Free Web NovelChapter 49: Chapter 49: Surprise
He had texted Sophie Shaw in advance, saying he wanted to come home for lunch. So when Sophie was making lunch, she went ahead and made a portion for him too.
The moment he walked in, he was greeted by a fragrant aroma—the scent of something being stir-fried.
Sophie Shaw had made a Sichuan-style stir-fry: spicy chicken, double-cooked pork, stir-fried squid, and a dish of dry-fried green beans. The dry, fragrant, and spicy aroma alone was enough to whet the appetite.
Alaric Blackwood went to the bathroom to wash his hands, then walked into the kitchen to help scoop the rice and get the tableware.
When the dishes were served, they were a feast for the senses—perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
Alaric Blackwood looked at her, surprised. "I didn’t expect you to be such a good cook."
"It’s alright. I never really learned, just followed some recipes I found online."
"In that case, you’re a natural."
Alaric Blackwood offered the praise, then picked up his chopsticks and tried the spicy chicken first. The meat was fragrant and flavorful, numbing but not overwhelmingly spicy—truly top-notch.
"How is it?"
"It’s delicious."
Alaric Blackwood wasn’t just being polite; it was genuinely delicious.
He ended up eating two large bowls of rice. Normally, he was very disciplined and limited himself to just one, never more. But since Sophie Shaw had cooked for him, he made an exception.
"I’ll take you out for hot pot tonight," Alaric Blackwood said suddenly.
Sophie Shaw thought for a moment and nodded.
"I’ll be bringing two friends. You’ve met one of them, Evan Ford."
"And the other?"
"It’s a surprise."
Sophie Shaw laughed. "Your friend? A surprise for me?"
"That’s right."
"Have I met this friend before?"
Alaric Blackwood shook his head, deliberately keeping her in suspense. It made Sophie Shaw burn with curiosity about what the surprise could possibly be.
After he finished his meal, he didn’t just wipe his mouth and leave. Instead, he helped her clear the table, putting the used pots and pans into the dishwasher before he left.
Left alone in the enormous house, she grew a little bored. She decided to wander through the rooms, both upstairs and down, to get familiar with her new surroundings.
She didn’t go near Alaric Blackwood’s bedroom, but she pushed open the doors to all the other rooms to have a look. On the second floor, she found Alaric Blackwood’s private gym. It was filled with fitness equipment and had a large punching bag hanging from the ceiling.
She balled her fist and gave the punching bag a light tap. It didn’t move an inch.
"Hiyah—!"
Refusing to accept it, she started punching the bag again. This time, she pictured Damian Morgan’s face on it. Instantly, as if she were on steroids, she was filled with energy.
"You social climber! You lied to me, you used me for my money!"
"You even cheated on me!"
"I’ll kill you..."
On the other end, Alaric Blackwood was watching her every move through the security cameras.
He watched her punch the bag with her bare hands. As she continued, her face scrunched up in pain, and she bent over to rub her reddened fists. He couldn’t help but chuckle. "Idiot."
The word had barely left his lips when he saw Sophie Shaw spot a pair of boxing gloves.
"Well, not a complete idiot."
Sophie Shaw put on Alaric Blackwood’s boxing gloves and once again vented all her frustration on the bag.
Her arms ached, she was drenched in sweat, and her hands were throbbing with pain. Finally, she stopped. She took off the gloves and collapsed onto the floor.
Alaric Blackwood stared at his phone screen, assuming she was just resting after getting tired. But when he adjusted the camera angle to focus on Sophie Shaw’s face, he realized she was covering it with her hands, crying.
His brow furrowed. He picked up his phone, intending to call and comfort her, but he stopped himself just before the call could go through.
Sophie Shaw cried for a little while, then wiped her tears away. She got up, left the gym, and went back to her room to take a shower. Afterward, feeling utterly bored, she wandered around, looking at this and that, curious about everything.
When she finally became so bored that she returned to the first-floor sofa, curled up, and fell asleep, Alaric Blackwood closed the surveillance feed.
He leaned back in his chair, silent for a moment, then sent a message to Mrs. Ford on WeChat: [Grandma, tonight you’re having hot pot with your granddaughter.]
Mrs. Ford was thrilled when she read the message and immediately called him. "I can finally see my granddaughter?"
"Yes. I’ve already spoken to Evan Ford. He’ll accompany you tonight."
"You’re not going to stand me up again this time, are you?"
"I promise."
On the other end of the line, the old woman’s eyes instantly reddened, and she couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down her face.
’Finally,’ she thought. ’The wait is over.’
All these years, she had longed to meet Sophie Shaw.
’That poor girl doesn’t know anything...’
’This time,’ she resolved, ’I have to take this chance to tell Sophie Shaw the truth about what happened all those years ago.’
"Grandma, please calm down."
Alaric Blackwood was a little worried about her health; after all, she was getting on in years.
"I’m fine. I’m just so happy."
The old woman dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief. "Thank you, Alaric. You’ve made a dream I’ve held for so many years come true."
She thought she would never be able to reunite with her granddaughter in this lifetime.
"You don’t have to thank me, Grandma."
"I have to go. I need to change my clothes, and then go get my hair done..."
The old woman was as excited as a child.
「 」
Sophie Shaw slept soundly. When she opened her eyes again, the sky outside was dim and overcast.
It had gotten cloudy, and the wind had picked up.
She stretched, got up from the sofa, and walked to the window to look at the distant maple grove.
Swathes of red maple leaves drifted down on the wind, making the scenery look a bit bleak.
She picked up her phone, intending to take a picture of the maple grove, but noticed she had several WeChat messages from Joseph Shaw.
[Are you coming home today?]
[Why aren’t you replying?]
[Are you still angry with me about what happened before?]
[Sophie, I was just worried you’d get into a scandal before the wedding. I hope you’ll be careful...]
Sophie Shaw had woken up from a good nap feeling refreshed, but seeing the messages from Joseph Shaw instantly soured her mood. freewebnovёl.ƈom
’It was one thing for Vianne Kane to suspect her, to maliciously assume she and Damian Morgan were having an affair. But Joseph Shaw was her own father. How could he not trust her? How could he also think her relationship with Damian was sordid?’
She didn’t reply to Joseph Shaw’s messages, but then he called her.
She didn’t answer the first call. Joseph Shaw immediately called again.
She declined the call.
She stared at her phone screen for a few minutes. When Joseph Shaw didn’t call back, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Seeing it was getting late and Alaric Blackwood would be home from work soon, she went upstairs to her room. She washed her face, changed out of her loose loungewear, and put on a smart outfit...
At six o’clock sharp, the black Maybach pulled up to the gate.
When she received a WeChat message from Alaric Blackwood saying he was there to pick her up, she grabbed her bag, hurried downstairs, quickly changed her shoes, and rushed out the door, sliding right into the Maybach’s passenger seat.
Alaric Blackwood’s eyes lingered on her pretty face. He noticed she had put on delicate makeup and had even styled her hair.
Her long, flowing hair, with a slight curl at the ends, fell naturally over her shoulders.
"Has anyone ever told you that you’re beautiful?"
’Without makeup, she was as serene as a lily. With it, she became a vibrant rose.’
Sophie Shaw froze, her cheeks flushing.
She couldn’t remember anyone complimenting her like that, except for her mother, back when she was still alive, who used to call her her little beauty.
Even Damian Morgan, the man she’d dated for three years, had never once told her she was beautiful.
The thought of Damian Morgan naturally led her back to the messages from Joseph Shaw, and her mood inexplicably sank once more.
