Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 761-770

In fact, Elliot owned the hotel. The moment Anastasia entered the room, the man who had promised to listen to her trapped her against the door with his blazing gaze upon her.

“Sorry, sweetheart, but I’m not going to let you go tonight,” he apologized before pressing his lips against hers aggressively.

She was the only person who knew how he would behave after forsaking his sophisticated and cold image, which was shown to the public; beneath that facade lay a beast.

Still, it was early to determine who was the one in control tonight as Anastasia was the siren waiting for her husband to take the bait.

Otherwise, she would not have let her hair down in the elevator and made eyes at him while being all touchy by linking arms with him or leaning on him. The coy act was to display her charms to appeal to Elliot, who was the only one who could enjoy that treatment.

One of her little entertainments after tying the knot was to see her husband being assertive; that was why he could not hold himself back against such temptations.

However, he was oblivious of his wife’s little ploy.

After the long and deep night came the morning.

The sunlight streamed upon a girl’s beautiful face in the other room and woke her up. The first thing Sophia did after opening her eyes was to look at the man next to her.

Little did she know that he had been watching her the whole time with a smile while propping himself sideways with his arms supporting his head.

“Naughty girl.” The endearment escaped his sexy lips.

Embarrassed, she covered her face with the blanket. “No, I’m not.”

“Well, you’re right considering how many times you said ‘stop’ last night.” Arthur pulled her leg when he could.

Her face turned crimson as she dared not recall what had happened last night. Everything felt so real since she was now sober, but she would never regret it.

It was then that his arm wrapped around her body gently and he whispered sweet nothings into her ear, “I’ll take responsibility for you for the rest of your life.”

She turned her head to meet at his determined gaze before smiling. “You don’t have to be responsible for what happened last night.”

Arthur was baffled for a moment before staring at her nervously. “Sophia, what do you mean by that? Was last night merely a game to you?”

She blinked her beady eyes. “Can we not think about the future just yet? Let’s focus on the present and cherish it. I’m satisfied as long as you’re by my side.”

It was because she dared not think of the future, which scared her.

However, he was disheartened as he felt himself being played with; Sophia’s cool manner had hurt him.

“I’m going to the bathroom for a while,” she said before getting out of bed.

He removed the blanket to get out of the bed too, but his eyes were fixated onto the red stain on the bed. It tightened his heart and the strong resolution to take care of her surged in him.

Regardless of her attitude, he had made up his mind to be her only toy in her lifetime.

Feeling the water flowing from her head to toe, she was not sure if the droplets on her face were tears or water.

When she came out with wet hair and reddened eyes, the hickeys on her exposed areas were visible.

A startled Arthur came over and cupped her cheeks to take a closer look at her eyes. She then hastily lowered her head to dodge his gaze as she was afraid that he could see through her frail heart.

“What’s wrong with your eyes? They’re red.”

“The water must’ve gotten into my eyes. It kinda burns.” Sophia simply glossed it over by making up an excuse while blinking her eyes profusely.

“Let’s go to the hospital,” he suggested.

“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll buy an eye drop later. It should be fine.”

He cupped her face again to check on her eyes as his heart ached. “Stay here. I’ll buy one for you right now.”

Having said that, he immediately changed his clothes and left. She did not stop him because her mind was in a mess as well. She figured that she might as well take the time to calm herself down.

Once Arthur was gone, Sophia’s eyes became teary again. When she gazed at the bed, a smile appeared on her lips as she knew she was not going to regret it forever.

Even if he was not the one who would walk down the aisle with her—or even not walking down one at all—she acknowledged him as the man whom she loved the most in this lifetime.

Fifteen minutes later, he rushed upstairs with every eye drop he could find in the drugstore.

Momentarily stunned, she picked the one she normally used and asked him to help her with it before lying on the bed.

He looked at her peaceful expression and landed a soft kiss on her forehead. He was not going to go anywhere; he would stay by her side until her eyes got better.

At that moment, his phone rang before he looked at it with a frown. Although it was an important call, he did not answer it nevertheless.

During noon, they had lunch with Elliot and Anastasia, and the atmosphere was great. While the women chatted away about jewelry, the men listened to them attentively.

Then, Elliot accompanied Anastasia to the company to deal with some work whereas Arthur and Sophia returned home.

She was exhausted by the time they got home, so he stayed by her side until she drifted into dreamland.

It was not until then that he made a phone call and the receiver picked up the line immediately. “Young Master Weiss, where are you?”

