Chapter 371
Josephine stretched with a lazy yawn, arms high over her head.
“Good morning, Miss Sophia p>
When she noticed Alex was awake, her face lit up. “And good morning to you, Alex p>
“Morning, Josephine,” Alex replied, unsure what else to say under Sophia’s sharp, burning stare.
Josephine swung her legs off the bed, cracking her neck like nothing unusual had happened.
“I’ll make breakfast for the three of us, okay?” She started toward the door as if it were any other day.
Sophia stepped in her path, eyes narrowing. “How can you two be sleeping together p>
Josephine met her gaze without a flicker of guilt. Growing up in the cramped orphanage, sharing a bed had never been a scandal.
“Oh, Alex fainted in front of the clinic, so I brought him to his bed,” she said through another yawn.
“But then he got all teary and didn’t want to let go. Maybe he needed a friend, so I stayed. I was tired too, so I fell asleep there. That’s all p>
With that, Josephine turned and headed off to make breakfast, leaving them alone in the room.
Sophia’s eyes flicked between them-both fully clothed, nothing looking out of place.
She wanted to scold Alex, but Josephine’s words pulled her up short.
Alex… fainted? And teary-eyed?
Could that have been because she had shot a bullet to his forehead yesterday?
“What are you doing here?” Alex asked from the bed.
Sophia moved to his side, her warm fingers brushing his forehead before she could think better of it.
“Did that little stunt I pulled yesterday-shooting the bullet to you-make you faint? Did it hurt so bad you almost died p>
Alex’s eyes sharpened. This wasn’t the Sophia he knew the one who lashed out first and thought later.
This was softer. Concerned. It threw him.
“No,” he said. “It’s just… lately, there’s been too much to deal with p>
Sophia bit her lip. “You’re right. For both of us p>
A long, awkward silence stretched between them before Sophia drew a deep breath.
“Alex… what do you think about us p>
“Us?” Alex searched her face-beautiful, but hesitant, almost shy.
She clasped her hands together tightly, panic flickering in her eyes.
“You know I’m a widow now… and if you don’t mind p>
Alex understood instantly where she was headed. In the past, he might have answered without hesitation-yes, let’s remarry.
But with Josephine slowly weaving her way into his life, everything felt tangled and out of control.
He couldn’t give her an answer.
Before he could speak, Sophia’s phone shrilled. She glanced at the screen. “I need to take this p>
She turned away. “Mother? What happened p>
Her mother’s voice came through, frantic. “Our neighbor just called-Our mansion is on fire p>
“What p>
Thirty minutes later, fire engines roared in front of the blazing estate.
Sophia and Alex stood side by side, watching orange flames devour the sprawling mansion.
Moments later, Florence and Jack pulled up in a taxi, still wearing their hospital patient clothes, eyes wide at the sight of their home burning.
Florence’s face twisted in panic as she lurched toward the burning mansion. “My money! My jewelry-my gold p>
“Mother! Stop! Do you want to die?” Sophia yanked her back hard, her voice sharp with fear.
“Sophia! My money and jewelry are still inside! I have to get them p>
“Mom, the fire’s out of control! The money’s probably already gone, but the gold and jewelry won’t burn p>
“Wait until the flames are out! If you go in now, you’re running straight to your death p>
Sophia clamped her arms around her mother, holding her in place with unyielding strength.
“What do we do? This is our home-our property! How can it be burning like this p>
Florence’s voice cracked, tears streaming down her face as she stared at the inferno devouring everything.
Alex, keeping his expression unreadable, had already given the order-forty guards to deal with Henny and Clarissa, then burn the place to the ground.
And it looked like they’d done exactly that.
The mansion was already swallowed by flames, its walls groaning before collapsing into the fire.
With any luck, it would take Henny and Clarissa down with it.
A deafening explosion tore through the air, the ground shuddering beneath their feet.
The blast blew the Mansion apart, reducing it to a heap of smoking rubble, while a wave of black smoke and scorching heat rolled across the yard.
It must have been the gas-or something just as deadly-going up in flames.
Florence’s scream was raw and furious. “My mansion! Oh my God p>
Her grief twisted into rage. “Henny, you bitch! You stabbed me, you stabbed my
son, and now you destroy my mansion?! This is unforgivable p>
Jack jumped in quickly, his mind already scheming.
“Mom, this all started because of Alex. Remember? He slapped Madam Henny the first time she came here. She’s been looking for
revenge ever since. We can make
him pay for this p>
Florence’s eyes lit with vindictive clarity. “You’re right!” She seized Alex’s sleeve in
a death grip.
“Alex, this is all your fault! You’re going to pay for my mansion p>
“Mom, Alex had nothing to do with the fire,” Sophia cut in, her tone firm.
“You can’t seriously expect him to compensate you for this p>
“Why not? He brought this trouble to our doorstep! Don’t even think about walking away if you don’t pay up!” Florence’s voice rose as she shook Alex by the collar. fo
“You owe me my home! You’ve been nothing but bad luck since the day you showed up p>
Alex felt the weight of bitter regret.
Why had he even bothered to save Florence and Jack? This was his thanks— being hounded like a criminal.
“Fine,” he said, voice flat. “How much p>
“Two million Florence paused, calculating, then greed glinted in her eyes. “No.
Five p>
“Mom! We bought this place for one million! Now you’re just trying to scam Alex!” Sophia’s patience was fraying fast.
“That was then! Prices have
é
skyrocketed! If I don’t get five million, I’m not letting this go!” Florence planted her hands on her hips, her stance daring anyone to challenge her. sŵnovel