When They Beg, I Rise!

Lemira was curious but chose not to press for more information. After all, she barely knew Ms. Sinclair.

Sophia, however, couldn't help but notice the blush on Lemira's cheeks and the rosy gloss on her lips. Suppressing her own bitterness, she asked, "Ms. Langston, did you come to the gym alone?"

"No," Lemira replied, heading straight to the locker room without elaborating.

Sophia watched her retreating figure, feeling a pang of jealousy. She made her way to the boxing area, where she finally spotted Orion.

Unable to hold back, Sophia approached him. "Orie, why have you been avoiding me these past few days?"

Orion's expression turned noticeably colder upon seeing her. "Why would I be avoiding you?"

"Then why haven't you answered any of my calls?"

"If it's work-related, just contact the company's person in charge. I don't see any reason for us to be talking on the phone," Orion replied, his tone icy and clear.

Sophia's eyes welled up with tears. "Is it because of that girl that you're drawing a line between us?"

"You need to understand that there was never anything between us. This time, I had my brother clear things up, but if your family, the Sinclairs, keeps insisting otherwise, I'll have to clear things up myself next time."

Orion's demeanor was detached. "Out of respect for our family ties, I'm giving you the choice to handle this yourself or have me do it."

Sophia's face paled. She couldn't believe Orion was being so final, but she knew he wasn't joking. He would actually go through with it.

Orion's patience was wearing thin. "You should leave now, before my girlfriend sees you and gets the wrong idea."

"Do you know she was involved with an older man back in high school?" Sophia blurted, recalling something Susanna had told her.

Orion's expression darkened as he fixed his gaze on her. "I don't want to hear such divisive tactics again."

"Don't you care?"noveldrama

"That man was me, but we were just friends back then. Stop spreading false rumors about her."

Sophia was stunned-Orion had been the school nurse? Her mind reeled. Had he known Lemira all along?

Orion's voice grew icier. "Warn your sister-if she keeps targeting Lemira without cause, the Sinclair family will regret it."

Terrified, Sophia took a step back and then hurried away.

Orion narrowed his eyes. Had the Sinclairs become too brazen over the years? He had expected them to recognize the need for Matthew to publicly refute the engagement rumors. en

Soon after Lemira emerged in her workout gear and approached him, her face warm with a blush. "Oh, I

forgot to tell you, the press

conference didn't go well last time."

"Because I wasn't there, but we can reschedule. This time, nothing will go wrong,"

Orion assured her, his gaze earnest. "I promise."

He regretted being away on business. He hadn't anticipated that Asher was

actually a son-in-law to the Waverlies.

Lemira smiled softly. "No need."

"What are your plans now?" Orion asked.

"I'm thinking of going back to my family," Lemira replied, noticing Orion's subtle reaction.

"Why?"

"You probably know that Asher used my parents' heirlooms to threaten me. Without a written contract from the property division back then, I can't retrieve those items yet, and I don't want them falling into Evelina's hands."

"Mr. Alfred mentioned this to me. Legal battles take time, but you don't have to return to your family."

Orion held her hand gently. "And you don't need to worry about the Waverlies. Last time was only because I wasn't around."