Chapter 247: I'm A Bit Scared Alone

Actually, Henry's intention was quite simple: he wanted Katherine to see Sophie, hoping for a chance to display their affection. This way, not only could he make Katherine give up, but it would also allow him to spend more time with Sophie, killing two birds with one stone. Sophie found herself in a dilemma. Attending a dinner wasn't a big deal, but given her current relationship status with Henry, showing up as his wife could lead to awkwardness if they ended up divorcing soon after. On the other hand, she felt obligated to support Henry as his wife, despite never really having done anything significant for him. After some thought, Sophie sensed something unusual about Henry's demeanor, suggesting this dinner invitation wasn't as straightforward as it seemed. "Why do you want me to accompany you? Under what pretense? Or do you need my help with something?" Sophie asked, her eyebrows furrowing. At her question, Henry's expression subtly changed, his gaze fixed on Sophie until she blushed and looked away, then he finally averted his eyes. "There's no specific reason, other than you're the woman I've loved most in my life." These words sent a shock through Sophie, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably. The impact of his statement was overwhelming, almost making her want to rush into his arms. But, reason prevailed over emotion. After regaining her composure, she replied, "Henry, there's no need for such words. Our contract has expired, and according to our agreement, we're supposed to divorce soon." "Alright, have it your way. If you don't want to, forget I said anything," Henry replied, a hint of disappointment in his voice. Sensing the change in Henry's mood, Sophie hesitated before saying, "Okay, I'll help you with this. What time?" Hearing her agree, Henry couldn't help but feel triumphant, thinking he could still sway her. "Let's meet at six in the evening." "Alright, then." "Let's go!" Henry stood up, ready to leave. "Where are we going so early?" Sophie asked, puzzled. "To apologize to my parents. I'm a bit scared to do it alone..." Henry said with a wry smile. Sophie's heart warmed at Henry's words, but she couldn't help rolling her eyes at him before reluctantly following him out of the bedroom. Baron was comforting Leah on the couch when they emerged. "Mom, Dad, I'm sorry for my earlier behavior and for disrespecting you both," Henry said, bowing to them. Leah ignored him with a huff, while Baron stayed silent. "Mom, Dad, I was also wrong in my behavior today, and I apologize," Sophie added, seeing Henry's attempt to make amends. "Hmph, you ungrateful girl. It seems you won't be happy until you've driven us to our graves! First, you upset me, and now you've teamed up with this failure to torment me. He almost attacked me just now. Is this the kind of son-in-law The Mitchell deserves? You two should just divorce already." "For years, if it wasn't for him, would our family have been humiliated and scorned like this by the clan?" "Now we've been driven out of the family and the company. How are we supposed to live?" Leah's complaints overflowed with resentment. "Don't worry, I have a salary now, and it's not small. It's enough for our family to live on," Henry quickly interjected. "Rubbish, do you think life is just about living?" "Look at how others live and look at our lives. Can you compare?" "Mom, living our lives is our own business. Why do you always compare us to others? Besides, I'm going to find a job too!" Sophie said, getting a bit angry. "Hmph, in the end, it's all because of you. Marrying such a loser. If you had married into a good family, we could be living in luxury." "Mom..." Sophie was about to respond but was stopped by Henry, who then pulled out a bank card from his pocket and handed it to Leah. "Mom, there's three hundred thousand on this card. It's a bonus from my boss. I don't have any immediate use for it, so please take care of it. If you or Dad want to buy anything, feel free to use it. If it runs out, I'll give you more." Leah's demeanor changed instantly at the mention of the money, snatching the card from Henry's hand as if afraid someone else would take it. "Well, that's more like it. Since you're making so much money, give us three hundred thousand every month for our living expenses!" Before Henry could respond, Sophie was visibly upset. She had wanted to intervene when Henry offered the card but was too slow to stop Leah. To Sophie, this money was what Henry had been saving to find his sister. Giving it all to her parents left him with nothing for his search. "Mom, give the money back to Henry. It's his, and he needs it!" Sophie's tone was firm. "What do you mean give it back?" "This is what he owes our family. Would we be in this situation if it weren't for him?" Leah retorted. "Thirty thousand is nothing compared to what I've lost!" With that, she stood up and walked straight to the bedroom, leaving Sophie speechless at her parents' behavior. Henry decided to cater to his mother-in-law's love for money. The card had been prepared by Daisy at his request, but he had instructed not to deposit too much money. Too much might arouse Sophie's suspicion, while too little wouldn't impress her mother. Thirty thousand was just the right amount. "Henry, what are you doing? That's the money you've been saving. Aren't you going to find your sister?" Sophie was somewhat angry. Henry chuckled, "I have a job now, and I'm earning quite well. Besides, isn't it right to honor my mother-in-law? If it keeps her from scolding you, it's worth it." As time passed, Henry and Sophie found themselves at a loss for words, so Henry retreated to the study. He called Zane to discuss the dinner plans, emphasizing the need to keep their stories straight, especially around Patrick Trelawney and others, to avoid any slip-ups. Then, he texted Katherine to confirm the dinner at Marriott International Hotel's Room 888 at six o'clock, as a welcome gesture. Katherine, already prepared, was delighted upon receiving the message and started getting ready with excitement. At six o'clock, the Trelawneys, Theodore and his wife, along with Frederick, headed to the Marriott International Hotel. Felix, aware that Henry was hosting, greeted them at the door, followed by Katherine's arrival. Katherine was surprised to see so many guests but didn't mind much, focusing instead on Henry's presence. Meanwhile, Henry, dressed casually, and Sophie, who had dressed up in a stunning blue dress, accented with the jade necklace Henry had given her, arrived at the hotel. Sophie's beauty and elegance were so striking that she immediately became the center of attention, making Henry both proud and a bit helpless. Did Sophie really need to dress up so much just for dinner? Regardless, this was an opportunity for Katherine to see and hopefully dispel any illusions she might have had about Henry.