A Poor Scholarship Girl Tutored the Heir She Couldn’t Stand — Then He Became the Man She Never Expected to Love
Chapter 4
Adrian’s grades improved dramatically.
His father noticed.
So did everyone else.
The Blackwood family invited Sophia to dinner.
She didn’t want to go.
Adrian insisted.
“My mother wants to meet you.”
“Why?”
“Because she thinks you’re responsible for my grades.”
“I am.”
“Then take the credit.”
Sophia arrived at the Blackwood estate feeling uncomfortable.
The house was enormous.
Staff members opened doors.
A fountain stood in the center of the entrance hall.
Sophia looked at her simple dress.
She suddenly felt very aware of every difference between them.
Adrian noticed.
“Stop.”
“What?”
“Thinking you’re out of place.”
She looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“Your face.”
He smiled.
“You make the same face before exams.”
She laughed softly.
At dinner, Adrian’s mother was kind.
His father was not.
Mr. Blackwood barely looked at Sophia.
“So you’re the tutor.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How much is Adrian paying you?”
Sophia looked at Adrian.
“Nothing personally.”
His father frowned.
“I’ll compensate you directly.”
Sophia shook her head.
“I don’t need that.”
“Everyone needs money.”
She remained calm.
“I prefer earning mine.”
Adrian’s father looked annoyed.
“You’re ambitious.”
Sophia nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked at Adrian.
“At least someone in this room is.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
Dinner ended quickly.
Outside, Sophia exhaled.
“I hate your family.”
Adrian laughed.
“You’re not alone.”
She looked at him.
“Does your father talk to you like that all the time?”
“Yes.”
“How do you stand it?”
“I don’t.”
He looked toward the house.
“I just pretend.”
Sophia’s expression softened.
“You don’t have to with me.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
She looked away.
“I said you don’t have to pretend with me.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
He reached for her hand.
She didn’t pull away.
Then his mother appeared at the doorway.
“Sophia.”
She called softly.
Sophia turned.
His mother held a small envelope.
“Your mother.”
Sophia froze.
“What about her?”
“I heard she’s receiving treatment.”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to help.”
Sophia immediately shook her head.
“I can’t take money.”
Adrian’s mother smiled.
“It isn’t charity.”
“What is it?”
“A scholarship foundation.”
She handed her the envelope.
“There may be support available.”
Sophia accepted it.
Then she looked at Adrian.
He smiled.
“See?”
She laughed.
Maybe his family wasn’t as impossible as she thought.
Maybe Adrian wasn’t either.
And that realization scared her more than anything.
Because she had started falling for him.
