Two days later, it was the time they made a decision. But Sophia was gone.

Catherine threw a tantrum.

​​

"Catherine, I'm sorry. I didn't watch Cousin Sophia."

Samuel felt guilty because Sophia was missing on the way out with him. He should not let her come with him.

"It's none of your business. Someone must instigate Sophia."

Catherine looked at Linda sharply.

Linda felt antsy, worried, and guilty. She was trying hard to hold back something. But Catherine could tell something was abnormal about her.

"Catherine, what should we do now? Where could Sophia go?"

"How should I know? You should since you are her mother."

"But Sophia is always docile. She wouldn't run away."

"Unless someone told her something."

"What do you mean? Are you saying it's me?"

"You know what you did."

Samuel had to report to school this day. Maria would go with him. Then Sophia, for some reason, asked to come along.

Catherine said no at first. But Sophia cried and begged.

Catherine couldn't stand crying, especially if it was people close to her. She felt she was being too harsh and went soft to say yes.

In case anything should happen, Catherine asked Geoffrey and two other men to follow them. She asked specifically to follow Sophia and never let her leave her sight. But Sophia was gone after she said she was gonna go to the bathroom.

Sophia went missing in Samuel's high school, which was also the school Sophia went to. She knew the surroundings better than anybody.

Geoffrey reported that they weren't followed, and she didn't see anyone suspicious in the school. So Sophia ran away.

They made a temporary decision to go to school. No matter how capable Harlan was, he would not know.

"Sorry, Catherine. We shouldn't have brought Sophia with us."

"Don't blame yourself. Sophia decides to run away."

Linda got flickering eyes and a bit excited. Then she was overwhelmingly worried, thinking her daughter would be in danger.

Sean hurried downstairs and held Catherine's cold hands. He said, "I've sent my guys out for Sophia. Don't worry."

"Sophia must be planning something. She decides to run away and will not be found easily."

"Why does Sophia do this? It's so dangerous."

Maria didn't know that was why Catherine took them here.

"Sophia is not an impulsive person. She does so..."

Catherine grabbed Sean's hands nervously and said, "This is the last day that Harlan gives us. Sean, do you think Sophia..."

Sean looked at Linda sharply.

"I think she goes to Harlan's casino."

"What?"

"Someone else overheard our conversation the other day."

It was Linda.

"Why are you looking at me? I don't know anything."

"Aunt Linda, I think you'd better tell the truth."

Linda's eyes flickered more, and she looked guilty.

"What are you talking about?"

"The guy who got Tom is Harlan Welsh. He's a gangster. He asked Sophia to trade for Tom, or he would kill him."

Maria got pale and said, "Linda, so you sent Sophia to his casino for that animal's life?"

"I..."

"How foolish are you!"

"It's cruel. Even tigers wouldn't eat their cubs. Tom and Linda are too heartless to care for their kid."

Maria pointed at Linda with shivering fingers, "You let me down! Sophia is just a kid. How could she ever survive this? How could you be so cruel?"

Samuel added, "Aunt Linda, if anything should happen to Sophia, we won't forgive you!"

Linda took steps back by their accusing and despising looks. She fell to the ground.

She covered her face and started crying, "I don't want to do this. But I can't watch it as Tom dies. He is Sophia's father, and she should save him."

"Father? He doesn't deserve to be a father. And you don't deserve to be a mother!"

How sad was that that Sophia had such parents?

"Do you know what kind of man Harlan is?"

"He's only 27."

Linda kept the illusion that he might be nice to Sophia.

"Sure, he is not old. But he is aggressive about playing women. He likes it exciting and sedating. Sophia is too nice a girl to be spoiled by him. How could you live with your conscience?"

Maria couldn't stop crying for her poor Sophia.

Catherine was furious, and she had to vent off. She waved her hand to slap across Linda's face.

She didn't slap her aunt because she had to respect seniors who shouldn't be offended. But Linda didn't deserve her respect.

The slapping made the tension more visible in the room. The temperature suddenly dropped.

"Linda, remember this, if anything should happen to Sophia, I'll make your life hell!"

How cruel was Sophia's life that she had such a mom?

Linda was still defending herself and said, "Harlan is rich. If he likes Sophia, he will give her a good life. We're too poor to pay for her tuition. But if Harlan likes her, he would help."

Catherine clenched her fists to hold back the urge to punch Linda.

"I know I'm a terrible mother and couldn't afford to pay for Sophia's tuition. Her future would be wasted. So I'm thinking for her benefit."

"Linda, there is something more wrong about your brain after the surgery. I'd rather you didn't have surgery!"

"Whose fault is it that you can't afford to pay for Sophia's college tuition? I remember that Sophia had to make money as a kid when other kids had playdates after school. She made money for you! Linda, you're across the line!" Maria said harshly.

"Whatever. Sophia has unacknowledged me as her mother."

Linda said as she started laughing.

Linda asked Sophia to help her. Sophia said after staying silent for a long time, "I can promise you. But I won't acknowledge you as my parents afterward. From now on, I'm just Sophia. I'm not your daughter. You have nothing to do with me. No matter how much trouble you get into, or how much money you owe, I won't help."

Linda cried for a long time. She tried to say anything but couldn't.

She couldn't have regrets. She had to save Tom.

At the same time, she felt guilty.