Chapter 258: When the Younger Sister Watches

Chapter 258: When the Younger Sister Watches

(Sophia POV)

I glanced at her and couldn't help but laugh.

"Pretty much."

Chloe sighed and walked forward carrying her shopping bags. Noah and Robinson were walking ahead, the two of them talking quietly about work again. She followed beside me, eyes fixed on his back while chatting with me.

"Your brother really looks good in white shirts." Her voice was very low.

I didn't respond, just looked at her. She didn't notice, still staring at that figure ahead, like looking at a painting. A painting hanging in an art gallery, behind a barrier, untouchable. She knew she couldn't touch it, but she still wanted to look.

She sighed, walking while gesturing to me about the outfit combination for that camel coat from earlier.

"I think it would look better with those ankle boots, the ones from that store on the fifth floor—"

Before she finished speaking, she missed a step. There was a flight of stairs between the second and third floors of the mall. When she reached the edge, she didn't notice at all. Her whole body tilted forward, and the shopping bag flew out of her hand. She instinctively closed her eyes.

A hand caught her waist. Not much force, but very steady.

She opened her eyes and saw Noah's face less than 7 inches away. His hand was still at her waist, fingers pressing against the small of her back through the fabric of her coat.

"Careful."

Her face turned red from her ears all the way down to her neck.

I think her brain probably went blank. For about two seconds. He confirmed she was steady, let go, and bent down to pick up the shopping bag from the floor.

"Watch where you're walking."

"Thank you." Her voice was as small as a mosquito's.

He had already turned and continued walking forward. Robinson stood nearby, his expression as calm as always. I walked to her side and said quietly.

"Your face is red again."

She covered her face, wishing she could evaporate on the spot.

I saw her fingers touch her cheek, then drop down, clench into fists, and stuff into her coat pockets. She was holding back. Not holding back laughter, but holding back her heartbeat.

Close to noon, Robinson came over.

"Boss, I've reserved lunch in advance. Exit through the north entrance of the mall, three minutes on foot."

Noah nodded. I looked down at my phone—Mom had just sent a message asking when I'd be home. I looked up with an apologetic expression on my face.

"Noah, I need to head out first. There's something I need to take back to Mom, she just messaged asking for it."

He frowned. "You just got out of the hospital, I'll have Robinson take you."

"No need, the driver is waiting downstairs." I picked up two of the bags and glanced at Chloe. "You keep my brother company for lunch, help me make sure he actually eats instead of just drinking coffee."

She opened her mouth. I winked at her and turned to leave. Walking very fast, completely unlike someone who just got out of the hospital.

I knew she was watching me, but I didn't look back. She needed an opportunity, and this was all I could do to help. How she used that opportunity was up to her.

Later Chloe told me that Robinson led the way, she followed behind Noah, and the two of them walked through the mall's north entrance for less than three minutes. They arrived at the restaurant. She looked up at the sign and stopped in her tracks.

"Deux." Pink balloons hung on both sides of the entrance, paired candlesticks were displayed in the window, and a standing sign at the door advertised today's special—couples set menu with a complimentary rose. A couples restaurant.

She turned to look at Robinson. He expressionlessly pulled open the door.

Noah walked in, seemingly not noticing the pink balloons at the entrance at all. She stood at the door, took a deep breath, and followed him in.

Inside the restaurant was even worse. Every table was a two-seater, with flowers and heart-shaped napkins on the tables, and the lighting adjusted to warm yellow.

At the next table, a couple was feeding each other dessert, and at the table across from them, a girl was leaning on her boyfriend's shoulder taking selfies.

The waiter came over with a smile, saying the couples set meal for two was ready, please sit this way. She said she felt herself burning from her ears all the way down to her neck.

After Noah sat down, he looked around, and his expression finally showed a slight change.

He glanced at the heart-shaped napkin on the table, then at the small blackboard in the corner that said "Love Menu," and finally looked toward Robinson standing at the entrance.

Robinson had already retreated outside the door, his back to the restaurant, hands clasped behind him, like a doorman.

He picked up the menu, his expression returning to calm.

"What do you want to eat?"

She said she opened the menu and every dish had those kinds of words in the name. She held up the menu to hide her face.

"Whatever."

The whole meal took forty minutes. She said she stared at her plate the entire time, unusually quiet.

He was normal though, ate a few bites of steak, drank half a glass of water, and took two phone calls in between.

When the waiter brought the complimentary rose, he politely said no thank you. She said that rose was like a knife stabbing her in the heart. Not because he refused it, but because whether he accepted it or not had nothing to do with her.

After the meal, the two of them parted ways at the restaurant entrance. He said he had a meeting in the afternoon and had Robinson take her home. She said no need, she'd get a taxi herself. Sitting in the back seat of the taxi, she pressed her face against the car window and didn't say a word the whole way.

When she got home, William was sitting in the living room watching financial news.

She changed into slippers, carried her shopping bags past him without saying a word, and went straight upstairs.

William turned off the TV and leaned back on the sofa, thinking for a while.

Ten minutes later, he picked up his phone and sent Noah a message.

【William: Mr. Brooks, sorry to bother you. There's a personal question I'd like to ask you.】

Noah didn't reply quickly, about five minutes passed.

【Noah: Go ahead.】

William considered his wording.

【William: What do you think of my sister?】

There was a long silence on the other end. Nearly three minutes later, the reply came.

【Noah: Chloe is great, lively, warm-hearted, and takes good care of Fiona too. I've always seen her as a little sister.】

William stared at the words "as a little sister" and put down his phone.

He went upstairs and stood at her bedroom door, knocking twice.

"Come in."

She was lying on the bed, face buried in the pillow, voice muffled.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

William sat on the edge of the bed and handed over his phone.

She turned her head and glanced at it.

She said her expression didn't change much. She didn't cry, and didn't look disappointed either. She just looked quietly for a few seconds, then rolled over, facing the ceiling.

"William, I know."

William looked at her.

"Actually, I figured it out at the restaurant today." Her voice was very soft.

"The couple at the next table was feeding each other cake, the couple across from us was taking photos, the whole restaurant was pink. But he sat across from me, ate a few bites of steak, took two phone calls, with the same expression as when he's in a meeting at the office."

She paused.

"It's not that he's not good. He just never thought in that direction at all."

William said nothing.

"I don't want to be the kind of person who won't take no for an answer." She closed her eyes. "I've decided, I'm giving up."

William reached out and patted her head.

"So what are you going to do?"