Chapter 239
A slap landed heavily.
The sound was sharp and clear.
"What did I tell you before we left?! Behave, don't touch other people's things! Did you forget everything?! Hand it over now! Looks like you need a lesson! You good-for-nothing—"
The old woman moved swiftly.
She started yelling right after hitting.
No one had time to react.
The child was completely stunned.
The parents were dumbfounded.
Sophia Sullivan stood frozen.
"Waaah— Grandma hit me! Waaah—"
The brat burst into loud sobs.
This time, the tears were real.
Snot and tears streamed down his face.
"I didn't take it! I don't know where it is!"
"Talking back? I'll teach you a lesson!" The old woman was frantic with anger.
"I won't tell! Beat me to death and I still won't tell!"
"Stealing things! Being a delinquent!" The old woman hit harder, smacking his bottom repeatedly.
The man and woman rushed to stop her.
They couldn't hold her back.
"You old hag— How dare you hit me— Why aren't you dead yet—"
The old woman trembled with rage.
Finally, the police officer intervened.
The old woman stopped.
The brat was subdued.
Sniffling, he pulled a stack of documents from under the sofa.
Police officer: "Miss Sullivan, please check?"
Sophia confirmed it was correct.
She nodded. "It's this report."
"Good."
Sophia put the documents away.
She looked at the parents. "My room was locked. He climbed in through the window. The second floor is over ten meters high. What if he had fallen? Then it wouldn't be documents lost, but a life!"
The couple's faces turned pale.
The brat lowered his head, not daring to make a sound.
That night, Great-Aunt Deborah's family packed and returned to the village.
David Sullivan saw it was late.
He offered to let them stay the night before leaving.
Great-Aunt Deborah sighed. "David, your family are all good, honest people. Not like your mother... Be more careful from now on..."
She finished and left with her family.
David frowned.
Be more careful?
About whom?
...
That night, the Sullivan family slept soundly.
Early the next morning, Isabella Sullivan hired three housekeepers.
They worked all morning.
The house was thoroughly cleaned inside and out.
After breakfast, Sophia went out for a walk.
She remembered a private bookstore on West Street.
Last time, she found an out-of-print professional book there.
The owner refused to sell it.
She could only read it in the store.
She hadn't finished it before going home.
Today was a good day to finish it.
She searched the bookstore twice.
She couldn't find the book.
She asked the manager.
Manager: "That book was sold yesterday."
Sophia: "I thought it was the owner's private collection and not for sale?"
The manager nodded. "It wasn't supposed to be sold. But the person who came yesterday was the owner's friend. They have a life-saving bond. The owner agreed to sell it personally. Sorry."
Sophia waved it off, saying it was fine.
Disappointment was evident in her eyes.
It had started raining outside at some point.
Sophia browsed for a while.
She couldn't find a second out-of-print book.
She sighed softly and prepared to leave.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, she saw the rain was still falling.
She couldn't leave for now.
Suddenly, her gaze paused.
It landed on a man sheltering from the rain outside the bookstore.
She pushed the door open and walked out.
Tentatively, she called out—
"Big Brother?"
The man turned around.
His eyes lit up. "Sophia?"
It was really Ryan Sullivan!
The only son of William Sullivan and Sophia Sullivan.
He didn't have an umbrella.
His T-shirt was mostly wet.
Water dripped from the ends of his hair.
Sophia offered him a tissue. "Dry off. You can still catch a cold from summer rain."
"Thank you." He took the tissue and wiped his face. "You're still so thoughtful and caring."
The bookstore connected to the adjacent mall.
Since they met and it was raining.
The siblings decided to have a meal together.
Sophia called Isabella to say she wouldn't be home for lunch.
Isabella asked a few questions and hung up.
In the private dining room—
Soft, pleasant music played.
It eased the gloom of the rainy day.
They sat by the window.
The floor-to-ceiling glass blocked the sound of rain.
Leaving only the view of the rain outside.
Sophia ordered the signature dishes.
While waiting, she looked out the window.
There were few pedestrians.
Cars streamed past.
Her gaze returned and unexpectedly met Ryan's eyes.
Sophia was startled.
She smiled shyly.
She and Ryan had been very close as children.
They were only three years apart.
They often played together.
They kept in touch frequently during middle and high school.
Every time Ryan visited her at Second High, he brought delicious food.
Sophia remembered clearly.
Sometimes it was fruit or bread.
Sometimes it was cookies or snacks.
Occasionally, there were even spicy strips...
Those were the happiest times during tedious studies.
In college, she was busy with studies and romance.
Ryan was busy with internships and work.
They contacted each other less.
After college, Sophia devoted herself to Ethan Roscente.
She endured hardship with him as he started his business, taking care of his daily life.
Ryan quit his job and started a business with friends.
He was incredibly busy.
They gradually lost touch.
Occasionally, she thought about calling to say hello.
But it felt too sudden and abrupt.
They both felt this way.
Slowly, they stopped contacting each other.
Some friends just drift apart.
Fortunately, the bond of blood remained.
Now, meeting again, they didn't feel distant.
Ryan: "Sophia, you haven't changed at all."
She was still the little sister from his memories.
Quiet and beautiful.
Her eyes always held a light.
"Really?" Sophia was delighted.
Those six years had exhausted her.
Looking back now, she felt like she had been under a spell.
She had experienced her darkest moments.
She thought she would decay.
Fortunately, she finally broke free.
But after going through so much.
The person who returned was not the same as before.
Yet Ryan said she hadn't changed at all!
Sophia was genuinely happy.
"Brother, you've changed."
Ryan touched his chin. "Older, right?"
"No, taller."
In her memory, Ryan was around 1.7 meters.
Now, she estimated he was at least 180.
His skin was a healthy tan.
His teeth were white when he smiled.
After all these years of struggle.
He still retained the clean purity of his youth.