Chapter 23
Chapter 23
+25 BONUS
“What’s in the gift?” Lyra asked, her eyes sparking with curiosity as she glanced at the neatly wrapped package.
Sophia hesitated for a moment, then carefully untied the ribbon.
“Oh wow! It’s an emerald necklace, from Elegance & Co!” the gasped, clearly surprised by the luxurious gift.
Sophia’s excitement was quickly replaced by a hint of discomfort.
“This looks really expensive,” she said quietly, unsure how to feel about it.
The intricate design and fine detall made it clear–this wasn’t just any piece of jewelry.
Chris had already gone to great lengths to arrange the banquet Invitations, and now his father had sent such an extravagant gift.
It felt a little overwhelming.
But before Sophia could express her concerns, Chris smiled confidently, as if he had anticipated the entire situation.
“That necklace was made just for you,” he said, flashing his brightest smile, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.
Chris hadn’t asked his father to send the gift, but he did it anyway. Impressive!
Maybe his father was subtly hinting that it was time for a grandchild, especially since the gift was far from cheap.
“You should definitely wear it tonight at the banquet. It’ll make you stand out in the best way possible,” Chris urged with enthusiasm.
“That’s a fantastic idea!” Lyra chimed in, her voice brimming with excitement. “Sophia, do you see how attentive Chris is?”
She teased Sophia, flashing a playful grin.
“Oh, come on, Lyra. It’s not that big of a deal. I just want Sophia to be happy,” Chris said, trying to act modest.
But from the look on Sophia’s face, Chris could tell his plan had worked–she was clearly touched.
Success!
“Sophia, the gift is nice, but let’s not forget the real highlight here–those banquet invitations,” Chris smoothly added, shifting the focus.
“Now that we’ve secured those, you’re in the running. This could be your big chance,” he continued, his smile full of pride.
“Thanks, Chris. I really appreciate everything you’ve done, Sophia replied, giving him a grateful smile.
“He got us those invites so easily, Sophia. He’s exactly the type of man you’ve always dreamed of,” Lyra said, clearly impressed by Chris’s efforts.
“It’s nothing. I’ll always have your back, even when your husband is, well, not so helpful,” Chris remarked, smug smile creeping onto his face.
The jab was clearly aimed at Alex, but Sophia, caught up in her excitement, didn’t notice.
Her thoughts drifted to the possibility of being selected by Mr. Alfred, and the very idea gave her chills.
1/2
+35 BONUS
Chapter 23
Joining the Kingston Group? That was no small achievement!
Not only would it launch her career into the stratosphere, but it could also completely transform her family’s
future.
She had once thought it was impossible–she had tried everything for years, even pulling every string she could, and still had fallen short.
But now, a golden opportunity had practically fallen into her lap.
Everything was happening so fast, and Sophia could hardly contain her excitement, mixed with a bit of nervous energy.
Later that evening, during dinner, Alex returned after wrapping up his work at the Kingsley branch headquarters.
The moment Lyra spotted him, her face twisted with disgust.
“Oh great, the useless husband is back,” she muttered, her tone dripping with disdain.
“He’s just here for the food, obviously. What else could he possibly contribute?” Lyra scoffed. 1
“Take it easy on him,” Chris said with a chuckle.
“What’s the point? He’s utterly useless!” Lyra snapped, glaring at Alex with contempt.
“While Chris was out here securing banquet invites for us, I’m sure you were just wandering around doing nothing. What exactly do you bring to the table for Sophia?”
“Come on, don’t be so harsh,” Chris said, pretending to defend Alex, though the mockery in his voice was obvious. “Even if he wanted to help Sophia, he doesn’t have the ability to. What could he possibly offer?”
“You’re absolutely right,” Lyra continued mockingly.
“He can’t even afford to buy groceries, let alone a necklace like the one you gave Sophia. It’s probably worth more than his entire family!”
Alex listened, quickly piecing together what had happened,
It was obvious that Alfred had sent the gifts and invitations, but somehow, the situation had been misunderstood.
+Alex turned to Lyra, his tone icy and detached.
“The invitation and the necklace aren’t from Chris, if that’s what you’re thinking”
If Lyra wasn’t Sophia’s friend, he wouldn’t have bothered with her. She wasn’t worth his time.
“Not from Chris? Do you think it’s from you? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?” Lyra scoffed, her anger rising as she glared at him.
“How dare someone as useless as you try to tarnish Chris’s name!”
“Chris helped us get invites to the charity banquet that Mr. Alfred’s daughter is hosting. What did you do, huh? What help have you been to Sophia?” she demanded, looking; down at him with pure disdain.
“I bet
you didn’t even know about the banquet, let alone contribute anything,” she added with a mocking laugh.
Alex shook his head, amazed at how she wasn’t listening.
“How can you be so sure Chris is responsible for the gifts and invitations? Have you even checked?” Alex asked.
