Colin smiled, and said, "Aunt Sandra, I don't want to get involved in your entanglements. And I don't want to see you and Sophia become mortal enemies, either. Therefore, I hope you can place more trust in Sophia, from this day forward. Sophia is not a cruel and calculating woman."
At very least, even if Sandra couldn't take Sophia's side, she didn't have to stand against them.
Hearing Colin's words, Sandra felt a hard lump in her left breast. Of course she knew Sophia was the most innocent person in the whole world. And if she could, she would love to keep everything in the dark...
"I see." Sandra had decided what to do next. She got up at the same time with Colin and bid him farewell.
When Colin returned to his seat, the dinner had been served. Sophia shot a suspicious look at him, but couldn't read anything on his expressionless face. Trying to get some detail about their earlier conversation, she asked, "Leila's mother looks like a strong woman. She must be in a position of power."
Colin put an unshelled shrimp into her bowl, "Yes, Aunt Sandra is the heiress of Hang Clan, who takes control of a number of listed companies in L Country. She now works as the regional CEO in Hang's A Country office. In case I am not around, you can always ask for her help if you ever need anything."
Sophia was speechless. Seeking help from her rival-in-love's mother? Was Colin seriously telling her that?
Colin continued, "The Hang Clan has a lot of male heirs, but only two daughters. Sandra Hang was the elder one, and the other was her little sister. The younger daughter was disinherited because she ran away with someone she loved. But later on, her lover got tangled up with another woman, leaving the younger daughter destitute. Not long after giving birth to a daughter, she died of depression."
Sophia listened to the story with keen intrigue. But her heart fell as it took a tragic turn. She wasn't an overly kindhearted woman. But she still felt sad for the younger daughter's death.
She felt so bad for her, the woman who had eloped for love but then died having lost her lover's heart.
"Sandra was very fond of her little sister, and she always blamed herself for failing to persuade her sister off her ambition. Long after her sister's death, she heard of the heartbreaking news, and decided to avenge her sister. Since then, for her sister's sake, she had been trying to get back at her brother-in-law's new spouse. But after investigation, she changed her mind. The true story was more complicated than she thought. As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango.
Later, though she had changed her mind, her brother-in-law's current spouse died. For some other reason, someone killed that woman with the help of Sandra's previous arrangement."
Listening with rapt attention, Sophia put another forkful of salad into her mouth.
"Last month, Sandra suddenly learned that her sister had given birth to a daughter before she passed away. But she was now the indirect murderer of her sister's daughter's foster mother. She dared not to tell the girl who she was, for she was so afraid that her niece would never forgive her."
How pitiful. Sophia felt a sudden ache spread out of her heart.
Colin took a sip of wine, and asked, "Sophia, if you were Sandra's niece, would you forgive her for what she did?"
Why would Colin ask her that? Perhaps he would better discuss that question with Leila. In confusion, Sophia contemplated his question for a while, and answered, "I think I would. As you said, Sandra didn't draw the knife herself. It was someone else who took advantage of her previous arrangement. And what Sandra did was righteous, if I were her, I would do the same thing to revenge for my dead sister, too."
Sophia didn't realize how familiar that story sounded to her...
Colin took a deep breath. It seemed she wasn't aware what kind of dilemma was facing her.
Out of the restaurant, Colin and Sophia took a walk before they drove back to the Li's Manor.
Wendy had noticed Sophia stayed out last night. When she saw them come back home together, she flashed a happy grin, "Colin, do you know that Sophia has been around here almost every night you've been away? But, look, as soon as you came back, Sophia disappeared all night!"
Colin was glad to know Sophia had been devoted to his family. He answered joyfully, "We had some husband-wife topics to talk about last night."
Sophia blushed. She quietly pinched his arm.
Wendy took a sip of water, and grinned, "I understand. How about you two buy an apartment in the city center? You can discuss other husband-wife topics there."
They should have some private space. It could certainly boost the strength of their relationship.
"Of course. I've already bought one, the interior decorating begins soon." Holding Sophia's hand, Colin followed Wendy upstairs.
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