Chapter 173
Within the hotel room, Sophia caught snippets of the conversation between Jude and Victoria, her eyes flickering with a subtle realization. "So, Jude actually shared such a close bond with that bitch! Sarah is useless!" she thought.
She glanced towards the master bedroom before slipping into a guest room. Each room was equipped with plush bathrobes and soft towels. After taking a shower, she donned the bathrobe and stood quietly. Her ears were tuned to the muffled sounds beyond the door, listening intently.
Meanwhile, Victoria hailed a taxi to the hotel, and upon entering, she crossed paths with Jacob, who was drenched from head to toe.
"Mrs. Harrison."
Jacob gaped at Victoria in surprise upon seeing her. Then, he reached out to press the elevator button. "Are you here to see Mr. Jude Harrison?" he inquired.
"She's definitely not here to see Mr. Harrison," he thought with a strange sense of certainty.
"Yes," Victoria replied as she stepped into the elevator with her brow furrowed with confusion. "What's going on?"
Jacob wiped the water from his face and explained, "We've already caught the man responsible and handed him over to the police. Whether it was an accident or something deliberate, we'll find out once the investigation is complete."
Victoria nodded. The elevator doors opened, and Jacob led her to the suite. He pulled out the room card, but before he could swipe it, the door swung open.
Sophia appeared in a bathrobe. Her hair was damp, and her collar was slightly open, offering a glimpse of her skin beneath. She gaped at them in feigning shock. "Oh, I thought you were the food delivery."
Jacob felt confused and asked, "Ms. Reed, when did you get here?"
Sophia's gaze flicked to Victoria as she replied, "Henry asked me to come, of course."
Given her appearance and her words, it was almost inevitable that misunderstandings would arise.
Her words carried the implication that Henry had summoned her there specifically to spend the night with him.
Victoria briefly glanced at Sophia before looking away.
She walked into the room, headed straight for Jude's door, and knocked. "Jude, open the door. It's Mom."
The door swung open the next second, and Victoria stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
Sophia's expression hardened. She had anticipated Victoria's anger, but her indifference was unexpected.
Jacob said, "Ms. Reed, please don't do anything confusing again. Mr. Harrison won't be pleased if he finds out."
"Who do you think you are, threatening me?" she shot back defiantly and slapped him.
Jacob's head tilted to the side, and water dripped from his hair. He wiped his face, his eyes growing colder. "You should apologize to me. I'm Mr. Harrison's assistant, and you have no right to hit me like that."
Sophia sneered, "Do you really think you're important just because you work for Henry?"
With that, she retreated into her room. Frustrated by not achieving her goal, she removed her bathrobe and got dressed again.
Sophia couldn't quite grasp Victoria's current attitude.
"Does she want a divorce? Now, she's getting close to Jude again. Is she regretting her decision? Trying to use the child to salvage their marriage?" she thought.
As she pondered this, she heard voices outside.
Henry stepped out of his room.
Jacob reported, "Mr. Harrison, he's been taken to the police department. And Mrs. Harrison is here."
Henry raised an eyebrow. "Where is she?"
"She's in Mr. Jude Harrison's room," Jacob replied, recounting the earlier encounter between Victoria and Sophia.
"Mr. Harrison, I believe Ms. Reed is deliberately misleading Mrs. Harrison, making her think something's going on between you two," Jacob said, expressionless.
"What are you talking about?" Sophia stormed out, glaring at Jacob before turning to Henry with a soft expression.
"Henry, I was just a bit cold, so I took a shower. I didn't expect Victoria to show up. I didn't say anything. If she misunderstood, it's not my fault," she said.
Henry's face turned icy. He regarded her quietly before striding toward Jude's room.
Sophia's heart raced with anxiety; she feared Henry would blame her, yet she didn't sense his intentions.
Henry opened the door to find Victoria sitting next to Jude, engaged in conversation, a smile lighting up her face.
However, the warmth of the moment dissipated the instant he entered.
Victoria coldly asked, "What do you want?"
Henry scrutinized her, noticing her expression had grown even frostier.
"Is she misunderstanding me and Sophia? Is she angry? Jealous?" he thought, a complex mix of emotions flickering in his eyes.
He asked, "What are you doing here?"
He didn't explain it; he was curious to see her reaction when jealous.
Jealousy indicated she still cared, and that meant he still held a place in her heart. The thought brought him joy.
"I asked Mom to come," said Jude.
Victoria nodded. "I came to check on Jude. After all, there was an accident, and I was worried he'd be scared."
"She's here for Jude? What about me? Doesn't she even care if I'm okay?" Henry thought.
He looked at her. "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
"No," Victoria replied coldly.
Jude dashed over and shut the door. "Dad, Mom and I are talking. You need to handle the accident. Please leave."
Henry's expression darkened as he stared at the closed door.
Jacob said, "Mr. Harrison, I warned Ms. Reed against any actions that might confuse Mrs. Harrison, but she slapped me. I find this unacceptable."
Sophia shot him a glare and said defensively, "Henry, I didn't do anything. He wrongly accused me, and I was so angry I hit him!"
Henry turned to her, his gaze icy. "I also find it unacceptable. You hit him just because he said something you didn't like? If he said a few more words, would you kill him? Where are your manners?"
Sophia went pale. "Henry, I'm sorry."
He replied coldly, "I'm not the one who needs your apology."
Sophia clenched her teeth. She had been so arrogant just moments ago, and now she had to apologize to an assistant. It was humiliating.
But with Henry watching, she had no choice.
She turned to Jacob. "I'm sorry, Mr. Draper. I acted out of anger. I won't do it again. Can you forgive me?"
She put on a weak act, her skills as an actress evident.
Jacob lowered his gaze and replied, "Ms. Reed, please try to be less impulsive in the future. We live in a society governed by law."
"I understand," Sophia said, still simmering, interpreting his words as yet another warning.
Henry turned to Jacob. "You'll get half a year's salary as compensation."
Jacob bowed slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Harrison."
Henry settled onto the sofa and instructed, "Book another room for her."
"Yes," Jacob replied before leaving.
Sophia immediately forward, "Henry, can't I stay with you? There are plenty of rooms here, and I can keep Jude company. I promise I won't disturb your work."
Henry responded coldly, "But you disturbed me and my wife. Now go back to your room."
Sophia was taken aback, her face paling with indignation and embarrassment. She bit her lip and said, "Then what about my work..."
"There will be news soon. Just go back and wait," Henry replied, his patience wearing thin.
Sophia realized she couldn't stay any longer. Remaining would only irritate him, which she wanted to avoid.
"Alright then. I'll leave." As she reached the door, she suddenly turned around and said.
"Henry, how long has it been since you visited my brother? You should go see him; maybe his condition will improve."
"Alright," Henry replied.
Although he didn't meet her gaze, she sensed his attitude had softened slightly.
As Sophia left, she smirked while feeling annoyed.
She craved Henry's attention.
He had once been focused on Sarah. After she left, Sophia thought she had a chance, but then Victoria appeared.
Sophia managed to compose herself; she needed to tackle the current situation without upsetting Henry. She would wait for the right moment to become his woman.
She was convinced that with her brother's influence, Henry would surely support her.