Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1111-1120

Charlotte personally rang up the Liamsons and asked to speak with Sophie.

After hearing the old lady’s invitation, Sophie beamed and thanked her graciously, then said she would be right over.

Meanwhile, Ren was still working at the White House. He had taken off his suit jacket earlier, and he looked noble as he read the documents on the couch, his dark waistcoat accentuating his lean waist and his legs elegantly crossed.

After taking off his suit jacket, he sat on the couch like a noble and read the documents with his dark waistcoat accentuating his lean waist and his legs elegantly crossed.

“Mr. Husson,” Elijah interrupted the silence. “It’s time to leave for the Husson Residence.”

Ren glanced at the time on his wristwatch and smiled at a sudden thought.

On the way to the Husson Residence, Ruka fished out her phone to text Ren. She was inexplicably nervous even though she had been to the Husson Residence countless times prior to this. ‘Are you there yet?’ she sent out a text.

Ren’s reply was swift. ‘I’m on my way.’

The fact that he had wasted no time in answering her reassured her somehow. She couldn’t help grinning, feeling warm and fuzzy inside as she huddled in the corner of the backseat, letting her parents’ conversation become white noise.

‘I’m on my way too,’ she texted back. Then, she lifted her phone up to a slightly more flattering angle and snapped a picture of herself. She sent it to him and followed up with another picture of her making a funny face.

‘Cute,’ he praised wholeheartedly.

She pursed her lips to keep her smile from becoming too wide. ‘See you at your place.’

‘I’ll try to reach before you do so that I can wait for you by the door.’

Ruka was practically buzzing with happiness as she read this, feeling like a child that had gotten all the candy in the world.

Moments later, Ruka and her family arrived at the Husson Residence. At the same time, Scarlet and Walter pulled up behind them.

She got out of the car and headed for the front door with her parents, then looked up to see the tall and straight figure standing by the door.

Ren was dressed in a dark-colored suit, his hair styled in his usual swept-back quiff. He looked proper and charming, not to mention imposing.

Ruka thought her heart would fly out of her chest. He’s actually waiting for me by the door! She could feel his gaze on her even at this distance, and to keep herself from melting into a puddle, she turned her face away so that she wouldn’t have to meet his eyes.

“Scarlet, Walter,” Ren greeted jovially, his deep voice resonating in the crisp, chilly air.

Ruka heard her parents greet with utmost respect, “It’s been a while, Mr. Husson.”

Smiling, he replied, “Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Singed.”

Robert and Vanya almost fainted. This was a surreal experience for them. To be greeted by a man of such power and status was a great honor they had not anticipated.

“Ruka, greet Uncle Ren,” Vanya urged, hastily pushing her daughter forward as though terrified that Ruka might come off as rude in front of the vice president.

Just like that, Ruka found herself standing before Ren. She looked up and gazed into his eyes, which glittered with wicked amusement. In her most polite voice, she said, “Good day, Uncle Ren.”

His dimple flashed as he gave her a deliciously roguish smile before nodding and saying, “Hello, Ruka.”

“Come on, Vanya, let’s go in!” Scarlet reached out and pulled Vanya through the front door.

Vanya, in turn, grabbed Ruka by the arm and said, “Hurry up, Ruka. You must greet Mr. and Mrs. Husson!”

Ruka turned to glance at Ren over her shoulder, and he merely nodded, silently telling her to go into the house to greet his parents.

He was just about to head through the door himself when he saw a black SUV pull up at the car porch. He stopped and waited for the people in the car to get down so he could do the polite thing and greet them.

The ones who came out of the vehicle were none other than Richard and Angela.

Richard took Angela by the hand and led her toward the house. This was her first time here, so she was understandably nervous. When she caught sight of the young and imposing man standing by the door, she instantly recognized him as Richard’s well-accomplished uncle.

Kinship showed itself in the most magical of ways. While Richard had gotten his looks from his mother, he still shared some resemblance with Ren.

“Uncle Ren,” Richard called out casually when they were drawing near the door.

Angela followed suit. “Good morning, Uncle Ren.”

Ren looked at them, smiling as he nodded in acknowledgment. “Good morning. Go on in. It’s getting chilly out here.”

Richard snaked an arm around Angela’s waist and guided her through the threshold. At once, they were greeted warmly by Scarlet.

Harold and Charlotte, on the other hand, were seated in the living room, excited to meet their granddaughter-in-law for the first time.

Harold waved Richard over to his side. He had been a rather absent grandfather while Richard was growing up, and they hardly saw each other outside of family events. The guilt built up over time, and now that Harold was in his old age, he wanted to salvage his relationship with his grandson.

Not long after, Scarlet beckoned Richard and Angela to the annex, then told one of the maids to bring Ruka in as well.

