Chapter 305 Are You Planning to Drain Me Dry?
Finnley's crisp, pleasant scent mixed with a hint of pine rushed toward her, and Sophia's cheeks instantly flushed red.
She glanced at him and chuckled softly, "Not bad. Keep it up."
Arabella and Celestia were now sitting obediently at the dining table, showing no trace of their earlier arrogance.
Watching the curve at the corner of her lips, Finnley couldn't help but smile too.
A gleam flashed in his eyes as he lowered his voice, "So shouldn't you give me a raise?"
Sophia was stunned, not expecting him to make such a request, then found it amusing.
"Mr. Bryant, are you planning to drain me dry? At this rate, I probably won't be able to afford you much longer."
Finnley: "So are you giving me a raise or not?"
Sophia was both annoyed and amused by his money-over-everything attitude. "Fine! I'll give you a raise right after dinner!"
Seeing them huddled together whispering, the people at the table had various expressions.
Preston looked pleased, finally showing a smile on his face.
Now this felt like a family.
Before Benjamin came back, the house was cold and lifeless, without any warmth.
Celestia ate her meal silently, occasionally looking up to glare at Sophia.
Over two years' worth of allowance gone—she wouldn't be able to buy anything now.
Preston had even given special orders to freeze all her cards and forbid her parents from lending her money.
All of this was because of Sophia!
Sophia noticed Celestia's extremely resentful gaze and turned to look at her.
Her curled lashes blinked, and a hint of mischief flashed through her bright eyes.
"Honey, I want some shrimp. Could you peel them for me?"
Sophia's voice was sweet and soft, with an indescribable charm that tickled Finnley's heart like a feather.
Hearing her call him "honey" so suddenly, his spine stiffened slightly.
Under everyone's suggestive or teasing gazes, he slowly stood up, brought the plate of shrimp in front of himself, and began peeling.
Finnley's hands were slender and fair with defined knuckles. Even doing something like peeling shrimp, he exuded an elegant grace that was pleasing to watch.
Sophia propped her chin on her hand, watching him, her eyes full of amusement.
The way he peeled shrimp was exactly the same as when she first came to the White Manor.
Back then, he had done the same thing.
He had pulled the entire plate of shrimp in front of himself and peeled them one by one.
"Here."
Just as Sophia was lost in thought, a slender hand with well-proportioned knuckles suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Finnley was holding a peeled shrimp to her lips.
Sophia glanced at him and leaned in to bite the shrimp from his hand.
But accidentally, she bit down on his firm finger.
Meeting Finnley's eyes, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly parted her lips and looked away as if nothing had happened.
Finnley calmly withdrew his finger.
A trace of moisture glistened on his fingertip. The image of Sophia's full, rosy lips with their dewy sheen floated before Finnley's eyes.
His deep eyes darkened as he casually continued peeling the second shrimp.
Sophia's cheeks flushed slightly, her heart racing.
After lunch, Preston stood up from his chair with his cane and said to Sophia, "Sophia, come with me to the study. I need to talk to you."
Sophia glanced at Finnley, then followed Preston upstairs.
As soon as they entered the study, Sophia heard Preston ask, "Benjamin... did something happen to him these past two years?"
"Grandpa, what could have happened? Didn't he come back safely?" Sophia pretended not to understand.
Preston walked to his desk with his cane and sat down, sighing softly, "He's my grandson. I understand him better than anyone. You know, I've been through quite a lot myself and won't be easily shaken."
Sophia hesitated for a moment, then told him about meeting Benjamin at the bar.
Finally, she shared her speculation, "Since Benjamin is still alive, then Elijah must be alive too."
"You're saying Benjamin's memory was erased? How is that possible?" Preston looked incredulous.
How could a person's memory be altered?
This was simply absurd!
"Grandpa, don't you find it strange? Seventeen years ago, after Benjamin was rescued, he couldn't describe those people's appearances or features at all."
With Sophia's reminder, something seemed to explode in Preston's mind.
Benjamin had always been smart. No matter how difficult something was, he could learn it almost immediately.
His memory was exceptional.
But when the police asked about the people in the lab, he stammered and couldn't say anything.
At first, everyone thought he was just scared, so they didn't press further.
He had thought the same.
"This... how is this possible?" Preston murmured.
Sophia looked at Preston with determined eyes, "Grandpa, you should know that I've always had a photographic memory, but I also can't remember what those people looked like."
Preston's expression turned stern, taking on a more authoritative air.
"Who else knows about this?"
"Only Benjamin and me. We suspected before that we might have been hypnotized. Thinking about it now, the only thing that could alter memories would probably be hypnosis."
Sophia was certain that with current medical technology, they couldn't develop such advanced drugs yet.
So that left only hypnosis.
"This... hypnosis can change people's memories? How is that possible?" Preston still looked incredulous.
Sophia said, "Grandpa, you've seen it with your own eyes. He is your grandson."
Although Preston found it hard to believe, he had to admit that what Sophia said was true.
He sighed and asked, "So what's your plan now?"
Sophia smiled lightly, "He deliberately returned to the White family as Benjamin, obviously to gain my trust and join that organization. In that case, why don't we play along?"
She knew very well that Benjamin wasn't stupid and could guess that something was wrong with his identity. He was just too stubborn.
So stubborn that... he only wanted to believe what he firmly believed in.
Since he wanted to play, she'd play along.
After all, the old Benjamin had always acted like someone in power—proud, aloof, as if everything was under his control.
As a businessman, he could always maximize his advantage and make others follow his lead.
Sophia was quite curious to see who would win and who would lose between them this time.
After hearing this, Preston couldn't help but laugh, "You just want to mess with him?"
Sophia smiled mischievously, "Who told him to make us worry for two years? This is what he deserves."
"Alright, I'll call Alaric and Cillian over tonight to tell them about this. Whatever you want to do, go ahead. We'll cooperate with you."
This was between husband and wife—he wouldn't interfere!
Sophia came out of the study and headed straight back to the bedroom.
As soon as she pushed the door open, a warm, large palm gripped her slender waist and pulled her inside.
Then the door closed.
Her back pressed against the door, and a familiar crisp scent rushed toward her.