Chapter 53: Chapter 53: There is No Person Named Ryan Battleson!
"Sophie, why are you so foolish! Annoying the old lady – does it benefit us in any way?"
Mia Stewart gave her a white-eyed look of exasperation.
"I know, I know. I just can’t stand Sophie Allen’s holier-than-thou attitude, acting as though I’ve slandered her when she was clearly the one seducing Mr. Hudson..."
Emily Allen clenched her teeth, "Mr. Hudson is a dignified gentleman, Ryan is part of the Hudson Group. The Hudson Family’s wealth is immense and their connections far exceed Ryan’s."
"Why is Sophie Allen so lucky!" Emily Allen stamped her foot.
Mia Stewart scoffed, saying, "Sophie, don’t get upset. Sophie Allen only used her beauty to have Mr. Hudson cover Scarlett Watson’s medical expenses."
"But do you think Sophie Allen, a woman who has been married once, can enter the Hudson Family?"
Reminded by her mother in this way, Emily Allen cackled.
Mia Stewart’s face twisted into a malicious expression, her voice low, "I’ll never let Sophia Thompson’s daughter outshine my own!"
...
In the restaurant.
The atmosphere was subdued.
Sophie Allen apologized to Jasmine Clarkson, "I’m sorry, ma’am, for causing you trouble."
If she doesn’t leave Stardust Garden one day, then surely Mia Stewart and her daughter will continue to target her.
She didn’t want these two malicious women to inconvenience the old lady.
After a pause, she made up her mind about something she had been conflicted about.
She decided to tell the old lady about the contract agreement.
"Silly child, you don’t have to apologize to me, it’s hard for you having to deal with such a stepmother and stepsister." Jasmine Clarkson showed a look of heartache and took Sophie Allen’s hand.
Sophie was a bit taken aback.
Nobody has been this kind to her in many years.
Nobody else has been able to understand her plight.
"Thank you, ma’am." Sophie’s eyes welled up.
"Why are you thanking me? You are my granddaughter-in-law, and thus my granddaughter as well." Jasmine Clarkson looked at her kindly.
Yet her words filled Sophie with more guilt, so she said, "Actually, Ryan Battleson and I have signed a contract. He asked me to keep it secret from you, but he’s still unconscious in the ICU and I can’t lie to you."
"Ryan Battleson? ICU? Unconscious?!" Jasmine Clarkson was taken aback.
Once she understood, she was a bit angry, and a bit incredulous.
That child Justin, must have told so many lies to divorce Sophie.
Is he completely blinded by that temptress Evelyn Curtis!
He’s so determined to get a divorce, huh?
At first, when Justin was masking his identity and pretending to be wheelchair-bound in front of Sophie, she didn’t intervene. She was curious to see if Sophie would care about these matters or not.
But now she’s seen enough of Sophie to make her judgment. She’s been alive for many years and has keen eyes.
Sophie is a good girl, that much she could tell.
But...
"Ma’am, you didn’t know about Ryan Battleson’s condition?"
Seeing Jasmine Clarkson react somewhat strangely, Sophie was surprised.
Jasmine Clarkson snapped back to reality, sighed deeply, and slowly shook her head.
This made Sophie even more stunned.
As Ryan Battleson’s grandmother, why did she not show any concern?
The old lady did not seem like the type to be so indifferent.
Sophie was filled with confusion and didn’t know what to say for a moment.
"Charlotte, I’m really sorry for all you have been through." Jasmine Clarkson sighed.
Sophie quickly responded, "I don’t feel wronged, ma’am. You’ve treated me very well, it’s me who has let you down. Please take back the betrothal gifts the Allen family received, don’t let them profit from this..."
"Charlotte, as a matter of fact... there is no such person as Ryan Battleson!"
Jasmine Clarkson didn’t want to keep it a secret anymore.