“Richard, meet Ruka,” Scarlet introduced.

This was the first time Ruka was meeting Scarlet’s son, but there was a sense of familiarity that made her feel at ease. She flashed him a smile and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Richard.”

“The pleasure’s all mine,” Richard said, having already accepted her as part of the family.

Scarlet gestured at the lady next to Richard and said to Ruka, “And let me introduce you to his wife, Angela.”

Angela had noticed the pretty girl named Ruka from the moment she walked in and figured that this was the goddaughter Scarlet had taken in. For some reason, both girls took an instant liking to each other.

“It’s nice to meet you, Angela,” Ruka greeted sweetly.

Angela’s heart warmed at this. She beamed as she reached out to hold the other girl’s hand, happy that she had gained a sister. “Don’t be a stranger, Ruka. Let’s go shopping and grab dinner sometime.”

“Okay,” Ruka replied good-naturedly, grinning.

Just then, Ren walked into the room. Ruka’s heart leaped to her throat when she saw him. A sudden thought crossed her mind, and her face grew hot. If I… If Ren and I get married one day, then I wouldn’t have to call him Uncle Ren in front of everyone anymore! Gosh, that’ll be shocking for the family!

“Ren, come over here. We don’t care that you’re vice president. Hang with us! We’re about to swap family stories,” Scarlet said, at once dismantling Ren’s vice president-mantel.

“Coming.” Ren was smiling as he walked over and stopped right next to Ruka. Her breath hitched at this unexpected proximity, and she took an instinctive step to the side. However, she did not realize that there was a heavy vase right next to her. She would have bumped into it had Ren not reached out in time to block the impact, and when he looked at her, his gaze was incredibly tender and loving.

No one else in the room caught this brief but intense moment, but Angela did. For a second, her heart nearly dropped to her stomach, and her eyes widened by a fraction as she thought, Did I imagine that or did that really happen?!

However, she hid her surprise and did not point it out, worried that she might be overreacting. For all she knew, Ren was only being protective over Ruka, like how a parent might be over a child.

“Miss Husson, you’ve been summoned by Mrs. Husson,” the maid said politely.

“Alright, then. Ren, stay here with the guests while I attend to our mother,” Scarlet said as she made a graceful exit.

Ren turned to look at Richard and said cordially, “Tell me what you’ve been up to, Richard!”

Upon hearing this, Richard gave Angela a small pat on the back. “Keep Ruka company. I’ll join you both shortly.”

Angela nodded. She linked arms with Ruka and suggested cheerily, “Shall we step aside for some girl talk?”

After leaving the annex, Angela and Ruka headed to the sun room and took their seats at the wrought- iron table.

Ruka propped her chin up with one hand and looked at Angela curiously, “Can you tell me how you and Richard met? You’re a businesswoman and he’s in the special forces. There must be an interesting backstory!”

Angela was more than happy to share. She glowed pink as she said, “Yes. Our story starts with lipstick.”

Just like that, Ruka found herself listening to one of the most heart-racing love stories, the premise of which was that Richard was tasked to keep Angela safe. They fell for each other while she was staying at the military base with him, and after confessing their feelings, it took them three months to make things official between them. The envy was clear on Ruka’s face when she heard this.

“What about you, Ruka? Is there someone you’ve got your eyes on?” Angela asked after she finished recounting her captivating love story, eager to gain some firsthand insight into Ruka’s love life.

Ruka looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of Ren’s figure by the annex window, which was just next to the sun room. The glass was a little foggy from the cold, but she could still make out his towering silhouette. It was funny how he stood so close by, but seemed so out of reach.

She pursed her lips and nodded shyly as she admitted, “There is someone special.”

“Really? What does he do for a living? Have you met each other’s parents yet?” Angela leaped into interrogation mode. She was ecstatic for Ruka. After all, there were few things in a girl’s life that could compete with the happiness of meeting her true love.

Ruka shook her head. “We haven’t told anyone that we’re dating.”

“Well, what’s the hurry? I’m sure your parents would approve of him if you really like him,” Angela said soothingly.

“I hope so too,” Ruka replied with a grin as her expectant gaze flickered over to the man by the window.

Just then, Angela peered through the window and saw a girl heading toward the annex from the car porch. “Who’s that?” she asked Ruka curiously.

Ruka finally took her eyes off Ren and followed Angela’s gaze. She saw a well-dressed young lady standing just outside the window, then shook her head slightly as she said, “I’m not sure.”

The girl was none other than Sophie, of course. She had pulled on her Sunday best before rushing over to the Husson Residence, all the while convincing herself that she must have done something right to be personally invited to the family banquet. If anything, Charlotte might have already accepted her as the future Mrs. Husson.

Presently, the maid led Sophie into the living room. At the sight of her, Charlotte beckoned her over immediately and introduced her to everyone.

