Chapter 156
The spot on my wrist where James had grabbed me felt like it had been burned by a hot iron.
The church was very quiet, with only the whimpering sound of the wind blowing through the broken windows.
He was too close—so close I could see my own slightly haggard reflection in his pupils.
"Mr. Smith, please let go." I pulled my hand back forcefully, my voice tight. "You've lost your memory, and I understand you want to recover it, but you can't keep cornering me with questions just because of some vague feelings."
"You're wasting my time and causing misunderstandings."
"It doesn't matter much for you as a man, but I'm a woman, and I'm pregnant. If someone sees me tangled up with you, it'll be very hard for me to explain."
James's hand froze in mid-air, then slowly lowered.
He looked at me, his eyes churning with complicated emotions.
"Strangers?" He repeated the word, then suddenly laughed—a laugh tinged with self-mockery. "Sophia, are we really strangers?"
"Since we met, the way you look at me, the feeling you give me—that's not how strangers act."
I took a deep breath and forced myself to look directly at him. "Mr. Smith, your aggressive questioning makes me very uncomfortable."
"If you can't approach this collaboration professionally, I don't think we need to continue."
I closed my sketchbook and turned to leave.
"Wait." He spoke behind me, his voice lowering with a tone of compromise. "I'm sorry, I won't ask anymore."
"When you're ready to talk, you can tell me then."
I didn't respond or look back, just walked quickly out of the church.
The afternoon sunlight was blinding. I squinted, hearing footsteps following behind me.
James kept a few steps' distance from me—not too far, not too close—but he never came closer again.
On the way back, neither of us spoke. The air in the car was so stuffy it felt suffocating.
When we got to the hotel, I got out of the car directly without saying anything to him.
As soon as I returned to my room, I got a call from Indigo.
"Sophia, where are you now?" Indigo's voice was as kind and friendly as always.
Hearing a trace of anxiety in Indigo's voice, I asked, "Grandma, I'm at the hotel now. What's wrong?"
"I heard from Liliana that James went to see you? Did you two meet?"
"Yes, we met twice for work." I glanced toward the next room. Not only had James and I met, but we were also staying at the same hotel, and our rooms were right next to each other.
"Did he... have any reaction? Did he remember anything?"
"He said I looked familiar and kept testing me. But he probably hasn't remembered specific things—he just senses that our relationship isn't simple." I paused. "Grandma, he's too sharp. I'm afraid he'll remember sooner or later."
There was a long silence on the other end, then Indigo let out a heavy sigh. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have kept it from him..."
"I should have told him from the start. Then he wouldn't be suffering like this."
"The doctors all said he can't handle any shock. Grandma, you did this for his own good."
"But seeing him like this, I feel terrible too." Indigo's voice was a bit choked up. "Sophia, are you free now? Can you come to The Smith Mansion? I want to talk to you face-to-face."
I was afraid James might also be at The Smith Mansion and hesitated about whether to agree.
"Are you worried about James seeing you? Don't worry—since he lost his memory, he hasn't been close to me. He hardly ever comes back."
Hearing Indigo say this, thinking of her alone at The Smith Mansion, feeling so lonely, I couldn't help but feel sad and immediately agreed. "Okay, I'll come over soon."
After hanging up, I changed clothes and called a car to the Smith Mansion.
The hotel I was staying at was far from The Smith Mansion. The driver had to cross half the city before dropping me off at my destination.
By the time I arrived at The Smith Mansion, dusk was approaching.
The maid Zola opened the door for me. When she saw me, she smiled broadly, though tears glistened in her eyes. "Mrs. Sophia Smith... no, Ms. Brown is here. Mrs. Smith is waiting for you in the greenhouse."
She led me to the greenhouse, talking as we walked. "Ms. Brown, since you left, the house has been much quieter."
"Mrs. Smith often sits in the greenhouse, lying in the rocking chair, thinking about the past."
"Her spirits are getting worse and worse. Who knows when she might..."
As Zola spoke, tears streamed down her face. "If possible, I hope you can come more often to chat with Mrs. Smith."
Listening to Zola's words, I felt terrible too.
It wasn't that I didn't want to come—the current situation was just too complicated.
If I came often, James would definitely find out. What if he followed that lead to investigate, recovered some memories, and got shocked?
But I still couldn't bear to refuse Zola. "Zola, I'll definitely come more often to talk with Grandma."
"It's just that I work abroad, so it's not convenient to come back often. But don't worry—whenever I'm free, I'll come back."
Zola nodded repeatedly. "Good, thank you, Ms. Brown."
I followed Zola through the familiar garden path to the greenhouse.
Every plant and tree here was still the same as in my memory—only the people had changed.
Pushing open the glass greenhouse door, I found Indigo sitting in a wicker chair with a newspaper on the small table in front of her.
She looked even older than the last time I'd seen her, with deeper wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
"Sophia, come sit." Indigo waved me over.
I sat in the chair across from her. Indigo poured me a cup of hot coffee, its rich aroma spreading through the air.
"Sophia, I..." Indigo hesitated.
"Grandma, just say what you want to say." I held the coffee cup, its warmth spreading through the porcelain to my palm.
Indigo's hand trembled slightly, and the teacup knocked against the table with a soft sound.
"He came to me, asking if I was hiding something from him." Indigo smiled bitterly. "I denied it, but he didn't believe me at all."
"James has been stubborn since he was young. Once he's set on something, he never changes his mind."
"He'll find out everything sooner or later. I'm just afraid—afraid he won't be able to handle it. What if when the time comes..."
"Grandma, don't worry too much. Let's take it one step at a time. We'll deal with it when we get there."
Indigo murmured in agreement. "I'll also make arrangements so he can't find those things."
I nodded.
After finishing our talk about James, Indigo asked about my time abroad.
I tried to pick out light and happy things to tell her, and Indigo wore a faint smile.
She reached out and gently patted my hand resting on my lap. "I know you always share good news, but not bad. Being alone out there must be hard. If you have any difficulties, you must tell me."
"I may be old, but I still have some money and connections. Whatever you need, I'll give it to you."
I was grateful. "Thank you."
Indigo also told me about some things that had happened while I was away.
Indigo and I were chatting enthusiastically when the greenhouse door was suddenly pushed open.
Both Indigo and I looked up at the same time, both stunned.