Chapter 3

Sophie Reed POV

When I left the hotel, the rain outside grew heavier again.

I hailed a taxi by the roadside.

I did not return to the luxury apartment Brandon Foster had bought. Instead, I went straight back to the old shop on Old Street.

This was where they had started their business.

Five years ago, Brandon Foster had still been a poor boy guarding this little general store, and I had been the only helper here.

But now, all that remained were old parts covered in dust and one dim hanging lamp.

I sat beneath the lamp, unbuttoned my cuff, and laid a warm towel over my left wrist, massaging it again and again.

Just now in the corridor, Brandon Foster’s rough pulling had made the old injury begin to ache faintly again.

The old shop was so quiet it was a little frightening.

I looked at the empty measuring cup for medicine sitting on the corner of the table, and my eyes warmed.

After Grandma developed moderate Alzheimer’s disease, she often failed to recognize people.

Last month, she had just undergone major heart surgery. Now she could only stay in a nursing home on the outskirts of the city.

Back then, when Brandon Foster didn’t have the money to buy his first piece of equipment, Grandma had hidden it from me, sold her jewelry, and pressed the money into Brandon Foster’s hands.

At that time, Brandon Foster held the old woman’s hand, his eyes red, calling her Grandma over and over, swearing that once he had money in the future, he would treat her like his own grandmother and take care of her.

But ever since Brandon Foster made his fortune, the number of times he went to the nursing home could be counted on one hand. And the Grandma in his mouth gradually became the polite, distant “Mrs. Reed.”

Before the towel on my wrist could cool, the half-closed wooden door was pushed open.

Brandon Foster walked in. The air of the nouveau riche around him looked painfully out of place here.

“Sophie Reed, why did you leave me alone in the corridor without even saying a word?”

Brandon Foster sat down on the wooden chair beside him, his tone carrying a trace of impatience he was forcing down.

I turned slightly without speaking, only laying the warm towel over my wrist again.

Brandon Foster tugged at the corner of his mouth, softening his tone a little. “Once Zahn Group’s investment comes through, I’ll buy you a big flat in River Bay. From now on, you won’t have to suffer in this dark, damp place anymore.”

My expression remained flat, my voice cool and mild. “Are you done?”

“You’re always like this. You can’t even say one nice thing.”

Brandon Foster sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness. “Tomorrow I’ll have the construction crew come over and tear down this old shop. Nina’s new car is always getting scratched in the public parking spaces. She complained to me a few times, so I’m planning to rebuild this place into a private garage for her. It’s sitting empty anyway.”

Tear down the old shop.

Tear down the place where they had started from nothing, all to build Nina Young a private garage.

I did not argue with him.

I stood up, walked to the old writing desk, pulled open the bottom drawer, and took out the property ownership certificate inside.

I walked back and threw the certificate in front of Brandon Foster.

“Here.” I looked at that property ownership certificate. “You can call someone to tear it down tomorrow.”

Brandon Foster stared fixedly at the property deed, a flash of pathetic panic crossing his eyes.

The instant I handed over the ownership so cleanly, he suddenly felt that something was slipping completely out of his control.

To hide that inexplicable panic, Brandon Foster’s tone sank. “Sophie Reed, everything I do is for our future, but you insist on throwing a tantrum with me over this old shop. Without me, how are you supposed to survive on your own?”

Building a private garage for another woman was for our future?

Even that excuse was so absurd I found it laughable.

I said nothing, not even half a sentence to defend myself.

I no longer cared how he judged me.

Suddenly, the phone in Brandon Foster’s arms rang sharply. Nina Young’s name flashed across the screen.

He answered, and Nina Young’s hysterical sobbing voice instantly filled the silent shop. “Brandon... my car was maliciously smashed and scratched up at the intersection near the old shop. The windows are shattered too. I’m so scared. Hurry over...”

Brandon Foster’s expression changed. He whipped his gaze toward me, his eyes sharp.

He snatched the property ownership certificate off the table, stood up, and left one irritated sentence behind. “I’m going out for a bit. Whatever it is, we’ll talk later.”

The door slammed heavily shut.

I withdrew my gaze.

Outside, the sound of the rain grew louder and louder, beating against the worn window lattice.

Twenty minutes later, the tightly shut wooden door was kicked open violently from the outside with an ear-piercing crash.

Brandon Foster rushed in, wrapped in damp, cold rain. Water was still dripping from his suit. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me, his voice trembling hard. “Sophie Reed, when did you become so despicable?!”