Scarlet appraised Sophie, more than pleased to meet the woman who could soon marry Ren and become part of the family. The affirmation came from Charlotte, who had mentioned earlier that she and Harold were rather fond of the girl.

Sophie greeted the guests politely, but the one person she wanted to see the most was Ren. However, she couldn’t excuse herself now and look for him. The Husson Residence was on an estate that spanned one-fifth of a hectare, and hunting Ren down would take ages. As things were, she was stuck with making conversation with Charlotte and the other elders in the room.

Meanwhile, Ren and Richard entered the sun room together. They were delighted to see how well Ruka and Angela were getting along, as a family should.

“Richard, why don’t you and Angela join the others in the living room?” Ren suggested.

Nodding, Richard offered Angela his arm and said, “Come on, it’s about time I show off your charms to my grandparents.”

Angela smiled and turned to give Ruka a small wave, but that was when she caught the latter looking bashfully at Ren as though she was gazing at someone she loved. There was even a telltale blush on her cheeks.

Blinking, Angela quickly stole a glance at Ren. He was smiling ever so slightly, and his gaze was gentle when he met Ruka’s eyes. No, there’s something more in his gaze than just familial affection, Angela realized with shock.

She was sensitive by nature, and at that moment, she felt as if she had discovered something unbelievable.

With renewed urgency, she tightened her grip on Richard’s hand and began to drag him out of the sun room. He sensed that she was eager to leave, but he wasn’t sure why.

Wrapping an arm around her waist, he asked quietly, “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head vehemently, “Nothing.”

She was lying, and he could tell. The fact that she seemed to know something that he didn’t was frustrating. What is she being so secretive about?

“You go ahead. I need to use the washroom. See you in a bit!” Angela announced suddenly, then hurried over to the washroom. She was still trying to regain composure after witnessing that brief, groundbreaking moment in the sun room earlier.

Ruka and Ren… She thought about Ruka’s conflicted expression when they were talking about their love lives earlier. Now that she thought about it, Ren was only in his early thirties. He was handsome, accomplished, and had all the makings of an eligible bachelor, which he was. More to the point, Ruka was in the prime of her youth, so it wasn’t so surprising that these two had found love in each other.

As she went on to think about this, Angela began to worry. Maybe… Maybe Ruka will become Richard’s aunt one day!

The idea of that was explosive, to say the least, but it was in no way unnerving. Within seconds, Angela found herself rooting for the couple.

While this was happening, Sophie was still making small talk with Charlotte when she suddenly sensed someone coming in from the annex. She looked up at the entryway and froze.

The man who had just walked into the room was not Ren, but he was just as handsome. There was an athletic air about him, and he seemed younger than Ren. Sophie felt her throat run dry as she stared at him. Are all the Husson men this good-looking? Who is he?

She wanted to find out more about him, and in her mind, she was already thinking of a contingency plan. She was determined to find a way to marry into the prestigious Husson Family whether Ren had any interest in her or not.

“Richard, come here and chat with Grandpa,” Harold called Richard over.

Sophie blinked and wondered, Grandpa? This man with a military aura was actually the grandson of the Husson Family?

Sure enough, the men in the Husson Family were all excellent! After Richard sat down, Sophie met his eyes, so she smiled and greeted him.

“Richard, let me introduce you to Miss Liamson,” Scarlet introduced Sophie to her son in case he was disrespectful to his future aunt.

Richard had keen eyesight. Seeing this girl sitting next to his grandmother, he instantly realized that she would likely be his uncle’s marriage partner.

However, at this moment, when Richard raised his head, he discovered that Sophie’s eyes contained a hint of a seductive aura.

This time, Angela had just come back from the bathroom, and the moment she walked into the hall, she noticed Sophie staring at Richard. Although it was just a glance, Angela could tell what was hidden in those eyes.

Women knew women best. Besides, the love Angela had for Richard was strong, so she could not tolerate any woman who had ideas on him or tried to seduce him.

Angela’s beautiful eyes narrowed as she ignored all the elders present. She walked to Richard’s side as if declaring her sovereignty and sat down while placing her arms on his shoulders. After that, she

leaned her head on his shoulder to show off how intimate they were.

Sophie’s eyes flashed a hint of guilt. She didn’t expect Richard to bring his girlfriend here.

In the garden.

Ruka deliberately sat on the couch far away from Ren as she questioned, “Do… Do you have something to tell me?”

Even though she had been coaxed to sleep last night, she felt guilty even when they were alone for a moment.

Ren looked at her in distress, uttering in a low voice, “See you in the study on the third floor in ten minutes.”

Ruka was startled. What was he going to do?! They were in Husson Residence! He shouldn’t be messing around!

“Do I have to… go up?” Ruka blinked while asking nervously and cautiously.

