The Reckoning of Love ( Sophia Yancey )

Chapter 27 Father

Elsie let out a huff.

“Tll be compensated. My employer is.. generous.” Sophia smiled as she pushed the glass of ice cream over to Elsie. “Calm down.”

“You’re too nice, Sophia! That’s why the fools at your office would dare to push the blame on you!”

It was all thanks to Elsie that they were able to find out about the account of Walter’s mother.

After dinner, the two of them then walked back, hand in hand.

“When I was a kid, my family would take a stroll together along this path after dinner. Elsie patted an impressive-looking parasol tree by the side of the road. These trees weren’t as big back then.”

Elsie’s father passed away in a car crash when she was just ten years old.

A few years later, her mother remarried to a rich man she met.

It was with her stepfather’s help that Elsie was able to study overseas.

“Do you miss your father?” Sophia softly asked.

Elsie bit her lip and nodded. “Very much.”

Sophia gently patted Elsie on the back of the hand as reassurance.

As for Sophia, she did not know who her father was.

Her mother had arrived back at Oaktown alone and pregnant.

Sophia’s grandparents did not know who her father was either.

Later on, through the drunken mumblings of her mother, she found out that her father was found cheating on her mother soon after they got engaged.

From then on, she never asked about her father.

Her mother continued to spend her days in a drunken stupor until the day she passed away.

That night, Elsie did not stay over.

After Elsie left, Sophia locked the door and curled up in a corner of the couch.

She thereafter pulled out her phone and messaged Joseph.

I have moved out of the Galactica, Mr. Lynch. I left the key on the top of the shoe cabinet.

No response was received.

She had not expected him to reply to her anyway.

Following that, she slowly packed her bag for tomorrow’s trip to Edgeminster.

Halfway through her packing, her phone buzzed.

She immediately picked it up. It was a call from Howard.

She found her behavior rather laughable. She had thought the call was from Joseph.

Nevertheless, she answered the call.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Zachman. I was so busy with work that I forgot about the meal and birthday present I promised you,” she said.

“It’s fine!” He sounded as cheerful as ever. “Better late than never. Why don’t you treat me to a meal tomorrow?”

“That’s quite impossible,” she said, sighing, “I have to fly off to Edgeminster early tomorrow. I’ll be gone for about a week.”“”

“Edgeminster?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“I see. Since you have to fly off early tomorrow, I’ll let you rest. Goodnight, Sophia.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Zachman.”

He swiftly hung up.

She, too, did not think much of the call.

Meanwhile, at the Lynch Residence, the welcoming party for Louise drew to an end.

After escorting a respected elder out the door, Joseph walked back into the hall.

Bright lights danced in the hall.

At that moment, Vivian was holding onto Louise’s hand, as happy as could be.

“Miss Hathaway, just let Joseph know about your needs when it comes to the engagement party. We will always prioritize your needs.”

“Engagement party? Who’s getting engaged?”

The person who spoke was an elderly lady in a nearby wheelchair who had been playing with a crochet

doll.

Her head immediately snapped up when she heard about the engagement party.

There was a gleam of light in her hazy eyes.

Joseph’s getting engaged, Mom, Vivian happily answered.

Joseph is getting engaged…” Old Mrs. Lynch blankly looked down at the doll in her hands before letting out a cheerful laugh. “Joseph is marrying Soph! Good! That’s good to hear!”

“Mary, where is the envelope of money I prepared for Soph? Bring it over!” She was shouting due to how happy she was.

Subsequently, Louise looked at the people around her