Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Not a Single Hit, Well-Deserved
Seeing that Lillian Forrest seemed convinced by what she’d said, the woman secretly pursed her lips and changed the subject.
After Joanna Sherman left, Jenson Forrest finally came in.
He lovingly stroked the top of Lillian Forrest’s head. "Have you had enough to eat?"
"I’ve had enough."
Lillian Forrest nodded.
It was clear her mood was much more stable than it had been the past few days.
’It seems Joanna Sherman’s presence has a big impact on Lil.’
Jenson Forrest watched his sister in silence, then said, "Your Sister Sophie asked me to pass on a message. If you want her to come, she can come anytime."
"Sister Sophie?" Lillian Forrest raised an eyebrow.
She had been immersed in her sorrow these past few days, not caring about anything. It had been a long time since she had even thought of Sophia Shaw.
"She... knows?"
Lillian Forrest helplessly pulled at the corner of her blanket.
Jenson Forrest grew nervous again. "Lil, I didn’t tell anyone what’s been going on..."
Lillian Forrest interrupted, "Brother, I want to call Sister Sophie."
"Okay."
Jenson Forrest quickly pulled up Sophia Shaw’s number for Lillian Forrest.
’Compared to Joanna Sherman, he trusted Sophia Shaw more.’
"Lil."
Sophia Shaw’s familiar, gentle voice came from the other end. Lillian Forrest had just managed to say "Sister Sophie" before she burst out crying with a WAIL.
Only with Sophia Shaw could she truly feel safe.
"Sister Sophie, I’m so miserable."
Sophia Shaw wasn’t far away and entered the hospital room a short while later.
Lillian Forrest threw herself into Sophia Shaw’s arms, hugging her tightly.
Sophia Shaw had a gentle, soft aura about her. This presence finally brought a bit of warmth to Lillian Forrest, who had been terrified and uneasy for days.
Although Jenson Forrest was her own brother, he was still a man, and there were many things she couldn’t easily say to him.
After she finished crying, Lillian Forrest finally told her about how her family was forcing her to marry Liam Reed.
"Sister Sophie, I don’t want to marry Liam Reed. I have no feelings for him."
"But my parents won’t listen to me. In their minds, my feelings don’t matter at all!"
Lillian Forrest was quite desperate. "They always blame me, saying that because I’m always with my brother, he hasn’t gotten married."
"My brother left home back then because of me. If I end up being the reason he can’t start his own family, wouldn’t that make me a sinner?"
Sophia Shaw patted her shoulder gently.
"Your brother not being married has nothing to do with you. But if you’re really concerned about it, you don’t necessarily have to get married to solve the problem."
"You’re about to start college. Once you’re living in the dorms, they won’t have any reason to say anything, right?"
"It takes time to become independent, but you’ll get used to it eventually."
Lillian Forrest’s eyes turned toward Sophia Shaw.
She had never considered living in the dorms, but Sophia Shaw had indeed offered a very good solution to her problem.
Normally, Lillian Forrest could be a bit pampered, but in front of the Sister Sophie she idolized, she couldn’t afford to be.
’If I can’t even handle something like living in the dorms, Sister Sophie will definitely look down on me.’
Lillian Forrest clenched her fists tightly.
"But my parents..."
"Don’t be afraid." Sophia Shaw whispered a few words in her ear.
Lillian Forrest’s mouth fell slightly open, utterly astonished.
"Sister Sophie, you’ve already done so much for me in secret!"
"It’s like you can read my mind!"
Lillian Forrest hugged her tightly once more.
---
"Hang that sign higher."
"The lighting isn’t bright enough, adjust it again!"
Sophia Shaw had come to Zenith Headquarters to take care of some business today. As soon as she got out of her car, she saw Joanna Sherman’s assistant directing people who were setting up a stage.
A long banner on the stage bore the large words: "Zenith Rocket Recovery Project Launch Ceremony."
Below the stage, seating was arranged for nearly a hundred reporters.
"This Joanna Sherman is just too much. She has to hold a launch ceremony for something this minor?"