Ren hummed, “Yes.”

As if worried that she would not dare to go up, Ren provoked her, “What? You don’t have the guts?”

Sure enough, Ruka couldn’t stand provocation, so she pouted and retorted, “Who said so?”

“Alright. I’ll see you upstairs, then.” After saying that, Ren went out through the backdoor. Avoiding the hall, he was oblivious to the fact that his mother had invited another girl.

When Ruka saw him leave, she was also worried that her parents would think that she was running around, so she, on the other hand, went back to the hall.

The moment Ruka walked into the hall, she noticed a fashionable girl sitting next to Old Madam Husson from the window. She was shocked for a few seconds before an assumption popped up.

Who could this lady be?

She then took a seat next to her mother. Claire, as expected, wondered where she went earlier. After she told her mother she went to the garden, Claire ordered her to not run around in a whisper.

“Mom, who is she?” Ruka asked her mother in a low voice, looking in Sophie’s direction.

Claire leaned in and whispered in her ear, “She is Mr. Husson’s future wife.”

Ruka’s breathing almost stopped. She looked at her mother, and then at the girl who was holding hands and chatting with Old Madam Husson, feeling her chest clench tightly.

Did he actually have a future wife recognized by the Husson Family?

Sophie just happened to look at Ruka with the same curiosity, because to her, any girl who appeared in Husson Residence today could be her enemy.

When the two exchanged glances, Ruka lowered her head guiltily because at this moment, in front of the elderly, Sophie was the one that everyone acknowledged as Ren’s future wife.

Seeing that Old Madam Husson had been holding her hand, the intimacy and adoration were visible to the naked eye. Ruka felt that her heart was tightly grasped by a big palm, causing her to feel breathless. Why didn’t he tell her that he had a future wife who was acknowledged by the family?

Ruka couldn’t control herself and panicked a little. At first sight, Angela’s first impression of Sophie was that of a proud peacock. Sitting beside Old Madam Husson, she seemed a little arrogant. Due to that, Angela turned to glance at Ruka, who had her eyes lowered, seemingly in a bad mood.

Seeing Ruka’s expression, Angela was worried. If she was right, Sophie’s appearance must have hurt her. Even before, she didn’t dare to reveal her relationship. She must have felt even more distressed right now!

However, Angela couldn’t comfort her at this time. She then directed her gaze at her husband who was currently concerned about what she wanted to eat and drink.

“Let’s go. I have something to tell you.” She wanted to tell him about her discovery.

Richard didn’t like the gathering of the elders either, so he helped Angela up from the couch before leaving. Angela thereafter took him to the garden, where there were several reception rooms and tea rooms.

He was curious about what Angela was going to say to him. It was not until they entered the living room where no one was there that Angela put his arms around his waist, faced him, and leaned in to talk.

“I’m going to tell you a secret. Don’t be surprised,” Angela said to him.

“What secret?” Richard’s eyes flickered with curiosity.

Angela couldn’t help but make a hook gesture, urging, “Come closer.”

Richard wrapped his arm around her waist, leaned down, and brought his ears close to her lips. Angela whispered, “Have you noticed the look in Uncle Ren’s eyes when he’s watching Ruka? It doesn’t look like a normal gaze an elder would give to a junior.”

He didn’t understand, so he blinked and asked, “What do you mean?”

She leaned over and elaborated, “I feel that the way Uncle Ren looks at Ruka is just like the way you look at me. It’s a look of admiration between men and women.”

As soon as Angela finished speaking, Richard pulled her into his arms. He glanced around nervously while Angela stuck her head out of his arms, looking innocent. Looking at him, she insisted, “I’m pretty sure I’m right.”

Richard’s gaze locked on her as he warned hoarsely, “You can’t talk nonsense like this.”

“I’m not.” Angela felt aggrieved.

Richard suddenly softened. He was just hit by the sudden information. To him, one was his uncle, while the other was his mother’s adopted daughter. How could they have feelings for each other?

“I’m not blaming you.” Richard kissed her on the forehead soothingly and uttered, “But don’t talk about it anymore.”

“If they are really in love with each other, will you help them?” Angela questioned directly, grabbing the collar of his shirt. “I don’t think that Miss Liamson deserves to be your aunt-in-law.”

Richard agreed with her. He could tell from Sophie’s look earlier that she wasn’t an innocent woman. He could sense that she was having ideas about him earlier.

It wasn’t that Richard was narcissistic, but he was sensitive by nature, so he could react fast and have insight into anything.

In conclusion, Sophie wasn’t a good match for his uncle. He and Angela were in the same boat regarding this matter.

In the hall at the moment, Ruka kept her head lowered and her eyes at the time on the phone. One more minute to go and ten minutes would be up. Shouldn’t she be going up to the third floor to meet Ren?

