Chapter 46: Isabella's Allergy
"You've been pretending in front of Grandma for so long, do you really think we're a loving couple?" I shot back at him without mercy.
But when Amelia saw me snap at James, she quickly jumped to his defense: "Sophia, how can you say that?"
"James is doing this for your own good. He cares about you. Why do you have to push him away like this?"
"Is it because of Isabella and me? If it really is because of us, we'll buy tickets and go back right now. We won't get in your way."
That's what she said, but she squeezed Isabella's shoulder. She thought no one saw her little move.
Soon enough, Isabella started crying and making a fuss. She rushed toward James and hugged his leg: "Daddy, you promised to take me out to play. You can't break your promise!"
She cried like she was heartbroken, her tears soaking into James's pants.
The airport was already noisy, and she wasn't holding back her voice at all. Her crying mixed with all the other noise, and I just felt annoyed.
"James, I have my own things to do, and you have yours. Let's not bother each other."
Even though I slept through the whole flight, those few hours on the plane were still exhausting.
Right now, I have no energy to deal with them.
Andrew could tell I wasn't feeling well. He stepped forward and put himself between them and me. His tone was still polite, just a bit firmer.
"Mr. Smith, Sophia is my employee. She's here on a business trip. You've gone to great lengths to find out where she is - are you trying to dig up secrets about our studio?"
James gave a light scoff: "What secrets could your studio possibly have that would be worth my effort?"
Andrew's response: "If there aren't any, then Mr. Smith shouldn't be so interested in my employee's whereabouts."
He freed up one hand and deliberately took mine right in front of James.
My body stiffened involuntarily.
"Sophia, let's go." Andrew's gentle voice reached my ears.
Seeing the look he gave me, I quickly responded.
He helped me into the car. He opened the car door and said to James, "Mr. Smith, Sophia is tired. We're going to head out first and get some rest."
The way he said it was suggestive, as if something was about to happen between us.
I knew Andrew was trying to stand up for me, but I was already used to this kind of situation.
Whatever James and Amelia did, as long as it didn't get back to Indigo, it had nothing to do with me.
"Thanks for that," I said to Andrew.
"Thanks for what? I just can't stand seeing James bully you. I really didn't think he was that kind of person. You two still aren't divorced?" Andrew said indignantly.
"Right, Grandma hasn't been well lately. Once she's better, we'll do the paperwork." I rubbed my temples.
"You're just too kind. You need to be more ruthless."
I smiled and didn't say anything.
Then I heard Andrew say, "If you have any problems, just tell me. If I can help, I absolutely will."
"Okay." I nodded. "I'm going to sleep for a bit."
"Sure!"
He didn't wake me until we got to the hotel.
"Are we here?"
"Yes." Andrew grabbed our things and took me to check in.
"What a coincidence, Sophia. You're staying at this hotel too?" Amelia's sweet voice came from behind us.
I frowned and exchanged a glance with Andrew.
James walked over expressionless and pushed his way between Andrew and me: "I need two presidential suites."
I snapped at him irritably: "What's wrong with you?"
James's face looked dark and scary: "Sophia, enough."
"You started it. I can't call you out now?" I wasn't going to keep taking his crap like an idiot. I was going to push back.
James looked furious.
Amelia saw that James kept talking to me and completely ignored her and Isabella. The expression on her face got worse and worse.
She deliberately pinched Isabella's hand, and Isabella started crying.
James's attention was drawn to Isabella.
He picked up Isabella and asked gently: "Isabella, what's wrong?"
Amelia looked apologetic: "I'm sorry, James. I didn't mean to interrupt you talking to Sophia. Isabella must be tired and cranky."
As if to prove what Amelia said, Isabella rested on James's shoulder, sniffled, and said softly: "Daddy, I'm so sleepy..."
James glanced at me, his brow slightly furrowed, then looked at the staff and urged, "Please hurry up with the check-in."
Since we were there first, the front desk staff looked at us awkwardly.
Andrew said, "Mr. Smith, don't you understand first-come, first-served?"
"Please help us first." Andrew didn't look at James's face, which had turned extremely ugly.
The front desk staff efficiently got our rooms ready and handed us the key cards.
Andrew waved the key card around, as if deliberately provoking James: "Mr. Smith, after you."
James's eyes were cold, staring straight at the single key card in Andrew's hand.
Amelia saw it too. A hint of contempt flashed in her eyes, and she pretended to be surprised: "Sophia, James is here. Instead of staying in a room with him, you're staying in the same room with someone who has nothing to do with you?"
My expression was cold: "Never mind the same room - even if we slept in the same bed, that's none of your business."
"James, I'm just thinking about Sophia's reputation, but she doesn't seem to appreciate it." Amelia's voice had a crying tone.
I laughed mockingly: "Dirty people see dirt everywhere. My room was already booked. This is a room I got specially for Andrew."
"Andrew, let's go. Don't stay with trash, or we'll end up smelling bad too."
I walked straight ahead without looking at James and Amelia's expressions.
Andrew helped me put my things away and told me to rest well, and he'd come get me for dinner later.
I nodded and took a short nap on the bed.
The hotel had a restaurant on the sixth floor. Andrew said it was pretty good and took me there to eat.
He asked what I wanted to eat. I flipped through the menu: "I don't really know. You pick."
Andrew called over a server and ordered a few dishes.
While we waited for the food, the server brought us a small dessert first so we wouldn't be hungry.
I was eating the cake, one spoonful at a time, occasionally saying a few words to Andrew.
Someone tugged at my pants. I frowned and looked down.
It was Isabella.
She lifted her chin high and ordered me: "Give me your cake."
I scooped up a big spoonful of frosting and brought it toward her. Thinking I was going to feed her, she leaned in, but the frosting swept past her and went into my mouth.
"This is my cake. Why should I give it to you?"
Isabella looked angry. She stood on her tiptoes, reached out, and smashed the delicate cake in front of me.
She ate the cake she'd grabbed while looking at me with contempt.
I put down my spoon and watched her quietly.
She got even more smug, but before long, her little face went pale, and her breathing became rapid.
Amelia rushed over and picked up Isabella: "Isabella, what's wrong?"
She looked up, her eyes red as she glared at me and shouted: "Sophia, if you hate me, come at me! Isabella is so young - how could you bring yourself to hurt her?"