“What’s the matter?”

“Three days ago, the family’s bank account was short of one billion. We need you to come back to look into it.”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“Young Master Weiss, it’s not only about the money. It’s about the company’s succession too. You must come over.”

The glint in Arthur’s eyes simmered. “Alright. I’ll return soon.”

“Please be back within a week.”

“You can trust me with that.” After ending the call, he let out a sigh.

In the next three days, Arthur and Sophia barely went downstairs other than meal time. It was as if nothing could hinder their love after having broken through that intimate stage. Nothing mattered more than spending time together with each other.

Back in Goodwin Residence, Drake heard the news of Sophia’s boyfriend from Emma, which sparked the curiosity of the man’s identity. Although he could accept a guy with a normal background, it was important for him to be hard-working in life.

Since the family business would be taken over by Sophia, it was best for her to find someone who was capable in handling company affairs so as to lead a better life.

“Honey, I’m so curious about the guy. Why don’t we take a look in secret?” Emma had not been eating or sleeping well these days. Nothing seemed to pique her interest, yet she was eager to know what kind of man her daughter was dating.

A parent would have to send their daughter away when they got married someday and the elderly couple had come to terms with it. Not to mention that Sophia was turning twenty-four this year, which was about the appropriate age to start thinking about marriage.

Drake shared the same thought as well and he nodded in agreement. “I’ll have someone positioned after them to capture some photos for us. We mustn’t surprise them.”

“Okay. Ask your assistant to do so. Tell him to take a clear picture of the man’s face, not his back,” requested Emma.

At the drop of a hat, he contacted his assistant to hide at either the entrance of Sophia’s neighborhood or the underground parking lot. As the pictures were compulsory to be delivered by today, the assistant hit the road instantly to accomplish his mission as ordered.

On one hand, Sophia was cuddling in Arthur’s arms on the couch at home, sniffing his scent as happiness filled her to the brim.

He revealed his casual and gentle side of an ideal boyfriend to her, which was unknown to anyone else.

The simple gray T-shirt looked captivating on him. Despite the ordinary fabric, it looked like a high-end custom made design since he was wearing it. The aura of a young master dissipated as his fringe covered his forehead, making him look younger and more handsome. He could easily make one’s heart skip a beat at first sight while looking like that.

This explained why Sophia felt time was flying by so fast during the last three days she spent with Arthur. He was either hugging her the entire time or she was clinging onto him the rest of the hour; they basically could not leave each other’s side.

It was as if they had entrusted their whole world to each other. There was nothing else that bothered them besides their love.

“Where do you wanna go tomorrow?”

“The amusement park! Are you willing to go with me?” asked Sophia.

Arthur kissed her lips in response and answered in a horse voice, “Of course, I am.”

She shoved him away bashfully. “Stop it!”

“Oh? Does my naughty girl not want it?” He teased her because of what had happened during the night she got drunk.

She had dug her own grave for drinking that night with such naughty intentions. Now, the man kept calling her with that nickname in a teasing tone until it naturally became a term of endearment.

How could Sophia rein in herself in the face of his charms? That was how the afternoon turned into a special one as he had transformed into a ravenous wolf.

When the evening came, the big bad wolf finally took her out for a grand meal in order to compensate her.

Sophia held Arthur’s arm while exiting the elevator in the underground parking lot, where the hiding assistant quickly lifted the camera to take pictures of them as soon as he saw them without missing the chance.

Fortunately, he did not let the opportunity slip through his fingers as the couple were all lovey-dovey in front of him. They played ‘rock, paper, scissors’ in which Arthur lost the game and had to carry Sophia on the back to the car.

In the end, he carried her in his arms. She buried her face into his chest in embarrassment while thinking, Thank goodness no one is here. It’s so embarrassing.

Never in her wildest dream had she expected the scene to be recorded by Drake’s assistant, who sent it to her parents instantly.

After the couple left, the assistant exclaimed in his head, Miss Goodwin truly has an eye for men. Her boyfriend is really handsome.

In the meantime, Drake and Emma had been waiting for the assistant’s news at home. When Drake’s phone rang, he answered it excitedly. “How did it go? Did you get any pictures?”

“Mission accomplished, President Goodwin. I’ll send the video over to you right now. Congrats! Miss Goodwin’s boyfriend is handsome and tall. They look so in love with each other.”

“Enough of the talking. Hurry up and send it to me!” He could not wait any longer.

