Chapter 33 What's the Real Reason You Left the Smith Family?
Wayne actually knew some information. "I heard he's not from Emerald City. His parents died young, and he lives with his aunt. She's from Silverlight City, but we don't know her exact name or details. He never mentions it, and no one can get it out of him. Very mysterious."
"Silverlight City?" Amelia looked completely puzzled. "He came all the way from Silverlight City to study in Emerald City? Why?"
Wayne shrugged. "Who knows? Our school has a lot of non-local students too. Maybe they just wanted Silver Fir Academy's education and specifically sent him here."
Sophia pondered this for a moment. Joshua was strange, sure, but ultimately it had nothing to do with her. She didn't even know the guy; he couldn't possibly be targeting her specifically.
She decided not to dwell on it and relaxed her brow. "Let's not worry about all that. Class is almost over. Let's do a couple more laps and then get changed."
The three mounted their horses and practiced some riding techniques on the field before heading off to change clothes for their next class.
By sheer coincidence, as Sophia finished changing and emerged from the locker room, she came face to face with Joshua—the very person Amelia and Wayne had described as creepy.
"Sophia, I've heard so much about you." Joshua's thin lips curved into a smile, his eyes crinkling, though there was no warmth in them.
Sophia curved her lips in what seemed like a friendly expression. "Are you here to change for equestrian class, or were you specifically waiting for me?"
"Both," Joshua admitted candidly. "There've been lots of rumors around school lately, saying you left the Smith family for three million dollars. From what I can see, you're quick-witted and strategic; you shouldn't be the type to abandon long-term prosperity for short-term gain."
Sophia's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, but she quickly returned to normal, smiling as she said, "Since you know they're just rumors, why bring them up with me?"
"So what's the real reason you left the Smith family?" Joshua's expression remained unchanged, but Sophia detected a hint of danger in his eyes.
She answered frankly, "What if I told you it was to find my real family? Would you believe me?"
"No."
"Since you wouldn't believe me anyway, why bother asking?"
Sophia raised an eyebrow slightly and decided not to waste any more words on him, stepping forward to brush past him.
Joshua's gaze paused, the smile fading from his face. He turned to watch her retreating figure, his eyes revealing undisguised malice.
Sophia returned to the classroom and sat down, unscrewing her water bottle to take a sip while replaying their conversation in her mind.
Amelia and Wayne's instincts had been right. Joshua's words were flawless, his expression friendly, but his gaze sinister, radiating barely concealed hostility. He was mysterious and dangerous, impossible to read.
Logically, the other wealthy students weren't blind. If Joshua's unusual behavior was so obvious, there was no way so many people in their grade would still fawn over him.
The only possibility was that he hid it well, but for some reason couldn't conceal it around her, and by extension showed some hostility toward people close to her, too.
He was targeting her.
But Sophia couldn't understand why. Today was the first time she and Joshua had ever spoken face to face—they'd never had any previous interaction. She was from Emerald City, and Joshua was from Silverlight City. They had no connection whatsoever; they'd never even met outside school.
So how had she offended Joshua?
Just because her grades had kept him in second place for two years?
That seemed unlikely.
Thinking about it more carefully, he'd asked her why she left the Smith family, seeming very interested in her reasons for leaving.
It was puzzling for someone from Silverlight City to care about Emerald City's elite family drama.
Could he have some grudge against the Smith family?
But if he had a grudge against the Smith family, why come after her? If he wanted revenge, he should be targeting Emily instead.
Sophia couldn't figure it out, so she decided to stop trying. Whatever she needed to know would come to light eventually.
"Sophia, want to come to my winery for drinks tonight?"
Amelia plopped down on Sophia's desk, making Wayne rush to pull off his school blazer and drape it over her legs.
He couldn't help but lecture, "Amelia! Could you please watch your image when you're wearing a short skirt!"
"Mind your own business!" Amelia hated being lectured and shot him a glare, but still reached down to adjust the blazer covering her legs. Turning back to Sophia, she continued, "Come on, please! I've had this winery open for so long, and you still haven't come to check it out. Don't wait until it goes bankrupt without ever visiting."
Wayne rolled his eyes. "You're that confident in yourself? Already know the winery's doomed to fail?"
Amelia clicked her tongue and smacked Wayne's arm. "I'm talking to Sophia, why are you butting in! You promised to get me a batch of new wine before, and then never followed through. I haven't settled accounts with you for that yet!"
Wayne leaned against another desk, facing Amelia. "It's not my fault. The supplier got caught for tax evasion, and the deal suddenly fell through. It's not like I deliberately didn't get it for you. I'll make it up to you next time I find good wine, okay?"
"That's more like it."
Listening to them bicker, Sophia suddenly remembered in elementary school, when Amelia first learned about the arranged engagement, she'd gotten so angry that she went to fight Wayne and pulled his pants down in public.
Wayne had been so humiliated he'd cried his eyes out and locked himself in his room for a week, refusing to go to school.
In the end, Amelia had shown up at his door with a backpack full of snacks to apologize, coaxing and pleading until she finally calmed him down.
Sophia lowered her head to hide her smile. These two had been fighting since childhood; no wonder that Amelia only thought of Wayne as a good friend.
"Sophia, don't just sit there enjoying the show!" Seeing Sophia laughing so happily, Amelia poked her shoulder. "You haven't answered me yet, are you coming or not? I'll have some vintage grape juice ready for you."
"Vintage grape juice is just wine, isn't it? She's not even of legal age yet. You dare let her drink? Aren't you afraid Michael will beat you up?"
Wayne teased with a laugh. Everyone knew Sophia was the apple of Michael's eye. He'd eliminate anything that might be even slightly harmful to her.
If Amelia dared give Sophia alcohol, she'd become the next harmful thing Michael would eliminate.
Amelia protested, "I was just saying! Pure grape juice, freshly squeezed, okay?"
"You two don't need to argue. I can't make it tonight—Andrew asked me to dinner," Sophia said casually.
"What?"
Amelia immediately jumped down from the desk, her voice rising several notches. "What does he want?"
Wayne firmly patted Sophia's shoulder with the tragic expression of someone sending her off to battle. "Sophia, I have a bulletproof vest at home. I'll have someone sneak it out for you right now. Good luck tonight."