Family discussion

Sophia was wheeled out of the office, leaving Alexander speechless. Eve knew she couldn't talk bad about Sophia, and Tom nodded in approval of his daughter's confidence. Lucas wheeled Sophia to the private car and leaned down to kiss her neck, causing her to jolt in her wheelchair.

"Lucas, why are you so perverted! you-" He cut Sophia off with a hot and steamy kiss. Sophia struggled a bit next she knew she was being lifted and thrown into the car.

"We have a private meeting in this car and the sheets~." Lucas winked as he caressed Sophia's cheek.

Sophia huffed as she looked away, displeased, causing Lucas to pout like a child. "You dummy! A man and a woman can only do the deed in bed! My nanny told me that from a young age!"

"That's a myth, and I'll show you why..." He slowly took off his tie and then wrapped it around Sophia's wrist, pinning her with her hands above her head. He used his other hand to slide the passenger seat back. He kissed her forehead, then her neck, then used his other hand to try to unbuttoned her shirt. Before he could get far, the couple was interrupted by a knock on the window.

Quickly, Lucas looked out the window only to go pale to know it was Tom Alder outside. Lucas got off Sophia and then quickly positioned himself in the driver seat. He quickly rolled the window down, and Sophia face was red as a tomato as she glanced at her father. She blamed Lucas for this but she bared with it.

"What are you kiddos up to? I wanted to invite you both for dinner later on."

Lucas leaned over to Sophia a bit to make eye contact with Tom.

"Hello Mr.Alder, Sophia was feeling a fever not too long after the meeting, and she wanted to go home. It's up to Sophia if she wants to go to dinner..."

"Yeah, I was going to go home with Lucas, dad. But if you insist for dinner, I'll just take a fever medication and then come to you." Sophia chuckled nervously, then she became bashful when Lucas rubbed her thigh.

"Oh, Sophia, your grandmother is coming over from France. She wants to see you. She heard about what Alexander did to you, and she wants to see you personally." Tom smiled at Sophia as soon as Sophia heard this she froze in place from a minute.

"Grandma?" Sophia questioned as she sat up more to listen closely to her father. Sophia's grandmother arranged the marriage between her and Alexander, but little did her grandmother know that the ex grandson-in-law she loved was a devil in disguise. Sophia's grandmother had a faint dislike for Lucas because he wasn't rich or trustworthy enough to marry her. Of course, her grandmother turned down the proposal he had years ago for Sophia when he was in Europe as an apprentice businessman.

"Yes, your grandmother wants to know how you are doing and wants to discuss more with you about your marriage to Lucas soon." Tom's voice was getting even more cheerful, but Sophia felt fear of all kinds and just like the theory of energy that can neither be destroyed or created the energy of Sophia's fears transferred to Lucas

"Defintely we will be there." Sophia nodded in confidence, waved at her father, then put up the window to see Lucas with a mad expression.

"Now that I have money, your grandmother thinks it's OK for you NOW to get married!? Your grandmother almost forced you into a miserable marriage with that bastard Alexander. Now she wants to acknowledge me!?"

Sophia put a hand on Lucas's hand, instantly calming him down, but Lucas mind was racing of how this cheeky woman wanted him to be her son-in-law.

"At least we are marrying now Lucas, my grandmother Gia can't stop you like before." Sophia smiled at Lucas, who glanced at her back, and then he smiled with an approving nod.

"Alrighty, let's get you changed into something elegant and simple."

Later that night, the dinning room and kitchens of the Alder residence were bustling for the remaining family members in the city such as Sierra Alder the step-mother of Sophia and Leon Alder the step-brother along with Grandma Gia who is still the head of the family.

Appetizers were served by the servants, and claming music was playing the background family members discussed upon themselves. Sierra, a woman in her mid 30s dress in a revealing dress with long blonde hair and blue eyes offered Gia a bottle of wine.

"Mother Gia, would you like some more wine?" Sierra asked as she held a bottle of the most expensive wine. Gia politely declined the offer of the wine as she sat waiting for Sophia. Gia was a woman in her 60s, but she looked like a youthful woman with plastic surgery, which was done very well, dyed brown hair, but her grey roots were barely seen and sophisticated dress.

"No, dear, I'm fine. Where is your son, Leon?"

Sierra smiled, and then she remembered her son promise to be back before dinner from school, but no signs of him could be seen. Sierra kept calling Leon but to no success.

"He went out to get a medication I needed, but I'm sure he must be stuck in line somewhere."

Gia huffed she knew how Leon was around her, but she brushed it off. All she cared about was Sophia and her future.

"Tom! Is this how your children act?! My granddaughter wants to show up fashionably late, and my grandson always skips out at our family meeting!" Gia yelled as she saw Tom run by as he was carrying a bottle of Bacardi.

"Mom, you know Sophia broke a leg, and it will take her a while to get here... and most likely, Leon is out with friends trying to avoid you." Tom placed the Bacardi on the table, and the carts rolled out of food.

"Well, at least my granddaughter is coming, unlike Leon, who avoids me like the plague. Can that boy stop getting in trouble and do something with his life?" Gia questioned as the door opened, revealing Sophia and Lucas. Sophia was still in her wheelchair but she was dressed plain and elegant to appease her grandmother. "Now, my dear little princess is here! I heard you broke your leg!"

"Grandma, don't worry, it was a freak accident. Besides, now it is time to talk about our family and my marriage to Lucas."

Sophia smiled gently as her grandmother hugged her. As Sierra looked away in embarrassment furiously texting her son to come home, she noticed that Sophia was wearing the latest fashion from the corner of her eye. Sierra wasn't the type to care, but Lucas was treating Sophia much better than Alexander, which gave her a sigh of relief.

Everyone gathered around the table and started eating as they discussed, but the discussion between Gia and Sophia can be heard the most.

"Ah, yes, the marriage, I approve the marriage between you and Lucas." Gia looked over to Lucas, who was eating slow, awkwardly, and off puttingly.

"Lucas, forgive me and my cruel ways back then. I just wanted what's best for Sophia." Gia apologizing made Lucas drop a noodle back into the plate as he stared at her wide-eyed. Lucas fixed his expression quickly and then cleared his throat.

"I understand. Naturally, you want her well off, but you know Alexander wasn't the best fit his family just wanted money." Lucas added as he went back to eating normally.

"I won't marry off anymore women into the Eldredge family such scam artist. I love the fact that you came to my dearest granddaughter rescue. You give her the best of you, and that's all I wanted to see." Gia placed a hand on Sophia's hand as she smiled, reassuring at the both of them. "You have my blessing, congratulations."

Lucas's rage from years ago subsided as he felt happy just by hearing those words. He wanted to jump back in time and tell his 22 year-old self that he could wait for Sophia because she would never marry that Alexander scum.

That moment of happiness was seized by a loud bang at the door as a boy with blonde hair and honey brown eyes stumbled in in his sloopy school uniform. It was Leon drunk, bruised, and beaten as if he went drinking. The smell of beer, drugs, and cigarettes filled the air as Gia sighed in disappointment. Sierra was mortified as Leon fell flat on the floor. Sophia and Lucas look into the direction of where the boy was but went back to eating. Tom shook his head in disapproval.

"Some family discussion this was, Sierra, your son needs discipline." Sierra looked astonished as two servants carried Leon to the sofa as they gave him water and towels to cool the effects of what he took. Leon rolled over and threw up all over on Gia's shoes.

"OH MY GOD, WHY!?"