Standing next to him was Emma clasping her hands together nervously. When she sat down beside him, his phone received a notification. He clicked on it and played the sent video.

Since the lights were bright in the parking lot, they could easily recognize the man’s face when Sophia was walking toward the camera while linking arms with him.

“It’s him?” Drake’s eyes widened in astonishment as he found out that the man was none other than Arthur.

Emma freaked out as well. After taking a closer look, she became anxious. “Why is Sophia with him? He’s not a good guy. She must be fooled by him. Honey, we have to get her home immediately!”

“We don’t know anything about the Weisses. I reckon he’s a mafia from abroad. Sophia must not be with him and I will never accept him as my son-in-law.” He was so livid that his chest hurt.

Just how did our lovely daughter end up with him?

Arthur had never left a good impression on the couple since the first meeting, so it prompted a reasonable reaction.

Emma thought the same too seeing that Arthur somehow exuded the air of a mafia leader. Judging from how he visited with a group of bodyguards previously, it was highly possible that he was a dangerous person.

At the same time, Sophia found herself in a tip-top restaurant in the city center and began to worry if Arthur’s bank account would empty after the meal.

“Are you really sure you want to eat here? It looks pretty expensive,” Sophia whispered.

Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle to himself upon hearing so. “What’s up? Are you already starting to think about my spending when you have yet to become my wife?”

After a split-second stump, Sophia rolled her eyes at him while smiling. “Yes, we’re spending your money, but it still pains me to see you spending like this. I’m worried you’ll use up all of your money.”

Arthur felt somewhat speechless, for this young woman really knew nothing about his ancestry. Of course, he had no plans of telling her now either. “Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal even if we eat here every day.”

Right when Sophia was enjoying her meal, her ringtone suddenly sounded like an incantation. She jolted upon seeing the caller ID as it was her mother.

“I’m going to have to take this, but don’t make a sound, okay? It’s my mom,” explained Sophia as she hushed the man sitting across from her.

Arthur nodded in reply and kept quiet, not wanting to cause her any trouble.

She answered the call. “Hey, Mom.”

“Sophia, where are you right now? Come home this instant. Your dad and I need to speak to you urgently.”

“What is it? Are you okay, Mom? Is it Dad?” Sophia grew concerned.

“Nothing happened to us. We just have something urgent to talk to you about. Come home quickly. We’re waiting for you at home.”

“Okay. I’ll come home at 2.00PM, alright?”

“Sure. You have to come home, get it?” Emma ordered.

She didn’t mention anything about Sophia’s relationship with Arthur, for she knew the two were together as they spoke. Emma and Drake just wanted to keep Sophia in line. As for others, there was nothing they could do.

“My mom wants me to go home for a bit.”

“Alright, I’ll send you home later.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll drive. I’ll drop you off at my place first.” Sophia planned to hide Arthur for fear that her parents would discover him.

“Sophia, I think we should plan a date to meet your parents.” Arthur was more than ready to face her parents.

“Let’s not do that just yet. I’ll find out what they think about it first.” After all, she knew all too well how her parents thought of Arthur.

After finishing their meal, she dropped him off at her place before heading to her parents’.

During the journey, she kept wondering if something had happened for her mom and dad to call her home so urgently, so much so that she arrived without delay.

Right as she entered the living room, she found her parents sitting gravely on the couch, looking like they were expecting to see her home. In fact, it looked as though they had been waiting long.

“Mom, Dad, what is it?” Sophia couldn’t help feeling apprehensive. It had been a long time since she last saw this kind of expression on her parents. They didn’t even pull this countenance when she made a huge mistake as a child.

“Come here, Sophia,” Emma called out to her sternly. “We have something to ask you.”

Sophia instantly tensed up as she walked over and sat across from them. Suddenly, Drake slammed his hand on the armrest. “Tell me the truth, Sophia. Are you living with that guy named Weiss at your place?”

Sophia still wasn’t mentally prepared when she heard her parents exposing her affair with Arthur and her face flushed in an instant, not daring to look straight into her parents’ eyes. “How did you guys find out?”

Livid, Emma went up to Sophia and wanted to give her a good beating. Ultimately, she couldn’t bring herself to do so, letting her arm hang mid-air for a few seconds before lowering it. “What is up with you? There are so many good men out there; why do you have to be with that dude? Has his good looks made you chuck your rationality out the window?!”

Seeing that things were now out in the open, Sophia knew she could only admit it. “That’s right, Mom and Dad. We’re dating.”

