Chapter 289: You're Really Good at Being Considerate

Chapter 289: You're Really Good at Being Considerate

Michael stood on the porch, watching the scene with tender eyes.

He noticed Sophia's shoulders were completely relaxed, her fingers no longer tense—this was the first time she'd truly accepted a furry creature.

"Michael!" Lucas shoved Snowball into Sophia's arms and ran toward Michael, lowering his voice. "What the hell happened the other day? How did Sophia suddenly stop being afraid of dogs?"

Michael shot him a glance. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't."

"Oh..." Lucas rubbed his nose sheepishly, thinking he might get some intel from Michael.

Michael's gaze darkened as he added, "You just need to know that Sophia is incredible."

"Obviously!" Lucas puffed out his chest proudly. "Sophia's the best in the world!"

At the dinner table, delicate porcelain plates held glistening Italian ravioli.

Lucas was battling a lobster claw with his knife and fork when Michael discreetly slid a set of seafood tools his way.

"About Wilton..."

Ray had barely started when Mary placed a bowl of mushroom bisque in front of her husband. "Our daughter finally comes home for dinner, and you want to talk about work?"

"It's fine." Sophia placed a piece of pan-seared cod in her father's bowl. "Wilton's been targeting Vertex Innovations lately, but it's just petty corporate tactics. Nothing serious."

"Wilton's monopolized chip technology for years. Now that we finally have a domestic company that can compete with them, they'll use every dirty trick in the book to crush you. Be careful." Ray's voice carried genuine concern.

"I will," Sophia replied perfunctorily.

After living with the Smith family for over a decade, she'd witnessed every vile, underhanded business tactic through Andrew. Wilton's little schemes didn't faze her.

After dinner, the housekeeper cleared the dishes—the same one who'd been reassigned from Applewood Estate after caring for John.

Sophia was rummaging through the fridge for a drink when the housekeeper, seeing they were alone in the kitchen, hesitated before finally speaking up. "Ms. Johnson, there's something I need to tell you."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, maintaining an approachable smile. "If you have something to say, just say it. Why the hesitation?"

The housekeeper pressed her lips together, her expression conflicted, as if she'd been wrestling with this for days. She lowered her voice. "The day you brought Mr. John Smith to Applewood Estate—the moment you left, he coughed up blood."

The smile vanished from Sophia's face. Her brow furrowed. "Why didn't you tell me then?"

"Mr. John Smith forbade me." The housekeeper wrung her apron between her hands, looking distressed. "You know what Mr. John Smith is like. I was under the same roof with him. He told me not to say anything—how could I dare tell you?"

Sophia sighed inwardly, her brow knitting into a tight knot. John was a madman who struck fear into people's hearts. The housekeeper's hesitation was understandable.

"Just that once?" she asked.

"Yes. The next day he ran off."

"Alright, I understand." Sophia relaxed her furrowed brow and patted the housekeeper's shoulder, signaling she needn't feel too guilty.

Then she left the kitchen.

Apparently, having someone watch John wasn't enough. She'd need to call and check on that lunatic herself from time to time.

Otherwise, he might die in her house and she wouldn't even know.

In the living room, Lucas sidled up to Michael eagerly. "Michael~ You're the best~ Just play some games with me!"

"Don't know how." Michael remained unmoved, his refusal swift and decisive.

"Impossible. Last time you said you didn't know how either, then you pulled off a one-versus-five clutch so insane the platform thought you were hacking." Lucas refused to believe Michael was a gaming noob. He must've been practicing in secret!

Michael shrugged innocently. "I don't know, honestly. Maybe I'm just naturally gifted at any game Sophia's company develops."

"Ugh~" Lucas immediately narrowed his eyes. That dog food hit him without warning!

"Fine, we don't have to game." He pulled out his phone, showing Michael the chat history from his class group. "The girls in my class are offering ten bucks each for photos of you. Want me to take a few?"

Michael said nothing, picked up his own phone, and transferred three thousand dollars without hesitation. "Use what you'd make selling three hundred photos to buy your refusal of any and all proposals from them."

The teenager accepted the payment instantly and posted in the class group without hesitation: [In your dreams! Only Sophia gets to covet Michael's charm!]

He showed the message to his benefactor.

Michael glanced at it, his lips curving with satisfaction. "Well done."

"What's well done?" Sophia descended the dining room steps. Seeing the two huddled on the sofa looking suspicious, she grew wary. "What are you two scheming about?"

Michael was quick to complain. "He's scamming money out of me."

Lucas: ????

Sophia's scrutinizing gaze fell on him. Lucas, neither right nor righteous, still spoke boldly: "It's not a scam—it's a perfectly reasonable transaction!"

Sophia rolled her eyes. She knew all too well how Lucas had perfected his charming, ingratiating personality lately. "If you need more allowance, ask me. Why scam Michael?"

"Oh~" Lucas jumped off the sofa, not even bothering with shoes, and tiptoed over to tug at Sophia's wrist. "Sophia works so hard to earn money—I feel bad for you. But spending Michael's money? I don't feel bad about that at all."

Michael's head sprouted three question marks. "You're really good at being considerate, kid."

Ray pulled Michael into the study, asking him to play a couple of rounds of chess. Don't ask why he didn't invite his daughter—because he couldn't beat her!

As for Michael, well, he couldn't beat him either, but Michael would throw the game—subtly, imperceptibly. Ray could win and feel great about it!

Sophia stayed in the living room chatting with her mother for a while. Lucas sat nearby holding the Samoyed, quietly listening to their conversation.

They chatted idly until past eleven, when it was time to head to their rooms to shower and rest.

"I have to go back to work tomorrow, and Lucas needs to go to Mr. White's place. Everyone should get some rest." Sophia ended the conversation just as Michael and Ray emerged from the study.

"Alright. I had the housekeeper tidy up James's room. Michael, you'll sleep there tonight."

The moment Mary said this, Michael's world collapsed. He couldn't sleep with Sophia tonight!

Though internally devastated, he didn't dare object in front of her parents, maintaining perfect gentlemanly decorum. "Thank you for the trouble, ma'am."

Sophia pressed her lips together, restraining herself from laughing.

The arrangement was made, but after showering, Michael still snuck into Sophia's room.

When he pushed open the door, Sophia was standing on the balcony watching the snow, a thin blanket draped over her shoulders, her long hair cascading down.

Her silhouette merged with the snowy scene outside, inexplicably melancholy.

"Baby, what are you looking at?" He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his warm body heat instantly enveloping her.

"Nothing." Sophia shook her head, unable to articulate what she was thinking. She just felt inexplicably restless these past few days.

"Let me tell you some good news." Michael released his hold, turning her by the shoulders to face him. "Mr. Peterson woke up."