Chapter 93
Alfonso stared at me sharply: "Mr. Smith came with Ms. Martinez. You can't tell me you came following Mr. Smith, can you?"
A hint of amusement immediately appeared in Amelia's eyes, and she said almost eagerly: "Mr. Schmidt, Sophia might be worried about James; that's why she followed him here."
"But she doesn't have an invitation. How she got in, we have no idea..."
The corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up. She lowered her head to hide it and avoid being exposed.
Her tone was apologetic: "I'm sorry, Mr. Schmidt. It's my fault. I should have asked you for an extra invitation for Sophia, so even if she changed her mind about coming, she could have entered properly."
The way she put it made it sound like I had climbed over a wall and snuck in, making me look like a thief.
I had given my invitation to the security guard at the entrance when I came in. Who knows where those invitations were put now? It would take a lot of time to go look for it.
If Amelia insisted that the invitation wasn't mine and that I had stolen it, I'd have a hard time defending myself. Or I could just say Andrew gave me the invitation, but that would show Andrew gave the invitation to someone else, which would be very disrespectful to Alfonso, and I'd be dragging Andrew into this.
I didn't want to give Amelia any ammunition, but that also meant I had no way to prove how I got in.
I thought for a moment and came up with an idea.
Alfonso, standing before me, used to be ZeroSpecter's student.
If I used ZeroSpecter as an excuse, I should be able to get through this.
"Alfonso, didn't you invite ZeroSpecter? I was sent by ZeroSpecter."
Alfonso's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he asked excitedly: "You were really sent by ZeroSpecter?"
I nodded without hesitation: "Of course."
"Why would I lie to you? What would I gain from lying?"
Alfonso's expression softened.
Amelia couldn't sit still anymore. She jumped out and said anxiously: "But Sophia, you said before that you knew ZeroSpecter, yet you never took James to meet ZeroSpecter."
"We're family. No matter what you say, we can forgive you, but..."
"Sophia, you should just apologize to Mr. Schmidt."
I was speechless.
"Mr. Smith, I hate liars the most." Alfonso was a bit angry, his words carrying a threat.
Alfonso wasn't directly threatening me, but threatening James.
Amelia had achieved her goal. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly, and she raised her eyebrows at me.
I didn't pay her any attention and said seriously, "If you don't believe me, I can have ZeroSpecter send you a message personally right now."
Alfonso hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "If I really wronged you, I'll apologize to you and grant you three favors."
This kind of good deal? My eyes lit up.
I immediately took out my phone, switched to ZeroSpecter's phone number, edited the message, waited a bit, then sent it.
I lifted my chin: "Alfonso, you can check your phone now."
Alfonso skeptically took out his phone. When he saw the message notification, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
He looked at me, then at his phone, his eyes full of disbelief.
He looked for a long time before nodding: "You really were sent by ZeroSpecter."
"I was very offensive just now. I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course, the three favors I just promised are real and valid. As long as it's not illegal or immoral, I'll do whatever you ask."
"I'll save them for later then." I couldn't think of anything I needed him to do right now.
Alfonso's gaze toward me softened: "Ms. Brown, since you were sent by ZeroSpecter, you are my honored guest."
"Today I didn't take good care of you and let you suffer. I'll arrange for someone to take you to fix your dress right away."
He called Nico over and had him arrange for someone to take me to deal with my dress.
"Thank you, Mr. Schmidt." I nodded slightly.
Alfonso nodded, then looked at James, his tone meaningful: "Mr. Smith, you're a smart man, but sometimes what your eyes see isn't necessarily true, and what your ears hear isn't necessarily real either."
"No matter who it is, you should be more careful."
Alfonso said this while looking at Amelia.
He was a smart man. Well, of course—he'd lived most of his life, and being born into a wealthy family, he'd seen these kinds of tricks for decades. He could see through them at a glance.
James obviously understood the meaning behind his words. His expression was complicated as he said quietly, "Mr. Schmidt is right. I've caused you trouble today."
"No problem." Alfonso waved his hand. "I still need to greet other guests. Make yourselves at home."
After Alfonso left, the atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Amelia looked at James timidly, her voice tearful: "James, I'm sorry..."
James looked at her with a complicated expression—disappointment, helplessness, which finally turned into a sigh: "Amelia, it seems you didn't take my words to heart at all."
"You're not needed here anymore. Go back."
Amelia bit her lip: "I'm sorry. It's all my fault today. I ruined everything."
After saying that, she hurried away.
Only James and I were left standing there.
He looked at me, silent for a long time, before finally speaking: "Your dress can't be worn even after it's cleaned. I'll buy you a new one."
"No need." I turned to leave.
"Sophia." He called out to me, his voice low. "Just now... I'm sorry."
I paused but didn't turn around: "James, your apologies are really worthless. Next time you want to condemn me, please ask clearly first."
With that, I followed the person Nico had arranged to fix my dress, leaving him standing there alone.
I looked at myself in the mirror, now wearing a new dress, my mind wandering.
Things like what happened today kept repeating over and over. I was really tired of it.
I didn't know how much longer I'd have to live like this.
I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face.
The icy water cleared my head a bit.
After drying my face, I touched up my makeup in the mirror, then turned to leave.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw James standing outside.
He was leaning against the wall, holding an unlit cigarette in his hand. When he saw me come out, he looked up.
"Let's talk," he said.
"We have nothing to talk about." I tried to walk around him.
But he reached out and blocked my way.
"Sophia." He called my name, his voice tired. "Can't we even sit down and have a proper conversation anymore?"
I looked up at him: "James, you don't trust me. You took Amelia's side and humiliated me. If I couldn't beat you and murder is illegal, do you think you'd still be alive right now?"
"And you still want to sit down and talk with me? You've got to be kidding."
His Adam's apple bobbed: "What I did just now was just a temporary measure. You made such a scene at someone else's party—that was your fault to begin with."
"So I deserved to have wine thrown on me, deserved to be humiliated, deserved to swallow my anger?" I laughed, but my eyes were ice cold. "James, your reputation is more important than my dignity, isn't it?"
"That's not what I meant." He frowned.
"Then what did you mean?" I pressed.
He fell silent.