"Hyping it up so much before it’s even started. Isn’t she afraid of the humiliation if the project fails?"
Jacobs found Joanna Sherman’s methods completely unbearable and couldn’t help but complain.
"What are you talking about? Ms. Sherman has one hundred percent confidence in this project. Shut your jinxing mouth!"
Joanna Sherman’s assistant heard Jacobs’s words and retorted, extremely displeased.
Jacobs let out a laugh. "When has she ever not had confidence in one of her projects? And when have they not ended up a complete mess?"
"Her industry nickname, ’One-and-Done,’ is definitely well-earned!"
"You..." Joanna Sherman’s assistant was so angry his mouth twisted, but he could only look past them aggrievedly. "Ms. Sherman."
Joanna Sherman had appeared behind them at some point. She was dressed in a black pantsuit with her hair tied up, the very picture of a sharp, elite professional.
Her gaze landed coldly on Sophia Shaw. "Is this the kind of employee you train? So this is all there is to the great rocket genius."
Jacobs had only meant to badmouth Joanna Sherman and hadn’t expected Sophia Shaw to get dragged into it. His expression stiffened unnaturally.
Before he could say anything, Jenson Forrest arrived with Lillian Forrest.
"Congratulations, Joanna."
Lillian Forrest presented a bouquet of flowers to Joanna Sherman.
Joanna Sherman looked at her with some surprise. "Lil... you’ve been discharged?"
"Mhm." A faint smile played on Lillian Forrest’s lips. "It wasn’t anything serious anyway, so I figured I might as well leave the hospital early."
She looked nothing like the complete wreck she had been a few days ago.
Joanna Sherman’s expression darkened slightly just as she heard Lillian Forrest say, "I think I heard Sister Sophie’s voice. Sophie, my brother said he wanted to thank you, too."
Sophia Shaw froze for a moment, looking at Jenson Forrest.
Jenson Forrest’s gaze also fell heavily on Sophia Shaw. "Speaking of which, I’ve been too neglectful as a brother. I didn’t even know our parents intended to marry her off to Liam Reed."
"Thank you for helping Lil out and investigating Liam Reed. That’s what made my parents take back their decision."
Jenson Forrest was grateful to Sophia Shaw and filled with self-recrimination.
When Joanna Sherman heard Jenson Forrest’s words, her already grim face darkened even more.
Her fingers curled into a fist.
’When Lillian Forrest talked about her parents forcing her to marry Liam Reed, I had hinted that Lillian could, and should, marry him.’
"Brother, it’s not your fault. It was me... I was too embarrassed to tell you." Lillian Forrest fumbled for Jenson Forrest’s hand.
Jenson Forrest grasped her fingers back, holding them tightly.
His chest felt heavy.
’My own sister had come so close to being ruined because of me.’
"If Sister Sophie hadn’t helped me investigate Liam Reed, I never would’ve known what a scumbag he is."
"He fools around with other women, and the company he runs is just a shell corporation. It’s obvious he only wanted to marry me to use the Forrest Family and my brother to get rich and live a good life!"
"How could Ma Lane have raised such a terrible son!"
Lillian Forrest’s accusations rang out one after another. Although she was clearly cursing Liam Reed, to Joanna Sherman’s ears, it sounded more like a slap in the face.
’Not only had I encouraged the marriage, I had also hinted, both directly and indirectly, that Liam Reed was a good man, worthy of marrying.’
The expression on Joanna Sherman’s face was about to break.
’Damn that Lillian Forrest! I went to see her every day, and yet she didn’t trust me one bit. She went behind my back to Sophia Shaw!’
Joanna Sherman quickly cut Lillian Forrest off. "Lil, President Forrest, the launch ceremony won’t be starting for a little while. Why don’t you two go have a seat over there."
Joanna Sherman shot a look at her assistant.
The assistant hurried over and led the two of them toward their seats.
Joanna Sherman ignored Sophia Shaw and turned to leave.
"Joanna Sherman!" Sophia Shaw called out to stop her. "You knew full well that Liam Reed was a bad person. Why did you still hint that Lillian should marry him? What exactly are you plotting?"
