Chapter 105: Why Haven't You Made a Move on Amelia Yet?
"Just wait here!" Sophia patted Wayne on the shoulder and headed back into the classroom.
Wayne stood there, puzzled, when his phone rang—it was Sophia calling.
He watched through the classroom windows as Sophia pulled up a chair next to Amelia. After a moment's hesitation, he answered the call and pressed it to his ear.
Their conversation came through clearly.
"So? What did he say?" Amelia asked urgently.
Sophia pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Pretty much what he told you before. Honestly, I think he's convinced you're into James. But then again, James does have a pretty high opinion of you. Since Wayne's already talking about breaking off the engagement and you don't like him anyway, why not just call it off? I could set you up on a date with James!"
"Are you out of your mind?!" Amelia looked absolutely horrified. "I already told you—I admire James, but that's it. There's nothing inappropriate about my feelings!"
"So you don't like James. Fine. After the engagement's broken off, just find someone you actually do like."
"Why are you talking about breaking off the engagement now, too? If we call it off, what happens to Wayne? You want him kicked out of the Cooper family with nothing?"
"What's there to worry about? If the Cooper family doesn't want him, he's still got friends. You've got money, I've got money, Michael's got money—we're not going to let him end up on the streets." Sophia made it sound so simple, yet somehow entirely reasonable.
Amelia thought it over, but still shook her head. "No, it's not the same. Inheriting the Cooper family fortune is his birthright. No matter how much money we give him as friends, it would hurt his pride. His self-respect would take a hit."
Sophia propped her chin on her hand, watching Amelia with keen interest. "You're that worried about him? Setting everything else aside—if the Cooper family hadn't made that ridiculous vow, would you break off the engagement?"
"That's a hypothetical that doesn't apply."
"Come on, just humor me."
Amelia pressed her lips together, thinking seriously for a moment. "I definitely wouldn't be the one to bring it up. I've been mentally prepared for an arranged marriage since I was little. We've known each other for years, we know each other inside and out, and we're good friends. He's honestly the best possible match for an arranged marriage. But if he wanted to break it off and brought it up first, then I wouldn't have to feel conflicted about it."
"So basically, you're actually okay with marrying him?"
"You could say that. If I have to marry someone I don't love, he's the person I'd be most willing to accept."
No romance, but at least there was friendship. That had to be better than marrying a complete stranger, right?
Sophia nodded slowly. "Got it."
Amelia panicked. "What good does you getting it do? Go talk some sense into Wayne! I can't bring it up myself—you need to tell him!"
Sophia rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, fine. I'll go talk to him!"
She stood and walked back toward the hallway. Wayne ended the call at the same moment.
Sophia smiled faintly. "You heard all that? She doesn't like James's type—she just thinks he's good-looking. That's it."
Wayne had already understood from Amelia's words. Despite all her complaints about the engagement, deep down, she'd accepted him as her fiancé.
But there was still one thing he couldn't figure out. "If she doesn't want to break it off, why won't she just tell me that?"
Sophia actually laughed. "What do you expect her to say to her 'brother'? 'I think marrying you sounds great, you're my top choice for a husband?'"
Come on.
Wayne paused, then smiled. "So... there's still a chance."
"My advice? Just go after her." Sophia dropped that bombshell casually and turned back toward the classroom.
Without her, those two were doomed.
At lunch, Wayne asked Amelia to eat with him. They talked in the cafeteria for ages, and by the time they came back to class in the afternoon, they were back to normal.
Apparently, Wayne still hadn't confessed his feelings outright, but he was being much more openly attentive to Amelia than before.
Lucy also came to find Sophia. She thought Sophia was an absolute genius—at lunch, her father had called to tell her she'd be managing LunaStride from now on.
"How did you even do that?" She was genuinely curious. What method had Sophia used to get her father to agree to let her run the business?
"You don't need to know." Sophia sipped her milk, her demeanor as relaxed as ever. "Next week, tell your dad you don't have any shares or real authority, so the company employees won't listen to you. Say you can't manage it like this."
"Okay." Lucy thought for a moment, a spark of hope flickering in her chest. "Once I take full control of LunaStride, do you think... maybe I could refuse the arranged marriage?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. You marrying Wesley is more valuable to them than LunaStride."
Lucy's gaze dropped in disappointment. Sophia glanced at her and continued, "And don't fantasize about LunaStride being completely yours, either. Your brother's the actual controller. All you need to do is get enough shares to live independently if you leave the Reed family. If they find you a better match than Wesley down the line, you'll still have the option to go back."
"Understood. Either way, thank you."
With all that settled for now, Sophia turned her attention to other matters.
Sunday was James's twentieth birthday, and Sophia was planning to throw him a surprise party the day before—a proper covert operation.
That was the whole reason she'd added Ethan on Facebook in the first place. For James's twentieth, she obviously had to invite his best friend to celebrate.
She created a Facebook group, which Ethan immediately renamed [James's Birthday Party Logistics & Planning Division].
The members included everyone in the family except the guest of honor, plus his friend Ethan, superfan Amelia and her fiancé Wayne, and Tom, who'd been recruited solely because he owned a DSLR camera.
By Friday night, the group chat was buzzing with activity.
[Amelia]: Sophia, did you book the venue?
[Sophia]: Top-floor presidential suite at Celestial Peak Hotel. Soundproofing's excellent. Everyone else, status reports.
[Wayne]: Decorations are ready. We can head out tomorrow morning to set up. Over!
[Evelyn]: Ordered a three-pound cheesecake. Over!
[Tom]: Camera charged and tested. Over!
[Mary]: Drinks fully stocked. Over!
[Ethan]: Confetti cannons loaded and ready. Over!
[Sophia]: Amelia, don't forget the alcohol.
[Amelia]: It's James's 20th birthday—I'm breaking out my 1982 Château Lafite to celebrate properly!
[Sophia]: Perfect. Tomorrow, Wayne picks up Ethan. Dad drives Mom and Lucas over. You guys handle decorating the venue. Amelia, coordinate with Evelyn to pick up the cake. Tom, you just need to bring your camera. I'll pick up the birthday boy. Any questions?
[Amelia]: None! Mission accepted!
[Lucas]: Mission accepted!
James was starting to suspect he was being excluded from something. After dinner, the entire family was glued to their phones, chatting away, while his Facebook notifications remained dead silent.
Was there a group chat without him? Were they talking about him behind his back?