Chapter 7

The meeting wasn't like Sophia imagined it. Not that she has imagined something great or something like that. She thought that during the meeting, she will know a little bit more about the man that was going to be her husband, that they will talk, learn to know each other but that was not what happened.

One the other hand, she was still at the start.

The rendezvous didn't really helped her. They barely talked, and him, Sophia thought that maybe it was just her imagination but he was cold and rude.

In his eyes, when he talked to her and looked at she saw the coldness in it that could frozen anyone yet the burning fire of rage that could burn her.

Recalling his intense gaze, shiver run down all over her spine, goosebumps appeared

It didn't make any sense yet that was how she felt. Somehow, she knew that there were something wrong, something deeper in Anthony's behavior but she just didn't know what.

Anguish grew inside her, wanting to know what has really happened there. It was not normal, it certainly wasn't.

Not having any answer, she deprived herself from having useless headache. She didn't push the matter any further. She reassured herself that there was nothing wrong and she was just being pessimistic and hyper thinking. Seeing bad where there isn't any.

When she reached home, Mrs Bridget was already ,with the mixture of anguish of not knowing if everything went well and eager of knowing every detail, waiting for her.

She wanted to know everything, every bit, every detail of their meeting. By her woman nature, loving talking ,way too much sometimes, and gossip, especially interested in what other's life is. But that was just one little part of the reason why she wanted to know it that much, that she was so eager to know how Sophia's meeting went.

It was so important for Mr Russell that she wanted to know if everything has gone well. But most importantly, she wanted to know what Sophia thought about the man, what was her impression about him, if she liked him or not and above all, if Sophia was going to be happy or not.

She was worried too, nobody couldn't deny it. She was like a second mother to her. She raised her. It was her that took care of her. It was here who stayed by her side when she was ill, sad, or happy. She shared so much moment with her that she learned to feel what she felt, even more of her emotion. When she was happy, she was happier seeing her like that, when she was hurt, it was like it was her that was hurt instead of her and felt double of her pain. Mrs Bridget really loved her, Sophia was the daughter she never had.

Upon reaching home, Mrs Bridget dragged her immediately to her room where she asked Sophia to tell her everything. And so did Sophia.

Though she didn't mind to tell how weird it were and how weird the Ambrose's soon was. She told her what Mr Bridget wanted to hear like how good it was and how perfect the place was too even through she didn't really have time to contemplate it.

Anthony? He was so good looking and his eyes, they were so beautiful, mesmerizing... she knew how to describe him that much that between her lies, she didn't notice that she was telling the truth.

When Mrs Bridget was finally satisfied with Sophia, she went back to her room, and as if on cue, a maid, Betty nocked on Sophia's door.

_"What is it?" Sophia asked.

_"Sorry for disturbing you Ms Russell but Mr Russell is requesting you to see him in his room." Betty informed.

"Why? Is he feeling unwell or..." Sophia asked immediately worried about her father. She couldn't help it, her father was not as strong as he was once. But she was immediately cut by the maid.

_"No, no, Ms Russell, he is fine." She said quickly, wanting to ease Sophia.

_"Oh!" Sophia breathed out relived.

_"How long has he awaken?". When Sophia reached home, Mr Russell was still asleep in his room. Due to his condition, he needed to full time rest.

_"Not so long ago, maybe ten minutes ago."

_"OK, I am going to see him. Thank you Betty." She gave the maid a smile

.

Sophia dismissed the maid and made her way to her father's room. She knocked quietly on his big wooden door to not surprise him. Hearing his low weak voice, allowing her to come in, she went inside closing the door as quietly as possible.

The room was gloomy even though outside was still bright. The two big windows that was always open, allowing sun ray and light were now recovered with big dark purple curtains, stopping all light to come in.

The furniture were still the same, most of the of wood, with old refined designed but in some way, they were not the same anymore, they gave those impression of loneliness and sadness. Maybe that it was the dull color of the room that caused that but one thing is sure, the room was not the same anymore.

Mr Russell was on his bed, back pressed on the head of the bed, covered in a blanket. After his last crisis, he stayed most of his time in his room, on bed or otherwise he would read in his study or take a walk with his daughter on the early morning or late night. He said that it was during those time, when human are asleep and when the natures are awake that the world found again its beauty.

_"Come here my dear." Mr Russell spoke in low voice, taping on the bed, instructing his daughter to come seat next him.

Sophia did what she was said to. She took place, on the north part of the bed, next to her father.

_"You wanted to see me father?...Why?" She asked.

_"Am I not allowed to see my daughter anymore? He jocked.

But Sophia didn't respond him instead, she just gave him a stern look.