However, her heart was in a huge mess right now. She figured that she should go up and ask him if he already had someone in mind for his future wife. If it was true, she should cut off all thoughts and not get entangled with him.

Ruka’s heart hurt so much that she couldn’t breathe properly at this moment. Now, she finally understood Victoria’s crazy feelings for him. Falling in love with a man like Ren was a catastrophe.

Ruka couldn’t stay here any longer. She was afraid that her mother would find her in pain, so she got up and said, “Mom, I’m going to the bathroom.”

Ruka went back to the side hall from earlier. There were stairs leading to the next floor, but every step she took along the stairs was as heavy as a thousand pounds. Step by step, she arrived at the third floor but she did not know where the study was. Therefore, she went to look for it along the corridor, and at that moment, she saw an open door and went in subconsciously.

As she smelled the scent of books, Ruka stood at the door and took a deep breath before stepping forward.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Ren looked at the scenery outside the window with one hand in his trouser pocket, and it seemed like he had been waiting for her.

When he heard the footsteps behind him, he turned his head and reminded in a low voice, “Close the door.”

Ruka turned around and did as told, but her mood had already changed. It was no longer sweet but filled with heaviness and sadness.

Ren noticed that her delicate little face had turned pale, so he narrowed his eyes slightly and stepped forward, asking, “What’s wrong? Did someone make you upset?”

When his arm came to hold her naturally, Ruka took a deep breath and hid her hand behind her back to avoid his touches.

“Do you have a chosen fiancée? Why didn’t you tell me about her?” Ruka raised her head and questioned. At the same time, tears had pooled in her eyes.

Ren felt a sharp tug at his heartstrings as he looked into her misty eyes. When he saw her pained expression, he stretched out his long arms again to embrace her.

In response, Ruka stepped back, but Ren strode toward her and grabbed her shoulders before pulling her into his embrace. He then pressed her head against his chest once more.

“Who told you that?” Ren inquired in a low voice. Had his mother mentioned it?

Ruka struggled in his arms and huffed angrily, “No one told me. Miss Liamson is already downstairs.”

Ren was stunned for a few seconds. He didn’t expect his mother to invite Sophie to their family dinner.

“She’s just a blind date my mother introduced to me, but I didn’t promise to make her my wife,” Ren explained in a raspy voice and blamed himself for not making his intentions clear to his parents that day. As such, Ruka had to suffer.

“Is that really the case?” Ruka raised her head and wiped away her tears cutely as if trying to see a clearer version of his expression.

Ren sighed lightly and reached out to wipe her tears. “If I fell in love with others so easily, why would I wait for you to grow up?”

Ruka’s face flushed red again at this moment, and her heart fluttered.

Was he… Was he waiting for her to grow up?

What was with that flirty tone? Did he have a kink with younger girls? No way. He never disturbed her life as she grew up to begin with!

“Miss Liamson is beautiful, and your mother likes her very much too.” Ruka bit her lip as if feeling sorry for him.

Ren was annoyed this time and snorted while saying, “Do you want me to fall for someone else?”

Ruka reached out to hug his waist tightly and exclaimed anxiously, “No.” Although her domineering possessiveness sounded ridiculous, she refused to see him belong to someone else.

Ren accepted her dominance happily as his thin lips pecked her forehead. “Okay, I only like you.” Ruka’s earlier sadness was dispelled by these words, so she closed her eyes and snuggled into his embrace. She even rubbed against his chest like a child, coveting the coolness of his body.

Ren was aroused by her sudden actions. He raised her delicate chin and kissed her pink lips to seek comfort from missing her.

“Mmph…” Ruka’s beautiful eyes widened slightly, for her nerves were challenged like never before.

Goodness!

They were in his house, and all the elders, including his blind date, were there.

Yet, they were here.

She couldn’t help but try to push him away, but the man didn’t let her go. He deepened the kiss, slithering his tongue into her mouth, letting her take in all his breath.

Ruka’s long eyelashes trembled, and her mind went blank and confused. Apart from feeling his fiery kiss, her mind was no longer free to think about other things.

By the time Ruka was released, her legs were so weak that she could not stand still anymore. She could only hold onto the man’s shirt tightly, leaning against his arms and panting while blushing like an apple, feeling like her heart was going to leap out of her chest.

“Did you feel my love?” the man asked with a low voice and a smile.

Could Ruka say no? If she said that, he was definitely going to kiss her until she got dizzy again, so she shyly hummed to express that she felt it.

“Sophie is just someone my mom introduced to me. I only met her the night before yesterday, but I don’t have any thoughts about her.”

“Your parents like her very much, though.” Ruka raised her head and stated.

“They’re just eager to have a daughter-in-law. As long as I don’t agree to it, there’s no use for them liking her,” Ren firmly emphasized that only he could decide on his marriage.

