Chapter 333 The Stakes Are High
John Lopez's voice echoed through the room, breaking the tense silence. "You've got guts, lad. You kept your cool just now. Well done."
Jacob stood there, still processing John's words. "Besides," John continued with a smirk, "I didn't misjudge you. You knew about the heavy storm coming to Houston in the next few days, yet you still chose to stand by me on the front line. That takes loyalty."
Jacob's mind churned with confusion. He couldn't help but voice his doubts. "Didn't you just say you'd leave us alone?"
"I did," John replied, glancing out the window, "I did walk over to the window, but I'm a bit curious, you see. I overheard something... just a little bit."
'Just a bit?' Jacob's thoughts raced. How much had he actually heard? His conversation with Aria had been private, or so he thought.
'You must have heard everything clearly,' Jacob muttered under his breath. 'I don't buy it!' His skepticism was palpable.
Sophia's relentless questioning caught the attention of the Long Family, silencing them. Her accusations were sharp and unyielding, and it didn't take long for the others in the Long Family to realize they were caught in an awkward position. They had been trying to play both sides—avoiding making enemies with either the Will Family or John Lopez—but now, the truth was being laid bare, and the pressure was mounting. In the end, they had to pretend to be deaf to Sophia's words, leaving her to bear the brunt of their guilt.
But Sophia refused to back down. Her words were as forceful as ever, and the others began to lash out at her. It was the all-too-familiar pattern of family bullying.
Mandy Lane and the others fell into a stunned silence. As the weight of the situation began to sink in, Brooke Long finally spoke up, trying to defuse the tension. "Sophia, we know you speak the truth, but the world isn't always about right and wrong. It's about the choices we make."