Chapter 31
During dinner, Sophia deliberately sat down next to me, her face wearing a smile like an exquisite mask: "Ms. Wilson, I heard you've been living abroad all this time. Can you get used to the food here?"
"It's alright. There are not only many Lumaria people there, but also all kinds of restaurants." I answered casually. With Sophia's sudden friendliness, I really wanted to know what she was planning to do next.
Sophia smiled and put a shrimp on my plate: "That's true. There are quite a few industrial zones over there, most with a shady reputation. Ms. Wilson, have you encountered anything scary?"
Before I could speak, Oscar smiled and took the shrimp, carefully peeling it: "Most of those zones are in remote areas, so Ms. Wilson probably didn't have the chance to encounter them. But if you really want to know, I can tell you responsibly that if you ever get the chance to go to Solstice, it's best not to walk the streets alone."
Sophia smiled with pursed lips: "Is it so bad that just walking around you could have your organs harvested? I heard there's one of the biggest organ transplant centers over there."
I said flatly, "Having only your organs harvested might even be lucky. When a girl gets kidnapped, there are too many unimaginable things that could happen."
Sophia's smile faded a bit. When she turned to look at me, she quickly curved her eyes again: "If someone were sold there, I wonder what the survival rate would be?"
Looking at her casual smile, I suppressed the urge to slap her. When she sold me to that kind of place, she didn't give me any chance of survival.
A peeled shrimp was placed in front of me again. Oscar answered for me: "If a girl is sold there, let's just say the person who sold her never gave her a chance to live."
Robert said with a smile, "Let's not discuss such unlucky things during dinner. You're all around the same age, so you can chat more. Especially you, Gregory, you should learn more from Oscar. In the future, The Novagen Group will still depend on you all to develop and grow."
Gregory nodded obediently: "Yes, Grandpa, I will."
But Sophia didn't seem to want to end the topic: "Ms. Wilson doesn't look that old. How old are you? What month is your birthday?"
"I'm twenty-five, my birthday is August 5th. Do you need to see my ID?" My birthday was the date when Michael helped me get my identity documents.
Sophia's eyes showed timidity: "Ms. Wilson, please don't be angry. I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that Mr. Lopez said we're around the same age earlier. I've never really thought of you as an elder. I feel like you're more like my sister. I didn't mean anything else."
I glanced at her. Just because I casually answered her question, she could turn on her acting skills anytime, anywhere - quite professional: "You asked my age, I told you, where did you see me getting angry? What are you acting wronged about?"
Sophia's eyes widened, instantly welling up with tears. She quickly glanced at Gregory, then hurriedly lowered her head to apologize: "No, no, Ms. Wilson, maybe because there's always been a misunderstanding between us, I'm not feeling wronged, I'm just afraid of saying something wrong and making you angry."
Gregory frowned and patted Sophia's back lightly: "Alright, let's eat. You just overthink things."
Sophia looked up at Gregory with wronged eyes. All along, Gregory had always unconditionally taken her side, but today was somewhat unexpected for her. Perhaps she knew better that continuing would get her nowhere, so she lowered her eyelids and nodded: "Ms. Wilson, I'm sorry."
I looked at Gregory, meeting his gaze. I didn't believe he could hear the implications in Sophia's words. Or was it that as long as the words came from Sophia, regardless of right or wrong, he could unconditionally go along with them?
If this was love, why did he pretend to be deeply devoted to me? Three years, and they still hadn't gotten together.
This was really affecting my appetite. I put down my utensils: "I'm full, you all take your time."
Robert quickly asked: "Full already? No wonder you're so thin. Or is the food not to your taste? Oscar, when you go back, write a list of what Emily likes to eat for the chef. From now on, have the chef make more things Emily likes. Living at home, we need to fatten you up."
I stood up and smiled at Robert: "I'm not picky, I really am full. I usually eat less at night anyway. Mr. Lopez doesn't need to make special preparations."
Oscar said jokingly with a smile, "Special preparations aren't necessary, but Dad, Emily just got here and has never lived with elders before. How's the courtyard next door coming along? If it's almost ready, I'll still take her to live next door; it'll be more comfortable that way."
I stood there and looked at Robert, too. Oscar was someone he had worked hard to bring back. Now that he knows his capabilities, he probably wouldn't let him move out easily. He would seize every opportunity to strengthen their relationship and to show outsiders that Oscar and the Lopez family members were one unit.
Sure enough, Robert looked at me with a kind smile: "Emily, do you feel uncomfortable living with this old man?"
How was I supposed to respond to this?
"It's okay, though I am indeed a bit unaccustomed." I could only follow Oscar's lead.
Robert sighed deeply and said with emotion, "In my life, I've always wanted a daughter, but I just didn't have that fortune. The first time Oscar brought you back, I felt very close to you. In my heart, I've never considered you an outsider. When people get old, they just want the family to be lively and warm. William only has Gregory as a child. Originally, when I got sick, I wanted to hold a great-grandson soon, but who knew... But if I could hold a little grandson now, I could die with my eyes closed. Emily, when are you and Oscar planning to get married?"
Everyone at the table looked at me. I looked at Oscar, somewhat surprised. Pretending to be an engaged couple was one thing, but marriage was another matter entirely.
If he really wanted a daughter, wasn't Grace, who had been married into the family for over twenty years, a ready-made daughter?
Looking at Robert's expectant expression, which completely overlapped with the old man who once held my hand and said he wanted me to become part of the Lopez family, I was about to refuse but quickly held back.
I pretended to be embarrassed and smiled at Robert: "Mr. Robert Lopez, Oscar, and I have just started our careers in Lumaria. We're not in a rush to get married, and... both our information is in Solstice, so we probably can't get legal documents here."
Robert looked at me with smiling eyes: "You two can have a wedding ceremony first, without getting the marriage certificate. Whether you get the certificate or not is secondary."
I looked at Oscar again. At this point, shouldn't he come over quickly to dissuade him? If he kept silent any longer, the wedding date might be set right then and there.
Receiving my pleading look, Oscar also stood up with a smile, gently putting his arm around my shoulder: "Dad, you can't pressure people into marriage like this face-to-face, can you? I know what I'm doing. When we both have some free time, we'll fulfill this wish of yours."
Robert gave him a sidelong glance: "You're still too young to understand. You're the man; you need to take the initiative. You can't expect Emily to bring up marriage to you, can you? She's already come back with you; you need to take responsibility. Everyone says once you two get married, won't you both be able to focus better on your careers?"
Why was this getting more and more serious?
Surely we couldn't actually settle the marriage over just one dinner? If we were really getting married, that would be a different price altogether.