Chapter 83 To Hell with Your Grand Scheme
As for when exactly Wayne started having feelings for Amelia, Sophia wasn't entirely sure, but it had to be at least three or four years ago.
Both she and Michael could clearly see Wayne's feelings for Amelia, but Amelia always assumed he was just a childhood playmate, just a friend.
Sophia felt both speechless and helpless. She cupped Amelia's cheeks and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Amelia, honestly, you can be remarkably oblivious sometimes."
"What?" Amelia frowned in confusion. "What does this have to do with being oblivious?"
Sophia shook her head, unable to explain clearly. "Never mind what Wayne thinks—first tell me what you think. Do you like someone else? Want to date other people? Do you actually like James?"
"Oh come on, no, I was just joking about that." Amelia pulled Sophia's hands away, sat up straight, and poured herself another half glass of wine. "Actually, I don't have anyone I like. I just enjoy looking at attractive guys, and sometimes I'm a little envious of you and Michael."
"What's there to be envious of with Michael and me?" Sophia was puzzled. She didn't think there was anything particularly special about their relationship.
They hadn't had any dramatic plot twists like kidnappings, car accidents, amnesia, or heroic rescues—just a simple, natural development into their current relationship.
But Sophia didn't realize that Amelia envied exactly that naturalness.
As the only daughter of the Martinez family, many things were beyond her control, including marriage.
When it came to romance, the journey was often more important than the destination.
But her marriage had been decided from the beginning, leaving her unable to experience the natural progression from strangers to acquaintances to truly knowing someone, feeling their affection, and finally deciding if they were the person she wanted.
"Alright, stop worrying about it. The most important thing right now is your studies. You and Wayne aren't getting married tomorrow, and after high school, you'll both be going abroad for college. Who knows what might change?"
Sophia took the wine glass from Amelia's hands and helped her up. "Time for bed. A good night's sleep will help you think more clearly about everything."
...
Meanwhile, at Emerald City Private Hospital.
Matthew had spent years traveling abroad, leaving Michael to temporarily manage the company as good training. He didn't interfere much with Emerald City affairs.
When Michael rushed to the hospital room, Arthur was updating Matthew on recent important developments.
Brandon had said the patient shouldn't be overwhelmed with heavy thinking so soon after waking, so Arthur had selected only the most essential matters that Matthew needed to know.
This included the Smith family's true and fake daughter situation, and Pacific Group's attempt to pressure Michael into an engagement through business leverage.
Seeing Michael arrive, Arthur stopped talking and tactfully stepped aside.
Michael walked to the bedside and gently gripped Matthew's temporarily immobilized hand. "Dad, how are you feeling?"
Seeing Michael's reddened eyes, Matthew managed a loving smile. "Michael, I'm sorry you've had to worry about me all this time, managing both the company and your studies while taking care of us. That must have been exhausting."
"It wasn't hard. I'm just glad you're awake." Michael was certainly tired, but seeing his father conscious again made all the physical exhaustion and mental burden seem worthwhile.
"You've grown up." Matthew felt deeply gratified. From what Arthur had told him, he felt confident he could fully entrust the company to Michael.
Suddenly changing topics, Matthew asked, "How has Sophia been lately?"
Since the Smith family scandal was such a major event, Arthur had surely filled Matthew in on all the details, so Michael didn't rehash the background. "She's doing well. The Johnson family adores her, and she has her own business ventures, so she won't struggle."
"That's good..." Matthew murmured with what seemed like relief. "Now you can have peace of mind too."
Michael's expression stiffened. "Dad, what do you mean by that?"
Matthew looked at Michael. His prolonged bed rest, sustained only by IV drips, had hollowed his cheeks, making him appear much older than before.
After a moment's consideration, he spoke again, "You've met Harper from the Phillips family. She's only three months younger than you. You should spend more time with her—people your age should have plenty to talk about."
Michael frowned, unable to believe his father was saying such things right after waking up. "Dad, I confessed to Sophia tonight, and she said yes. She's my girlfriend now."
Michael tried to resist. He had a girlfriend now. Unless Matthew didn't care about Green Group's reputation anymore, surely he wouldn't ask him to abandon the woman he loved for profit.
He believed Matthew, who had spent most of his life building Green Group into what it was today, wouldn't ignore the company's reputation.
But Matthew's next words shattered Michael's hopes, "I don't oppose you dating Sophia, but dating and marriage are two different things. I know you and Sophia grew up together and have strong feelings, but you can be lovers without being husband and wife."
"Dad, what are you saying!" Michael was genuinely angry now. Wasn't his father essentially telling him to get engaged to Harper while keeping Sophia as his secret mistress?
What kind of person did that make him?
And what did that make Sophia?
Matthew had expected it wouldn't be easy to convince Michael. He remained calm and patient. "Michael, I never opposed your relationship with Sophia before because she was the Smith family's daughter. Your families were well-matched, and if you could naturally end up together, that would have been better than any arranged marriage.
"But things are different now. She's left the Smith family, and you know what the Johnson family's situation is. She's no longer in your league. Even if you love her deeply, even if your mother and I care for her like our own daughter, can you shield her from society's gossip? Can she handle that pressure?"
Matthew sighed and continued, "I'm very fond of Sophia, too. But you and she are no longer on the same social level. Being together would only bring unhappiness to both of you."
Michael stood there dejectedly, his eyes filled with dejection. "Do you think marrying Harper would make me happy? This past year, it's been Sophia by my side; she's been helping me. If she hadn't led Vertex Innovations to develop that chip, Green Group would still be at Pacific Group's mercy. Yet you want me to ignore her contributions, ignore my own feelings, and marry into the Phillips family for business?"
Matthew sighed, speaking earnestly, "Pacific Group has more than just chip technology, and Green Group has more than just that one project. A marriage alliance between the Green and Phillips families would be a powerful merger, taking Green Group to the next level and breaking Smith Group's hold over half of Emerald City's business district. You're an adult now. It's time to mature and learn to put the bigger picture first."
"To hell with your bigger picture!"
Before Michael could respond, Brandon, who had just finished treating Sarah, couldn't contain himself any longer.
He packed up his medical equipment, stood up, and pointed an accusing finger at Matthew. "If Sophia hadn't knelt in the pouring rain for two hours until she collapsed, begging me to treat you and your wife, you'd still be lying here like a corpse! And now you have the nerve to criticize Sophia and interfere in their relationship? I should never have saved either of you!"