Chapter 96 Sophia Hope Foundation

A healthy kid could really boost the Smith family's rep, but a sick one, especially one who might not make it, could bring a lot of heat if they died under their care. Wesley couldn't risk their name getting dragged through the mud.

"Hey, Mr. Jordan," Emily coughed as she walked over.

"Hey, Ms. Johnson," Wesley replied.

Emily shook her head. "Call me Mrs. Smith. What I'm about to say is on behalf of the Smith family."

"Alright, Mrs. Smith, go ahead," Wesley said, still unsure of what was coming.

Emily looked like she was making a tough call, her face all scrunched up in pain.

Emily: [Giving away this diamond hurts so much. Sophia, you messed with me once, so now it's my turn.]

Meanwhile, Sophia, who had just left Sunny Mart with James and was still a bit rattled, glanced back at the store. "James, what do you think Emily's up to?"

James shrugged, clueless. "No idea."

David raised his hand. "Why don't you ask me?"

James and Sophia looked at David, but then turned away as he started to speak.

"Come on, you guys! I get Emily better than anyone. I spent the most time with her at the hotel," David said, feeling proud, but they still ignored him.

"Fine, I'll just say it. This has to do with that diamond Emily just got. She's planning something involving Sophia," David said confidently, but James and Sophia just looked at him like he was an idiot.

They had already figured that out. David's "analysis" was pretty obvious. Just as they were about to tease him, David's next words made them pause.

"I think there's another angle here: the kids. Put it all together, and what do you get? An orphanage. If she's scheming against you, it must be under your name," David said. James and Sophia's expressions changed, like they were starting to agree with him. David felt proud. Finally, he outsmarted them. Who's the dummy now?

Emily's plan was close to David's guess, but it wasn't an orphanage—it was a foundation.

"Are you saying you want to set up a foundation to help these kids find homes or grow up?" Wesley asked, wide-eyed. This was exactly what he was worried about. He hadn't even brought it up, and Emily was already on it. He knew it would be a tough, thankless job.

Emily nodded, feeling a headache coming on. Why was Wesley so surprised? Shouldn't he just agree? If he hesitated any longer, she might back out.

Emily: [Just like David, a fool. Do all muscleheads have bad brains? Not all of them, right? James doesn't. He's got abs and brains. Abs are the best. They help me forget the pain of losing money.]

Not far away, David, who had just thought he was smart, heard Emily's thoughts. He coughed, feeling like he was about to puke.

James wanted to laugh but held back, with Sophia and David right next to him. Sophia was giving him a mischievous smile.

Sophia grinned. "James, how much do you think this thought is worth?"

"How about I tell Emily and let her get back at you without spending a dime?" James shot back with a smile.

Sophia's grin turned sour. No one knew what Emily would do. If James really told her, who knows if Emily would sell her out? She gave James a thumbs up. "You win, James."

James and David both flashed victorious grins. David felt a rush of happiness knowing that neither he nor Sophia could outsmart James, which meant Sophia was just like him. That thought alone was enough to put a big smile on his face.

Meanwhile, in the backyard of Sunny Mart, Wesley was genuinely touched. He turned to Emily and said, "Mrs. Smith, thank you on behalf of all these kids."

"Mr. Jordan, please don't. If you keep this up, I'll regret it," Emily said. "And if you want to thank someone, thank Sophia. I'm just acting on her behalf. The name of the relief fund will be the Sophia Hope Foundation."

Hearing it was Sophia's idea, Wesley was even more shocked and felt guilty. He had almost gotten her killed today. If not for James's timely warning, Sophia would have been in real danger.

So he quickly apologized to Emily and went to find Sophia.