Chapter 252

Benjamin couldn't tolerate being accused of dishonesty.

The moment Catherine reassured him, his mood lifted considerably.

Hearing this, Sophia stopped crying as well.

Of course. Benjamin must have confused someone else with mom. That woman couldn't possibly be her.

This realization brought immediate relief.

Then she remembered how Isabella had complimented Charlotte before. They'd seemed unusually close.

Without bothering to dry her tears, Sophia reached into Alexander's pocket. "Dad, I need your phone."

Alexander had already pieced together the situation from Catherine's words. He wiped Sophia's face gently before handing over his device.

Sophia quickly dialed Isabella's number.

At that exact moment, Isabella was leaving the movie theater, heading toward the adjacent arcade.

Seeing Alexander's caller ID flash, she declined without hesitation.

Sophia's eyes remained puffy. "Mom didn't answer."

"She's likely occupied," Alexander said smoothly. "Let's not interrupt. How about dinner tonight? Just us."

His casual dismissal made Sophia more certain Benjamin had mistaken someone else.

She brightened. "Can Julian come too?"

Alexander chuckled. "Of course."

Feeling lighter, Sophia moved to return to her puzzle. But lingering unease made her call Elizabeth to speak with Charlotte.

Elizabeth was startled.

From her observations, Sophia hadn't particularly warmed to Charlotte. While not unkind...

Unable to resist Sophia's pleading tone, Elizabeth contacted Abigail first. After confirming both Charlotte and her mother consented, she shared Abigail's contact details.

Sophia initiated a video call immediately.

Charlotte answered with visible delight. "Sophia! Ms. Moore said you wanted to talk? Want to play together?"

Despite Sophia's previous coolness, Charlotte had always admired her bold, confident demeanor.

"Mm." Sophia pressed her lips. "Where are you?"

"Home!" Charlotte cheerfully panned the camera. "Grandma and Grandpa are here. We're making my favorite dumplings. Want to—"

The sight of piled dumpling wrappers confirmed they were truly home. Sophia exhaled. "You didn't go to the movies with my mom today, right?"

Charlotte shook her head. "With Ms. Sinclair? No, haven't seen her in weeks."

Relief flooded Sophia. "Okay. Enjoy your dumplings."

She nearly hung up, then awkwardly added, "Bye."

Charlotte blinked. "Oh—bye!"

When Alexander returned to the living room, Richard inquired, "Everything settled?"

"Yes."

Their recently arrived guests—first-time viewers of Sophia—exchanged glances.

One remarked, "Can't believe Alexander's daughter is this grown. So he married young?"

Recent whispers about Alexander's child had been dismissed as rumors.

Seeing proof stunned them.

Alexander sipped his tea. "Indeed."

Awkward smiles circulated. These guests had strategically brought daughters, hoping for introductions.

Potential matches, ideally. But a wife changed everything.

Their elegant, well-mannered daughters had garnered zero attention from Alexander in thirty minutes.

Clearly, even unmarried, they'd have stood no chance.

Meanwhile, after an hour at the arcade, Julian and Lily departed for prior commitments.

Isabella, having nearly completed her thesis earlier, planned final edits at home before Frederick's review.

Then submission.

Engrossed in VR gaming, she didn't notice Genevieve exiting the cinema. Spotting Isabella alone at the arcade, Genevieve sneered before strutting away.

Thirty minutes later, Genevieve arrived at the Kensington estate.

Rushing upstairs, she found Penelope there. "Aunt? Weren't you shopping? Why are you in Aunt Diana's suite?"

"Just returned."

Though the Kensington home was lavish, it paled beside the estate Alexander purchased for Eleanor.

Penelope visited constantly under various pretexts.

Even now, she still marveled at the opulent decor.

Genevieve mirrored this habit. Close family ties meant frequent visits.

She flopped onto a sofa dramatically. "Mom, Victoria, Aunt Diana—guess who I saw at the arcade?"

Victoria sat reading by the panoramic windows.

She'd already guessed but didn't engage.

Penelope, however, perked up. "Isabella?"

"Exactly!" Genevieve popped a chocolate into her mouth. "Has Alexander banned her from Whitmore Manor? There she was—all alone playing arcade games. Pathetic silhouette, really."