Thankfully, Clinton arrived just in time.
“Too skinny? Nonsense! You look absolutely breathtaking! I’ve had a few top stars, even the Diva herself, ask to borrow this dress, but I refused because none had the right presence to carry it. This dress looks as if it were tailored just for you—simply stunning!”
Clinton admired her with a look of sheer awe and made a few final adjustments before announcing she was good to go.
As Sophia stepped out in her heels, she realized that the long, trailing skirt wasn’t exactly practical for hailing a cab. Clinton’s bold choice of a floor-length design was certainly not for just anyone to wear.
Just as she was considering her options, a black sedan pulled up beside her. The window lowered to reveal Livinus’s sharp profile as he called out coolly, “Get in.”
Sophia quickly obliged.
“Miss Smith,” Felix greeted her with a smile from the front seat.
The two exchanged light conversation, with Livinus remaining silent the entire time. From the corner of her eye, Sophia observed him. Although he’d only changed into a suit and tousled his hair slightly, his aura was even stronger. His legs were crossed as he leaned back against the seat, looking out the window with an air of utter aloofness as if he were keeping the entire world at arm’s length.
The car soon arrived at the banquet venue—a newly purchased villa not far from the Scott family residence.
The villa was already elegantly decorated, and Sophia could hear the faint strains of a violin playing in the distance.
As Livinus exited the car, someone immediately came to greet him. Sophia stepped out as well, but after just a few steps, she heard Henry’s incredulous voice.
“Sophia?”
His exclamation drew the attention of several onlookers. Sophia gave her husband a sweet smile and greeted him cheerfully, “Hi, husband!”
Henry’s face reddened. For some reason, the way Sophia said “husband” carried a mocking tone that made him feel embarrassed and unable to respond.
But there was no denying that Sophia looked breathtaking tonight. He had thought Olivia’s appearance was beautiful enough, but Olivia’s charm was rooted in a youthful innocence, a stark contrast to Sophia’s mature allure.
In the past, Sophia had rarely dressed up, and even when she did, he hadn’t given her a second glance. But lately, she seemed different somehow. Tonight, it wasn’t just her appearance that caught attention but the captivating aura she exuded, making it hard for anyone to look away.
Olivia, drawn by the commotion, arrived just in time to see Sophia’s striking look. Jealousy immediately flared in her heart, especially as she noticed Henry’s eyes fixed on Sophia.
Irritated, Olivia clung to Henry’s arm and threw a challenging look at Sophia, her lips curling into a smile. “Sister, you’re here? You should’ve let us know in advance so we could prepare properly.”
Such a smooth move! Sophia almost wanted to applaud her. Olivia might appear soft and gentle, but she was sharp-tongued and strategic. With that single sentence, she implied that she, Olivia, was the true mistress of the house, while Sophia was merely an outsider—an uninvited guest who should have informed the hostess of her arrival.
Sophia let out a light laugh. “No need to prepare anything, Olivia. People of our status don’t make a big deal out of attending gatherings.”
The implication was that Olivia was too unsophisticated.
Olivia’s face flushed, visibly thrown off balance. She clung to Henry, pointedly saying, “Sister, why did you arrive with Uncle? The two of you look so well-matched, him in his black English-style suit and you in your floor-length white gown. Anyone would think you were a couple.”
As expected, Henry’s face darkened at her words.
A man could flaunt his affairs outside, but if a woman dared to appear even slightly suggestive, it was deemed a grave sin.
Instantly, Henry felt as if he were wearing a green hat.
He frowned and said, “ Uncle, why did you arrive with Sophia?”
His tone was clearly laced with anger.
Livinus’s deep black eyes held a glint of coldness as he regarded Henry for a moment before replying, “That’s exactly what I wanted to speak to you about.”
Henry paused, looking confused. “What?”
“Next time, make sure to escort your own wife! Don’t go relying on others.”
Livinus continued in a frosty tone, “And since you know she’s your wife, the cost of her dress will be deducted from your salary.”
With that, he turned and left without another word.
Typical of Livinus, Sophia thought, nearly bursting into applause when she heard he’d be deducting the dress’s cost from Henry’s pay.
She smiled and sweetly thanked him, “Thanks, honey! The dress is beautiful—and expensive, too!”
Henry’s face paled. Despite his background, he was on a strict budget. Now that he was working in the company, he couldn’t just ask his family for money anymore and had to live off his salary and bonuses. His funds were usually sufficient for himself, but Olivia’s extravagant tastes required constant maintenance—her clothes, bags, nothing short of tens of thousands. As a result, he often ended up in debt. And Sophia’s gown, clearly Clinton’s handiwork, must have cost a small fortune.
Henry felt his wallet ache.
Seeing his sour expression, Sophia felt elated and couldn’t resist twisting the knife further. “Go ahead and keep seeing your mistress, honey, as long as you remember to send me my living expenses!”
As she walked away, Sophia glanced at Olivia clinging to Henry’s arm and suddenly realized why the Scott family had informed everyone but her about the banquet.
Apparently, someone else had already stepped in to play the role of the Young Madam in her place.
Everyone had kept her in the dark, treating her like a fool.
It seemed the Scott family’s feelings toward her were remarkably unified—they all preferred Olivia over her.
At some point, Andrea, Henry’s mother, approached another woman nearby and spoke in a voice loud enough for Sophia to hear.
“She? Our Scott family graciously took her in, and she hasn’t contributed a single thing to our family. If she’d at least borne a child, even just one, it would be something, but her belly has shown no sign of life all this time.”
