Chapter 465 Does He Still Have Feelings for Her?

James was still staring at Emily's retreating figure when Sophia, clearly annoyed, shook his arm. "James, what's up? Got something else to say to Emmy?"

Sophia scrutinized James's face, hoping to catch any hint of his thoughts.

James sighed, tearing his gaze away from Emily. He forced a smile and asked Sophia, "What do you want? Pick anything. No limit. I'll cover it."

"You're the best!" Sophia said happily. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to kiss James on the cheek.

James instinctively dodged, and Sophia's lips missed his face entirely.

Sophia's expression froze. "James."

Even now, he wouldn't let her kiss him?

Was he really planning to marry her?

James didn't want to waste energy explaining. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward the store clerk. "See if there's anything you like. If you find something, we'll buy it all."

Spending money on Sophia was easier than dealing with her emotions.

Sophia fell silent. She was unhappy with James's behavior, but his willingness to spend money on her was a sign of his affection. For now, she decided not to make a fuss.

If she pushed too hard, he might leave.

Sophia sat down and happily picked through the jewelry the clerk brought over. Just then, James's phone rang.

It was a message from the middle-aged man he had arranged to sell the Snow Mountain Willow to Emily.

It read: [Mr. Smith, Ms. Johnson wants to take me out to dinner.]

James frowned slightly. Dinner with Austin Roberts? Was Emily suspicious that the Snow Mountain Willow wasn't really Austin's?

James replied: [Ignore it.]

Austin quickly responded, "Mr. Smith, Ms. Johnson is very insistent. She says I helped her a lot by selling her the Snow Mountain Willow and insists on taking me out to dinner. She said if I refuse, it means I'm hiding something."

James's frown deepened. He was about to reply when Sophia leaned over. "James, what are you busy with?"

It was nothing, really, but James instinctively put his phone away.

Noticing his abrupt action, he kept a straight face and looked at the suspicious Sophia. "Nothing, just work stuff."

Sophia watched him for a moment, then smiled. "I've picked out the jewelry I want. Let's go eat, James. I'm starving."

Worried that Sophia might dwell on the earlier incident, James agreed.

On the way to the restaurant, James received another message from Austin.

Austin: [Mr. Smith, Ms. Johnson insisted. I couldn't refuse, so I agreed.]

James glanced at the message and didn't object.

Since Emily was already suspicious, not letting her meet Austin would only make things worse. Let them meet. If he stayed out of it, Emily wouldn't find any trace of his involvement and would eventually stop being suspicious.

The luxury car pulled up in front of a restaurant.

James led Sophia to the second floor.

The elevator was out of order, so they took the stairs.

Unexpectedly, as they reached the second floor, they saw Emily and Austin about to enter a private room.

Sophia's face changed, and she bit her lip. "James, it's Emmy."

Hearing her voice, Emily instinctively turned her head. Seeing James and Sophia, she felt her luck had run out.

She had run into them while buying jewelry, and now, trying to enjoy a meal, she encountered them again.

She knew Skylight City wasn't big, but she never realized it was this small.

The people she didn't want to see, she saw twice in one day.

Emily glanced at them, then disdainfully looked away. She smiled at Austin. "Mr. Roberts, thank you so much for the Snow Mountain Willow. Because of it..."

Emily and Austin quickly entered the private room, and their voices were cut off. But Sophia's mind was filled with Emily's words: "Thank you for the Snow Mountain Willow."

Sophia's body stiffened.

As far as she knew, there was only one Snow Mountain Willow in Skylight City, and it belonged to James. How did Emily get one?

What was going on?

Was there a second Snow Mountain Willow in Skylight City that she didn't know about, or did James give his to Emily?

Sophia's suspicious gaze fell on James.

Did James give his Snow Mountain Willow to Emily?

Did he still have feelings for Emily?

Sophia struggled to keep her emotions in check and asked as calmly as she could, "James, I think I heard Emmy say she has a Snow Mountain Willow. Isn't that yours? How did it end up with Emmy?"