“Are you not at all aware of what sort of person he is?! It’s so blindly obvious that he’s from a shady background. Who knows, he might be a money launderer or even someone from the underworld. No good will come out of this if you date someone like him.” Emma was livid with oncoming tears. She couldn’t believe the daughter she had raised so assiduously was lured away by some man so easily.

“Mom, don’t get upset. Artie isn’t from the underworld, and his family does honest dealings. It’s just that they’re not from here,” said Sophia as she refuted the claim.

“Where are they from, then?” Drake questioned.

Sophia choked at that. To be honest, she didn’t know either, for she had never asked Arthur anything about his family.

“Look at yourself. You know nothing about him, yet you’re dating him! Are you going to help him count his money after he tricks you and sells you off?” Never did Emma think her daughter was an idiot before this.

“Break up with him. From now on, I don’t want you to have anything to do with the man,” Drake ordered, not wanting to see his daughter ruined in the hands of that young man.

“Yes, I’m with your father on this. No matter how far you guys have gone at this point, you have to break up with him. Your father and I will find a good family for you after this.” Emma wasn’t taking no for an answer either.

At that, Sophia grabbed her bag and shot right up. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you two, but I love him, and I don’t want to break up with him.” The next second, she dashed out of this place; she knew that if she didn’t run, her parents would very likely lock her up in this house and forbid her from going anywhere.

“You come back here this instant, Sophia!” Emma chased after her, but she could only watch as the latter got into the car and left. The couple exchanged a glance at that, livid with rage.

“That man has gotten our daughter for good,” said Emma fumingly, but she then recalled how good- looking Arthur was. That man looked like he could be on the front cover of The Sexiest Man Alive, for she had never seen a hotter man than him.

They wouldn’t have reacted like this if he was from an honest background. However, not only was this man mysterious and unfathomable, he was filthy rich and crazy powerful. Evidently, he was a guy who

couldn’t be messed with.

While Sophia stopped at a red light, she made a call to Arthur.

“Hey,” His deep, melodious voice came from the other end of the line.

“Artie, my parents have found out about our relationship. I’m coming back now. We might have to move out of my house,” said Sophia. Her parents would definitely try to catch them at her place.

“In that case, I can sit down and talk to your parents. Running away isn’t going to solve anything, Sophia.”

“No way. You have no idea how scary my mom and dad looked when they talked about you. They seriously have a huge problem with you.” Sophia didn’t want him to be berated as well.

“Trust me, Sophia, I can persuade them into letting us date.” Arthur tried to comfort her.

However, Sophia turned apprehensive. “No, let them calm down first!”

“We’ll talk after you come back. You’re on the road now, so you shouldn’t get too emotional. I’ll be waiting for you at home,” he replied while trying to soothe her.

At that, Sophia could only calm down and drive home, but it didn’t stop her from speeding a little. At last, after parking her car, she dashed right home and threw herself into the man’s arms as soon as she entered the door, refusing to let go.

“I don’t want us to separate, Arthur. I don’t want to lose you. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives,” Sophia cried out emotionally and greedily.

Arthur secured her in his arms and kissed her hair as he cooed, “You won’t lose me. You’ll never have to worry about losing me.”

Arthur feared not of the future. What man would he be if he couldn’t even protect the woman he loved?

As such, he had to love and protect the one his heart had dead set on until the end.

Meanwhile, there was a mysterious manor in the heart of Flor, and in that manor lived a mysterious and complex family.

The family’s lineage could be traced back to two hundred years ago. They were as wealthy as a nation; their business spanned nearly everything; and they possessed ancillary properties where most of the people who lived there served the family.

Inside a lavish mansion, a young woman sat restlessly on the couch. She paced back and forth, evidently uneasy.

A woman with her hair tied elegantly into a bun approached the young woman and held her hand. “Relax, Emily. I’ve asked around, and Young Master Weiss will return soon.”

“Really?” Emily’s eyes were filled with joy when she heard the news. “Mom, is he really coming back soon?”

“He’s coming back to inherit the head of the Weiss Family. By then, he’ll have to pick a woman amongst Flor’s most affluent families to become his wife. Do you think you can do it, Emily?”

“Not at all, Mom. The girl Artie likes isn’t from any of our families; she’s just some average girl named Sophia Goodwin. Mom, what should I do?” Anxious, Emily’s eyes turned red-rimmed from oncoming tears. “I’ve liked him ever since I was little. My dream has always been marrying him and becoming the matriarch of the Weiss Family. But now, my dream is about to be crushed.”

