The Author's POV

"W-what?"

Unknowingly Sophia's face started to become bright red.

"Hm? Are you okay?"

Noticing her slight change in demeanor, I tilted my head to the side.

There was something about her behavior.

It didn't seem like I was the only one who noticed this as Leopold worriedly placed his hand on Sophia's forehead.

"Sophia dear, are you okay?"

"S..stop."

Smacking Leopold's hand away, Sophia stuttered as she looked at me.

"It can't be...it..."

'Hold on…'

Meeting her gaze, I suddenly had a strange thought inside of my mind.

'That can't be...'

I quickly shook my head, trying to deny such a thought.

It just couldn't be…or rather, I wanted to not believe in the thought.

It was then that Sophia once again spoke up.

"Y..you're Ren Dover, right?"

As she spoke up, I managed to pick up a slight tremble in her voice.

Letting out a small sigh, I nodded my head.

'It looks like my hunch was right.'

"Yes, I am indeed him."

"Oh my god!"

Sophia's face instantly brightened up. Her face quickly snapped in Leopold's direction.

"Dad! Why didn't you tell me that he was your boss!"

"Huh?!"

Turning his head, Leopold looked at me with a look that said 'what is she on about?'

I shrugged my shoulders in response.

Although I already had an idea, I really wanted to deny it.

It was right then that Sophia suddenly lunged in my direction and grabbed both of my hands and said.

"I'm a huge fan!"

"What!?"

Finally, Leopold was able to understand what was happening. Turning his head, he looked at me with a betrayed and hurt look. His face then proceeded to contort.

'How is this my fault?"

I wanted to rebuke; however, before I even had the chance to do so, Sophia had already started speaking.

"I've watched and replayed all of your matches back at the conference, especially when you beat up that orc and that pretty boy."

A word suddenly caught my interest.

Raising my brow, I asked.

"Pretty boy?"

"Yes, yes, that Kevin guy. Although he looks pretty, he clearly was no match for you. All my friends say he's handsome, but honestly, you are way better looking. Oh, and the way you forfeited was so cool!"

For a split moment, I wanted to let her continue.

Just the fact that she was praising me over Kevin made me like her instantly.

However, knowing just how wrong the situation was, I quickly freed my hands and looked at Leopold. My hope was that he would try and stop his daughter, but...his response wasn't really what I had expected.

With his arms crossed, and with his head lowered, he nodded his head.

"…I have to agree with my daughter. You were pretty cool back there."

"Oy."

Now it was my face's turn to contort.

"What in the world is he doing? This should be the bit where you are supposed to deny!"

Leopold shook his head.

"Boss, I'm an honest man."

"Haaa…"

how to react, I

caught the attention of the other people present, as I was quickly surrounded

my god! I

"Kyyaaaa!"

"It's him!"

"I…."

to react as I looked in Amanda's direction in the hope of some help, however, all I was met with was a cold

enjoying this aren't

face seemed to say. Or at least what I assumed it said as her expression was quite

was currently wearing a

it to her before because she simply attracted way too much attention due

was pointed in

I could've guaranteed that all attention would've

been for the mask,

"Mr. Dover, Mr. Dover."

"Wow."

finally snapped out of my thoughts as I moved my head away from

"Sorry."

Quickly apologizing, Sophia coughed.

reports that you were single and that you

glanced in Nola's and Amanda's

woman over there said that she was your daughter, but doesn't she look a

fact that Nola is our daughter

could finish her sentence. The

"However..."

cue up, I quickly followed up by pointing in Amanda's

that she is my girlfriend is

"Hiip!"

moment I said those words, I suddenly heard a

needing to look, I could already imagine what face Amanda was making. However,

didn't want

I was using Amanda as my

"Oh."

short nod, Sophia turned to look

the

"Is that true?"

my eyes met with

at each other for a brief moment and seemingly understanding each other, Amanda simply took off her mask revealing her features in front

"Waaah! So beautiful!"

"Oh my god."

was also in

apart from Sophia

they instantly gathered around her and tried to strike

seemed that Sophia had still not

really your girlfriend?" She asked with

"Well, sort of."

I nodded my head.

"Sort of?"

dating not too long ago.

what she was going to try at the

say something along the lines of 'Prove it to me, prove to me that you two are in a relationship.' And then we would be forced to

no thank

wasn't because I disliked Amanda or

happened today, the idea that

still was unsure about my

she was incredibly beautiful, kind, and more than anything else a calming person to stay with, but I had been too

afraid that my

more time to figure things

"Hmmm…"

her eyes, Sophia looked at me with a skeptical look on her face. She was still unconvinced by

stood up from my seat

getting late and Nola is getting sleepy. Guess it's time for

of here before things became too

"Sure."

Leopold nodded his head.

to the

"Ren, wait up."

is it?"

"Well…"

lips and looking around the room, Leopold scratched the side of his cheek before

the cigarettes

"Nope."

cut him off before he could finish

was no way in hell I was going to give him his cigarettes back. He was simply way too

about cigarettes, think about

my face again, I

to say goodbye

enjoyed your performance…oh, and

Clank—!

they could even reply, I quickly closed the door behind

"Haaa…"

of the mess, I let out a long

Amanda, I

more tiring than the show

"…"

was met

"Amanda?"

line of sight, I realized where the problem

"Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay."

and looked at Nola who had her arms wrapped around her neck.