Chapter 99 Wealthy Sophia
James's attention immediately shifted from the car as he looked at Sophia with delight. "Really? That's amazing!"
Sophia hummed in acknowledgment, starting the engine to drive away from campus. "I'm telling you first, then I'll post about it online tonight."
"Am I the first to know?"
"No, Amelia and Wayne were there when he confessed. But you're the first I'm personally telling."
That was special treatment at least. James began wondering about Sophia's boyfriend. "How did you two meet? Is he a classmate?"
Recalling her first encounter with Michael, Sophia couldn't help but smile. "He's a little over a year older than me, a college freshman. We met as kids when I dug up a love letter."
"Whose love letter?"
"John's."
After finding that love letter, Andrew had rewarded her and Michael with a big cake, then posted the letter on the Smith family's front gate, publicly mocking John for a week.
John had been furious, wanting to get back at her, but he still had some conscience left—he couldn't bring himself to seriously hurt a two-year-old, so he settled for tearing up one of her teddy bears instead.
She hadn't been upset, because when Michael found out, he brought her an enormous teddy bear the next day—so big that she was shorter than the bear's legs.
James chuckled softly. "Sounds like he's always been good to you."
"Yeah, we've known each other for sixteen years and he's never said a harsh word to me. When I was at the Smith house, he'd comfort me when I was unhappy and take care of me when I got hurt. The Smiths wouldn't let me study business, so after every tutoring session, he'd come teach me everything the instructor had covered."
All her childhood exposure to economics came from Michael being her little teacher. Later, when she was old enough to attend public events, Andrew would intentionally bring her to meet business leaders.
Having that knowledge foundation allowed her to hold her own when facing corporate moguls at such events—she could discuss economic developments with insight, making them willing to chat with her.
Over the years, she'd gained experience and built connections.
That's why she always said she owed her current success entirely to Michael and Andrew.
"But since you grew up together, aren't you just seeing him as family?" James thought childhood friendships were pure and beautiful, but ultimately they were so young—she might be mistaking familial love for romantic love.
Sophia turned the steering wheel as they rounded a corner. "He never treated me like family, so how could I misjudge these feelings?"
When she was ten and broke her leg, he'd paced anxiously by her hospital bed, having the staff make different sweet soups every day. He'd rush over with soup after school to keep her company, saying sweet drinks would improve her mood—he had to watch her finish before he'd relax.
Michael was still young then, not very strong, so when she returned to school, the driver had to carry her up and down stairs. From that point on, he insisted on daily workouts, wanting to be able to carry her himself if she ever got sick or hurt again.
At fourteen, when she got her first period and was doubled over in pain, Michael—then in eighth grade—immediately ran across half the campus to her classroom, carried her to the nurse's office, and stayed by her bedside all night.
That's when she truly understood just how intense Michael's feelings for her were.
After hearing Sophia's story, James smiled warmly, reassured that this boy clearly cared deeply for his sister.
"When can I meet him?"
Sophia considered this. "Sometime soon, I'm sure there'll be an opportunity."
Michael was extremely, extremely, extremely busy lately. Forget James wanting to meet him—even she could barely get face time with him.
No rush though. Now that she and Michael's relationship had no obstacles, as long as she didn't fall out completely with the Johnson family, they'd meet eventually.
The car pulled into the Applewood Estate garage.
Seeing the mansion before him, James was no less shocked than he'd been half an hour ago seeing the sports car.
He'd known Sophia had some assets, but this "some" far exceeded his imagination.
Though this was only two blocks from their apartment, it was in a completely different neighborhood. He knew enough about real estate prices to realize a two-story mansion like this started at $3 million minimum.
Sophia never flaunted her wealth in front of the Johnson family. Even now that they were close, she preferred not to reveal her full hand.
But James was somewhat different to her. Perhaps because when she'd first returned to the Johnson family, it was easiest to communicate with James, who was closest to her age, and they'd bonded first. Compared to the others, she trusted this brother most.
So she'd driven the sports car to pick him up, and brought him here.
It wasn't intentional disclosure—she simply didn't mind him knowing.
"Want to come in for a bit?"
Seeing James so surprised, Sophia extended an invitation.
"No need." James waved his hand. "I'm just suddenly wondering why you're willing to live in that little place with us."
"Real estate is just one type of asset—buying it doesn't mean you have to live there. Sleep only requires one bed, and staying with you all is nice."
Sophia didn't tell James about her initially malicious curiosity—wanting to see how golden children would react to falling from grace.
But as time passed and she'd grown closer to the family, she genuinely found the little apartment quite pleasant.
Smith Manor was such a huge mansion, yet often she'd be there all alone—empty and cold.
The apartment might be small, but it was filled with warmth. Every evening the family crowded around a little table for dinner, the tiny space overflowing with laughter and conversation.
Besides, after Bruce renovated it, everything was clean and tidy, and her bed had become comfortable—nothing to complain about.
As if guessing her previous life at the Smith family, James felt a pang of sadness and ruffled Sophia's hair.
He really didn't know whether Sophia's time with the wealthy, powerful Smith family had been a blessing or a burden.
Mary called to hurry them along, so the siblings leisurely walked home.
James brought up the topic of why Sophia wouldn't let Electra and Alice work with him on projects.
Sophia didn't hide anything, "Electra's personality is to blame herself for everything, feeling guilty and self-reproachful over things that have nothing to do with her. You're too kind-hearted—spend too much time around someone like that and you'll inevitably get dragged into trouble. You're gentle and polite with everyone, so even if I warned you, you'd still help her if you saw her in distress. So I had to eliminate the potential problem myself."
James thought it over carefully and realized Sophia was right—if he saw Electra in trouble, he couldn't possibly ignore it.
One thing would lead to another, and they'd definitely become friends.
"What about Alice?"