Chapter 618 I Hope You Won't Mind
"Randy, did you do that on purpose just now?"
Randy froze for a moment, meeting Sophie's questioning gaze.
After a brief pause, he nodded. "Yeah, I did. I don't like how much attention you give Saul. But if it had been another waiter today, and I asked them to help with the bill, would you still question me like this?"
"There are no 'ifs.' Since I chose to be with you, I won't get entangled with Saul anymore. So, there's no need for you to target him."
Randy's face fell. He wanted to say something, but held back.
"Okay, I get it."
"Alright, let's head back."
The drive home was filled with silence.
It wasn't until Randy's car stopped in front of the Lee family home that he couldn't hold back any longer. "Sophie, don't you feel like things are different between us now?"
They were supposed to be a couple, but it felt like they were strangers, constantly testing each other and afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Sophie bit her lip and looked down. "Even though we're back together, the things that happened before haven't gone away. It might take some time to get back to how we were."
Randy gave a bitter smile at her words.
He feared that even with time, things would remain the same.
"Go on in. Goodnight."
Sophie nodded, opened the car door, and left.
Back in her bedroom, Sophie sat on the couch, her expression filled with helplessness and confusion.
She had thought that giving Randy another chance would bring them back to how they used to be.
But now she realized it was impossible to return to that state of mutual trust.
And being with Randy now felt exhausting.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed.
Sophie opened Facebook to see a message from Saul.
[Sophie, did you and Mr. Smith get back together?]
Sophie was surprised by Saul's perceptiveness and typed a reply.
[Yeah.]
Shortly after she sent the message, Saul transferred $150,000 to her.
[Sophie, this is the hospital fee you covered last night. I was going to give it to you over dinner, but now that you're back with Mr. Smith, it's not appropriate to ask you out. Thanks for everything.]
Sophie bit her lip, thinking for a moment before replying.
[Keep it. Your mom will need more money for her hospital bills.]
[But I'm not anyone special to you. How can I take your money? Sophie, I don't want to owe you too much. If you don't accept it, I'll transfer it directly to your bank account tomorrow.]
Sophie could almost picture Saul's aggrieved expression.
They had first met when Saul was walking alone in the pouring rain, drenched and looking like someone abandoned by the world.
At that time, she had just broken up with Randy and felt a sense of shared misery when she saw him. She stopped her car and gave him a ride back to school.
Unexpectedly, they met again the next day at a bar.
Saul was a waiter there and brought drinks to her table.
He recognized her and saw the five or six empty bottles in front of her.
He took the bottles away and replaced her drink with juice.
Sophie noticed something was off after drinking it and looked up to question him, only to realize he was the guy from the previous day. They gradually became familiar with each other.
At first, she liked Saul's face, but as she got to know him better, she realized they weren't compatible.
They were eight years apart and liked different things.
Some of Saul's actions seemed very childish to her.
Most importantly, she didn't have romantic feelings for Saul.
Now, her feelings for him were more like those of an older sister for a younger brother. She felt sorry for his hardships, but it wasn't because she liked him.
Saul should be dating someone his age, and she should return to her own life.
With that thought, Sophie accepted the money.
[Thanks for everything, and I'm sorry about today.]
In the quiet park, Saul read Sophie's message, a mocking smile forming on his lips.
Just as Randy had said, Sophie only saw him as a distraction. Once she got back with Randy, she kicked him aside without hesitation.
He took a deep breath, deleted the chat, and didn't reply.
They were from two different worlds, and now they were just returning to their previous lives.
But it still hurt a little.
This time, it was like waking up from a beautiful dream.
Saul stood up and walked towards the nearby bus stop.
After waiting for more than ten minutes, Sophie guessed that Saul was unlikely to reply again. She put down her phone and went to wash up.
In the following days, they didn't see each other again.
Sophie went back to her routine of going to work and occasionally dating Randy.
Saul returned to his routine of studying and working various jobs to cover living expenses and his mother's medical bills.