“Are we crazy?” Ruka was dizzy the moment she muttered those words.

Feeling bad for her, Ren pressed the back of her head closer to his heart while saying, “Don’t worry, I will marry you.”

Ruka closed her eyes as those words branded in her ears like an oath, calming her flustered heart.

No matter how difficult the road ahead was, she was willing to accompany him through it.

Downstairs, Sophie couldn’t take it anymore. She asked Mrs. Husson, “Mrs. Husson, is Ren not back yet?”

“He’s back! Why don’t you go upstairs and look for him? He’s probably there,” Mrs. Husson replied to Sophie.

Sophie nodded happily and answered, “Okay! I’ll head upstairs to look for him.”

Sophie trotted upstairs with a heart eager to see Ren.

She took a look at the second floor and asked one of the maids, “Have you seen Mr. Ren?”

“He should be on the third floor!” replied the maid.

Sophie went up to the third floor without saying a word, but she didn’t know where Ren was. All the doors were closed at the moment, so she had to shout.

“Ren, are you here?”

In the study, Ren hugged Ruka tightly, and the woman became startled as she trembled in fright. She pushed the man in a struggle since Sophie’s voice was just outside the door.

Ren let go of her, so Ruka hurriedly turned her head to look around and saw the curtains. She then pointed to Ren and hid herself there.

Surprisingly, Sophie found the right door. She knocked and pushed the door to the study. As expected, she saw the tall man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. With a delighted expression, she exclaimed, “Ren, you’re here!”

Ren’s expression at the moment was twisted and even a little cold. “Who told you that you could barge in?” he questioned solemnly.

Sophie’s originally cheerful face turned flustered for a few seconds. She bit her lip and explained aggrievedly, “I… It was Mrs. Husson who told me to come upstairs to find you. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

After explaining the situation, Sophie couldn’t help but show him a look of innocence and self-blame. “I’m so sorry, Ren, can you forgive me for barging in?”

“Get out!” Ren yelled in an attempt to kick her out.

When Sophie saw that there was no one around, how could she give up this opportunity to be alone with him? Instead of leaving, she boldly walked toward Ren and inquired, “Are you reading here by yourself? Can I stay with you?”

“No. Just get out!” His gaze landed behind the curtains beside the window, and he vaguely saw the figure of the girl hiding inside. In an instant, he felt extremely bad for her.

“I’d like to accompany you. Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you,” Sophie uttered boldly.

Ren’s cold eyes stared at her. “Do you not understand me, Miss Liamson?”

“Ren, I like you. I like you very much. Even before I met you, I already fell hard for you when I saw you on TV. I wish to date you,” Sophie confessed loudly.

Ruka, who was behind the curtains, became stunned. She couldn’t believe she was hearing another woman’s confession to him!

“Miss Liamson, there is someone I like, so please don’t waste your time,” uttered Ren straightforwardly as he stared at her with an intimidating gaze, exuding a cold aura around him.

Sophie’s heart trembled, for the man she was so eager to be with was right in front of her. She didn’t give up as she continued, “But Mr. and Mrs. Husson like me a lot. They think we’re a good match…”

“Where did you get the confidence to think we’re a good match?” Ren raised his brows, feeling greatly dissatisfied. His beloved woman was still hiding behind the curtains, yet he had to endure the

harassment of another woman.

Sophie was hit hard. She was confident that her conditions were excellent in all aspects, but in front of this man, was her excellence worth mentioning?

“Ren, you just don’t know me yet. I’m not as bad as you think,” she added without giving up.

“There is a woman I like and want to marry, so you don’t have to pester me anymore. Please leave!” After saying that, he opened the door for her and forced Sophie to leave with a cold look on his face.

Feeling extremely hurt, she walked to the door, but when she was about to turn back and say something, the door slammed shut.

She then bit her lip, feeling aggrieved and unwilling. She then took a seat on the chair in the corridor without intending to leave.

Meanwhile, Ruka’s legs went a little stiff after hiding behind the curtains, so Ren quickly drew the curtains and pulled her out.

Ruka threw herself into his arms at once. She had heard his cold rejection toward Sophie with her own ears. How could she doubt his feelings anymore?

Ren then brought her to the couch. Ruka raised her head and looked at the man, who had always been extremely gentle to her but acted absolutely cruel to other women.

“What’s wrong?” Ren blinked, for the way she stared at him made him a little flustered.

In response, she pursed her red lips and shook her head.

“Are you afraid that I’ll be that cruel to you in the future?” Ren expressed her worries in a hoarse voice.

Ruka wanted to say she was afraid, but she didn’t want to express her distrust of him so directly, so she shook her head again.

Ren sighed, not knowing how to comfort her at this moment. However, he knew that he wanted to pamper her and take care of her for the rest of his life.

