Chapter 19 Sophie's Plan

The staff presented them with two heart-shaped chocolates. "May your marriage be blessed with harmony and sweetness." The two of them accepted the chocolates with polite gratitude and departed. Once in the car, Oliver inquired, "Where shall we head to now?" Joseph did not respond immediately. He turned to Megan and said, "Grandpa is aware of our marriage. You'll need to move in with me to maintain the facade of a loving couple." Megan was responsible for taking care of Hannah and didn't want to stray too far from the hospital. "Joseph, my grandma's condition could worsen at any time. I need to be near to care for her. Would you consider moving into my apartment?" Her rented apartment was ample space for the both of them. "I have a duplex not too far from the hospital that we could use as our matrimonial home." He had visited Megan's apartment before. It was too small for his taste, and not secure enough. Megan asked, "How far is it?" "Approximately a two-minute drive to the hospital." Megan was content with the distance. "After I've delivered lunch to grandma, I will pack my belongings and move in." Joseph suddenly remembered something he had yet to inquire about. "Megan, does your grandma know about our marriage?" "She is unaware, so there's no need for you to make time to deal with her. You are a stranger to her." "OK." After escorting Megan to her apartment and leaving her with the address of their new home, Joseph departed. Returning to her apartment, Megan packed her luggage efficiently. She only took winter clothing and personal toiletries, which fit perfectly in a suitcase. She had no intention of giving up the apartment as the status of her marriage to Joseph was precarious. Casually tossing the marriage certificate into the drawer of the bedside table, she proceeded to the kitchen to cook. After finishing, she realized she had prepared too much. Joseph has been discharged from the hospital, there is no need to prepare his meal anymore. "Have I gotten used to it?" Megan remarked in jest and carried the meal to the hospital. Hannah, upon seeing Megan with a single meal box, questioned, "Why haven't you prepared food for your friend?" Each time Hannah mentioned her friend, there was an enigmatic smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Having given up on explaining, Megan responded, "He has been discharged, so there's no longer a need to prepare his meals." "It is well that he's been discharged. When will you bring him to meet me?" "If fate decrees it, you will meet him." The cryptic response made Hannah anticipate eagerly. After the meal, Megan accompanied Hannah downstairs to bask in the sunlight. No sooner had they exited the hospital building than they encountered Emily and Sophie. Dressed in coats of matching camel hue, they carried fruit and pastries. "Hannah, are you heading to the garden? Allow me to accompany you," Emily offered, passing the fruit basket to Megan. "Megan, take these to the room. " Megan declined to accept. She could not trust these unscrupulous people. - Hannah said, "Emily, Megan and I are busy chatting." Though reluctant, Emily took the pastries from Sophie's hand. "Sophie, have a talk with your grandma, I'll take these to the room." Emily instructed. Sophie nodded. Megan could not discern their motive but remained vigilant. The sun offered a gentle warmth cascading over them, the soft breeze lazily tangling her hair. "Grandma, the breeze has a bit of a chill to it, would you like a blanket?" Before she could finish, Sophie chimed in, "Of course, grandma needs to stay warm!" Sophie retrieved a woolen blanket from the wheelchair's pouch. Megan intercepted Sophie's wrist, passing the blanket to Hannah. "Grandma, please wrap yourself." Sophie might harbor ill will, best to minimize her contact with Hannah. Sophie's displeasure was evident as she confronted Megan, "What do you mean by this? Grandma isn't yours alone. Why prohibit me from caring for her?" "Because I do not trust you." "…" Hannah intervened just as Sophie attempted to retort. "Sophie, your willingness to donate bone marrow to me is appreciated, but if you quarrel with Megan, I shall side with her without question." The comment neared the height of maddening Sophie. "Grandma, I am your real granddaughter, why do you exhibit such partiality?" Hannah turned a discerning gaze upon Sophie. "I favor those who treat me well. " Sophie had to admit, she loathed this matriarch who had taken pleasure in provoking her since her return to the Johnson. And yet… "Your life was granted by me!" Without her, Hannah would have been dead! "Don't you fear that angering me might lead to death?" Without the prospect of a marrow transplant, Hannah will die within a week. Although Hannah treasured her life, she was not afraid of death. "It would be a blessing. It will spare Megan from your abuse." Sophie scoffed. She desired to torment Megan, but with each attempt, she was the one left to suffer. Facing the nonchalant old lady, her words dripping with bitterness, "We shall see if you maintain this defiance in the face of death." As she finished, she cast a contemptuous glare at Megan, "I have words for you." Megan anticipated the subject was to be Myles's birthday. Megan summoned a bodyguard to take care of Hannah, withdrawing with Sophie. "Why did you come?" Megan asked. Sophie harbored no intention of divulging her true motives. Extracting an embossed invitation from her bag, her face alight with anticipation for the forthcoming spectacle. "This is from Myles. Tomorrow evening at seven, dress to impress." If Myles is satisfied, the Johnson could navigate their way through the crisis. Once Myles and Megan were wed, the Johnson would step into the realm of the elite. Megan, observing Sophie's transparent display of emotion, slapped her across the face with the invitation. Her delicate skin swelled visibly. "Have you not learned from last time? If I did not call the police, what would happen?" The intervention of the police was most timely, preventing any untoward incident between Sophie and Harry. And as for the scandal… It became a mistaken beverage delivered by the bar staff led Sophie to inadvertently imbibe the drink. Sophie had garnered sympathy from people and regained her reputation. Yet, these outcomes were solely a consequent of Megan's indifference. "Sophie, don't provoke me. Or the image you've so painstakingly reconstructed would be shattered in an instant." Sophie clutched at Megan's wrist, her eyes burning with fierce loathing. "Megan, don't you dare take pleasure in this, for soon you will be on your knees begging for my mercy!"