I had expected the lunch with Lina to be quick and casual, nothing worth dressing up for, so I opted for a simple shirt and jeans as I stepped out of my room.
But no sooner had I left than Sophie appeared, standing firmly in my path like a soldier on guard duty.
"My lady," Sophie's voice was tense with forced politeness, "where are you going?"
"It's none of your business," I dismissed her, brushing past without a second thought.
But Sophie, ever persistent, proved more irritating than usual.
"Lady Sophia has instructed me to stay with you at all times," she insisted, trailing me with determined steps.
I shot her a glance, eyebrow raised. "What, are you my bodyguard now?" My words came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn't help it.
The idea of Sophie shadowing my every move was almost laughable.
Before, I might have tolerated it — played along with her tiresome hypocrisy.
But now that I knew the truth, something deep inside me simmered with anger. The thought of her lurking in my shadow, reporting back to Sophia, made my blood boil.
Every step she took, every breath she drew while tailing me, felt like a betrayal wrapped in false concern.
I could see the flush of anger creeping up her neck, her fists clenching just slightly at her sides.
It was always amusing to watch her struggle to keep her composure. The way she bit back her irritation, trying so desperately not to snap at me — it was like watching a volcano trying not to erupt.
"But my lady," she continued, her voice trembling with suppressed frustration, "if I don't accompany you, it'll be me who faces Lady Sophia's wrath. She was very clear — I am to go wherever you go."
Her words were carefully chosen, but I could hear the anger laced underneath.
I paused, weighing my options. Sophie was a nuisance, no doubt, but pushing her too far too fast would raise suspicions.
The more I tried to distance myself, the more erratic she would become, and the tighter her grip on me would grow.
No, the smarter move was to play it cool, to treat her as I always had, keep her close without giving her any reason to dig deeper.
Besides, bringing her along to lunch with Lina wasn't the worst idea.
Sophie's eyes widened in disbelief, her carefully maintained façade crumbling. She couldn't hide the venom in her voice.
"That can't be!"
I raised an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. "And why not, Sophie?" My tone was smooth, daring her to speak her mind, daring her to reveal what I already knew.
She swallowed hard, scrambling to regain her composure. "I-I mean . . . don't trust her too much, my lady. She might have her own agenda."
Of course, she was projecting. Sophie was the one with schemes layered beneath layers. But Lina didn't need to hide behind plots or secrets. She held all the power — unlike Sophie, who clung to hers like it could slip through her fingers at any moment.
I smiled at her, tapping her shoulder lightly. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?"
And find out we did.
When we arrived at the private sushi restaurant owned by the Fay family, I could feel Sophie stiffen beside me. She was expecting something, but not this.
I hadn't expected it either.
The moment we stepped inside, I froze. My eyes landed on Lina, sitting serenely on the tatami floor, surrounded by an elegant spread of food. But it wasn't just her.
Lina smiled sweetly, an innocent look that I knew better than to trust. "I brought a gift," she said, gesturing to her brother.
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|| A/N ||
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