Chapter 8
I never imagined that the unknown caller would turn out to be Lucas, using a new number.
I was about to hang up, but then I changed my mind.
It was time to clear the air between Lucas and me.
Today, I'd end things once and for all over the phone.
Lucas deliberately softened his voice on the other end. "Sophie, I'm sorry about yesterday. It was all my fault. I'll make it up to you, I swear."
"No need, Mr. Bennett. I can't accept your compensation," I replied.
"Sophie, is this really how you want to talk to me?"
"What else do you expect? How do you want me to talk to you? Lucas, thanks for letting me go. Let's part ways for good and don't ever call me again."
"What? Sophie, what do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious, Mr. Bennett? You called off the wedding. Doesn't that mean we're done?"
"No... I don't agree! How could we break up? I like you... I... "
"I don't like you anymore, Lucas. This call is the end for us. From now on, you live your life, and I'll live mine. Let's wish each other well and move on."
With that, I hung up. When Lucas called again, I blocked his number.
Lucas barely slept that night. When Charlotte woke up the next morning, she looked pale and weak.
As soon as she saw Lucas, she started crying and kept saying it was all her fault, that her illness was holding him back.
Still sobbing, Charlotte wanted to call Sophie and apologize, but Lucas wouldn't let her.
Sophie was so furious she'd blocked him, so if Charlotte tried calling, she'd probably get told off or hear something harsh.
Charlotte's health couldn't handle any more stress, so after comforting her for a while, Lucas went to check on the test results from the day before.
The doctor said a few results were still pending and they'd have to wait.
Lucas was restless and on edge, dialing Sophie's number again and again, but not a single call got through.
He was so desperate and distracted that he rushed out to buy a new SIM card, so he could try reaching Sophie one more time.
After countless tries, Sophie finally answered.
Lucas, desperate and anxious, poured out his apologies and admitted everything was his fault, hoping Sophie would give him another chance.
But Sophie wasn't having it,she flat-out ended things and broke up with him.
Lucas had never even thought about breaking up with Charlotte, but when he tried calling Sophie again, she blocked him all over again.
Desperate, Lucas called his parents and begged them to go to the Hart Family and try to smooth things over, but the Hart Family wouldn't even let them in.
Lucas couldn't sit still. Even when Charlotte tried to talk to him, he was completely distracted, his mind racing with ways to fix things with Sophie.
Charlotte saw the way Lucas was going through the motions with her, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment.
She pretended to be hurting, hoping Lucas would show some concern, but after putting on a show for so long, he didn't even notice.
Lucas was completely obsessed with Sophie. That bitch, she was actually using a tactical retreat to manipulate him.
Charlotte thought, I really underestimated her.
Since Sophie was pulling back to push forward, Charlotte decided to play the same game.
She coughed a few times, then looked so weak and helpless, like she might faint any second.
Charlotte said shakily, "Lucas, go check on Sophie. My results will take time, and your assistant can stay.
"Explain everything to her. Please don't let my illness separate you. I could never forgive myself."