At that, Emily threw herself into her mother’s arms, crying anxiously while unwilling to resign to her fate.

A thought hit Vera as she patted her daughter’s back, and she soothed Emily by saying, “Don’t worry. You will become Mrs. Weiss. I’m sure you will.”

Vera’s confidence surprised Emily as she had none herself. Arthur was initially supposed to return with them, but he ended up going back on Marth’s wish and stayed there because of Sophia.

Emily, on the other hand, visited Martha a few times to see what the elderly woman thought of this, only to discover that she didn’t seem at all anxious. It was like she approved of Arthur and Sophia’s romance. This would mean Martha would eventually give in if Arthur insisted on marrying the woman.

Sometime later in the day, a black SUV pulled in, and Vera went out to welcome her husband home. Meanwhile, the man approached her with a briefcase in his hand, looking somewhat tired. Vera thoughtfully took her husband’s coat from him and handed it to their maid for dry-cleaning when she smelled the chemical odor on him.

Johnny Jennings worked as a bio researcher for the Weiss Family and was currently assigned to a highly classified project. The man was already a world-renowned scientist, and he held a very high standing with the Weiss Family; even Martha trusted him very much.

Emily was his only child, and at the same time, the likeliest candidate to become the future Mrs. Weiss out of the other young women Martha had chosen for Arthur.

“Johnny, I have something I need to talk to you about,” said Vera while bringing her husband’s tea.

“What is it? Has Emily thrown another tantrum again?”

However, Vera remained evasive. “Let’s talk in your study.”

With that, Johnny followed his dear wife into the study, and after closing the door, Vera asked, “Are there any updates on the research findings you told me the other time?”

“We’ve succeeded.”

“Really? Perfect, just in time for the plan.” Vera grinned.

Johnny was about to drink his tea when he paused mid-air. He looked at his wife with surprise as he noticed the ambitious gleam in Vera’s eyes.

“It’s about time our family came into our own. You’ve dedicated your life’s work to the Weiss Family; you deserve more than this, and our Emily shall become the matriarch of the Weiss Family,” she said.

“Naturally, Emily is worthy enough for this.” Johnny, too, had utter confidence in his daughter.

“However, do you know that Young Master Weiss decided not to return to Flor because of a girl? One that he wants to marry, and this girl poses a massive threat to Emily’s future. Johnny, your research can change that.”

Vera’s words rendered Johnny reeling for a good few seconds. “You want me to use the serum on Young Master Weiss?”

“Why not? Inject the serum into his system when he least expects it, then wipe off all his memories and knowledge of that young woman. Only then will Emily be able to marry Arthur. Are you willing to see your daughter end up being a nobody, Johnny?”

Johnny fell into deep thought. The result of this research of his was indeed extraordinary. After all, it was a kind of serum that used biotechnology to control human behavior. It could remove and even wipe away specific memories from the human brain for good.

With just a computer, they could wipe out specific memories from a human’s central and peripheral nervous system, ultimately achieving control.

This was supposed to be for the military or certain special behaviors. But now, his wife wanted him to use the inchoate finding on the Weiss family’s most honorable young master.

He was truly at a crossroads. “I’m not absolutely certain it will work on Young Master Weiss, though.”

“You have to do it no matter how much confidence you have in this serum. Young Master Weiss will be returning to Flor real soon, and I’m just asking you to remove that girl from his memory. As for the other girls in Flor’s affluent families, they have nothing on Emily.”

Vera continued, “That girl is just a nobody. Wiping it away from Young Master Weiss’ memories won’t cause any significant consequences. Besides, Old Madam Weiss also hopes that he’ll marry our daughter.”

After a ponder, Johnny nodded in agreement. Their daughter’s happiness was the most important thing, after all.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Sophia agreed with Arthur’s suggestion after his successful reassuring. Running away really wasn’t going to solve the problem, and she should face it instead.

Thus, she called her mother and said that she and Arthur would be going over later that night to talk this over.

Emma was relieved as well to receive the call. At the very least, Sophia was willing to come home to them and not run away for good.

“Alright, come over then. I’ll get dinner ready.”

Later in the evening, with Arthur driving, the couple arrived at Goodwin Residence and entered the house hand-in-hand.

Drake and Emma had to admit that Sophia and Arthur made a lovely couple now that they were seeing it for themselves. However, they still couldn’t accept the two being in a romantic relationship in light of the young man’s identity.

