Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around! novel Chapter 149

Nicole frowned. "Soph…"

"It's alright, Nicole. It was my 'mistake', so I should make up for it. I want some time alone to clear my head. Could you go back ahead first?" Sophia interrupted her hoarsely.

Nicole wanted to say something more, but then she stopped. After a long time, she said, "Alright then."

She paused. "I'll give you half an hour. If you're not back in half an hour, I'll come looking for you."

"Okay." Sophia tried her best to tug at the corners of her lips, but she just could not manage a smile. "Thanks, Nicole."

Nicole sighed and stuffed her phone into Sophia's hand. "Keep an eye on the time."

Sophia nodded, saying, "I'm twenty, Nicole. Don't treat me like a toddler who could get kidnapped at any moment."

"You make me worry a lot more than a toddler would," Nicole said.

Sophia pursed her lips and played with the phone in her hand without a word.

"Then I'll go back now." Nicole waved at her and left, turning back to look at her every other step.

The pitch-black night was completely devoid of stars, and the moon was nowhere to be seen either. There was only the night air, cool after the rain, and the few lamps around the yard. It was eerily empty.

To Sophia, though, this was the only way she could let her guard down for a second.

She released a long breath and stood there dazedly for a while. She could not shake the feeling that someone was watching her, so she turned around and looked about her. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw someone's shadow disappear through the hospital door.

Perhaps she just stood out too much, standing here in the middle of the night. She probably earned a double-take or two.

Sophia laughed self-deprecatingly. After two years in prison, she had grown a little overly sensitive.

"Sophia?" a man's voice called out to her, deep and pensive.

Sophia's body stiffened, and she frowned in contempt. She did not turn around, nor did she say anything in reply.

Since the person calling her did not get a response, he tried again. "Sophia White, is that you?"

That was immediately followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Sophia pressed her lips together. She did not want to meet this person, so she headed the other way. When he saw that she was leaving, he quickened his pace. In no time at all, the person behind her had overtaken her and was standing in front of her.

Under the cool white light, the man's handsome features were clear as day. There was a hint of exhaustion and anger in his amber eyes. "Why didn't you respond to me?"

Sophia looked at him calmly. Her heart had settled somewhat thanks to her open and empty surroundings, but now she felt her disgust and hatred creeping back in again. "Do I have any obligation to respond whenever you call me, Mr. Jones?"

"Sophia, must you talk to me like that?" William Jones grabbed her arm, the anger in his eyes deepening. There was an unmistakable hurt in there too.

However, Sophia felt nothing but revulsion at the sight of him. She forcefully shook his hand off and said icily, "I thought I told you this a long time ago, but I'll tell you again to stay away from me. I don't want Madam Jones, Ms. Sommer, or Ms. Jones saying that I seduced you!"

With that, she wanted to walk away, but William suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

"You know perfectly well that I can't let go of you, so why must you treat me like this?" William's voice was filled with pain. He hugged her tightly, demanding, "Why? Charles Harris broke your leg and threw you into prison, so why are you still hung up on him?"

Sophia had just recovered from a terrible illness, so she was still feeling a little weak. She tried putting up a struggle, but she just could not break free from his grip, so she said angrily, "Let go!"