Ca held Bea’s hand, saying, “Grandma Bea, what James sald wasn’t entirely wrong, so let’s not be


    too hard on him.”


    Hearing this, Bea took a deep breath and said, “We’ve all had a long day. Let’s head back and rest.”


    After saying this, Bea nced at James. “James, you stay.”


    James whispered to Sophie, “Go upstairs and wait for me. I’ll be right there.”


    “Okay.”


    Sophie didn’t say much but went upstairs.


    At that moment, Ca stood up and said, “Mrs. Burke is hurt. I’ll get the first–aid kit for her.”


    Then, Ca quickly ran to a room to fetch the first–aid kit.


    Sophie went upstairs and waited. Shortly after, Ca arrived upstairs with the first–aid kit in hand. She


    looked at Sophie, her expression apologetic. “It’s all my fault. I caused you to get hurt.”


    Sophie stared at Ca for a while.


    Feeling ufortable under Sophie’s gaze, Ca hesitantly asked, “Why are you looking at me like


    that, ma’am?”


    “ying the martyr can be effective, but only if done right. When mishandled, it can backfire.”


    Ca’s expression froze for a moment. “I don’t understand what you mean.”


    “Don’t you?” Sophie smiled and said, “I was quite looking forward to this little act you’ve orchestrated.


    But, your performance was riddled with ws, truly dull.”


    “Ma’am, you must be misunderstanding, I…”


    “First off, not just anyone would know James‘ cell number. The message mentioned you specifically,


    Ms. Ca, but you and James have no rtion. If the kidnapper wanted money, they should have


    targeted me, not you. How does that make sense?”


    “I wouldn’t know what the kidnapper was thinking…” Ca’s gaze flickered away.


    Sophieughed again, saying, “That kidnapper was a young man, about your age, right? He clearly


    had no clue about kidnapping. He didn’t even demand cash in the message. We brought a check, and


    he epted it. Does he not realize how easy it is to trace a check back to him?”


    “What….?” Ca visibly panicked.


    “He ran off without verifying the authenticity of the check. That’s justughable.”


    With every word, Sophie was breaking through Ca’s defenses. She had never considered these


    points!


    “Do you have any proof that I did this? Without evidence…”


    “Do you really think James doesn’t know? Or do you think Bea is unaware?”


    That statement made Ca’s face turn sour instantly.


    Sophie smiled and said, “What do you think Bea is? Did you really think she’d be fooled by such a


    clumsy kidnapping attempt? Her affection for you was merely a facade to use you against me. She’s


    been ying dumb, and James didn’t n to tear through this charade, all to spare you some dignity.”Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ca bit her lip, feeling a wave of humiliation. “Then why are you telling me?”


    “I’m telling you because I’m tired of watching you y these clumsy games. You can like James, and if


    you have the means to take him from me, then by all means, go ahead. Just don’t bring these games to


    me, do you understand?”


    Sophie’s demeanor was nonchnt.


    Ca was somewhat taken aback. “Why? Don’t you care about James?”


    “What I care about the most is myself.” Sophie gave Ca a dismissive nce and said, “Consider this


    a warning. If you try anything on me again, I will crush your dreams of marrying into wealth once and


    for all, I mean what I say.”