_"Ok, Ok, I got it. We old sick men are not allowed to joke anymore." Mr Russell said dramatically, faking frustration.

_"Dad!" Sophia scolded.

_"Ok, ok. I will stop!...So, did you meet Ambrose's son?"

Why didn't she saw that coming? Of course, that was why he wanted to see her!

Yes was the reply she gave him.

_"And how was he?"

It was not like Mr Russell has never saw him or never met him. Of course he knew. They had had many occasions to meet and even talk since they were both famous businessman. But Mr Russell didn't know him just as a famous businessman, He knew him from his childhood. He considered him as his son too. Never would he dare to marry his daughter to someone that he didn't know nor someone that he would know that will make suffer his dear.

He was convinced that Anthony was the best man for Sophia, not because he was rich or is powerful, but because he knew, saw how he was raised and know the good person that he is.

Moreover, although he knew him too well, it was important for him to know what Sophia thought if she like him or not cause at the end, it was her that was going to marry and to spend her life with him. If Sophia didn't like him, would he stop that wedding? The answer was always been a yes. He would never forced his daughter to do things against her will.

Everyone seems to ask me that question! Was what she thought.

_"It is not within an hour or so that I will know much about him dad...and even if our meeting didn't last that long" but that last part, she didn't say it aloud, but...I can tell you that he was really handsome!..."

And so as she did with Mr Bridget, she started narrating about the man, not even noticing the smile that was on her face when she recalled all his feature, she couldn't help it, it was there naturally. It even seemed that she forgot about his behavior. And her father didn't miss it. It looks like the girl liked the man and that was all he need at the moment. Surely, with time, love will bloom.

_"Oh dear, I am glad that you like him."

_"What?... I've never said that i liked him Dad!" Sophia said it a bit too quickly and louder than she intended.

Suddenly, the room became deadly quite. None of them uttered a single word.

One , two, three and they both burst at laughing at the same time.

Whole-heartedly laugh fill the room.

It has been so long that both Mr Russell and Sophia didn't laugh like that. It felt good. All worries get away. There were just joy and happiness. It was one of those little moment that even all money of the world wont be worth it.

Then, Mr Russell's cough destroyed the moment but it was not a rough one, thanks to God.

They became quiet again and after seconds of silence, Mr Russell finally spoke.

_"You do realize that all I do is for your well-being dear?" He asked quietly. Sophia and his father has never really talked about the matter since Sophia accepted the . They didn't need to spoke any word to understand any word so none of them has never really expressed what they really felt. Assuming that each other already knew what was to know. So that was the first time that Mr Russell would open up to his daughter.

_"You know, when I first held you, so weak and so fragile, in my arm, I knew from that moment that I will love you more than anything in this world as much as I loved, love your mother. I promised to myself that I will protect you and I will never gonna let any harms happen to you. I wanted to be the best father for you. I wanted you to feel that your are loved and protected, that you will have someone to rely on. I wanted to give you the best but it seemed that all that I ever done was the contrary. First, when your mother died, I sent you to study abroad because I was weak..."

_"Dad..." Sophia interrupted him but he held his hand before her, instructing her to not say anything.

_"Do not interrupt me please, I...I need to let go of it." And so he continued.

_"I broke my promise to never let you be alone by sending you abroad just because i was weak. Back then, I should have know that you needed me, and I shouldn't have fallen ill because your mom left us. I should have understand that you, my young daughter missed her too. I should have been stronger but I wasn't causing you to live far away, and...alone. So much promise had been broken, so much word hadn't been kept....Now again, I repeat the same mistake. I married you to someone you didn't even know. Once again I failed you... I know, i haven't been the best, I know what i have done was not always the right thing to do but I want you to know that I tried. I tried my best to be the best even if it is not always evident. All I've done and still do is for your shake. And I want you to know that I love you, love you more than anything."

Sophia was on the verge of tears, she already knew that but it made her even feel better to hear it. She was happy. Her mother may be left her but her father has always been there for her.

_"I love you too dad." She hugged him.

Late that night, Sophia didn't find sleep. All that she has done was twisting on the bed, thinking about what happened during the day. It was late that night that sleep finally came, but before her eyes closed, her through drifted one last time to the man she met.

It was the next morning, Sophia was currently in the kitchen, preparing breakfast when suddenly Mrs Bridget entered the room with excitation. It was clear that something was up again.

_"Good morning nanny."

_"A really good morning indeed dear." Bright smile plastered on her face.

_"May I know the reason of this jubilance, that early my dear nanny?"

_"Of course, of course...it is because that your in laws are coming for dinner, and you know why?"

_"why?" Sophia asked hesitantly.

_"Well dear, it is to fix the date of your wedding!"