Chapter 563 - Forgiveness

Upon hearing Mary's last remark, Zhen-Zhen couldn't help but feel worried for Sophia. She would not be around to protect Sophia against those scheming women.

"Mary, can you please support Sophia? I'm worried about her. I am not around if ever someone will bully her." Zhen-Zhen requested her.

"Oh, don't worry. I will always be here to support her. And don't worry too much. I have a better idea." Mary's eyes lit up as she remembered something.

"Have you forgotten that you have a lot of avid supporters here? They even put up a club under your name. The club was called Lillie's sweethearts." Mary informed them.

"Oh. That's so cool! Lady boss, you are really famous!" Bianca said cheerfully.

Zhen-Zhen just scratched her face, blushing.

"Your co-scholar is the founder of that club. Actually, I am also a member of that club! Hahaha! I'm a vice-chair!" Mary proudly said to them while giggling.

Zhen-Zhen: "..."

Bianca: "..."

"Hmm, so don't worry. I can mobilize the members to keep an eye on Sophia. If someone tries to bully her, Lillie's sweetheart will step up to protect and defend her!" Mary reassured them.

"This club is not only for Lillie. I will make amendments and make it~ Lillie's and Sophie's Angels!" she added with so much enthusiasm in her voice.

"Wow! I like it!" Bianca chimed in.

"Me too. Thank you so much, Mary. I will leave Sophia in your care." Zhen-Zhen softly mumbled, feeling grateful.

They were still talking when Sophia finally joined them.

"Lillie…" Sophia called her out, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Zhen-Zhen approached Sophia and hugged her.

"I'm sorry, Sophia. I hope you are not mad at me for giving you this responsibility. Did I put you in a difficult situation?" Zhen-Zhen asked her worriedly.

Sophia hugged her back. She smiled and shook her head. "Of course not! There is no reason for me to get mad at you. I was just shocked you chose me. I've never imagined this before."

Zhen-Zhen was glad Sophia was not upset nor mad at her.

"Thank you, Sophia. I know you will do well."

"So, let's go out for lunch! It's my treat today! Sigh, I will miss you guys. We have a long vacation!" Mary said, inviting them for lunch.

The four ladies decided to go out and eat lunch in the nearby restaurant. They didn't eat inside the cafeteria for a change.

They didn't have classes anymore. They were just finishing some requirements for the closing of this semester.

When they were leaving the school gate, they bumped into Liam.

"Hi, Prof. Liam!" It was Mary who greeted him first.

"Hello, Ladies. Is the program done? Congratulations, Sophia!" Liam said, but his eyes lingered on Zhen-Zhen's face.

"Thanks, Prof," Sophia meekly responded. A shy smile appeared on her face.

"Yes, it's done. We are going out for lunch," Zhen-Zhen informed him.

"Hmm, can I join you? This is the last I will be seeing Lillie here in the school so might as well, thicken my face." Liam said, smiling sheepishly at them. 

He knew it was a girl's bonding but he shamelessly asked them if he could join them.

"Hmm, sure! Prof. Liam, don't worry we don't mind it. Come and join us," Mary promptly responded.

Bianca just shook her head helplessly. 

The three ladies noticed how Liam acted as if he was Zhen-Zhen's boyfriend. He was so attentive with her, putting food on her plate, and slicing the meat for her.

The ladies just pretended not to see it except Bianca. She was frowning during the entire meal. Liam didn't restrict himself today. He acted very sweet towards Zhen-Zhen.

'Argh! If my boss sees this, I will be doomed.'

With that thought in mind, Bianca decided to interfere. She caught Zhen-Zhen's attention away from Liam. She was the one who was serving her Lady Boss now.

Sophia and Mary just tried their best to hold their laughter. They knew what Bianca was trying to do.

When they were done, Liam was the one who paid their bills. Mary thanked him since she was supposed to be the one treating her friends today.

They went back to school. They would try to finish all their requirements today. Mary, Sophia, and Zhen-Zhen decided to work in the mini-forest. Bianca just watched them silently.

They were busy with their respective tasks when someone invaded their favorite spot.

"Sorry, Ladies for disturbing you. Can I talk to Sophia for a while?"

The ladies watched the newcomer in amus.e.m.e.nt. It was Marcus. The three ladies glanced at Sophia, anticipating her reply.

Marcus was giving her a pleading look. He really wanted to talk to her. Marcus had never forgotten Sophia.

Sophia sighed deeply before nodding her head. For some unknown reason, she could no longer feel the pain of betrayal Marcus had given her.

'Have I already moved on? My heart is not in pain anymore even after seeing his face,' Sophia marveled at that thought.

Meanwhile, Marcus felt so happy since Sophia allowed him to talk to her.

The two of them just moved a little bit farther from her friends. They could no longer hear their conversation, but they could still see them.

"What do you want to tell me?" Sophia asked him with her neutral voice.

"Sophia, I've been thinking about you for the past month. I realized my mistake and I really regretted it. I hope you can still forgive me. I just really want you to know that I am truly sorry."

After saying that, Marcus held her hands and suddenly dropped to his knees, kneeling in front of her. 

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise. Even Mary, Zhen-Zhen, and Bianca gasped upon seeing Marcus kneeling in front of Sophia.

"Please forgive me, Sophia. Please give me another chance. Allow me to show you how I regretted everything." Marcus said with his desperate voice.

"Marcus! Stand up! Don't do this."

Marcus shook his head. "Please forgive me first. Please believe me, Sophia. I already changed. I'm not the same jerk before. Please give me another chance to become your friend. A true friend."

Sophia looked at him helplessly. She didn't know what had gotten into Marcus today for him to do this.

"Alright! Just get up now, Marcus! No one asked you to kneel!" 

Marcus gazed up, still holding her hands.

"Have you forgiven me already?"

Sophia fell silent. She was trying to find in her heart if she had already forgiven him.

In fact, she didn't care about those things anymore. She was not that affected, compared to before.

'Is this because of Matthew? Is it because I feel so special when I am beside him? I don't feel hurt anymore despite Marcus had broken my trust and my heart before.'

'I think, it is time to make closure of the past.'

After contemplating for a moment, Sophia finally nodded her head. "Yes, I forgive you."

Marcus's face brightened up when he heard that. He was so happy. He stood up, pulling Sophia into a hug.

"Thank you, Sophia. Thank you," Marcus cheerfully said.

That was also the time Matthew arrived in the mini-forest, witnessing the scene between Marcus and Sophia.

He decided to see Sophia today at the university to invite her to come with him on a trip to Mt. Calypso.

Matthew's face darkened upon seeing Marcus hugging his girlfriend, Sophia.