Chapter 25 A Wild Goose Chase
Sophia sighed, closed her thermal water bottle, and said casually, "Let those two lunatics be crazy if they want. The Smith family genetics don't seem to produce a single normal person. Let's have lunch together tomorrow, I've got a problem I can't figure out that I'd like to discuss with you."
"Sounds good, I'll come pick you up." Michael's voice carried laughter, and he couldn't help adding a few reminders, "Be careful when you go out, and call me if anything happens."
"Alright, hanging up now."
After ending the call, Sophia plugged in her phone to charge and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Just as she opened her bedroom door, she saw James emerging from his room at the same time.
"Morning, James!"
Sophia greeted him with bright, sparkling eyes. Her long hair was loose, and her strawberry-print pajamas made her flawless, peach-fuzz-soft face look incredibly gentle.
James couldn't resist ruffling her hair. "Morning. What would you like to eat? French toast? Oatmeal? Pancakes? Or should I fry you an egg?"
Feeling the gentle tickling sensation on her head, Sophia didn't mind at all. His movements were always soft and careful, never messing up her hair. She'd grown used to James's head pats.
The feeling was just like that between loving siblings—intimate and doting.
Oh, right, they actually were loving siblings.
"I bet Mom already has breakfast ready," Sophia said as she walked into the bathroom.
James went to check the kitchen and found she was right.
There was a large plate of breakfast hash left out, enough for all three siblings.
"Is Lucas still not up?" Sophia asked around her toothbrush, her words muffled.
"Yeah, letting him sleep in on weekends." James also entered the bathroom and started brushing his teeth.
With nothing else planned for the morning, they ate breakfast and returned to their respective rooms to do homework.
Silver Fir Academy covered far more subjects than regular high schools. Not only did they have to keep up with traditional subjects, but there were also aesthetics, economics, equestrian studies, golf, and business management—all sorts of random courses.
The amount of homework was enough to give Sophia a headache.
Halfway through her work, her phone rang, interrupting her concentration.
She glanced at the caller ID, her expression darkening, and promptly hung up.
It rang again.
She hung up again.
It kept ringing.
She kept hanging up.
The caller persisted relentlessly, the ringtone becoming so annoying that even James from the next room came over to ask what was wrong.
Sophia waved James off, indicating she was fine and he needn't worry, then irritably answered the call.
"Andrew, what the hell do you want?"
An understated yet luxurious dark green Mercedes sat parked outside the apartment building. In the back seat, a man with long legs crossed exuded an air of noble composure that commanded respect.
Finally hearing Sophia's voice on the phone, Andrew glanced out the window at a woman walking by with fresh groceries. "Your biological mother truly is a beauty. I'm outside your apartment. Either you come down and talk with me, or I'll invite this lady up to the car for a chat."
Andrew's voice was calm as still water, yet it made Sophia's heart clench.
At this time of day, he must have encountered Mary returning from grocery shopping.
"Wait there." Sophia hung up, grabbed her keys, and ran out.
She knew Andrew too well, outwardly refined and cultured, but ruthlessly calculating underneath.
If Mary got in his car, there was no telling whether what came back would be her whole body or just parts of it.
Within two minutes, Sophia had changed her shoes and made it downstairs, just in time to encounter Mary.
"Mom." Sophia caught her breath, slowed her pace, and put on her usual smile. "Back so soon? Did you finish cleaning the shop?"
Mary was delighted, taking Sophia's hand excitedly. "While I was cleaning, several women came by to ask what kind of shop I was opening. When they saw how well I take care of myself, they all added me on Facebook and said they'd come when we open!"
"Of course! You're the best advertisement for your own shop." Sophia patted Mary's hand encouragingly. "Mom, why don't you go upstairs and rest? A friend came to see me. I'm going out for a bit."
"Alright, I'll go start lunch. Come back soon, I bought your favorite ingredients for today!" Mary beamed as she headed upstairs.
From inside the Mercedes, Andrew watched the entire interaction through the car window. Only when he saw Sophia striding toward him did he slowly look away.
"Drive."
"What?" The driver was confused. Weren't they here to see Sophia?
They hadn't even met yet, and now they were leaving?
Andrew's icy gaze met the driver's in the rearview mirror, sending chills down his spine. He immediately started the car and sped away.
Sophia had just reached the building entrance when she watched the Mercedes drive off right in front of her.
She frowned, a question mark practically appearing above her head.
What kind of game was this?
Sophia pulled out her phone and called Andrew. He answered quickly.
"Didn't you want to talk? I came down, and you just drove off. What's the point of that?" Sophia's tone was thoroughly unpleasant. She was already irritated with Andrew, and being led on this wild goose chase made her even more annoyed.
Andrew remained perfectly calm, speaking as if it were completely reasonable, "I suddenly didn't feel like talking anymore. Dinner tomorrow night—I'll pick you up."
Then he hung up directly.
Listening to the dial tone, Sophia would have smashed her phone on the spot if she'd skipped just two more etiquette classes.
The Smith family really didn't have a single normal person!
...
The pet shop's glass door was suddenly pushed open violently, making the wind chimes shake frantically.
"Welcome to..." The employee's greeting got stuck in her throat. The man at the entrance was smiling, but his eyes made her back go cold.
John casually shook the water droplets off his umbrella, his gaze sweeping over the various types of dogs in their cages—from fierce, large breeds to cute, docile puppies.
When his eyes landed on a brown and white Border Collie in a corner cage, a pleased smile curved his lips.
"That one."
Border Collies were smart, just like her.
Seven years ago.
On a winding mountain road late at night, Sophia huddled in the passenger seat, trembling.
John had floored the accelerator. The windshield wipers moved frantically, but couldn't shake off those twisted tree shadows.
Like vengeful spirits in the forest, they seemed to wrap around them.
"What's there to be afraid of?" John let go of the steering wheel with one hand, his ice-cold fingers suddenly gripping the back of Sophia's neck. His eyes held a sickly, excited gleam. "How thrilling! Look outside, cliffs and precipices everywhere. One wrong move and we'd go smash!"
Ten-year-old Sophia was terrified, curled up in a ball with every nerve taut, her heart feeling like it would burst from her chest.
"Stop—stop!" she stammered.
John's lips curved upward as he suddenly slammed the brakes.
They skidded on the asphalt, the car's body violently swerving direction. As the rear end swung out over the cliff's edge and the tires crushed the guardrail, she dug her nails deep into his arm.
The rear wheel dropped over the cliff edge. The car slid backward, and Sophia squeezed her eyes shut, sobbing quietly. When the car finally stopped sliding, she opened her eyes and reached for the door handle.
"John! Open the door!"
John wore a careless, wicked smile, loving this expression on her face—tense, fearful, angry, desperate. So entertaining.
He gripped her chin with force that seemed capable of crushing her bones. "Why get out? Don't you find this exciting? Let's go to hell together—I'll be your brother again in the next life, too."
John snapped out of the memory, accepting the Border Collie puppy from the employee's hands.
She'd surely be delighted to receive this gift.