Next One Is a Babe

Old Mrs. Constance laughed. “I’m not trying to bribe you, Sophia. I just feel sorry for you. John’s grandpa liked you very much, and I should have treated you better before, but I didn't. I am remorseful for my negligence. If I had stood up for you, maybe you wouldn’t be bullied so badly by John’s mother.”

"It has nothing to do with you. This is John's problem. I was bullied because of his inaction. If he could see things from my point of view, things wouldn’t have ended like this,” Sophia replied with a smile.

Old Mrs. Constance knew that Sophia was right.

That John doesn't have a good temperament.

In the future, he will suffer in relationships.

On the other hand, everyone was leaving the dining hall, while some continued chatting about company matters in the living room.

John didn’t want to talk about those matters. After all, he had been busy in the company every day. Now that he finally had a holiday, he wanted to distance himself from his work.

Walking out of the main building, he fished out a cigarette case from his pocket.

Isabelle came over immediately and stood beside him. “Don’t smoke too much. It's bad for your health.”

Turning his head to look at Isabelle, John took out a cigarette and lit it. “I suppose you felt quite uncomfortable during dinner just now.”

“Well, it’s impossible for me to deny it. I did feel a little awkward back there.” Isabelle pursed her lips and blinked while looking up at him. “John, I’ve been wondering whether I should ask you something.”

John replied, “Ask away."

Isabelle let out a sigh. “When you went to my house to break off our engagement, did you feel a little bit… Hmm, how should I put it? Did you feel... reluctant about it?”

There was no hint of sadness in her expression which looked natural and composed.

After she finished speaking, she laughed. “I’m just curious. I don't mean anything else.”

John seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. This had happened a year ago. If it weren’t for Isabelle mentioning it, he could hardly remember the time when he went to the Bailey Family to break off the engagement.

After a while, John answered, “I want to be honest with you, and I won’t lie to you, Isabelle. I really didn't want to break off our engagement at the time, but it was only because I thought that we’re both from reputable families. If I did so, it would harm you and your family in many ways. Moreover, you’re a girl, so your reputation would suffer greatly, and you might feel humiliated. These were what I thought back then.”

Isabelle chuckled. “Actually, what you thought was right. I did feel humiliated. It was just like falling in love and breaking up afterward. I felt like I was dumped, which was really embarrassing."

Her tone was so casual that as though she didn't care about it at all.

The atmosphere thus somewhat softened in this way,