"Here you go, can''t leave you out of this," Andrew chuckled, shaking his head. He wondered how he ended up with such a cheeky little troublemaker in his family.


    Just then, Harold ambled down the stairs, putting on an exaggerated frown. "Andrew, Damita, I''ve got aint!" he dered. "Sophie''s been cking off-she just woke up from a nap!" Sophie shot Harold a re. "Whose side are you on, Harold?"


    "Definitely not yours!" he retorted.


    "You!"


    Damita interjected gently, "Alright, alright, aren''t you both a bit too old for this bickering? You''ve been at each other''s throats since you were kids, and nothing''s changed!"


    "Well, she''s not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed! Andrew''s so bright, but she didn''t get any of that."


    "What did you just say?! You''re the one who''s slow!"


    "I was talking about you!"


    "No, you! You''re the dim one!"


    "You''re dim!"


    "You''re dim!"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    As Harold and Sophie continued their yful squabble, the four adults couldn''t help but shake their heads and chuckle. Those two must have been rivals in a past life.


    Jeremy smiled, "Mark, how about letting Sophie stay with us for a few days after hering-of-age celebration today? They''ve just finished their exams and both got into Eastwood College. They could use some solid coaching." Andrew nodded, "Sounds like a n, Mark. The kids should stay with you and learn a lot."


    "I don''t want to!"


    "Me neither!"


    Their joint protest instantly shifted the mood. They''d rather endure military training than be under Old Man Mark''s watchful eye!


    Andrew sighed, "Come on, staying with Jeremy will be good for your learning."


    "But Dad... Jeremy''s too intense! I can''t keep up with him!"


    Harold nced at Sophie and quipped, "That''s because you''re slow!"


    "You''re the slow one! Let''s see you learn something faster than me!"


    "I will! Who''s afraid of you? I''ll definitely learn faster than you!"


    "Keep dreaming!"


    "You!"


    Seeing Harold starting to get genuinely riled up, Sophie quickly said, "Jeremy, Liz, Mom, Dad! I''m off to find my brother!" With that, Sophie darted upstairs like a sh.


    Harold stomped his foot in frustration. "You''re like a rabbit, always running away!"


    Sophie didn''t care how annoyed Harold was; she knew her brother had her back.


    Rick wasing out of Gordon''s office, arms full of documents when


    Sophie swept in like and He


    hastity called out, "Ms. Sophie! The boss is working!"


    "Huh? The wind''s too loud! What did you say? Sophie was moving so fast that by the time Rick finished speaking, she had already pushed open the door to Gordon''s study.


    The room was filled with the rich scent of ink from the books, and the


    sunlight streaming in made


    everything look almost surreal. Gordon stood by the window,


    gold-rimmed sses perched on his


    nose, tall andmanding in his spotless white shirt.


    His chiseled profile was so arresting that anyone entering would instinctively hold their breath, not wanting to disturb the serene scene.


    Gordon smiled softly, a hint of warmth in his gaze. "Why the rush?"


    Sophie, ying the victim, immediately said, "Brother, Harold tattled on me and picked on me."


    "Did he pull your ear or call you names?"


    Sophie huffed indignantly, "Both! He did both!"