave her a detached glance, then slowly pushed himself up with his hands on his knees.
"Sophie."
The man’s deep voice suddenly called out the name, and Sophie’s heart instantly skipped a beat.
However, he wasn’t calling her.
A mechanical yet gentle female voice responded, "Yes, Master. I’m here."
It was the artificial intelligence speaker under the TV.
"Turn off the TV." ƒreewebɳovel.com
"Okay, turning off the TV."
Sophie’s cheeks grew inexplicably hot, especially when the AI had replied with "Master."
Alaric Blackwood didn’t go upstairs to change. Still in his loose, comfortable white sweater and gray trousers, he walked straight to the entryway, took a dark gray overcoat from the coat rack, and put it on.
After changing into a pair of comfortable, casual shoes, he pulled the car keys from his coat pocket and headed out the door first.
Sophie followed him and got into the car.
The man was silent the entire way, making the atmosphere in the car a bit heavy. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
"Alaric Blackwood, did you stab your own friend in the back?" she asked, mustering her courage to break the silence.
"Did Mr. Yates tell you that?"
"Yes."
"He’s not my friend. We’ve just had business dealings."
"So, did you stab him in the back?"
Alaric Blackwood scoffed. "No."
"Mr. Yates said..."
"That I stole his opportunity to acquire Dragonstone Mall?"
"Yes."
"I didn’t steal it. Mr. Drake and I share the same business philosophy, so he decided to sell the mall to me. He isn’t feeling well and didn’t want to be disturbed, so he kept his whereabouts private. All of that was Mr. Drake’s decision, not mine."
Hearing Alaric Blackwood’s explanation, Sophie breathed a sigh of relief.
’She didn’t think Alaric Blackwood was the type of person to stab a friend in the back.’
The car soon arrived at the Blackwood family’s old estate.
Sophie got out of the car after Alaric Blackwood. He had his hands stuffed in his trouser pockets and was walking ahead, but after a few steps, he stopped. He waited for her to catch up, then took her hand and looped it through his arm.
She entered the house with him, her arm linked with his.
Seeing them, Mandy Halloway immediately came over with a smile. Snacks and fruit were already laid out on the living room coffee table. Mandy had them sit down and, while brewing tea, said, "Sophie, you haven’t met Alaric’s sister yet, have you?"
"I’ve seen her on TV a lot."
Mandy Halloway smiled, then said to Alaric Blackwood, "When your sister gets back this time, you need to persuade her not to work herself to death. She needs to rest when she should be resting. Look how thin she’s gotten! She’s always flying here, there, and everywhere. She hasn’t stopped for a moment since she got back to the country. I barely see her a few times a year."
Alaric Blackwood grunted in acknowledgment, propping his head up with a hand, his elbow resting on the sofa’s armrest. He looked lethargic.
"What’s wrong? You look so listless."
Alaric Blackwood was annoyed that Sophie and Yuri had been out for coffee for so long.
He didn’t say anything. Mandy Halloway, not bothering with him anymore, pulled Sophie closer and whispered in her ear, "Did you see the photo album?"
Sophie blushed and nodded.
Mandy Halloway leaned in to her ear again. "Alaric took them. He developed all those photos himself. He used to love messing around with cameras. He really treasures those pictures of you."
Sophie’s face grew hotter the more she listened. ’Why does it feel like Mandy Halloway is trying to tell me that Alaric has had feelings for me for a long time?’
’Am I just overthinking things?’
Seeing his son’s listless and slovenly demeanor, Quentin Blackwood called him up to the billiard room to play a game of pool.
"Nina received a threatening letter. We can’t take this lightly. Get a few skilled people from the company and assign them to her," Quentin Blackwood said as they played.
Alaric Blackwood stood by the table, leaning on his pool cue and unhurriedly chalking the tip. "She said she’s hiring her own bodyguards."
"Hiring from where?"
"I don’t know. I heard someone recommended a reliable bodyguard."
"Don’t you dare treat your sister’s safety as a joke," Quentin Blackwood said, his expression extremely serious.
"I’m not. We can talk about it when she gets back."
"To be safe, you should go pick her up from the airport the day she returns."
"Got it."
"I think she’s coming back on Friday night."
Alaric Blackwood: "..."
’What a coincidence. He had important plans on Friday.’
"I can’t do Friday night. I’m busy."
"What could possibly be more important than your sister?"
"Let me ask you this: do you want a grandchild or not?" Alaric Blackwood retorted.
As a father, he understood instantly. "Fine. Your business takes priority."
The father and son played pool for a while, then went downstairs one after the other when it was time for dinner.
After sitting down at the dinner table, Alaric Blackwood flicked his lighter and lit a cigarette, earning a glare from both Quentin Blackwood and Mandy Halloway.
"Can’t you behave yourself for once?"
Mandy Halloway sized him up. "You come home for a visit, and you can’t even be bothered to dress up a little? Put on a proper suit, make it a bit more formal, have some sense of occasion?"
Alaric Blackwood wanted to get Sophie’s attention, but she wasn’t looking at him.
He blew a smoke ring. "Why would I need to dress up to come to my own home?"
"I can’t control you. I’ll let your wife handle you from now on."
Mandy Halloway turned to Sophie. "He’s tough and can take a beating. If he doesn’t listen, just beat the daylights out of him."
Sophie forced a smile. "He’s fine."
’It was the weekend, and he wanted to dress casually and comfortably. She didn’t see any real problem with that.’
"Look at that punk attitude of his. What’s so fine about that?"
Alaric Blackwood took two drags from his cigarette, then stubbed it out.
When the food was served, he was worried Sophie would feel reserved, so he first put some meat and vegetables into her bowl before starting to eat himself.
Although he acted indifferent, his actions showed he cared about her.
Of course, Mandy Halloway and Quentin Blackwood could see this too, so they didn’t criticize him any further.
The meal was filled with cheerful conversation and laughter, and the atmosphere was very warm.
This was the first time in years that Sophie had experienced a family meal that was so relaxed and comfortable. She didn’t have to be on edge the entire time, worried about making an unnecessary sound, getting her hand smacked by chopsticks, or being punished by being locked in a dark room.
