Chapter 85 Heart Given, Heart Wasted
Michael's hands froze mid-motion. He looked up sharply at Sophia, and seeing her relaxed expression only made his panic grow worse. "Sophia, what are you talking about? Engaged to whom?"
"Harper from the Phillips family." Sophia picked up a lightweight cashmere sweater, folding it as she walked toward Michael. She placed the neatly folded garment in the suitcase, then looked up at him with a faint smile. "I visited Mr. Matthew Green at the hospital two days ago."
When she'd arrived at the hospital, Pacific Group's chairman, Ron, and president, Henry, had both been there. She'd happened to overhear the Phillips family father and son discussing the marriage alliance with Matthew.
Matthew's position was that since marriage arrangements had always been decided by parents, they could settle the engagement first and let Michael and Harper gradually develop feelings for each other.
After she'd entered the room, Ron and Henry had left. Matthew had chatted with her extensively, but everything he said essentially boiled down to one message: she should be smart enough to leave Michael voluntarily.
She'd originally thought Michael was unaware of the arrangement, but judging by his reaction now, he'd apparently known all along.
Michael was completely panicked. He grabbed Sophia's hand tightly, desperately wanting to explain but not knowing where to start. "Sophia, I never planned to get engaged to Harper. You know you're the only one in my heart."
She knew that, but how much was a sincere heart worth in Emerald City's world of power and prestige anyway?
Sophia sighed quietly to herself, pulling her hand from his grasp. Her expression remained calm, showing no sadness, but her tone carried an unprecedented coldness, "Your father was right. We're from different social circles. I'm not good enough for you."
Her icy words struck Michael's heart like daggers, leaving him breathless with pain. He grabbed Sophia's wrist and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"Baby, please believe me. I won't go through with the Phillips family alliance. You're the only person I want to marry. No matter what my father said to you, no matter what he thinks, I only want you."
Sophia closed her eyes with a weary sigh, speaking with detached indifference, "Michael, you're not my entire life. I won't hold this against you. Please go. I need to pack."
During those seventeen years with the Smith family, she'd learned that this social circle involved too many compromises, too many choices people couldn't make freely. She'd made many such reluctant choices herself. Michael was the one person she'd believed would be different.
But she'd forgotten that Michael might also face situations beyond his control, and when that time came, she would be the one sacrificed.
She'd considered the possibility that Michael might not know about the engagement arrangement Matthew had made with the Phillips family, so these past two days she'd continued to trust him. Even when she'd brought up the topic just now, she'd been waiting for Michael to give her an explanation.
It turned out he'd known all along, yet kept it hidden from her.
Was he unable to explain, or did he see her as some clinging vine he could trample on at will, someone who couldn't survive without him?
"Sophia, please don't give up on me..." Michael tightened his arms around her waist, wishing he could merge her into his very body. "I'll cry, I really will cry."
Sophia let him hold her, knowing she couldn't match Michael's strength, but her heart remained cold and hard. "I'm running late. Please leave and stop wasting my time."
She was talking about the educational field trip, but Michael heard another meaning beneath her words.
He found it strange. With Sophia's personality, she would never let a few words from others influence something she'd already decided. She had multiple businesses under her control, was confident and independent—how could she suddenly say she wasn't good enough for him?
Besides, they'd grown up together and had deep feelings for each other. They understood and trusted each other completely. How could they be so easily manipulated by outside interference?
Something must have happened that he didn't know about.
Michael loosened his hold on Sophia slightly, leaning down to brush a light kiss across her lips. "Sophia, there must be some misunderstanding here. Go on your field trip and stay safe. I'll get to the bottom of this and give you a satisfactory answer when you return."
Sophia remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
Michael finally managed a smile, ruffling her hair before standing up and leaving.
Alone in the enormous walk-in closet, Sophia sighed wearily and continued packing.
Andrew had been right. Once news of the Green Group and Phillips family alliance became public, she'd become the laughingstock of all Emerald City.
Originally, she hadn't been worried, but the engagement news coming after she and Michael had confirmed their relationship—now she'd truly become the abandoned woman.
Matthew had exploited exactly this point, advising her to break up with Michael voluntarily so everyone could save face.
Too bad she'd chosen to trust Michael, and had to be hurt before she'd learn her lesson.
After finishing her packing, Sophia pushed the heavy suitcase down the stairs, then struggled to lift it into her car's trunk.
Driving her sports car, she headed to Silver Fir Academy.
On the way, she received a call from Andrew.
"Broken up yet?" He didn't even bother with greetings, jumping straight to the question.
Sophia gave a contemptuous laugh. "Your information network is quite efficient."
"I thought you'd be crying your eyes out, but you don't sound particularly heartbroken."
Heartbroken wasn't quite the word. Love had never been Sophia's entire life; she'd always been able to let go when necessary. Still, she was certainly disappointed.
Heart given, heart wasted.
"Did you call specifically to mock me?" Sophia asked coldly.
Andrew was already accustomed to her indifferent attitude. He asked casually, "I'll ask you one more time—want to come with me? Otherwise, once news of their two families' engagement spreads, leaving afterward will make you look like a joke."
"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Smith, but I have never been a clinging vine dependent on anyone. I don't need to prove my worth through marriage."
Andrew rarely smiled, but now his voice carried a note of appreciation. "Worthy of being my sister indeed."
"Not anymore." Sophia hung up immediately after saying this.
Dozens of luxury cars had gathered on Silver Fir Academy's athletic field. Those who knew would recognize it as a school-organized educational trip; those who didn't might think it was some high-end business summit.
Most surprisingly, Emily hadn't arrived in the Smith family's Lincoln today, but had carpooled with Joshua in his Range Rover.
When the two got out of the car—she wearing a satin dress, he in a satin shirt—they actually looked rather well-matched standing together.
The driver retrieved two suitcases from the trunk, and Joshua naturally took Emily's as well as his own.
Emily glanced at him shyly and thanked him softly.
Amelia watched with her lip curling in disgust. "What's going on? Are they actually dating? That look in their eyes is revolting!"
Wayne glanced at Amelia and drawled, "You have the same expression when you see James."
Amelia retorted, "What?"
Was that a personal attack?