Betrayed by Fiance, Embraced by Hidden Tycoon-Chapter 177: James Philips’ Anxiety (2)

Although Sawyer was convinced the woman in the photo was Sophie Lewis, he didn’t want to jump to conclusions. He needed to clarify this first with either Abigail or, if necessary, Grandma Sophie herself.

After a few moments of thought, Sawyer turned his gaze back to James Philips.

Just as he was about to ask about the woman’s name in the photo, Nathaniel suddenly stood from his seat. He interrupted Sawyer as he looked at the picture.

"Lord in Heaven! James, how could I have forgotten about this photo? It must’ve been long ago," Nathaniel stared at James. "Well, I remember something now that I’ve seen it again. The woman you introduced to me when the photo was taken did resemble Abigail."

"Yes, she is..." James replied bitterly.

"James, do you know why she suddenly vanished? Did something happen? Are you two fighting?" Nathaniel asked while returning to his seat.

In the past, after hearing about James’ failure to marry his girlfriend, Nathaniel inquired about it, but James only offered an ambiguous response. James never told him in detail, but one thing he knew was that his best friend deeply suffered.

Over time, they stopped discussing that woman again, and he eventually forgot about her. Even when he met Abigail, he didn’t recall that she resembled James’ lost fiancée much.

James shook his head, inhaling deeply as memories resurfaced, suffocating him with the weight of the past and the pain of losing the woman he loved. He almost went insane trying to find her, but no matter what he did, all his efforts to locate her were in vain.

After so many years, there was no trace of her, as if she had been lost in space. He could only pray to God that she was still alive somewhere and that they might meet again.

"I don’t know why she suddenly vanished, and despite my best efforts, I couldn’t find her. I hired countless private detectives to locate her, to check the possibility of her whereabouts in this entire country, but I never succeeded..." James explained in a soft voice, deep regret evident in his gaze.

"I understand, and I’m truly sorry for what you’ve been through, my friend," Nathaniel said, trying to comfort James. Noticing his silence, he continued, "But now, there is a trace. You should feel hopeful again. There’s no need to be sad any longer."

...

Sawyer, who had overheard his grandfather and Grandpa Philips talking, was one hundred percent certain that Sophie Lewis was Grandpa Philips’s lost fiancée.

However, he finds it strange that someone like James Philips cannot track down Sophie Lewis. It didn’t make sense, especially after hiring so many detectives and still failing—unless someone close to James had helped Sophie escape or she had changed her name. But why? Why did she change her name?

When he noticed they had stopped talking and were now staring at him in silence, Sawyer finally asked, "Grandpa Philips, what is your fiancée’s name?" He wanted to make sure his guess was wrong.

"Her name? Sophie Cassidy," James replied. Hearing her name again made his heart hurt like it skipped a beat. He really missed her and wanted to reunite with her.

Sawyer was no longer surprised when he heard that name. That’s precisely what he thought.

’So, Grandma Sophie really changed her last name. That must be why Grandpa Philips never found her. But why did she change her name? Did someone force her to do so? Who? Why!?’

All the questions swirled in Sawyer’s mind, and he was so clueless about the possible answers that it gave him a headache.

"Sawyer, please tell me, is Abigail’s grandmother the same as the woman in the picture?" James’ question snapped Sawyer out of his spiral of thoughts.

Sawyer turned to look at James Philips, but no words came to his lips. He was still trying to piece together what happened back then.

Looking at Sawyer without answering, James continued, "Can you take me to meet her? I heard from Nathaniel..." He paused momentarily, glancing at his best friend before looking back at Sawyer.

James continues, "Abigail’s grandmother lives in Orange Town, right? Where does she live? If you are busy, you don’t have to bring me there, but can you give me her address? I need to meet her..."

Sawyer did not immediately answer or permit him to meet Grandma Sophie. He needed to get Abigail’s permission first; he worried that Grandma Sophie’s health might be affected if Grandpa Philips suddenly appeared at the nursing home.

However, seeing how miserable Grandpa Philips was right now, he wavered.

"Grandpa Philips, I’m sorry, but the name you mentioned is different. You said her name is Sophie Cassidy, but Abigail’s grandmother’s name is Sophie Lewis." That was the only suitable response he could give.

Slowly, James Philips’ tense expression darkened. He sighed deeply as he turned his gaze from Sawyer to the garden outside. He didn’t want Sawyer or Nathaniel to see his sadness as the memories of Sophie flooded his mind.

"I knew it! Sophie changed her last name. She must be using her new husband’s name... that’s why I never found her," he murmured, mainly speaking to himself, but Sawyer could hear him. "I’m so stupid! How could I think she would never get married? How stupid, James!"

Sawyer was sorry to see how sad Grandpa Philips was. And now, as he considered that this man might soon become his grandpa-in-law, he needed to tell him more about Grandma Sophie.

"Grandpa Philips, what I’ve heard from Abby is that her grandma doesn’t have a husband, and Lewis is her family name. So, I guess she told you not her real name..."

James Philips instantly turned to look at Sawyer, the lines on his forehead becoming apparent as he asked, "What do you mean? She never married? If she never married, how did she have a child? How did she have a granddaughter that looked like her?"

Sawyer smiled, amused at how slow Grandpa Philips thought.