“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin. Please allow me to formally introduce myself. I’m Arthur Weiss. Though I’m Florian, I hold a local passport. If I can have your permission to marry Sophia, I’m more than willing to settle here.” Arthur spoke sincerely.

Sophia couldn’t help looking at him in shock as he had never brought any of it up with her before this. Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

At the same time, Drake and Emma exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say for a moment.

“I love Sophia, and I intend to marry her. I hope you can accept me as your son-in-law,” Arthur continued.

Sophia was now as speechless as her parents. His sincerity moved her, and she had never demanded him to marry her or hold any responsibility for their relationship. Everything that happened between her and Arthur was of her own free will, yet this man promised her parents so much with the intention of settling down here. Would his grandmother agree to this?

“Do you really love Sophia? Will you cherish her forever?” Drake bore into Arthur, whose gaze was filled with nothing but resolution. “I will.

“My daughter isn’t rich or noble, and she isn’t outstanding or perfect either. Meanwhile, I’m sure you’re from an affluent family. Can you really only love her your whole life?” Emma questioned, leading Sophia to stop her. “Mom! Can you guys not push him?”

Arthur, on the other hand, vowed without a second of hesitation. “I can do that.”

The man’s sincerity eventually moved the Goodwin couple. He was willing to sacrifice anything for their daughter, which was something most men were not able to do.

With that, Emma went to prepare dinner while the rest of them went to the couch. Drake then asked Arthur for details of his background.

“You said your family’s huge, so what exactly do you guys do?”

“Banking, energy, and biotech research, to be specific. We also have other international investments. We’ll be here all day if I list them all out, but they’re all definitely honest business,” Arthur answered.

Sophia, who was listening from the side, was rendered gobsmacked as well. Is the Weiss Family’s business this massive? Just how wealthy are they, and what kind of superrich life did this man grow up in?!

Apart from the shock, a hint of inferiority arose in Sophia as she listened to the two talk about Arthur’s family.

Drake couldn’t help gasping as well. No wonder this guy has such deep pockets and is able to mobilize so many connections at such a young age. Who’d have thought he’s the young master of a superrich family?!

Arthur sensed his beloved’s bundled-up fingers, and he reached his hand out to hold them, looking at her with a gentle, encouraging gaze.

“Dad, don’t ask him any more questions, alright? Let him take a breather and have some water,” Sophia asked of her father.

At that, Drake coughed and said, “Alright, I’ll go and help your mother out. You should entertain Young Master Weiss.”

After Drake left, Sophia began behaving somewhat restrainedly. Who’d have thought something from the TV would actually happen to her?! She thought Arthur’s family was merely rich. However, not only were they rich, they also dominated the world’s most money-making businesses. To add to the list, his family was mysterious and complex as well.

Arthur held her hand and kissed the back of it. “Did I scare you?”

“How would I not be scared when this is my first time hearing about your family’s businesses?!” Sophia didn’t conceal her thoughts.

“My love for you has nothing to do with my family’s assets,” said Arthur as he fixed her hair. “I’m no God. My life will wither away as you would, and I’ll need to eat as well. I’m just a living, breathing man who has fallen in love with you, Miss Sophia Goodwin.”

Sophia burst into a giggle. “There’s no need to humble yourself to comfort me. I feel really lucky to be able to meet you and to be loved by you.”

“Me too,” Arthur cooed by her ear in a slightly hoarse voice.

Emma cooked up a feast that night, and the four enjoyed a pleasant dinner as well. After finally realizing who Arthur truly was, the Goodwin couple no longer viewed the young man as some scourge. Rather, he and Sophia made a pretty lovely couple the more they looked at it.

Nothing beat Sophia’s love for her significant other. They just hoped that this affluent young man wouldn’t disappoint their daughter.

After dinner, Arthur took Sophia home, and while driving, he would keep his eyes on the few black SUVs behind them every now and then. These vehicles had been following them since they left Goodwin Residence.

It just so happened that Sophia wanted to get something when they were about to reach the apartment complex’s entrance, and after pulling over, she turned to Arthur. “Wait here for a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

As Sophia went into the supermarket, one of the black SUVs instantly approached them, and two stalwart bodyguards got out of it, greeting Arthur deferentially, “Young Master.”

“What are you guys doing here?” Arthur wasn’t the happiest to see them.

“Old Madam Weiss has asked us to take you home.”

“I will go back myself.”

