Sophia indulged a bit, taking advantage of the fact that no one would stop her as long as she stayed in the yard. So she drank one glass of wine after another, and before she knew it, she had consumed quite a bit. Her face had taken on a lovely rosy glow.
"Sophy, you're drunk. You can't drink any more!" Diana, sitting opposite her, reached out and held her glass, quietly reminding her.
"It's okay, I'm just happy! The people who bully me or dislike me aren't here today, so why worry!"
Sophia was referring to Capone and Joey, who were likely far away in Hokkaido or Hong Kong, dealing with their underworld and business matters.
After finishing the pasta, the night had deepened. Christmas allowed the coastal city of the port to shine like a city that never sleeps. Boats with "Merry Christmas" lights sailed across the sea, and from across the water, the dazzling lights of the city were faintly visible.
Diana dragged Sophia outside to set off fireworks. Cronus frowned, "Where did you get these fireworks? They look as strange as you do!" Diana wasn't offended and handed him a sparkler, saying, "This one's like you. Play with this!"
Lucy ran over and said, "Hey, you can have fun, but don't blow up or set fire to the flowers I planted! Go play on the beach outside. Oh, it's fine!"
Sophia, having drunk too much wine, had hoped the sea breeze would help, but it only made her head spin even more. Still, the excitement in her blood made her eager to play, and she was thrilled to see the fireworks.
Cronus and Mandy joined her, and the group went to the beach outside the fence. Normally, Capone restricted Sophia's activity to the yard, and this beach was off-limits, but with the festive atmosphere and Capone's absence, the guards were at their posts, so it was an exception for today.
The fireworks were beautiful. Although they looked small and unassuming, the displays that burst into the sky were stunning. Sophia, despite being timid, insisted on lighting the fireworks herself, not letting Mandy help. She would light one and then run away squealing. Cronus's whistling and Diana's laughter, along with the crisp sounds of the fireworks, created a lively and joyful atmosphere.
Many years later, they would all remember this wonderful night, each with their own thoughts but sharing a pure friendship.
Fireworks always come to an end, but Sophia was reluctant to go inside. Diana went to help Lucy clean up the kitchen, and Cronus brought Sophia another bottle of wine.
"You asked me last time what Black Label is. Well, this bottle in your hand is it. It's my private reserve, a Christmas gift for you!"
Sophia, with a layer of haze in her eyes, turned the bottle in her hand and mumbled, "So this is Black Label? Is it very strong?"
Capone had once told her that he and Lucas had gotten drunk from drinking Black Label. She was curious about what kind of drink could incapacitate two people with such impressive drinking capacities.
"Yep, it's a blend of over forty different whiskies, aged for more than twelve years. Do you think it's strong?"
Sophia grinned and, not holding back, took a large gulp from the bottle, almost coughing up tears from the burn.
"Slow down, no one's going to take it from you! Drinking it will warm you up, so you won't catch a cold from the wind later, and then expect me to treat you!" Cronus patted her back, speaking with a touch of affection.
Sophia waved her hand, her throat still burning, and laughed, "If you send me home, won't you have one less trouble? You're a young neurosurgeon, isn't it a waste to keep treating my small ailments?"
Cronus's expression was unreadable, "It might be soon. Maybe even before the Spring Festival, we'll send you back."
No matter how much she had drunk, Sophia caught the meaning of his words. She straightened up, her eyes shining like the most beautiful stars in the night sky, "Really? You'll really send me back? When, did Capone say when?"
Cronus remained silent, taking the bottle from her hand, "This drink is too strong for you to drink like that. It needs soda and ice! You should stop drinking, I'll take you inside. It's better for you to get some rest."
With the sea breeze tousling her hair, Sophia felt a surge of emotions rising from her heart. She realized what was happening and turned to grab Cronus's arm, "Wait, clear things up…"
Her foot stumbled on some gravel, and she fell, but thankfully her thick clothes cushioned the fall, so it didn't hurt much.
"Are you okay? Get up quickly!"
Mandy helped her up by the arm, asking with concern, "Did you get hurt?"
Sophia seemed momentarily disoriented, not recognizing the person in front of her until Mandy held her injured hand and said, "The wound is just starting to heal. Be careful it doesn't reopen!"
Sophia said nothing, just staring at him blankly.
Mandy, slightly at a loss under her gaze, tightened his grip on the item he was holding and took a moment before handing it to her, "Here… take this!"
Sophia received it. It was a very small dagger, only the length of a hand. The sheath was finely patterned leather, so subtle that, if not examined closely, it could easily be mistaken for an elegant comb.
"Why are you giving me this?"
Mandy looked away, "A girl should have something for self-defense. This is custom-made, and it's not sharpened yet. Once you go back, you can sharpen it and carry it with you!" For now, it's just a decoration and won't harm anyone.
"Thank you!" Sophia smiled gratefully and then seemed to remember something, grabbing him and asking, "Are you really going to let me go? When will that be?"
Mandy looked at her silently, not saying anything, but his silence was an acknowledgment.
Sophia laughed and cried at the same time, "If that's the case, then why isn't my brother here yet? Why hasn't Capone come back? Is he going to change his mind? Will he decide not to let me go once he returns? Since you've decided to let me go, and my brother has agreed to your terms, what are we waiting for? Are we waiting for Capone to go back on his word? Mandy, will you let me go? After all… after all, you've already made the decision…"
Her words became a bit incoherent. Mandy's gaze fell on her hand as she held his, and he gently pried her fingers apart, wrapping her injured hand in his, helping her to stand steady.
"Are you really willing to come with me? Even though I'm not very mobile and can barely take care of myself, you're willing to take this risk?"
Even though he knew he shouldn't ask, he still did.
Sophia was a bit confused, "What?"
Mandy gave a self-deprecating smile, realizing how foolish he sounded.
"Don't think too much about it. The boss will be back soon, and you'll be free! Sophia, I… we have too many things beyond our control, destined to be this way. Just forget about it when the time comes."
Forget? How could she forget? From the moment she arrived, from the instant Capone removed the black cloth from her eyes and they first met, many things had become unforgettable for her.
What was happening? Why had they given her hope, only to cut it off like Capone did, always severing her hopes?
She realized tonight she had thought about Capone countless times, feeling a deep, indescribable melancholy.
"Mandy!" She called out to him, tears welling in her eyes. "In your memory, is there something you regret but can't forget?"
Mandy's steps faltered, his body stiffening. After a long pause, he finally replied, "Yes! I have regrets…"
They all shared different experiences but had similar regrets.
"Let me be alone for a while! I'll go back to my room soon!" The alcohol in Sophia's bloodstream was making her head spin, and she was quite drunk, sitting on a stone pillar by the fence, murmuring her request.
No one disturbed her, probably understanding that she was not going anywhere; her guards wouldn't let her escape.
If there was no hope, it would have been fine, but now that she knew she might go home soon, hope, once ignited, burned like wildfire, making her heart ache. On the other hand, she feared Capone might change his mind, leading to nothing but empty joy.
With the unknown melancholy and regrets in her heart, she felt as if she had been thrown into cold seawater, drifting aimlessly without a solid point to grasp.
She didn't know how long she had been sitting outside, but she thought she heard someone calling her. She tried to stand up and head back inside, but her legs were numb. Standing up felt like stepping on countless needles, and her legs refused to cooperate as she tried to take a step.