章節 14: Chapter 14- Roger
He walked over step by step, and as he got closer, it became clear that his gaze was fixed on Sophia.
"Dr. Cronus, what's wrong?" Sophia also noticed something was off.
Cronus shook his head and quickly adjusted his emotions. "It's nothing. You just remind me of someone!"
It was the same ponytail, the same fondness for bright yellow, and the way her eyes curved when she smiled…
He hadn't seen that person in many years.
Though Sophia was curious, Cronus was a deep and reserved person. Her instinct was to resist probing further. Instead, she pulled Diana over and pushed her in front of him, asking, "How does it look?"
Cronus stared at Diana for a while, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears came to his eyes.
Sophia was annoyed, "What are you laughing at? What's wrong with it?"
"It's the hair, her hair… and with this makeup, oh my, are you really Diana?"
He continued laughing, while Diana's eyes grew cold. She stared at him until he cleared his throat and stopped laughing, then said calmly, "Anyway, Cronus isn't the one I'm on a blind date with, so why make such a big fuss?"
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Ridiculous!" Sophia shot a resentful glance at Cronus, but he grabbed her arm.
"You look great like this, with your hair tied up you look more lively!"
His gentle and unexpected praise made Sophia uneasy, and she didn't know how to respond.
"However, you're so beautiful that it overshadows the one who's supposed to be on the date. Who would look at her?"
"What nonsense are you talking? Diana is beautiful, it's you who don't appreciate it!"
Sophia felt a surge of protectiveness for Diana, who had already gone back to her room. Suddenly, she understood something and didn't bother to argue with Cronus. She quickly ran after Diana.
Cronus let out a sigh, his gaze taking on a meaningful look.
"Diana, you mentioned before that you had someone you liked. Is it… is it Dr. Cronus?" Sophia asked Diana, feeling a bit anxious as she sought confirmation.
"Huh, did I say I had someone I liked?" Diana feigned ignorance.
Sophia felt a bit helpless. In this place, it was often hard to judge what she did right or wrong.
She felt guilty for unintentionally causing trouble for Diana.
"It's okay, Sophia! It's not necessary to let someone know you like them. Capone arranging a blind date for me is for my own good, but I'm just not ready to get married yet! After this summer, I'll leave, go back to school, and prepare for the graduate exams or go abroad. I'll put off the romance issues for now. Tomorrow, just help me out by making sure they don't find me appealing!"
So the next day, Sophia was forced by Diana to apply a bright makeup look, paired with a bright yellow dress that sparkled like stars. Diana, however, had somehow developed many small red spots on her face, claiming it was an allergy. She put her glasses back on and restored her hair to its original state. Although she wore the new dress, she still looked quite dull compared to Sophia.
Capone was very satisfied with Sophia's appearance and nodded, "You look beautiful. When you meet the people later, don't speak out of turn. Just stay by my side and be good!"
Sophia was actually quite nervous. It was the first time she had an opportunity to leave the island since being brought there. She was meticulous about every detail, noting everything she observed, hoping it would be useful if she ever had a chance to escape in the future.
The Italian dinner event was arranged in the port area. To get from the island to the city, they had to cross the sea using Capone's private boat, while the public ferry for the town residents was at another dock.
In the city, a black Jaguar XJ awaited them—a luxurious yet understated vehicle with an air of wild sophistication. The people who got out of the car were all well-trained; they didn't look around or say anything unnecessary. They handed the car keys to Joey and then left in another vehicle.
Sophia noticed that whenever she was in the car with Capone, the driver was always Joey. According to Diana, Joey not only had exceptional driving skills but was also skilled in car modifications. The Franklin family managed two high-end car brands' dealerships, all of which were under his control.
The car slid into the parking lot of ROYAL Club, where there was a dedicated elevator for Capone and his party. Throughout the visit, Sophia barely encountered anyone outside Capone's subordinates.
ROYAL Club had a main building and an annex. The Italian dinner and entertainment took place in the annex, while the hotel and upscale lounge were in the main building.
As they exited the elevator, Capone took Sophia's hand. She tried to pull away but couldn't, and after giving him an annoyed look, she reluctantly went along with him.
"Smile! Otherwise, I'll have someone send you back immediately!" His voice was low and cold, making Sophia want to kick him in frustration.
In the private room, people were already waiting. Upon seeing Capone, everyone stood up and came over to greet and shake hands with him. He was not in formal attire today, not even wearing a tie. His fitted dark gray shirt had two buttons undone at the collar, giving him a casual yet elegant look. In terms of demeanor, none of the well-bred young men present could compare to him; they seemed to shrink in his presence.
"This is my sister, Diana."
Someone complimented Sophia, "I haven't seen this beautiful lady before. What's her name?"
