Chapter 246 Our Family Has No Tradition of Women Bowing Their Heads
When she gets busy with work, she completely loses track of day and night. She's worried her family will be concerned about her.
Benjamin frowned, speaking disapprovingly, "The experiment is important, but your health is more important. Have you forgotten how you almost passed out after working non-stop for two days?"
Sophia held the soup bowl in front of her, fidgeting with it uncomfortably in her hands. A flash of guilt crossed her eyes, but she still argued back, "I didn't pass out, I just fell asleep."
"You didn't pass out and now you're proud of it? Do you know how worried I've been about you these past few days? But I was afraid of disturbing you, so I didn't dare say anything." Benjamin's face darkened, his lips pressed into a tight line.
Sophia's confidence immediately deflated. She muttered quietly, "Fine, I won't go. Why are you yelling at me?"
She was only doing this to cure the illness faster, wasn't she?
During this time, even though Benjamin didn't say it out loud, she knew he felt guilty about her.
She wasn't stupid - she could sense it.
She never regretted giving Benjamin that only antidote, but she didn't want to see him constantly drowning in guilt, feeling like he owed her.
She wanted to quickly cure the poison in her body so he would stop blaming himself.
Realizing his emotions had gotten out of hand, Benjamin's lips parted, but all his words got stuck in his throat.
Preston picked up the fork in front of him and tapped it on Benjamin's shoulder. "What are you being so fierce for? Who is our Sophia doing this for? Apologize, now."
A vein throbbed at Benjamin's temple. He couldn't help but retort, "Grandpa, who's actually your real grandson here?"
"You are. So what?" Preston snorted, then immediately changed his attitude when he looked at Sophia, his face breaking into a kind smile. "Sophia, don't be upset. Benjamin is just worried about you."
"I'm not upset." Sophia glanced at Benjamin, then quickly looked away.
"That's good. Benjamin, go comfort Sophia."
Sophia sat in her chair, chin raised, waiting for Benjamin to make things right.
Benjamin cleared his throat and gently tugged at Sophia's sleeve, his voice low. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have been harsh with you."
Sophia looked at the hand on her sleeve, suppressing the curve of her lips while maintaining a cold expression. "Your apology lacks sincerity. I don't want to accept it."
"Then what will it take for you to accept it?" Benjamin asked patiently.
"You figure it out yourself." Sophia stood up from her chair, said goodbye to Preston, and went upstairs.
She found some clothes she wore often from the closet, folded them neatly and packed them in her suitcase, then added her toiletries.
Time was too tight - only half a month left. She couldn't delay any longer.
Downstairs, after Sophia left, Benjamin and Preston looked at each other.
Preston snapped back to reality and tapped Benjamin's shoulder again with his fork. "What are you still sitting here for? Go apologize! You were in the wrong here. Sophia is just a girl - why were you so harsh with her?"
"How was I wrong? She doesn't know how to take care of her own health. I say a few words to her and suddenly I'm the bad guy?" Benjamin's lips twitched slightly, feeling helpless.
Preston pulled back his chopsticks and said firmly, "You ARE wrong! Let me tell you, in our family, women never have to be the first to back down. Go make my granddaughter-in-law happy right now. If you can't do it, don't bother coming back."
Benjamin rubbed his forehead helplessly. "Grandpa, am I really your grandson?"
Preston didn't hesitate. "No, I picked you up from a garbage dump. Now go."
He waved Benjamin away impatiently, his tone full of disdain.
Benjamin felt even more helpless.
He didn't think he'd done anything wrong and felt a bit wronged himself, but in the end, he still got up and went upstairs.
As soon as he entered the bedroom, he saw Sophia packing her things.
His lips pressed down and he quickly walked over to her. "You're really going?"
"Yes. Otherwise, coming back every day would waste so much time." Sophia's anger had actually completely disappeared - or rather, she hadn't really been angry, just feeling a bit frustrated.
Before meeting Benjamin, she'd always been carefree and never forced herself to do anything.
She could complete most things in the shortest time possible, except for making this antidote.
So she couldn't help feeling anxious, wanting to get better quickly, not wanting to see Benjamin looking so helpless anymore.
She lowered her eyes sadly. It seemed she still wasn't strong enough.
If Robert were here, maybe she wouldn't have to struggle like this.
Suddenly a shadow fell over her. Sophia looked up to see Benjamin kneeling down in front of her.
He reached out and pulled Sophia into his arms. "I shouldn't have been harsh with you. I apologize."
Sophia stumbled from his sudden movement and fell steadily into his embrace.
She looked at him proudly. "Didn't you think you weren't wrong? Why are you apologizing now?"
Benjamin suddenly cupped Sophia's face and lowered his head to kiss her lips. "In our family, we don't make women back down first. If you won't back down, then I will."
His lips pressed firmly against Sophia's, kissing her gently, their noses touching, their breaths mingling.
When Sophia opened her eyes, she met those deep, dark eyes like a starry sea. The surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of their mingled breathing and wildly beating hearts remained.
When the kiss ended, Benjamin slowly released Sophia, his gaze falling on her flushed lips, his eyes darkening.
He gently stroked her glistening lips with his fingertip, the smile in his eyes deepening. "This is my sincerity. Did you feel it?"
Sophia was dizzy from his kiss and barely managed to regain her senses.
Hearing this, her already flushed cheeks turned even redder.
Still, she said stubbornly, "Either way, I'm still going."
"Okay, I know." Once Sophia made a decision, it was hard to change her mind.
Benjamin held Sophia's slender waist and stood up from the floor, then walked toward the closet.
He opened it and took out his clothes, then pulled out his suitcase from the bottom shelf.
"What are you doing?" Sophia looked at him in confusion.
Benjamin tossed his clothes into the suitcase and glanced back casually. "Aren't we moving out? Then let's go together."
"You're coming to live at the lab with me?" Sophia's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"What? Is the bed there too small for two people?" Benjamin raised an eyebrow and asked in a low voice.
Without waiting for Sophia to answer, he continued, "We can squeeze in somehow, right? Worst case, I can be your free mattress."