Chapter 4

Home, sweet home.

Everything hasn't changed. It was like Sophia remembered it.

She didn't know that she missed it that much until she was finally there.

She almost jumped out of the car and run happily to the entrance.

The main person in charge of the house has already seen the car entering the main gait and had already open the door.

Sophia was so happy seeing her again. Ms Bridget.

She was already in her late sixties. Her hair were turning grey, she wore one of those old glasses making her looks like one of those strict headmistress that kids are afraid of.

Sophia was still young, when her father shifted her to england, and even though she was in a boarding school, Mr Russell hired Ms Bridget to take care of his daughter. And she did it wholeheartedly. She took charge of Sophia's education: the way she talked, the way she acted, how a good girl should act and all, she even choose Sophia's outfit and appearance. Not to wonder why Sophia had so bad -to be more exact- non-appropriate clothes for her age.

Since Sophia didn't had her mother anymore, Mr Russell thought that it was convenable to hire someone, to be a motherly figure for his daughter and tech her what girls should know.

But when Sophia was older enough and when her father's health worsen, Mrs Bridget moved to Mew York to take care of him. And since then, they didn't really see each other.

And now, there she was again, before her, with her eyes glimmering with joy seeing her little Sophia.

Yes, for her, she was still her little Sophia that she had so much scold, with read eyes, holding her tears while blowing her nose while she taught her, even though she's all grown up and had turned into a beautiful woman. She smiled internally recalling those memories.

_"Mrs Bridget." Sophia called while running towards her and hugging her tight, indirectly saying how much she missed that old woman.

_"Oh dear!-Ms Bridget exclaimed with happiness-I've missed you so much!"

_"I've missed you too Nanny."

Nanny, that was how she called her. It was an affectionate term, showing how much Sophia cares for her and loved her.

Pulling from the hug, Sophia asked:

_"How are you doing Nanny? And how is father? And how is things here?" A little bit impatiently and worriedly.

Mrs Bridget just laughed at her, this kid she thought!

_"calm down dear--Ms Bridget said between her laugh--calm down."

Composing herself, she continued_"At least don't stole our role! We the older person are the ones that should asked those questions, not otherwise!" And again, she start laughing.

Sophia just stayed silent and smiled weakly at her.

_"Well dear, let us continue our chattering inside. Chattering on the front door is not...convenable!" And with that, Ms Bridget dragged Sophia inside.

But before vanishing completely inside, she turned to one maid:

_"Betty, please take care of Sophia's suitcase." And with that, they disappeared inside and began talking, catching time.

Somehow, in the middle of their discussion, their subject turned out to be Sophia's wedding which made Sophia unease.

_"So dear, how are you feeling about your future wedding?" Mrs Bridget asked curiously.

How was she feeling?

Well, even her didn't know how was she feeling about it. It was just like she was going to be married and just that.

No excitement like all of those soon-too be bride was supposed to fell, no joy and more importantly no love.

Love that she wished but certainly couldn't afford it after what she had been trough.

Don't get her wrong, she was still hoping for love after all, arranged marriage worked years ago and some parts of the world it still existed, in those movies couples with arranged marriage always falls in love at the end so why not her?

Those were what she told to herself to comfort herself. But as she said it was in movies!

Where everything were already written all other the paper and programmed counter to life. But maybe she said, maybe...

So what was she supposed to answered to that question if she herself is still in a big doubt?

Ms Bridget noticed that Sophia went silent after her question and was lost in her world so she repeated her question and Mrs Bridget gained her attention successfully.

_"I...uh...I...uh...am okey I guess?" Was all that Sophia could answer, adding a smile that was too forced-that Mrs Bridget didn't miss to notice- to be more plausible.

Mrs Bridget didn't push the matter any further.

Even if Sophia didn't tell her, she could read her like an open book and see how much she uncertain and afraid of what is going to happen to her.

She perfectly knew that she did it just for the shake of her father, for his happiness and most importantly for his health.

She wanted to help her but there was no over choice, it was the only way to reassure Mr Russell and not have him worrying all the time that can worsen his health.

