Chapter 1094: Forcing a Smile
With Abigail's suggestion in mind, Emma went to Victor's place that afternoon.
On the way, she made a special stop to buy cupcakes for Sophia.
After she arrived, Emma rang the doorbell.
Charlotte hesitated for a moment upon seeing Emma at the door, but ultimately decided to let her in, remembering her young master's words.
"Miss Thornton."
As Emma entered, Charlotte respectfully greeted her and took a step back, trying to minimize her presence as much as possible.
Their previous encounters had always been filled with friction, even though Charlotte was just following Victor's orders. Emma couldn't help but find fault with her, and Charlotte had no choice but to endure it.
Emma noticed Charlotte's avoidance and disdainfully pursed her lips. "Charlotte, you opened the door quite quickly this time."
Charlotte lowered her gaze and remained silent.
"Where is Victor? Not at home?" Emma didn't want to bother with her anymore. After all, she would eventually dismiss Charlotte once she became Mrs. Leer.
"Young Master left for work early this morning," Charlotte replied. Victor had instructed her that if Emma came, she could let her in.
Therefore, Charlotte opened the door for her.
Emma nodded and glanced upstairs. "Where's Sophia? I came to see her."
Charlotte's heart tightened, but she still spoke honestly, "Miss Leer is in her bedroom."
Upon hearing this, Emma disregarded Charlotte and walked briskly upstairs with cupcakes in hand.
Charlotte followed closely behind.
In the morning, before leaving, her young master instructed her not to let Miss Leer spend time alone with Emma. Ultimately, he still couldn't fully trust Emma.
Sensing Charlotte following behind her, Emma stopped in her tracks and said impatiently, "Why are you following me? Are you afraid I'll harm Sophia?"
Charlotte also stopped walking. "Young Master asked me to keep an eye on Miss Leer. She has been in a bad mood these past few days."
Hearing Charlotte bring up Victor's name irritated Emma, but she chose not to say anything further.
They reached the door of Sophia's bedroom together. Emma knocked on the door but tactfully remained silent.
Soon enough, Sophia opened the door.
Sophia thought it was Charlotte coming up and didn't expect it to be Emma.
When she saw who was at the door, her expression froze for a moment, and she became somewhat guarded.
Emma saw the change in Sophia's expression and briefly felt repulsed. But then she remembered Abigail's advice and suppressed her anger. She smiled and crouched down to meet Sophia face-to-face.
"Sophia, look, Aunt Emma bought you cupcakes. Do you want to eat them downstairs or in your room?"
As if worried that Sophia couldn't see it, Emma waved the desserts in front of the little one.
Sophia's gaze was not drawn to the cupcakes in Emma's hand. Instead, she stared eagerly at Charlotte.
She didn't want to stay with this mean Aunt Emma and wanted Charlotte to send Emma away.
Naturally, Charlotte understood Sophia's thoughts and looked troubled.
However, all she could do now was make sure the little girl didn't have any alone time with Emma.
After a while without any response from Sophia, Emma grew impatient but still forced a smile.
"Don't you like cupcakes? Then how about Aunt Emma take you out to play this afternoon? We can go visit your grandma."
Facing this mean woman alone, Sophia was quite resistant.
When she heard that Emma wanted to take her to see her grandma, Sophia's resistance was written all over her face.