No one knew how this girl healed him when he was younger. She was like the light of his life.

Ren also suffered from depression in his teenage years because his parents had high expectations for him. Ever since he became sensible, he suffered from academic stress. Other children his age were allowed to play outside, but he couldn’t. He had to excel in every aspect, or else, he would disappoint his father since he was the only heir to the Husson Family.

Under such high-intensity pressure, Ren had a depressing youth, but he couldn’t complain to anyone. After Ruka’s arrival, she seemed to have healed him.

Her cuteness, mischievousness, and big, curious eyes always relieved his academic pressure immediately, making him feel relaxed.

Even if she messed up, destroyed his books, hid his pen, or cried aloud, he never got annoyed. He always found her lovable.

The three years he spent at his sister’s house was the happiest of his entire childhood and adolescence.

Even after he left their house, he never forgot about Ruka.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Ruka noticed that the man had been staring at her for a long time.

Ren curled his lips into a smile, caressed her face with his big palm, and pressed his thin lips against her red ones before confessing in a raspy voice, “That’s because I love you.”

He coldly refused another woman earlier but confessed to her affectionately right now. Ruka felt a little light-headed. Even if she was the one being kissed, she returned his kiss and hugged his neck.

On the other hand, Sophie was sorting out her emotions in the corridor on the third floor. She would not give up so easily, but just as she was about to go to the bathroom on the third floor, she heard the door of the study open. She wondered if Ren had come out.

She stood at the corner and peeped her head out. Her eyes widened when she saw the scene.

Why was there a girl in the room? At this moment, Ruka’s hand was being held by Ren, and her cheeks had been colored crimson.

Sophie was so shocked that she hurriedly retreated to the dark corner of the turning. She covered her mouth in disbelief. Was this the woman Ren liked? Was it her?

Who was she? Sophie couldn’t help biting her lip and was determined to find out her identity.

Sophie’s gaze was locked on them until they disappeared. Only then did she come out from the dark corner of the corridor. Currently, her eyes were filled with surprise and jealousy. She even deliberately scrutinized the young lady earlier, thinking she was just a part of the Husson Family. It now seemed that she had underestimated her identity.

As soon as Sophie got down to the second floor, she saw a maid who was done cleaning up. She couldn’t help but stop the maid enthusiastically and inquired, “Excuse me, may I know who the girl wearing the yellow coat in the hall is?”

The maids here knew Sophie’s identity, so they were very polite and respectful to her. Naturally, they answered her quickly, “Miss Liamson, you must be talking about Miss Singed, right? She is Miss Husson’s goddaughter.”

“Her goddaughter?” Sophie’s eyes widened in shock as she asked again, “Are you saying that Miss Singed is Miss Scarlet Husson’s adopted goddaughter?”

“Yes. Miss Singed’s parents are also guests today,” replied the maid.

Sophie endured the shock in her heart and uttered, “Okay, thank you.”

As she went downstairs, she digested the news. Ruka turned out to be Scarlet’s adopted daughter, so what was the relationship between her and Ren? Wasn’t it a messy relationship?

They shouldn’t be together! A goddaughter was also considered a daughter, after all! How could they mess up the generations?

Ruka must’ve seduced Ren! She noticed the couple beside Ruka earlier. They looked like an ordinary couple and definitely did not belong to the riches. Ruka might not have been content with being just a goddaughter, so she wanted to take the position of the mistress of the Husson Family. At the same time, she could even enjoy the title of the vice president’s wife!

When Sophie thought about it, she finally understood everything. In her eyes, Ruka was an ambitious person who was more adept than her. Sophie couldn’t help but sneer.

How unlucky she was to have met someone like Ruka! She decided that she would never let someone like Ruka get her hands on Ren.

This man was her goal, so she had to grab the opportunity regardless.

By the time Ruka returned to the hall and sat beside her parents, she took off her outer coat, revealing a plain and elegant white dress inside. After getting scared by Ren upstairs earlier, her back was covered in a cold sweat.

How could she even feel the coolness? All she felt was the warmth in the room. She needed to get some fresh air outside.

“Mom, I’ll head for a walk in the garden and look for Angela at the same time,” Ruka informed her mother.

“Sure, but don’t venture too far,” Claire reminded. As the elders were gathered together talking about their children, the children all agreed that they didn’t want to stay there, so all of them left the table at that opportunity.

With that, Ruka went out to feel the cool breeze. At that moment, Sophie happened to pass by in the corridor beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. She couldn’t help but notice Ruka by the garden pool. A sneer flashed in her eyes, and she came out from a side door.

Currently, Ruka was watching a few fish swimming in the fountain pool. She was envious of them, seeing how freely they swam around.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Ruka hurriedly turned her head and saw Sophie walking toward her with graceful steps with a smile on her face.

