Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO

Chapter 1073: Chapter 749: The Grand Finale [20] Relics

That evening, Nora Scott and Pedro Langley took Marcus Shaw and Oliver Scott to Virtue Retreat, along with Ernesto Scott, making it a family gathering for a meal, also to celebrate in advance for Marcus and Oliver.

——After all, they’re going to be top scorers, even if they underperform, they can still get into Capital Uni or Fenton University, just a pity it’ll be a little less remarkable.

——However, successfully ending a three-year battle, regardless of success or failure, deserves a celebration.

Halfway through the meal.

Oliver put down his orange juice, glanced at a WeChat message on his phone, and leaned slightly toward Ernesto Scott, asking softly, "Dad, is Sophie at home alone?"

After the exam, he had sent a message to Sophie Scott.

Sophie hadn’t replied yet.

"She went to school." Ernesto Scott replied, pondering for a moment, then added, "She’s busy preparing for graduation."

Sophie is about to graduate.

The thesis defense is already over.

She wants to continue with graduate studies, focusing on archaeology, and won’t work for now, solely preparing for the graduate entrance exam at the end of the year.

Since returning from the northwest, Sophie seems like a different person. In the past, if someone spoke to her with a harsh tone, she seemed to be easily hurt. Now, she’s developed a tough exterior, much more adept in social interactions, unfazed by gossip, and has clear life goals and direction.

However, the rift with her family can’t be mended.

She remains hostile to Nora Scott, thus it’s inevitable that she couldn’t get along with those close to Nora, like Oliver and Ernesto Scott.

"Oh."

Oliver pursed his lips, somewhat disappointed, but didn’t show it too obviously.

During the time Sophie had just returned, Oliver was still visiting the Scott family on weekends, but after realizing he couldn’t get along with Sophie, he stopped going back as often, only occasionally messaging her, yet most times Sophie wouldn’t reply.

Even though they’re siblings, their bond has grown increasingly distant.

It seems they can never go back to how they were.

"What’s happening with Mom?" Pausing, Oliver asked again, "Does my sister know?"

"Your mom will be sent to the hospital once the paperwork is done." Ernesto Scott answered, "Your sister knows too, she found time to visit the hospital yesterday."

——It’s just that whatever Sophie said to Alma Ferreira didn’t help her mood improve; it made it worse instead.

——After Sophie left, Alma started throwing things in the hospital, calling them ungrateful children and cursing that Sophie would meet a bad end. Alma was acting so hysterically that it took considerable effort from the doctors and nurses to restrain her.

Ernesto Scott’s words reached Nora and Pedro’s ears.

Nora and Pedro exchanged a meaningful glance.

They had heard bits about the incident.

It’s more accurate to say that Sophie went to the hospital not to "visit" Alma, but rather to "provoke" her.

Sophie didn’t hold back.

She specifically hit Alma’s soft spots, that her kids weren’t raised well, none stood by her; and that she was a loyal wife for decades but couldn’t keep her husband... Those statements were explosives for Alma.

No wonder Alma lost it.

However, this also proves that Sophie has indeed changed a lot.

"Let’s discuss any further matters later." Nora tapped the table lightly, reminding them to change the subject.

Oliver and Ernesto, seeing this, immediately switched topics.

*

After the meal, without planning any entertainment activities, Nora took Marcus and Oliver back to Cloudwater Haven.

Early the next morning, Nora didn’t get up, and Pedro personally took Marcus and Oliver to the airport.

By the time he returned, it was already late in the morning.

As he entered, he found the living room littered with schematic drawings, leaving him no place to step.

"At it again?" Pedro raised an eyebrow.

Sweeping his glance around, he found Nora sitting cross-legged on a mat near the balcony, and slightly twitched his mouth.

——Nora seemed to be in a meditative state.

"Did they board smoothly?" Nora raised her head.

"Yeah."

Pedro changed his shoes at the entrance.

"I find it hard to adjust once they leave."

"Well, it’s only for half a month."

"Mm."

Nora responded.

She paused slightly as she flipped through the designs in her hand.

"I want to reorganize it." Nora propped her chin with one hand, gazing at him, "Isn’t the Maze Village route supposed to change daily? Based on the current materials, the time to open Mechanism City should be fixed. Only through a confirmed date map can the entrance be unlocked. My senior apprentice sister and I speculate it would be around June or July."

"You’re looking for a shortcut, hoping to choose a significant day in June or July for your grandfather, and then test it out?" Pedro was somewhat speechless.

"Are shortcuts not appealing?" Nora asked matter-of-factly.

If there are shortcuts, naturally you look for them.

Going through the calculations step by step can be fun but is very mentally and intellectually draining. Especially since she’s pregnant now, and with senior apprentice sister extracting every last effort, she shouldn’t over-exert herself.

Pedro raised his hand to rub his temples, carefully stepping toward Nora, avoiding the schematics, and asked, "So what dates have you two narrowed it down to?"

"Easton’s birthday is in March, Grandma’s in September. Neither fits." Nora shrugged.

"What about their wedding anniversary?"

"January."

"Nothing else?"

Nora thought for a moment and said, "My senior apprentice sister and I agreed that once we move into the villa, we’ll take a day to visit the courtyard, to look for Easton’s belongings, to see if he left any clues."

"Mm."

"By then, the arduous task of analyzing his belongings will be yours."

"..."

Having a wife who unapologetically slacks off due to pregnancy, there’s really nothing he can do.