Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: A Man, 30% Drunk, an Act to Make You Cry

Sophie was completely confused by this.

Back in school, she and Alaric Blackwood weren’t close at all. Where did this talk of them having a good relationship come from?

"Why didn’t you two take more photos together?" the old lady muttered.

Sophie glanced at her and saw her flipping through the photo album. She explained, "That’s Alaric Blackwood’s personal album. There’s only one photo of us together, taken when we were very little. He was six, and I was three."

The old lady hummed in acknowledgment. "I saw that photo, but this isn’t just Alaric’s personal album. The rest of the photos are all of you."

Sophie’s mind went blank. Seeing the traffic light ahead turn red, she quickly hit the brakes and looked over at the passenger seat.

The page the old lady was looking at was, indeed, filled with photos of a girl.

From that distance, she couldn’t quite make out who was in the pictures.

"Let me see."

Refusing to believe it, she reached out, took the album, and flipped through it. She was stunned to discover that Alaric Blackwood had collected a lot of photos of her.

A quick glance suggested there were even more photos of her than of Alaric Blackwood.

The entire latter half of the album was almost exclusively photos of her alone.

The earliest photo dated back to her first year of middle school...

She was both bewildered and astonished. ’Why were there so many pictures of her in Alaric Blackwood’s photo album?’

Seeing her surprise, the old lady suddenly seemed to understand something. She muttered again, seemingly to herself, "Don’t tell me Alaric took these photos secretly?"

Judging from the angle of each shot, they did look like they had been taken secretly.

"Sophie, that boy must have had his eye on you in secret back in school."

Sophie couldn’t help but feel her face flush.

She couldn’t stop her mind from racing, her thoughts a complete jumble. freēwēbnovel.com

She was only snapped out of it when the impatient driver behind her honked several times.

She handed the album back to the old lady, started the car, and continued driving toward the factory, but she couldn’t help but be affected by the photos, her mind thrown into momentary chaos.

When they arrived at their destination, she didn’t get out of the car right away. Instead, she took the album again to have another look.

On the last page, there was an empty transparent slot. Just one more photo, and the entire album would be full.

She desperately wanted to ask Alaric Blackwood why he had secretly kept so many photos of her, but seeing that the old lady had already gotten out of the car, she decided to put the album down and follow her to look at the factory first.

The old lady had the key with her. She unlocked the main gate and led Sophie inside.

It was empty inside, but the space was huge. There were two floors, each with a separate room and a bathroom, which could be used as offices for factory management and a break room for employees.

"What do you think? Are you satisfied?" the old lady asked.

Sophie nodded vigorously. "Very satisfied."

"Then you can discuss the follow-up matters with your cousin. I retired long ago and don’t meddle in company business anymore. I’ll have him call you."

"Thank you, Madam."

The old lady felt a pang of sadness. She really wanted to hear Sophie call her "Grandma."

She took Sophie’s hand and held it tightly. Even though she had a thousand things to say, the words never left her lips. She just patted the back of Sophie’s hand before letting her granddaughter’s hand go.

After leaving the factory and getting back in the car, she gave Sophie the address of the Ford family’s old estate and asked for a ride home.

Half an hour later, the car stopped outside the old estate.

The Ford family’s estate was a vintage-style Chinese building with an impressive facade.

"Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" the old lady invited warmly.

Sophie thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I still have work."

"You can come back whenever you want. This is your home; the door will always be open for you."

Seeing the old lady’s eyes begin to redden, Sophie felt a stir of emotion. "Is my mom’s room still here?"

"Of course, it is. Do you want to go in and see it?"

Sophie bit her lip. After a long moment of hesitation, she shook her head again.

’I’m not ready yet.’

The old lady didn’t press the issue and opened the door to get out.

Watching Sophie drive away, the old lady turned and entered the courtyard. As she walked, she dialed Evan Ford’s number to tell him about the factory.

Evan Ford was busy, and his tone was a bit dismissive. "What is it, Grandma?"

"Transfer that property directly into Sophie’s name."

"Got it."

"Contact her now."

Evan Ford hung up, first contacting Alaric Blackwood to get Sophie’s number, then dialed it.

Sophie was still on her way back to the office when she received Evan Ford’s call. She couldn’t help but marvel at how astonishingly fast the old lady worked.

"Want to meet after work?" Evan Ford asked.

"Sure."

"Bring your husband."

"?"

’Do I need to bring my husband to talk about work?’

"Can I not bring him?"

Evan Ford: "Whatever."

If Sophie didn’t bring Alaric Blackwood, then he would.

After ending the call, Evan Ford sent the restaurant address for their evening meeting directly to Alaric Blackwood.

The other party replied instantly: [I’ll pass.]

Evan Ford: [You sure?]

Alaric Blackwood: [Positive.]

Evan Ford: [Then I’ll just have dinner with your wife alone.]

Alaric Blackwood, upon seeing the reply: ...

The moment quitting time arrived, Alaric Blackwood didn’t hesitate for a second. He had Preston Chase tell the driver to get the car ready and left the company immediately.

He rushed to the restaurant, but neither Evan Ford nor Sophie had arrived yet.

It was a private room.

He pulled out a chair, sat down, and ordered a pot of hot tea.

Just as he was leisurely sipping his tea, Evan Ford arrived.

Seeing him there, Evan Ford wasn’t surprised at all. He sat down across from him and lit a cigarette with a deadpan expression.

"How far have you gotten with my cousin?"

Alaric Blackwood lazily lifted his gaze, his charming eyes fixed on him with a half-smile. "Don’t pry into private matters."

"Does her cousin need to give you a hand?"

"Get lost."

Evan Ford scoffed. "You don’t need help?"

"How are you planning to help?"

"I’ll open a bottle of Maotai in a bit..."

"She has a sensitive stomach. Don’t push her to drink."

Evan Ford was at a loss. He had no experience with charming women, so he threw his hands up in surrender. "Fine, you handle it yourself then."

"My wife can’t drink, so I’ll drink instead."

Alaric Blackwood had his driver drop him off here and then told the driver to go home for the day, taking the car with him.

He planned to catch a ride home with his wife and use his buzz as an excuse to act cute with her.

As the old saying goes, a man who’s just a little drunk can put on a show that’ll bring you to tears.

And he already had plenty of experience in that department.

"Weren’t you going to order the Maotai?"

"Ordering it."

Evan Ford pressed the service bell on the table and summoned a waiter.

...

When Sophie arrived, two men were seated in the spacious private room. No food had been ordered for the round table yet, but a bottle of liquor was already open.

She narrowed her eyes at Alaric Blackwood, who was downing a glass of liquor on an empty stomach, then shifted her gaze to Evan Ford across from him.

The man cleared up her confusion. "I’m the one who invited Alaric." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"Then why is he already drinking by himself?"

"Not sure. He asked for liquor the moment he got here."

Sophie walked over and sat down beside Alaric Blackwood, snatching the glass from his hand. "Mr. Blackwood, don’t drink like this. It’s terrible for your stomach."

The moment she finished speaking, the man’s head gently rested on her shoulder.

Evan Ford: "..."

’He’s starting his act after just one glass? Does he have to be so dramatic?’