Chapter 195: What I'm Obsessed With Is You
At the police station, Maggie walked in with light, cheerful steps. There was even a smile in her voice when she spoke. "Hello, I'm here to turn myself in."
The officer on duty froze for a moment. It was the first time he had seen someone so happy to confess. His gaze fell on the bag slung over Maggie's shoulder, and he asked cautiously, "What's in the bag? Show me."
Two other officers noticed the situation and approached from behind. In one swift motion, they restrained Maggie and took her backpack.
The first officer opened it and found only a stack of documents and Maggie's identification.
"Besides turning myself in," Maggie said, "I'm also here to file a report."
Over the years, while carrying out her revenge plan, Maggie had painstakingly collected evidence of George's assaults on women. She was determined to get justice for Moira.
The police acted quickly. Within two or three days, Sophia saw the news.
Not only had the Rainbow Bridge Foundation case been concluded, but Maggie had also confessed to hiring kidnappers to abduct Jane and deliberately switching babies twenty-three years ago. Each case was supported by solid evidence. Maggie was now in custody, awaiting trial.
That same evidence included George's crimes from thirty years ago, enough to extend his six-year sentence to life in prison.
"Did she say anything else?" Joshua lifted his eyes from the TV news. He lowered his head and carefully placed the stack of photographs back into the envelope.
"No." Sophia picked up the teapot and calmly refilled Joshua's cup. "She probably knows you hate her."
Joshua's eyes reddened slightly.
He did hate her.
He hated that Maggie had lied to him all those years, trapping him in a cycle of vengeance.
But looking at those photos and recalling fragments of his childhood, his heart ached with a sense of reluctance.
He had thought Maggie kept her past and identity hidden to protect herself. Now he understood that she had been protecting him.
The less he knew, the safer he would be when those dark secrets finally came to light.
Human emotions were always complicated. Love and hate intertwined.
Sophia watched Joshua silently as he struggled with his emotions. She had long since lost the ability to feel that way.
In her world, there was only liking or disliking. People who made her comfortable, she liked. People who annoyed her, she despised.
Everything was simple and clear.
"It's all in the past now," she said flatly, her tone devoid of emotion.
After all, she was not particularly close to Joshua. Now that their alliance had ended, their future interactions would likely be limited to business.
Joshua quickly composed himself. He set the envelope aside and looked at Sophia intently. "Can you answer the question I asked you before?"
Sophia tilted her head slightly, her brows lifting in confusion. She did not waste time remembering trivial things.
Joshua smiled faintly and repeated the question from years ago. "Can I be your friend?"
She had once told him that she liked people who had value.
Those who provided emotional value could become close to her. Those with business value could become part of her network.
Although Andrew & John Corp had only recently been established and could not compare to the former Smith Group, Andrew had spent years weakening Smith Group while building his own foundation. Andrew & John Corp was far from insignificant.
He was now the president of Andrew & John Corp. Did that make him qualified to be her friend?
Sophia let out a soft, amused laugh. "You're still thinking about that question?"
"I was never focused on the question," Joshua said as he took a sip of water. He looked at her seriously. "What I'm obsessed with is you."
Sophia's lips curved slightly, but her expression remained indifferent. "None of the three of you are normal. Don't drag me into it."
Joshua's eyes darkened instantly, a cold glint flashing within them. "You're not normal either, are you?"
Sophia did not respond. She picked up her purse with calm composure and stood up. "Package delivered. I'm leaving. I have dinner plans with my boyfriend tonight."
Her eyes curved into a smile, though a hint of coldness lingered beneath it.
The Maybach was waiting downstairs outside Andrew & John Corp. When Michael saw Sophia stride out in her heels, he got out of the car to greet her.
"It got colder today. Why didn't you dress warmer?" He removed his light scarf and wrapped it around her neck. His gaze dropped to her short skirt, and he frowned. "Did you wear tights?"
"I did." Sophia's smile was radiant, almost docile.
Michael's frown softened. "Get in. You finally have a day off. Where do you want to go?"
"Let's go to Solstice Haven. I haven't properly visited Mr. Wright since my birthday. Let's stop by Sunrise Urgent Care first to pick up a gift."
"Sure."
……
"Huh? Why are you home so early? Is the company still having trouble?" Mary opened the door and saw her husband standing there, concern flickering in her eyes.
She had already seen the news. Maggie had confessed to hiring kidnappers to abduct Jane. The case was closed, and the Johnson family's name had been cleared.
And after seeing Sophia's influence in the business world, their company should not still be struggling.
"No, it's not that..." Ray's expression was complicated. At that moment, a young woman stepped out from behind him and into Mary's line of sight.
"Mom."
Mary froze. It felt as if her entire body had turned rigid. She stood there, staring at the girl, unable to process what she was seeing.
That single word, "Mom," completely stunned her.
"Emily? What are you doing here?" Her voice sounded stiff, clearly caught off guard and displeased.
Emily lowered her head, but Mary could still see her eyes reddening.
Ray let out a quiet sigh and explained, "She found Snowball. She didn't know where we lived, so she brought him to the office to find me."
As for why he brought her home, Emily had burst into tears the moment she saw him. Between sobs, she told him how badly the Smiths treated her, how they never treated her like family.
Now that Smith Group had gone bankrupt, with George in prison and Jane missing, and with Andrew and John refusing to help her, she had nowhere to go.
She had been their daughter for seventeen years. Ray felt a pang of sympathy. Since Emily had found Snowball, he could not turn her away. So he brought her home to help figure out what to do next.
Mary pressed her lips together in silence for a long moment, clearly struggling with her thoughts. Finally, she shifted her feet and stepped aside.
"Come in."