So after that, the room felt silent, Mrs Bridget starring at Sophia while she was seated on the couch to right side of her nanny, playing with her fingers, her head lowered, too embarrassed of her uncertainty.

A loud digging bell broke the silence between then.

Momentarily, Sophia stand up and run towards the door as if knowing who it was.

If it was not just for that situation, Ms Bridget would have called Sophia and lecturing her of how as she so well know to tell it "inappropriate" it is for a young lady to run inside the house.

The door opened and her father come in. How she missed him so much! However, he hadn't remarked her yet since she was still on the phone.

She stayed there, glued in the middle of the hall, hesitating wether to go run towards him and hug him or just wait till he finished his phone call.

Ms Bridget then appeared behind her and patted her on her shoulder like encouraging her to go and great her father though she didn't had to do it since it seemed that the call just ended and her father...at last saw her.

So much emotions goes through Mr Russell at that instant: surprise, incredibility, joy and pride. Finally his daughter was home and it caused him an incommensurable happiness, and after looking at how was she, pride.

Sophia went towards him and hugged him which his father respond happily.

_"I've missed you so much father." Sophia said between the hug with teary eye.

_"I've missed you to my Sophia." He replied while both of them get apart from the hug.

Mr Russell just stand there, admiring his daughter's beauty. So beautiful like your mother he thought but ended telling out loud, whith nostalgic voice and dreamy eye.

At the mention of his late wife, he instantly became sad and Sophia remarked it.

She knew how much her father loved Amelie Russell and still do. It pained her to see her father like that.

Wanting to enlighten the mood, she spoke:

_"So how have you been father?"

_"I..." I am fine was what Mr Russell was about to respond but was interrupted with rough caught.

Ms Bridget who was still standing not so far of them rushed on his side immediately while Sophia was supporting him not to fall.

Sophia was all panicked, she didn't know that her father's health was that bad.

And it was because Mr had felt so much emotion seeing his daughter.

Poor soul, he was already so tired that feeling happiness was not advisable for him anymore. What a life! Can't even be allowed to be happy.

Sophia supporting him on his right side, and Mr Bentley that Ms Bridget has called brought him upstair to his room for resting.

Arriving in, they laid him immediately on his bed. Sophia hurriedly took off his suit, continuing with his shoes with it done.

Ms Bridget on her side rushed where his medicines were and gave it to him while Mr Bentley called a doctor.

They were all panicked yet Mr Bentley and Ms Bridge maintained a placid act, not wanting to frighten more Sophia than she was already.

The poor girl wasn't used to see her father like that- she has never seen him like that. Whenever she called home asking about her father's life, they would always tell her that he is fine and there is nothing to worry about.

But viewing his stats, she guessed that they have lied to her not to worry her.

Fifteen minutes later, a doctor arrived and examined Mr Russell. He states that it was just exhaustion of his hurt due to some strong feeling. The doctor advised them to not stress him or avoid so overwhelming feelings since it can cause him heart attack.

Days had past and Mr Russell recovered little by little. Sophia forbidden her dad to work, avoid any situation that can cause much feeling for her father, and kept away from him all things that can cause stress. She then started to do her father's work.

It was still new for her but she was sure that she will learn, she has to. She was perfectly aware that sooner or later, she will have to. It was her duty, her destiny since she was born because she was the only heiress of the Enterprises Russell.

Apart from that, after her father's illness, she hired a nurse to take care of him permanently since she can't assure to be always right on his side every time.

Days flew by and no one seemed to remember Sophia's future wedding and if not for the reason of her father's illness, she would be grateful for that.

No one paid no mind to her since all attention was concentrated to her father's. And during those court-days, she was like she loved to thought it: "free".

But that didn't last long...

It was an afternoon, Mr Russell called his daughter to meet him in his study. He has then recovered enough and judged himself to be able to discuss with his beloved daughter.

Right after she got her father's message, she knew that it was the time, that she has to take responsibilities, that she was no longer free. Time for her to honor her said.

And she was right, at the end of their discussion, it was sort out that Sophia was going, at last, to meet Ambrose's son: Anthony.

Remains to know how it will be.