Sophia turned away because she was not willing to spend another minute in her cousin's presence. She wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

The big diamond ring on her cousin's hand had rendered her speechless. That ring was supposed to be hers, and for a second, a pained look passed through her eyes.

"Leave me alone," Sophia said with her voice raised. There was nothing else to say to her cousin after their last encounter.

"Sister, please don't be mad. I know Gavin designed this ring with you in mind, but by the time he received it the situation had changed. I'm so sorry, but I could not decline his proposal," Harper said in a sorrowful tone as she held onto Sophia like a leech.

"Okay, I got it, now let me go," Sophia tried to pry off her cousin's filthy fingers off her arm.

"No sister! I will not let go until you forgive me. I know I am the reason you have broken ties with the family, and I want to mend that," Harper said with her very pitiful face as she dug her sharp claws into Sophia's arm, intending to hurt her and inflict pain.

"Stop it, Harper," Sophia squeezed Harper's fingers so she could stop hurting her arm. Harper stepped back and pretended to stumble as she let the tears from her eyes fall.

Sophia was baffled, 'Why is this girl crying when she dug her nails into my arm. I think she even drew blood. Ouch!" she thought as she rubbed her arm.

Harper wanted to draw attention, so she sobbed louder, gathering the attention of that one person she knew would come to her rescue. "What happened here?" said the man that picked her up from the floor, "Why are you crying?"

"Hmph! No wonder you had to give that award-winning performance, bravo Harper. Once again, I'm the bad guy," Sophia thought bitterly.

Harper sobbed, "Gavin, sister got angry when I begged her to come home. I just miss her so much."

"How many times did I tell you to be careful when dealing with unsightly people?" Gavin cooed at Harper while he glared at Sophia angrily.

"You haven't changed at all. Would it hurt you to be a little kinder to Harper when all she's asking is for you to come home? You can reject her, but don't be rude," he said to Sophia.

Sophia huffed, Gavin had always thought so little of her that she wondered if she imagined all those years they were together. Was she the only one who loved and respected him? Why was it so easy to believe Harper when one could easily see the marks on her arm?

"There is no use talking to both of you. Let's not waste each other's time, so don't ever approach me ever again," she curtly replied.

Both their attitudes had always been this way, and she should not have been surprised that they never changed.

Sophia walked away before they could even confront her again, "Sophia!" Gavin screamed angrily. But his scream fell on deaf ears.

Harper held on to his hand very tightly so he could not follow Sophia. "Let's go find somewhere to sit. This confrontation got me exhausted," she said. And just like before, he could never say no to any of her requests.

-=-

The next day Sophia found herself with a massive headache. Seeing Gavin and Harper always affected her mood. Even though she tried to show them that she had moved on and she was stronger than they perceive her to be, it was always rough on her. Seeing them always dredged up all the past making her question herself, was there something she could have done differently to change her ill fate?

There was a knock on her door that cut into her reverie. Aiden sauntered into the office and sat in the chair in front of her desk as if it was his office.

"Why are you here? Is this going to be work-related?" Sophia asked, annoyed.

"No, it's not, I just thought we should have lunch together," he said, playing with the paperweight on her table.

Sophia's assistant had come into the office, and instead of giving Sophia her message, she stood in disbelief when she heard their exchange. I wonder if they're in a relationship? Is Mr.Cooper pursuing my boss?

"I have a meeting right now that may extend through lunch, so I don't think I can join you," she said when she said her assistant at the door.

Aiden stood up and walked to her side of the table, "What are you struggling with? Let me help you so you can finish this meeting faster," he leaned towards her monitor.

"This line here," she points out with her mouse.

"Let me see," Aiden smoothly places his hand over hers while he moves the mouse. Making some minor changes along the way.

Sophia's assistant fell wide open. She could not believe that the last eligible Aristocratic heir was openly flirting with her cold boss, and from the looks of it, she had no objections. Her boss had avoided men like the plague for the last five years, but now during the light of day, she was accepting Aiden's advances.

"Hurry up and finish the meeting, I'll order us some takeout. What would you prefer to eat?" he asked.

"Hmm... Maybe order some Chinese," she said as she left for her meeting.

The assistant thought Sophia had rejected all her suitors because of her high standards, but it seemed that Mr. Cooper was her perfect match, being an Aristocratic heir probably checked all her boxes.

And if her boss liked Aiden, then she would make sure to make him feel comfortable while he waited. "Mr. Cooper, is the temperature in the office okay for you?" Aiden shook his head.

"Would you like me to bring you some coffee or tea?" she asked, and he said no.

"If there's anything you need, I'll be out here," she said before leaving him alone in Sophia's office.

"No, you guys can carry on," Aiden waved his hand.