"Sophy!" Capone offered no further explanation, pulling her to a seat beside him. It was immediately clear that she was the woman accompanying them for the evening.
Accompanying the host also meant attending to the guests.
Diana was seated among a group of men, positioned far from Sophia.
Sophia, accustomed to fine dining and large events, found this Italian dinner particularly stilted. Besides Capone and Joey, there were four or five young men present. Their conversations mostly revolved around flattery and probing, eager to connect with the Franklin family for business opportunities and protection.
In business, troubles were inevitable, and sometimes normal channels couldn't resolve issues. The Franklin family's criminal background served as a deterrent for many.
Sophia felt disappointed. It seemed unlikely that these people would be able to help her. Even if they knew of her plight, who would dare offend Capone? Especially in this port area, where his influence was strongest.
The men's discussions remained focused on business. Diana sat quietly at a distance, her presence nearly nonexistent, with no one paying her much attention.
Meanwhile, a man named Bruno, who sat beside Sophia, kept glancing at her, making her feel uneasy. But remembering Capone's warning to remain quiet and obedient, she could only force a smile in response.
None of this escaped Capone's notice. He picked up his wine glass, swirling the deep red liquid, and said, "Why is everyone so glum? Is just eating Italian food and drinking wine not enough? Sophy, why are you still sitting? Go toast!"
He wants her to toast?
Sophia wasn't surprised at all. She was simply angry and embarrassed. This man deliberately treated her as a mere entertainment piece for drinking and fun, intending to make her forget her status as a highborn lady and behave submissively like a pet in his presence.
She wanted to stand up and throw the drink in his face, but she couldn't afford to do that.
This was her rare opportunity to interact with the outside world. She couldn't let her temper ruin it, as that might not only fail her but could also put Diana, who was helping her, at risk.
"I don't drink!" She could only use this excuse to deflect.
"No one is born knowing how to drink. How will you know if you're not good at it unless you try? Besides, you always surprise me!"
Capone said this with a smile, but it carried an underlying threat.
Sophia had no choice but to take the wine glass, stand up, and pour drinks for each of the young men at the table, clinking glasses with them.
They were all familiar with such occasions and knew how to flirt appropriately with a woman, especially one as rare and beautiful as Sophia. They saw that this was apparently her first time out with Capone and noted her innate pride, so they encouraged her to drink more, hoping to get her drunk so Capone could enjoy the evening.
After seven or eight glasses of red wine, Sophia felt dizzy and disoriented. She struggled to sit back down, feeling even more uncomfortable under Capone's intense gaze, which seemed impossible to avoid.
The effects of the alcohol spread quickly through her bloodstream, and she began to feel a hot surge rising up. Fearing she might vomit, she leaned in and whispered to Capone, "I need to use the restroom!"
"Hmm, Diana, you go with her!" Capone knew she had drunk quite a lot and wouldn't be able to escape in this state.
Diana helped Sophia to the nearby restroom. Once inside, Sophia leaned over the sink and began to vomit. She hadn't eaten much, and her stomach was filled with alcohol, which now emptied out. Her esophagus burned like fire.
She felt utterly useless, and as she vomited, tears began to flow uncontrollably. The tears seemed to have a mind of their own.
Diana handed her some tissues and mumbled, "Your stomach was just getting better, and now this… Does your stomach hurt? Do you feel any better after throwing up?"
Sophia waved her hand to indicate she was okay. After a moment, she angrily cursed, "That bastard Capone!"
Diana shook her head, adjusting her glasses. "They probably still have more to drink, so we can't leave yet. Wait here for a bit. I'll get a hot towel from the waiter. It will make you feel better!"
Sophia nodded, rinsed her mouth, and leaned against the wall outside the restroom, waiting for Diana. To her surprise, she bumped into someone, and when she looked up, it was Bruno, the man who had sat next to her during the pasta dinner.
"Miss Sophy, I want to ask you, are you from the diaz? Sophia Diaz?"
Bruno looked a bit nervous, getting straight to the point.
Sophia was startled, her senses sharpened. She grabbed him urgently and asked, "How do you know? Do you know me?"
Bruno shook his head and whispered, "Don't speak so loudly! I don't know you, but my cousin knows you. His name is Roger. Do you remember him? He owned the bakery where you worked as a pastry chef! I heard that you were kidnapped, and both he and your family have been searching for you everywhere. I never expected to run into you here!"
Sophia was shocked. How could she not remember?
Roger, Roger… That name had once taken root deep in her heart. The young man, who was both a mentor and a friend, though stern and proud, had stirred her fighting spirit and made her want to be close to him.
Yes, she had told Capone the truth—she did have someone she liked. Until his appearance shattered that youthful peace, taking away her innocence, and making her too afraid to even think of his name during her darkest and most helpless moments.
She no longer deserved such an outstanding and pure man.
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