Chapter 50
It seemed like only Oscar and I were actually watching the movie.
Sophia wasn't paying any attention to what was on screen. She just kept making phone calls, her expression shifting from calm and composed at first to increasingly anxious, until she was almost losing control.
When the call finally went through, she couldn't control her voice: "Gregory, the movie's already started. Can you please come back? If there's no popcorn, I can do without it."
People in the front rows turned around to look at her, their eyes full of disapproval.
Sophia didn't care about anyone else. After hearing whatever was said on the other end, her brows furrowed together: "If you don't come back, I'll just sit here and wait."
Someone in front finally couldn't take it anymore: "If you're going to make a call, can you go outside?"
"Show some respect! We're in a cinema."
Oscar and I moved in sync, both instinctively shifting to the side, afraid people would realize we knew her.
Sophia seemed to have an emotional breakdown. Her voice was strained and shrill: "I'm just telling my boyfriend to come back quickly. What's it to you? Gregory, come back now. People are bullying me."
Five minutes later, Gregory obediently sat down next to Sophia. Of course, he seemed to have failed to get the popcorn he went to buy. Seeing Sophia's expression, which looked like she was about to cry, he quietly apologized: "I forgot. I'm sorry."
Sophia gently shook her head at him, tears filling her eyes, looking like they'd spill over any second. She really looked pitiful.
Oscar squeezed my palm and leaned close to my ear to quietly remind me: "Just watch the movie, don't get distracted."
I pressed my lips together and raised an eyebrow at him: "How can the movie compare to this live romance drama?"
Noticing us whispering, Gregory looked over at us with a complicated expression. The moment our eyes met, he quickly lowered his head with an awkward smile.
The movie lasted over two hours. On screen, the couple broke up and got back together; off screen, everyone was different.
When the movie ended, Oscar, not one to let things go, asked Gregory: "Are you guys going back to the Lopez Manor or to your place? Do you need us to give you a ride?"
Gregory quickly explained: "I'm taking Sophia back to her own place."
He spoke fast, as if afraid that if he explained too slowly we'd misunderstand: "I'll go back to my own place after."
Oscar looked at them thoughtfully: "You two... don't live together?"
Sophia glanced at Gregory with a resentful look, then forced a smile at us: "Gregory says it's better for me this way. He doesn't want people to gossip about me."
I gave her a thumbs up. I have to say, if I'd had Sophia's skills back then, at least my groom wouldn't have been stolen away on our wedding day.
I just wonder if the person she stole away still has eyes only for her?
I turned my head around, Oscar, to look at Gregory: "After you take Ms. Brown home, you should still come back to stay at the Lopez Manor. We've already told the butler, they'll leave the door open for us, and the Lopez Manor is more on the way."
Oscar immediately turned to look at me, seeming to warn me not to cause trouble. I pretended not to see, still smiling brightly, waiting for his answer.
Sophia tugged at his sleeve and said quietly: "That doesn't seem right. Going back so late would disturb Mr. Robert Lopez's rest."
Gregory smiled at us: "Uncle Oscar, it's dark out. Drive carefully on your way back."
I smiled back at them: "You two take it slow too. Even if the movie was good, don't get too lost reminiscing about it."
Gregory didn't say anything and left with Sophia.
When I got in the car, Oscar's tone was full of dissatisfaction: "Why were you smiling like that? They've already had sex now. You're not still hung up on him, are you?"
I gave him an exasperated look: "I'm just collecting a bit of 'interest' before the main lesson. Watching them squirm is my kind of fun."
Oscar analyzed seriously: "You're deliberately making him suspicious. As a man, I know best—he's curious about you and scared at the same time. He's probably racking his brain trying to figure you out, but what if he actually starts investigating you? Won't it be trouble if he finds something?"
I pressed down on the gas pedal: "You're underestimating Michael's abilities. The fake identity he made for me—can just anyone find out about it?"
Oscar slapped his forehead: "I almost forgot about that guy. You finally got out from under his control. You'd better not have too much contact with him in the future. He's dangerous—who knows when he'll explode."
"He's my boss," I reminded him seriously. "And funny enough, he also told me it's best not to get too involved with you."
Oscar said with some amusement, "He's got some nerve saying that to you. All these years, he's made quite a bit of money off you. He's probably afraid that with someone else helping you, you might eventually give up and stop working for him."
Oscar was being a bit paranoid: "Mr. Johnson may not talk much, and his temper isn't great, and he seems cold, but we're using each other. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be where I am today. The two hundred million dollars I invested in you—he gave me that. Not just money, but the factory and workers too."
Oscar was speechless: "That's... just small favors. Don't forget, I wanted to film you first. If he hadn't interfered, I might have brought you back already. Would you have had to work for him for three years?"
They'd been mutually disdainful for more than just a day or two: "Your phone seems to be ringing. Who's texting you this late?"
Oscar looked down and couldn't help cursing: "Damn it, Gregory says he's coming back tonight."
The corners of my mouth curved up more and more: "Isn't that interesting?"
Oscar looked at me, then at his phone message, and could only warn without any real threat: "Don't forget you're my fiancée."
"Fake." How many times did I need to remind him of this?
Sure enough, that one sentence completely shut him up.
When we got home, the lights outside the villa were still on. As soon as we parked, the butler opened the door and came out: "Mr. Oscar Lopez, Ms. Wilson, you're back? Mr. Robert Lopez has already gone to bed. Would you like some late-night snacks? I'll have the kitchen prepare something."
Oscar waved his hand: "No need, we're heading upstairs now. Oh, Gregory might come by in a bit. When he arrives, just let him go straight upstairs to rest. Don't disturb anyone else."
The butler was a bit confused about why Gregory would come over in the middle of the night: "Alright, I'll wait a bit longer then. You two go rest first."
Oscar pulled my hand as we went upstairs: "It's getting late. Wash up and get to bed quickly. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
I glanced toward the door. The lights in the yard were still on. Car headlights flashed in the distance, heading this way. Gregory probably had something to say to me. To keep him wanting, you have to let him wait; the suspense grips him more than the reward itself. It wouldn't be so easy for those two to be together happily.