Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2164

Upstairs

Jason was taking lunch with Sophia; he meticulously deboned a piece of salmon for her, aware of her fondness for the delicate flesh near the tail. He placed the tender meat onto a small plate, “You know, with your cold, you really shouldn't be having fish. Just have a little to satisfy the craving.”

“Alright,” Sophia nodded obediently.

She never ate chicken skin, so Jason carefully stripped the skin and placed them in her bowl, cautioning, “Watch out for the bones.”

Sophia had grown accustomed to Jason's care, and accepted it as something natural. After finishing her meal, she took the napkin he offered to wipe her hands and sighed, “I wish Robin would be this thoughtful.”

Jason paused, his gaze dropping before he responded quietly, “All the care in the world doesn't seem to matter to you in front of him. Isn't it his ambition and drive that you really love?”

He knew the answer, and yet he couldn't help but be kind to her.

With a wistful smile, Sophia said, “Who says it doesn't matter? I appreciate the kindness you, Estelle, and everyone else shows me. Love is precious, sure, but I treasure friendship and family affection just as much.”

Jason looked up at her, his eyes earnest behind his glasses, “Aside from his ambition, is there anything else that makes you love him?”

“Did I ever tell you about the first time I realized I had feelings for him?” Sophia asked.

Jason hummed noncommittally, “You mentioned it. Sophomore year, during a charity event. You saw how he was ostracized by some people, and how he generously donated money for books for kids growing from the gutter.”

Sophia nodded. She and Robin weren't in the same year, and the charity event was their first proper meeting, though she had known of him before that. Robin was academically gifted and often recognized at school assemblies, so she had already held him in high regard before their meeting.

“He had good grades, and was admired by many girls, making others like Zoey envious, so they teamed up to sideline him. But he didn't care; he just focused on doing his own thing. And when he used his own money to buy those books, it was like a slap in the face to Zoey and his clique. I found that incredibly refreshing!”

Sophia dropped her gaze, swinging her legs slightly as she spoke more to herself than to him, “Right, I love him so much. I should support him, not whine.”

Jason’s heart clenched, and he looked away. He was just as torn as her.

On one hand, he didn’t like Robin and hated to see Sophia settling in her relationship. On the other, he couldn’t bear the thought of her being unhappy.

Lost in their own thoughts, the silence stretched between them until Sophia suddenly laughed, “I must be really sick to get so sentimental. Truth is, Robin is good to me. We’re both busy. It’s the time for young people to focus on their careers. Don’t worry about us.”

She got up to serve more soup, “Enough of that, let’s eat before it gets cold!”

“I’ll help!”