“Old Madam Weiss wants you to return home this time without taking Miss Goodwin for now.”

“I have my own plans.”

“This is for Miss Goodwin’s safety. Also, it would not be suitable for her to show up at your succession ceremony.”

Seeing that Sophia was already making a payment at the counter, Arthur ordered plainly, “Be gone.”

With that, the bodyguards hopped back into the black SUV and drove away. After Sophia entered the car, the black SUVs continued following them as their number one job was to ensure their young master’s safety.

Outside, the sky was painted black with speckles of stars and the moon as an accent. Inside, Sophia came to the couch after taking a shower, and her long, white T-shirt accentuated her pair of fair, slender legs. Meanwhile, Arthur put his laptop aside and spread his arms out for Sophia to embrace him with a smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the lips, asking, “Are you done with work?”

“Yeah.”

At that, she couldn’t help nibbling his neck mischievously, teasing him like a cuddly kitten.

Arthur loved the moment and tilted his neck slightly to give her full access to his neck. Sophia, on the other hand, blushed as she breathed in his unique scent.

However, she thought it felt amazing to tease him; she could bully him however she wanted, no matter how affluent he was.

“Why do you like to bite me so much? Have I offended you in any way?” asked Arthur as his breathing grew heavier.

“I don’t know. Perhaps I have a problem with the rich.” Sophia made a random excuse.

Arthur burst into a chuckle and pulled her deeper into his arms. “You’re held liable for teasing me, you know?”

“What liability?” Sophia played dumb.

At that, Arthur held her chin. “What do you think it is, puppy?”

Sophia parted her lips. “Don’t call me that.”

A hint of mischief flashed across Arthur’s eyes as he dared the young woman. “Who cares if I do? Unless you take the lead without saying no to anything tonight, I won’t call you ‘puppy’ ever again. You’re not allowed to refuse anything.”

“Alright, I won’t say no then,” asserted Sophia with integrity despite her crimson face.

At that, Arthur stood right up, gave her a tug, and carried her bridal style into her bedroom, where they would have a passionate exchange for the night.

Sophia was already sound asleep in the dead of the night, spent yet content. However, Arthur couldn’t sleep at all.

He pulled his phone out and checked the abundant text and missed calls. He knew he couldn’t delay his trip home any further, for they were awaiting him to ascend as the head of the Weiss Family. This was his life event, and he had to show up.

With that, Arthur grabbed the pen and paper beside and wrote a hand-written letter. After placing it on the bedside table, he leaned over and gave his beloved a peck on the forehead, whispering, “Wait for me.”

The Weiss bodyguards had been waiting downstairs all this while, and upon seeing their young master coming out, they heaved a sigh of relief.

“Young Master, the plane is still waiting for you.”

“Let’s go.” At that, he looked at the apartment complex behind him, specifically at the dimly lit window, before reluctantly getting into the car to leave.

Moments later, a massive, dark gray private jet shot into the sky and disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, Sophia had a sweet dream as she hugged the covers, feeling the lingering warmth of it. In her dream, she found herself in a wedding gown, holding Arthur’s arm as they toasted their guests.

When morning came, Sophia habitually shifted to the side and even stretched her hand over, only to touch a slightly cool bed sheet. The strangeness instantly stirred her, and she sat right up upon seeing the flat mattress.

The dead silence of the apartment caused a premonition to arise within her. With that, she got out of bed, searching in the not-so-spacious room before finally finding Arthur’s hand-written letter on the

bedside table.

‘Sophia, I have an urgent matter to attend to back home, but trust me when I say that I’ll return to you soon. Once I settle my family’s affairs, I will come and take you back to Flor to plan our wedding. Love, Artie!’

Sophia relaxed a little after reading the letter. However, his French leave made her rather indignant.

Then again, if he really bid her goodbye, she would only feel even more horrible and reluctant to part with him, wouldn’t she?

This letter would instead give her strength and security.

Naturally, she would wait for his return patiently. It was fine even if he didn’t return soon, for she would already be joyous as long as he came back to her.

Meanwhile, inside a majestic manor in Flor, Arthur showed up in a black suit with brilliant embroidery on the hem of the suit jacket, reflecting his honorable status.

Martha, on the other hand, was relieved when she saw that Arthur had returned. She sized the young man up with no intention of reprimanding him whatsoever and thought he was doing pretty well.

“Grandma.” Arthur went up to his grandmother and gave her a hug.

