Chapter 127 The Future Brother-in-Law’s Reproach

Instinctively, Sophie obeyed Jane's command.

She bent her elbow and raised her hand, but just as her fingertips brushed against Jane's, something inexplicable happened. Her hand suddenly dropped back to her side of its own accord, as though some unseen force had quietly redirected it.

Jane's expression darkened immediately.

Suppressing her displeasure, she used her free hand to cradle Sophie' palm and carefully guided it toward the middle of the rose's stem.

Yet the strange phenomenon happened again.

Just as Sophie' fingers were about to touch the stem, her hand inexplicably drifted off course and closed around empty air instead.

Jane's red eyes widened in disbelief.

Speechless, she stared at Sophie, silently demanding an explanation.

"I–I think this flower has a mind of its own," Sophie said awkwardly, curling her fingers into an empty fist while Jane's hand still rested against the back of hers. "It doesn't seem to want me to take it."

Hearing those words, Jane slowly let go.

Whether the emotion on her face was disappointment or heartbreak, even she herself could no longer tell.

Before Sophie could think of any way to ease the awkward silence, Jane suddenly lashed out.

With all the frustration she had been suppressing, she slapped the brilliant red bloom.

Her sharp nails merely grazed the petals, yet that alone was enough to slice through their delicate beauty, leaving damage that could never be repaired.

The lush petals burst apart, scattering in every direction.

Red fragments drifted down over the hems of their dresses, across their shoes, and into the narrow space between them, staining everything with brilliant, chaotic splashes of red.

Even the pigment found its way beneath Jane's fingernails.

"This flower doesn't know its own worth." Jane forced herself to smile as though she had already recovered. "It isn't worthy of you."

She made no attempt whatsoever to clean up the mess. Even the bare green stem remaining in her hand seemed beneath her, and with obvious disdain, she threw it onto the ground before turning away.

Jane's retreating figure looked unbearably lonely, all because of a single red rose she had failed to give away.

Sophie crouched down and reached for the stem Jane had discarded. This time, she picked it up without difficulty.

Its surface was covered in ugly scars where every thorn had once grown. The uneven wounds felt damp beneath her fingertips, sticky with fresh green sap still seeping from the cuts.

Throwing it away would be such a waste, she thought.

When Jane had woven her flower crown before, she had taught Sophie a few simple floral techniques. Perhaps those lessons might finally come in handy.

Removing what remained of the flower's crown, Sophie quietly cleaned the scattered rose petals from the floor as well. She carefully gathered every red fragment within sight into one small pile before tucking them beneath the lilies where no one would notice.

Only after finishing did she leave. In one hand, she carried the scarred green stem, while in the other remained the tiny white flowers she had secretly picked earlier.

Now all she needed were the proper tools.

The moment Aro saw Jane fleeing in obvious defeat, he knew his precious little jewel had failed to achieve her wish. Yet strangely, he found no satisfaction in her failure.

Jane was one of the Volturi's greatest treasures. Someone so extraordinary, and yet Sophie did not even know how to cherish her.

The thought left Aro feeling deeply dissatisfied. For the sake of the Volturi's future, he could not simply stand by and watch the pain Jane might one day suffer.

Sophie made no attempt to chase after Jane. Instead, she remained where she was, quietly cleaning the scattered petals from the floor.

She looked so innocent. So earnest.

It was almost impossible to believe this absent-minded girl had truly captured Jane's heart.

Aro quietly reached a decision. Perhaps it was time to employ a few subtle methods.

After all, Sophie had always seemed eager to do something unconventional. She had merely lacked the opportunity.

In that case, why not create one for her?

Aro understood perfectly well that even if Sophie broke Volturi law, Jane's very first instinct would undoubtedly be to help dispose of the evidence. Once vampires found their destined mates, their principles changed without condition.

Pampering was merely the mildest expression of it. True indulgence knew no limits.

But Jane also understood the rules governing the Guard. She understood her responsibilities to the Volturi.

If Jane truly wished Sophie to become one of them, then Jane herself had to ensure Sophie was worthy of that trust. It was her responsibility to eliminate any hidden danger within the Guard before it ever had the chance to emerge.

Jane had already begun thinking of herself as Sophie' mate. If Aro acted against Sophie directly, he might inadvertently trespass upon Jane's most sacred boundary.

Therefore, he needed Jane herself to ask the family for help. He needed Jane to request that the Volturi ensure Sophie developed absolute loyalty toward them.

Before that could happen, however, Aro had only one task. He would give Sophie an opportunity to peel away that obedient little mask and reveal the restless corner hidden deep inside her heart.

Sophie needed a ribbon. Something pale, something that blended naturally with flowers and greenery.

Decorative accessories like that were most likely to be found in the bride's dressing room. All she needed now was someone to show her the way.

Among everyone present, she knew only three vampires. Jane and Alec had both already left.

Compared to Aro, surely no stranger here could possibly be more frightening.

Spotting a lone female vampire walking away from the gathering, Sophie hurried after her.

"Excuse me, ma'am."

Vampires' appearances could be terribly deceptive. Unsure of the woman's actual age, Sophie chose the safest, most respectful form of address she could think of.

The woman seemed almost flattered to have been approached. Knowing Sophie had arrived with the Volturi, she instinctively adopted a respectful tone. "Yes, of course. How may I help you?"

"I'm trying to find the bride's dressing room." Sophie smiled politely. "I need a ribbon. Silk, lace... anything suitable for decoration. Could you tell me how to get there?"