Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around! novel Chapter 86

Yvette seemed to have noticed her anomaly, yet at the same time, she looked as though she had not seen it. She simply continued, “I wanted to throw the party at Harris’ residence at first, but Old Master is a little mindful of your identity as an ex-convict. He did agree to throw a party for you, just not in Harris’ residence."

"Don't do it, then. I appreciate your kindness, Aunt Harris," Sophia said, sounding rather urgent as she bent down to pick up the chopsticks from the floor. She then placed them on the table.

A servant came up to give her another pair of clean chopsticks and put away the dirty pair.

Yvette sighed. It was hard to tell whether she was still on the same topic or had changed to another. "My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak."

"Don't blame yourself, Aunt Harris. You have done more than enough for me." Sophia had gone back to looking normal now. Her face, however, was still slightly pale. "A birthday party is just a formality, I don't really care."

"It’s not an issue of whether you care or not, but whether others care. This is your first birthday after your release from prison. Heavens know how many pairs of eyes will be on you. If we throw a casual birthday party for you this time without putting much thought into it, then you will truly be perceived as an abandoned child in their eyes," Yvette said.

Sophia took a bite of her food, feeling as though she was chewing on wax. "I don’t care how others perceive me. I actually am an abandoned child."

"I have ordered the servants to organize the birthday party and have also sent out the invitations. You just need to go over with me tomorrow." Yvette did not seek her opinion anymore and made the final decision for her.

Sophia could not refuse as the invitations had already been sent out. She lowered her head to eat and did not utter another word.

After the meal, Leah arrived and started making small talk with Yvette. After a while, she smiled and said to Sophia, "I’m a little thirsty after all the talking. Can you pass me that plate of fruit on the table?"

Sophia did not budge.

Charles was not around. There was no need for her to put on an act simply because she was afraid of offending him for being disrespectful to Leah.

Her demeanor reminded Leah of something. "Let me just make it clear that I’m asking you for a favor because it’s inconvenient for me to move my leg. I’m certainly not treating you as a servant and ordering you around.”

She said with a face full of sincerity, "You may have been working in Dream Club for too long and think that I’m ordering you around when you hear me asking you to grab something for me. Please forgive me if my words have offended you."

She stressed the two words ‘Dream Club’ and glanced at Yvette as though nothing had happened.

Yvette was taking small bites of the sliced fruit. The arc at the corners of her mouth diminished a little.

"Ms. Jones, you can still be a screenwriter even if you can't dance anymore. If you write plays related to imperial harems or just harem fights in general, I honestly think you will rise to fame in no time," Sophia suggested mildly.

"Thanks for the suggestion. However, I’ve been learning a thing or two related to finance the last two years you were in prison. I am now a member of the Finance Department in Jones Group. I have a busy schedule every day, so I guess I can’t be a screenwriter anymore." Leah smiled lightly.

Every word she said was like a knife dipped in poison, stabbing fiercely at Sophia's heart.

Sophia pursed her lips and made no reply.

"If you don't want to work in Dream Club, you can actually acquaint yourself with knowledge related to finance or something else just like me. Then, you can change your job."

Leah furrowed her eyebrows and sounded worried as she continued, "However, the problem now is that you’ve been to prison, so prominent universities will most probably not accept you. You don't have to worry too much about this, though. If you have decided on which school you would like to attend, I can ask Charles to be your mediator."

"Aren’t you thirsty from talking so much?" Sophia got up and brought the fruit to Leah.

Leah took a piece of fruit and curved her eyes into a crescent shape. "I'm sorry I still have to trouble you in the end.”