However, Martha gave him a shove, not wanting to get over it so quickly. “Alright, don’t think you can get away with this. I’m not buying it.”

“I’ve missed you so much, though, Grandma.” Arthur continued to butter up the elderly woman, causing her feigned sternness to turn into a beam instantly. At that, she gave him a playful whack. “As if I still mean something to you! You rascal! Do you even remember where your home is when you’ve been out there for so long?”

Just then, an excited figure dashed over from outside. Emily happened to be visiting, and she dashed right over upon hearing Arthur’s return.

“Artie, you’re finally back!” Surprise and grievance filled Emily’s eyes.

“Emily, why don’t you stay for dinner tonight?” Martha offered.

“Sure, Grandma.” Emily gladly accepted the offer.

“Grandma, I have to deal with some work first. I’ll join you guys for dinner later.” With that, Arthur walked away.

Adoration oozed from Emily’s gaze as she watched the tall, charming, retreating figure. I have to become his wife! she swore.

“Emily, take a stroll in the garden with me, will you?” Martha asked.

“Sure. Grandma, will Artie be leaving again now that he’s back?” Emily probed, to which Martha patted her and soothed, “There’s no need to worry, Emily. Artie’s back now, isn’t he? You have to create your own opportunities, you know.”

Emily’s eyes lit up upon hearing so. It looks like Grandma still wants me to become Arthur’s wife. “I got it, Grandma.” She nodded. “I’ll definitely seize the opportunity.”

Martha nodded in response. At the end of the day, she was still inclined to have a young woman from one of Flor’s most affluent families marry her grandson. More than that, Emily’s father was an esteemed biologist in his field, and he had also given the Weiss Family tons of profit. It couldn’t be any better if Emily married Arthur.

Meanwhile, Arthur’s car was heading toward a large laboratory. He had come to take a look at the institute of biology and hear about the latest research findings in the meantime.

Johnny came out of the lab as usual. However, he grew somewhat nervous as he approached the conference room, for there was an additional item in his pocket today—a micro-tube of serum.

“Dr. Jennings, Young Master Weiss is inside. Please come in!”

“Alright. Water for the both of us,” Johnny said to his assistant, who returned with two glasses of water in no time. Johnny happened to be on the phone, and upon seeing his assistant, he ended the call and said, “I’ll take it from here. You can go back to your work.”

The assistant didn’t put too much thought into it and handed Johnny the tray. As the assistant was leaving, Johnny hurriedly spiked one of the glasses of water with the serum.

Following that, he entered the room with the tray to find Arthur sitting on the couch, reading an analysis report.

“Young Master Weiss, it’s been a while,” greeted Johnny while putting the spiked glass of water in front of Arthur.

“It has, Mr. Jennings. I heard you have cracked the engineering for the thing we discussed last time. Congratulations on yet another masterpiece.”

“We couldn’t have done it without your support, Young Master. If the Weiss Family hadn’t supported my lab and me, I wouldn’t be able to succeed,” Johnny thanked him sincerely.

Arthur smiled. “I need you just as much.”

“Yes, it’s thanks to you that I’m able to achieve all that I can today. A toast to you, Young Master Weiss.”

Not the slightest bit suspicious, Arthur picked up the glass in front of him, cheered Johnny, and downed the glass of water.

After drinking the water, a hint of nervousness and anxiety flashed across Johnny’s eyes, and he deliberately got up. “Young Master Weiss, allow me to give you a copy of the report. One moment, please.”

Arthur nodded in response. However, just as he picked up the file on the table to read it, he suddenly blacked out and fell into a deep slumber with little warning.

Seeing so, Johnny immediately grabbed his laptop and some portable device, sticking its pads onto Arthur’s vital spots above the brain.

Following that, Johnny opened his laptop and entered some enigmatic program containing complex coding. Despite the sweat gathering on his forehead, he proficiently typed out a series of codes before wiping Arthur’s memory of Sophia clean.

Johnny looked to Arthur, asleep on the couch, and found the young man locking his brows into a furrow for a while.

Finally, when all was done, Johnny sorted everything out and returned to the couch to wait for Arthur to regain consciousness.

Not ten minutes later, Arthur opened his eyes in discomfort. Compared to earlier, his gaze was now looking more aloof and expressionless.

“What happened? Why did I pass out, Mr. Jennings?” Arthur couldn’t help but ask.

“It could be because you’re burnt-out, Young Master. You should be fine now after a nap,” said Johnny reassuringly.