Most people having an affair try to keep it discreet, fearing they’ll get caught. However, Scott Henry not only didn’t hide his relationship with Olivia, but he also seemed eager to flaunt it by bringing his mistress home.
Sophia thought, given Scott Henry’s confidence, his lawyers probably had every angle covered. Even if the whole world knew about his affair, they’d still find a way to leave her penniless in the divorce.
In this situation, having evidence might not even guarantee victory. Given that, she might as well tear down any pretense and file for divorce openly. At worst, she’d walk away with nothing. That wasn’t the end of the world.
With that, Sophia jotted down possible scenarios, analyzing each one and mentally preparing strategies.
But before she even brought up divorce, Olivia came to her.
The fact that Olivia dared show up at their home so boldly meant the whole Scott family was probably in on it.
Today, Olivia wore a simple dress, her hair up and makeup understated, giving her an air of respectability almost befitting a wife.
Olivia cleared her throat, placing a stack of papers in front of Sophia. “Sophia, you should know why I’m here.”
Sophia smiled. “Looks like you’ve finally managed to blow enough sweet nothings Scott Henry’s way to get him to marry you? It must have been hard waiting all these years. To keep up appearances, you had to wait until I was kicked out to move in. Everyone had to make sacrifices, it seems.”
“It’s good you understand!” Olivia frowned, clearly perplexed by Sophia’s change in demeanor. The old Sophia was always tearful, patient, and easy to manipulate. But now, she was unpredictable, still calm enough to smile in this situation. “You didn’t give the Scott family any children, and this house isn’t actually yours—it’s Scott family property. So, in terms of assets, there’s no conflict. Now that a divorce is on the table, you’ll be leaving without a penny.”
Sophia scoffed, lifting her gaze to Olivia.
“Olivia, do you take me for a fool? You want me to leave with nothing so you can walk right in? You think I’m here to do charity work? The Scott family made it quite clear by keeping every asset out of Scott Henry’s name, so I wouldn’t get a thing. Now you all treat me like an idiot, hoping I won’t have a leg to stand on?”
Olivia sneered. “Let’s not pretend. I don’t mean to look down on you, but remember, you have no family, your parents are gone, and a girl like you has a hard life. If it weren’t for the Scott family taking you in, what man would want to marry you? You should be grateful!”
Sophia’s expression remained unchanged, though her smile turned icy.
“I’ll agree to leave with nothing if you and the Scott family return the Smith family’s medical formula, along with all the revenue it’s generated.”
“Medical formula? What formula?” Olivia frowned in confusion.
Sophia smirked. “Tell Scott Henry that the formula I brought into the marriage was part of my dowry. Now that we’re divorcing, I’m taking it back, and I’m banning all products derived from it. If they don’t comply, they’ll see just how serious I can get.”
With that, she turned and left, not sparing Olivia another glance.
As she walked away, Sophia made up her mind: if push came to shove, she’d take them down with her.
—
Sophia headed out to find a lawyer, but none of the firms she visited were impressive enough. She needed a legal team that could go head-to-head with the Scotts, otherwise, it’d be a lost cause from the start.
Just as she was about to move on to another firm, her phone rang.
“Chloe?” It was Chloe calling.
Chloe’s voice was cheerful. “We keep saying we’ll meet to talk about the acne cream, but we haven’t had a chance. I’m feeling much better now, so how about we go for a swim?”
Sophia smiled. “You’re still recovering, so stick to a warm pool. Cold water’s a no-go for now.”
“Don’t worry; I know my limits.”
Soon, Chloe arrived to pick up Sophia, handing her a swimsuit along the way. “I bought this last month from Canada. I haven’t worn it, but the style isn’t flattering on me. You’ve got the figure and long legs to pull it off—try it.”
Sophia held up the swimsuit, inhaling sharply.
Although she considered herself a modern woman, she’d grown up in a traditional family of herbalists, with both her grandfather and father being strict scholars. She rarely wore anything revealing, and even her swimsuits were always modest. But this one was a black-and-white, striped, halter-neck one-piece with a deep V-cut and a high slit that went all the way up to the waist. The back was completely bare, and the bottom barely covered her hips. This swimsuit was definitely a test for one’s figure—only a select few could pull it off.
“Chloe, you’re overestimating me. I can’t wear something like this!”
“Why not? I’ve been in fashion for years—I know measurements well, and you’ve got the perfect body for it. It’d be a waste not to show it off.”
“I think I’ll just go for a regular, long-sleeved one-piece.”
“You might as well get a wetsuit and flippers while you’re at it!” Chloe snorted.
Sophia laughed, and with Chloe’s encouragement, they headed into the pool facility.
The place was upscale, with multiple pools. The one they were at was long, deep, and looked very professional. The water was clear and at a comfortable temperature.
“Come on! Let’s go change!”
In the changing room, Sophia reluctantly put on the swimsuit. But when she looked in the mirror, even she was taken aback.
Though revealing, the swimsuit covered all the essentials. Its snug fit highlighted her curves beautifully, hinting at her collarbones and making her skin look even fairer. The high-cut design accentuated her long legs, and her toned physique gave her a confidence boost.
“Wow, what a figure!” Chloe said, eyeing her with envy. “I knew this swimsuit was perfect for you. That body of yours is something else!”
Sophia smiled. Everyone here was dressed lightly, so she relaxed a bit.
As they were about to head out, Maggie walked toward them.
She noticed Sophia, her lips curling into a half-smile. “Sophia! It’s you—what a coincidence!”
Sophia raised an eyebrow, smiling politely. “Yes, what a coincidence.”
“You enjoy swimming too? That’s great! We can come together sometime,” Maggie said cheerfully.
Sophia offered a polite smile but didn’t respond. They weren’t close, and she didn’t particularly want to be, so the suggestion felt awkward.
Maggie chuckled and added, “Oh, by the way, Scott Livinus is here too. The three of us can swim together later.”
Sophia’s expression remained impassive.
Uncle” came too? What a surprise!
As she thought about this, a short-haired girl suddenly bumped into Maggie, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” The girl offered her hand to help, but as she leaned down, she suddenly sneezed and kept sneezing uncontrollably, covering her mouth each time.
Maggie’s face darkened in disgust. “What’s that supposed to mean? Not only did you bump into me, now you’re sneezing all over me? That’s filthy!”
The short-haired girl, still sneezing, pulled out a tissue and started dabbing at Maggie’s clothes. “Did I get it on you? I’m really sorry; I have allergic rhinitis. I didn’t mean to! Here, let me clean it up for you…”
“Don’t touch me! Get away!” Maggie shoved her hand away, sneering. “Don’t touch my clothes. Who knows how many germs you have on you!”