“Hello, Miss Liamson,” Ruka took the initiative to greet her.

“Hi, Miss Singed.” Sophie folded her arms in front of her, showing off her superior attitude.

Ruka could tell that she came without good intentions, so she became alert and questioned, “Why are you looking for me, Miss Liamson?”

“Where have you been? I don’t think I saw you just now!” Sophie asked her deliberately.

Ruka instantly felt nervous. Why did Sophie ask her that? Had she found out? In response, Ruka asked, “Is there a specific reason you’re here to see me?”

“You should know who I am! I am the candidate for future daughter-in-law appointed by Mrs. Husson, and all of them like me very much. I heard that you’re the goddaughter adopted by Miss Scarlet Husson, so you will be calling me Aunt Sophie in the future!” Sophie couldn’t help but smile in a complicated way.

Ruka squinted her eyes and countered in neither humble nor haughty tone, “I’ll definitely call you that when you become my aunt-in-law one day!”

However, she knew that there was no way Sophie would attain the said position.

Sophie looked at Ruka, not wanting to beat around the bush anymore. She inched closer to her, leaned into her ear, and said, “Ruka, I know what you and Ren did in the study just now.”

Ruka’s expression changed suddenly as she glanced at Sophie. Did she find out that she was hiding behind the curtains just now?

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Ruka played dumb.

Sophie’s expression sank as she sneered and said, “Being the goddaughter of the Husson Family isn’t enough for you, huh? You’re dreaming of becoming their mistress, aren’t you? Did you think you’d be able to hide the fact that you secretly seduced Ren behind all the elders of the Hussons? Not from me, though. If you don’t want me to expose your wild side in public, you’d better stay away from Ren.”

Ruka’s face turned pale, paler than the white flowers blooming next to her. She clenched her fists tightly, never expecting Sophie to discover her relationship with Ren.

Watching Ruka’s reaction, Sophie was delighted. She probably had a grasp on Ruka’s weakness!

“Do you think I should go to the hall and report it to Mrs. Husson? Should I tell them how scheming her goddaughter is, seducing her perfect son behind her back?”

While confronting each other, neither of them noticed that there was a girl standing behind the bushes. Angela had come to look for Ruka, so she overheard Sophie’s words from beginning to end.

Even Angela didn’t expect Sophie would dare to threaten Ruka like this at the Husson Residence. Recalling how she tried to hit on her husband earlier, she was certain that Sophie was the one with bad intentions.

“Ruka, you’re here!” Angela called out, stepping out from behind the bushes.

Sophie immediately turned to look at Angela. She had just threatened Ruka, so it was unpleasant to be disturbed like this.

At the same time, Ruka felt like her savior had arrived, so she breathed a sigh of relief while calling out, “Angela!” Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

Angela stretched out her hand to hold Ruka, then looked up at Sophie. “You’re here too? I forgot to introduce myself earlier. My name is Angela, the granddaughter-in-law of Mrs. Husson.”

When Sophie was in the hall just now, she had witnessed Angela’s silent warning to her, so she didn’t like her either. She smiled and greeted, “Hello, I’m Sophie.”

“Ruka, they have prepared some refreshments over there. Let’s go over and have some!” After speaking, Angela didn’t bother to invite Sophie. “Miss Liamson, please help yourself!”

Angela made good use of her advantage as a part of the Hussons. In this case, Angela was the official family member of the Hussons, while Sophie was nothing.

Sophie couldn’t help clenching her teeth secretly. She secretly vowed to show her pride and trample Angela on her feet once she successfully became the mistress of the Husson Family. On the other hand, Angela dragged Ruka out of the garden as they walked to a lounge in the center of the pavilion. Ruka pursed her lips, wondering whether Angela had overheard what Sophie said to her just now.

Angela was not someone who liked to hide things. She read Ruka’s concerned mind and decided to take the initiative to talk about it.

“Ruka, I heard what Sophie said to you just now.” After Angela said that, she quickly comforted her, “Don’t worry, though. I’m on your side.”

Ruka blinked in shock. “Did you… did you really hear everything? ”

Angela held her hand and answered, “Yes, I know everything, including the relationship between you and Uncle Ren. I know everything, but don’t worry, I support your relationship.”

Ruka’s eyes widened in shock. Angela’s words were like a test of her endurance. She knew everything but still supported them?

“Well, such an excellent man like Uncle Ren should be kept within the family. How could we allow someone like Sophie to obtain the benefits? You’re at the appropriate age for marriage, and you’re not blood-related to the Hussons. It makes sense that you two would want to be together. Don’t fret about what others think.”

Ruka was stunned by Angela’s words, but her heart was filled with gratitude and joy. Did someone finally think it was reasonable for her to be with Ren?