Chapter 122: I'm Holding Her Now

Sophia frowned, unsure what game Benjamin was playing now.

"What do you want?"

There were only three days left until the registration deadline for the competition.

She needed to finish her painting and submit the initial draft within that time, and she really didn't have time to go out and buy more paints.

Sophia glanced at the paints and brushes in his hand, her eyes betraying her desire for them.

Benjamin was about to state his condition when Sophia spoke first, "How much for these items? I'll buy them from you."

Benjamin wasn't one to casually buy gifts. She was sure the quality of his materials would surpass anything she could find on her own.

Instead of wasting time, she preferred to just pay him off and get what she needed.

"Money?" Benjamin scoffed. "Do you think I need money right now?"

He certainly wasn't short on cash.

Sophia, frustrated and running out of patience, asked bluntly, "Then what do you need?"

Her question seemed to hit exactly what Benjamin wanted to hear.

His smile grew more mischievous and suggestive.

He leaned down and said in a meaningful tone, "Perhaps I lack... calcium?"

Sophia was baffled by his response.

Calcium?

Was he suffering from osteoporosis?

That was terrible.

He was only thirty and his health was already declining.

"Then I'll buy you some calcium tablets to help with that."

"Perhaps it's because the bed in the guest room is too hard," Benjamin interjected. "It's making my bones ache."

He was blaming the guest room's bed.

Sophia remembered that the mattresses in both the guest room and the master bedroom were custom-ordered from Oakfield and identical in every way except for their locations.

His excuse was indeed flimsy.

Nevertheless...

Sophia's gaze drifted back to the beautifully packaged bag in Benjamin's hand.

Seeing that she really wanted the paints, he handed the gift back to her.

"Since it's a gift for you, I won't threaten you to do anything in exchange. But if you could show some sympathy for my bones, I would be immensely grateful."

Sophia took the paints and art supplies from his hands.

Inside the bag were a limited-edition global oil paint mixing set and a gilded automatic brush.

They were priceless in the art world and beyond the reach of many well-known painters.

It was clear that Benjamin had put thought into this gift.

Sophia carefully packed away the paints and brushes, muttering, "Thank you..."

Her thanks sounded genuinely pleasing.

Benjamin's smile broadened, a wave of pleasure washing over him.

"Is that it?"

His greed grew, and he wanted more.

"Just verbal thanks? Your gratitude sounds quite sincere."

Sophia picked up on the sarcasm in his tone.

She nodded, "Yes."

This response seemed to infuriate Benjamin.

He masked his delight, pursing his lips tightly.

Quite the mischievous cat.

Sophia noted his sour expression.

"If there's nothing else, I need to get back to my painting."

Before Benjamin could respond, a loud slam echoed as Sophia shut the studio door.

Benjamin stared at the door and raised his fist, tempted to smash it.

He sighed and did nothing.

He just rested his fist against the door and leaned his handsome face against it as if trying to get closer to her through it.

What a heartless little cat.

In the studio, Sophia leaned against the door with the gift bag in her hand.

Thinking of Benjamin's frustrated face, a radiant smile unwittingly shaped her soft lips.

...

By the time Sophia finished sketching the initial draft, it was past eleven at night.

She rubbed her sore left shoulder with her right fist and rested for about five minutes before leaving the studio to return to the master bedroom.

Passing by Benjamin's study, which wasn't closed, she saw light seeping through the door.

Why wasn't he resting?

As she drew nearer to the study, her steps involuntarily slowed.

At the doorway, curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't help but sneak a peek inside.

"Sophia."

Benjamin noticed her instantly as she tried to spy on him.

Sophia paused at the doorway.

"Come in."

It seemed Benjamin was on a video call. He waved her over as soon as he saw her.

Having just received such valuable gifts from Benjamin, Sophia felt it improper to refuse him in front of another person on the call.

She stepped into the study, asking softly, "Are you in a meeting?"

"Is that Sophia's voice?" A familiar female voice came from the computer.

Benjamin chuckled, "Hold on a moment."

He stood from his office chair, walked over to Sophia, took her hand, and led her back towards the computer.

Seeing Mabel's face on the screen, Sophia was surprised, "Grandma?"

Mabel, looking rosier and as kind as ever, waved from the computer screen, "Sophia, how have you been?"

Sophia examined the background behind Mabel.

She was in a hospital, but it didn't look like one in their country.

The nurse standing behind her was foreign.

Right, Mabel's illness required treatment abroad.

But when had Benjamin sent Mabel abroad without telling her?

Sophia smiled and leaned toward the camera, "Grandma, I'm doing very well. How about you? Are you eating well? Are you following the doctor's advice?"

"Oh, my dear, you treat me like a child."

As Mabel and Sophia chatted away, Benjamin stood beside her for a while before pulling over an office chair to sit.

Mabel blamed Benjamin for not caring enough for Sophia.

Hearing this, Benjamin stretched over, scooped Sophia by her waist, and sat her down on his lap.

"I'm holding her now, and you can continue talking. Is this better?"