Sophie stood to the side, watching the drama unfold with a detached air.


    At that moment, James hurried over. As he entered, he saw Mr. Briggs and Bea in the middle of their heated argument. He immediately went forward, supporting Bea. "Grandma, you..." "James! This is the girl you like! Look at the show her family is putting on!"


    "Grandma, what are you saying?" James had just arrived and was unaware of what had transpired.


    He only saw Sophie standing aside, like an outsider. Sophie appeared unharmed and he felt a bit relieved.


    Officer Derick, seeing the situation, approached James and said delicately, "Mr. Burke, let me brief you on what just happened. Your fiancée... had a miscarriage. She''s in quite aplicated situation. In short, Ms. Rowena threw herself from the second floor and went tumbling down the stairs. Ms. Sophie had nothing to do with it. Rest assured, we''ll thoroughly investigate this matter..."


    James furrowed his brows, his voice cold, "Isn''t the situation already clear?"


    "Well..."


    James'' face showed no trace of grief for his lost child. Sophie noticed his indifferent demeanor and couldn''t help but remember her past life. When she was pregnant and lying on the operating table, James might have been just as indifferent. It was as if the child in her womb wasn''t his at all.


    "I don''t want today''s incident to spread."


    James looked at the guests, who understood without needing to be told. This was an industry scandal, and naturally, James did not want it to leak. They wouldn''t foolishly offend James. They would keep silent after tonight.


    "Marian, help Grandma go to rest."


    "Yes, Mr. Burke."


    Marian stepped forward to support Bea, who was greatly shaken by tonight''s events, swaying as she walked.


    James gave Colt a look, and Colt immediately stepped forward, addressing Mr. and Mrs. Pittman, "Mr. and Mrs. Pittman, sorry for the fright. We''ll arrange for someone to escort you home shortly."


    Colt then addressed the crowd, "Tonight''s dinner is concluded. We apologize for any inconvenience. We''ll s to all of you shortly and hope you won''t mind."


    With Colt managing the aftermath, James felt at ease. He nced at Officer Derick. "Come upstairs with me."This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes, Mr. Burke."


    James then coldly said to Ricardo and Mr. Briggs, "Gentlemen, you may leave."


    The dismissal was clear, leaving Mr. Briggs struggling to cope. Even if he was bold and rude in front of Bea, he didn''t dare to act out in front of James. Ricardo prepared to lead Mr. Briggs away, choosing not to linger.


    "Mr. Ricardo." Sophie suddenly called out to Ricardo, stopping him in his tracks. With a meaningful tone, she said, "Take care, no need for farewells."


    Ricardo cast a cold nce at Sophie. Mr. Briggs felt something was off between them but couldn''t pinpoint what it was. He allowed Ricardo to lead him out of the Burke residence.


    With everyone gone, James approached Sophie, hesitatingly asking, "Are you hurt?"


    Sophie responded coolly, "I''m fine. Mr. Burke. Perhaps you should be more concerned about your own child."


    James frowned, "I never said I was going to marry her."


    The atmosphere between James and Sophie was tense.


    Officer Derick, standing aside, felt awkward and couldn''t help but say, "Um... maybe you two should talk, and I''ll head upstairs?"


    James gave Officer Derick a cold nce, and he quickly got the message, "I''ll go upstairs!"


    After Officer Derick left, Sophie said,


    "Why did you scare him like that? knew about today''s incident beforehand, but I didn''t expect Nichole to use her own child to frame me."


    She had sensed something was amiss when she received the invitation. Her suspicions were


    confirmed for sure when she learned Ricardo would attend. To be on the safe side, she contacted Marian to install cameras in the Burke main house and brought a voice recorder, which turned out to be useful.


    Nichole resorted to the same low-level tricks. It was a pity for the child.


    Sophie said lightly, "That child was yours, after all. Nichole is now in the hospital. If you want to see her, then go."


    Sophie turned to leave, but James immediately grabbed her wrist, "Do you want me to see Nichole?"


    "That''s your girl, and the child she lost was yours. Shouldn''t you go see her?"


    Sophie looked at James coldly and asked a question she had long wanted to ask, "Even if you don''t


    love her, don''t you at least have a et


    responsibility towards her, James? Could you really watch a woman, who was carrying your child, die on the operating table... even if you didn''t love her?"


    "What?" Faced with this sudden question, James didn''t know how to respond.


    Sophieughed bitterly, "Never mind."