Chapter 3 Take You Home

The following morning, as soon as Sophie reached her class, she was notified by a classmate that the academic head had already called for her three times over the school's broadcast system. “Soph, what trouble have you gotten yourself into?” Although rumors painted Sophie as a rebellious girl, notorious for her fights in the neighborhood, she hadn't been seen engaging in any physical altercations since her enrollment at the school. Sophie spent most of her time sleeping in class, but it could be said that Horington High School was the worst school in the area. They admitted all kinds of students, and there were many who slept during lessons, yet the teachers didn't seem to care at all. “No worries. I'll go take a look.” Sophie tossed her backpack onto the desk and then headed toward the office. Inside the office, most of the teachers were present. “Sophie, what on earth is going on with you? I can overlook your tarnished reputation, but why did you resort to violence? Do you even know who you hit? That's the son of the Minister of Education in Horington. You've landed him in the hospital. What are you going to do now?” The principal of Horington High School, Vincent Zeller, looked at her angrily. He was extremely frustrated that he had accepted Sophie in the first place. “I've already called your mother. I think you should live and study in a different environment. It's clear that the climate of Horington isn't agreeing with you.” From beginning to end, Sophie didn't utter a single word. Soon, Sophie's mother, Charmaine Laird, arrived at Horington High School. “Mr. Zeller, what happened?” she asked anxiously. “Did Sophie make another mistake?” As soon as Charmaine entered, she didn't ask for the reason behind the situation and immediately assumed it was all Sophie's fault. “Mrs. Tanner, your daughter has landed us in a world of trouble. She's managed to infuriate the Minister of Education in Horington. I'm just a school principal, not a miracle worker. I can't fix this problem. My advice to you is to find a better environment for her to study and live in.” Vincent didn't give Charmaine any chance to speak and expelled Sophie outright. Sophie turned and walked straight out of the administrative office without saying anything. “Mr. Zeller, Sophie is still young. Please, give her another chance. If Horington High School rejects her, no other high school will accept her,” pleaded Charmaine, growing desperate. “She's already twenty years old. All I want is for her to successfully graduate from high school.” “Mrs. Tanner, I truly can't assist you with this matter. You should quickly consider how to resolve the issue of the minister's anger.” Left with no other choice, Charmaine reluctantly turned around and exited the office. The moment Charmaine caught sight of Sophie outside, she was so infuriated that she raised her hand, intending to slap her. However, Sophie abruptly seized her hand, gazing at her coldly. “Mrs. Tanner, what are you doing? Do you think you have the right to strike me?” Five years ago, they had made their choice. They had let her go, choosing Willow Tanner instead. “Sophie, what on earth are you saying? Have you no sense at all? You have done something so disgraceful. What more do you want? You've made it impossible for the entire Tanner family to hold our heads high in Jipsdale. Don't you have any remorse even now?” Upon hearing her words, Sophie was truly disheartened. As her mother, Charmaine had never once believed in her. “That's why my disgraceful self has long since severed ties with the Tanner family. Whether I live or die has nothing to do with any of you. There's no need for you to interfere in my school affairs as well,” Sophie declared. After finishing her statement, she went to the classroom, grabbed her backpack, and left. Charmaine became even more disappointed to see her so disobedient. However, she couldn't really just ignore her. No matter what, Sophie was her daughter, and she couldn't bring herself to completely sever ties with her. Moreover, Josiah Tanner was about to return. She wondered what he would do if he found out they had dumped Sophie in Horington. After all, he loved Sophie the most. “Mr. Tristan, Sophie has been expelled from school,” Felix relayed the firsthand news to Tristan. “Moreover, Sophie is the youngest daughter of the Tanner family from Jipsdale, who was sent away to Horington.” “Caleb Tanner's younger sister?” In Jipsdale, the Tanner family was unable to infiltrate the elite circle of the affluent and noble, yet Caleb Tanner remained a known figure to him. “That's right. She's Caleb Tanner's younger sister. Sophie was quite a sensation in Jipsdale's social circle at the time. I heard she even dropped out of middle school for two years. The truth was, she was living with a young ruffian and even got pregnant. In the end, she secretly went to a small clinic to have an abortion.” “And you believe it just because you heard it?” Tristan thought back to the girl's indifferent expression, and then to how she had tended to his wounds. It seemed impossible that she had lived with a thug since middle school, had gotten pregnant, and had gone through an abortion all by herself. Felix touched his nose. “It was her elder sister, Willow Tanner, who said it.” “Willow Tanner?” Tristan had virtually no recollection of that name. “Mr. Tristan, this is someone else's family matter. Do you plan on intervening?” “I find this Sophie intriguing. I want to take her with me. Perhaps she could prove useful in the future.” “No way, Mr. Tristan. You want her to join Lombard Group?” Felix was utterly bewildered. She's just a kid who hasn't even graduated high school, and he wants her to join Lombard Group. Is he out of his mind? “What's the matter? You got a problem with that?” Immediately, Felix shook his head. “No, no. Your word is law, isn't it?” he said obsequiously. By evening, Charmaine was still at a loss for solutions. She hadn't even managed to meet with the minister. Just as she was contemplating leaving, ignoring Sophie's fate, a call came through from Josiah. As soon as the call connected, Josiah roared, “No matter what, remember to bring back Sophie. If you don't bring her back this time, you don't have to bother coming back either.” “Dad, you want me to bring back Sophie? Five years ago—” Before she could even finish her sentence, Josiah had already hung up the phone. The thought of all those people in Jipsdale eagerly anticipating her to become a laughingstock was enough to irritate Charmaine. She couldn't help but wonder about the potential gossip that would ensue if she were to return with Sophie. However, what she hadn't expected was that Caleb had actually come over. “Weren't you abroad? How did you end up here?” “Mom, I came to take Sophie back,” Caleb said, without elaborating much to Charmaine. “Caleb, you're well aware of Sophie's reputation in Jipsdale. It would be a significant blow to the Tanner family's reputation if you were to bring her back.” “What exactly happened five years ago remains unclear to all of us. We shouldn't simply accept one person's account of the story. I've never believed that Sophie did anything to disgrace our family. Back then, I was afraid that she would be upset in Jipsdale, so I let her leave for a few years. Now, it's time for her to return. She needs to go back and continue her studies. She needs to attend a prestigious university.” Upon seeing that Caleb had already made his decision, Charmaine refrained from saying anything more, even though she truly disliked Sophie, the daughter in question. “I'm afraid she might not be willing to go back with you. You still don't know her personality? She's stubborn.” “You don't need to worry about this matter. You go back first. I'll take Sophie home.” Sophie hadn't expected to encounter Caleb here, of all places. What is he doing here? I no longer have any ties with the Tanner family. They chose Willow, didn't they? Seeing that Sophie was about to walk past him, Caleb reached out and grasped her hand. “Soph, it's me, your big brother. I've come to take you home,” Caleb said warmly. Sophie couldn't help but frown. Big brother? Take me home? Where was he when I was at my most vulnerable? Now I don't need him anymore.