Half a month later, while working part-time at a restaurant, Saul received a call from the hospital.
"Mr. Pena, someone claiming to be your sister just transferred your mother to Metropolis Harmony Hospital."
Saul instinctively tightened his grip on his phone, a sense of unease washing over him.
He hung up and called Electra.
She seemed to be expecting his call and answered quickly.
"Saul, I didn't expect you to call so soon. We're on our way to Harmony Hospital now."
"Electra, if you dare do anything to my mom, I'll expose everything you've done. Send her back to Golden Gate Hospital right now!"
Electra chuckled. "Do you think you can threaten me? Your mom is in my hands. If you don't do as I say, you'll never see her again."
"What do you want?"
"It's simple. Get Sophie to meet me, and I'll let your mom go. I won't bother you again."
"No way! I won't help you with anything."
"Really? On the way to Harmony Hospital, there's a bridge. If there's an accident and the car falls off the bridge, your mom won't survive, will she?"
Saul's face turned pale, and anger nearly made him lose control.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Whether I dare or not depends on your answer. I'll give you three seconds to decide. Three... two..."
Before Electra could say the last number, Saul's voice came through. "Fine, I'll do it! But you have to send my mom back to the hospital right now!"
"Don't worry. The doctors at Harmony Hospital are top-notch, and the hospital director is a friend of my dad's. Your mom will get the best treatment. I'll send you the time and place. I want to see her tomorrow night. If I don't, you'll never see your mom again."
With that, Electra hung up.
Saul's hand slowly dropped, his eyes filled with despair.
No matter what he did, he couldn't escape the Ross family.
Without them, he couldn't afford the expensive medical bills.
But at the same time, the Ross family was the place he most wanted to escape from.
He hated everyone in the Ross family.
He hated Winifred, too.
If Winifred hadn't given birth to him, he wouldn't be stuck in this miserable life.
But Winifred was the only one who treated him well.
That thin thread of familial love tugged at Saul's heart. Despite the pain, he couldn't bring himself to cut it.
That evening, when Sophie got home, her mother Maria waved her over.
Sophie changed her shoes and sat next to Maria. "Mom, what's up?"
"Sophie, when are you and Randy planning to get married?"
Sophie frowned. "Mom, we haven't thought about marriage yet."
"You're not getting any younger. You need to think about it. We set you up on dates, but you were never satisfied. Randy is someone you chose, and now you don't want to get married. What do you want?"
Sophie looked down, not saying anything.
Maria got even angrier. "Every time we talk about this, you go silent. Silence won't solve anything."
"Silence won't solve anything, but marrying just anyone won't either! You just want me to get married, no matter what."
"We're doing this for your good. We're getting old. We don't know how much longer we can be with you. We want to see you settled."
"So, I should get married just to make you feel better?"
"You!"
Maria's face turned red with anger. "Fine, I'm done talking to you! But you have to get married this year, or I'm done with you!"
With that, Maria stormed off.
Sophie was about to go to her room when her phone buzzed.
She saw a message from Saul and was surprised.
[Sophie, are you free tomorrow night? I thought about it and decided I should treat you to dinner. If your boyfriend can come, bring him along.]
Sophie replied as she walked upstairs. [No need. The thought is enough.]
[Sophie, this is the last time. I won't bother you again. And your birthday is coming up. I want to give you your gift early.]
After a moment's hesitation, Sophie replied, [Okay.]
Saul quickly sent the time and place.
[Sophie, I booked this restaurant. I hope you don't mind.]
[I won't. I'm going to rest now. Goodnight.]
Sophie put her phone down and sat on the couch.
After not talking for over two weeks, Saul's messages felt distant.
Sophie rested for a while, then went to wash up.
The next evening, Sophie drove to the restaurant Saul mentioned.
Just as she was about to get out of the car, Randy called.
He had been on a business trip, so she hadn't told him about meeting Saul.
"Sophie, what are you doing right now?"
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