Olivia immediately stiffened, feeling awkward under his gaze.
He walked up to Sophia and asked in a low voice, “Why aren’t you going in?”
Sophia smiled.
“Some people won’t let me in.
They said today is the day your girlfriend is visiting.
Since she’s an important guest, someone like me isn’t allowed inside.
They think I’d bring down the Scott family’s prestige.”
—
Olivia’s face turned ghastly pale.
How could Sophia repeat her words in front of Livinus?
—
Livinus’s expression remained emotionless as he asked,
“My girlfriend?”
Olivia smiled and said, “Isn’t Uncle’s girlfriend coming today? We need to tidy up properly to welcome her. We can’t just let unrelated people in.”
Sophia had a faint smile on her lips and stared at Olivia with a strange expression.
Olivia was momentarily stunned, a bad premonition rising in her heart.
At that moment, Livinus spoke, “Sophia, don’t be naughty. Isn’t my girlfriend you?”
As his words fell, Sophia’s expression remained unchanged, and she kept her eyes fixed on Olivia without blinking.
Thus, she watched as Olivia’s expression shifted from confusion and bewilderment to shock and doubt, then finally to utter disbelief.
Olivia’s reaction was so dramatic that Sophia didn’t want to miss even a second of it.
“No! Impossible!” Olivia stared at the two of them in shock. “How could Sophia possibly be your girlfriend?!”
Livinus frowned coldly, looking displeased. “What? Is that not allowed? Do I need your approval for who I date?”
“N-no! But she was Henry’s original wife! She was driven out of the Scott family!” Olivia desperately tried to find any hint on Livinus’s face that he was lying, but his expression was completely normal—so normal that he seemed to be discussing something utterly trivial.
He wasn’t lying.
“It’s precisely because she got divorced that I’m with her now,” Livinus said impatiently. “In fact, I should thank you for interfering in their marriage. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.”
“No…”
Olivia looked as though she had suffered a heavy blow.
Livinus interlaced his fingers with Sophia’s, and Olivia found the sight incredibly jarring.
Sophia was actually Livinus’s girlfriend? How was that possible? Who was Livinus? He was wealthy beyond imagination. Across the country, there were richer men, perhaps even more handsome men, and definitely younger men. But in terms of overall qualifications, no one could surpass him.
Livinus was unmarried and possessed an enormous fortune. In America, men were very particular about a woman’s past when choosing a partner. It was rare for an unmarried man to seek a divorced woman.
So why would someone as exceptional as Livinus like someone like Sophia?
Olivia couldn’t understand. She felt utterly dejected and stumbled into Andrea’s arms.
“What’s wrong? You look like a defeated rooster,” Andrea asked.
“Mom, do you know who Livinus’s girlfriend is?”
“Who?” Andrea chuckled. “Whoever she is, what does it have to do with me? As long as she isn’t some rich family’s daughter, that’s a good thing. Without her family’s backing, Livinus will be easier to deal with.”
“No, that’s not it!” Olivia was on the verge of tears, her heart filled with bitterness. She wanted to tear Sophia’s face apart. She felt extremely uncomfortable, as if nothing in the world could bring her joy anymore. Just the thought of who Sophia’s boyfriend was made her feel unbearable torment.
“Then what is it?”
“You’ve met his girlfriend before!”
“Who?” Andrea frowned. “What’s wrong with you? You don’t look well. Isn’t it just that he brought a girlfriend home for dinner? Why are you making such a fuss?”
Olivia jumped up in agitation. “You don’t understand! His girlfriend is Sophia!”
“What!” Andrea shot up abruptly, her face changing dramatically. “Say that again. Who?”
“Sophia! He already brought her home. She’s in the dining room. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself!”
Andrea rushed downstairs like a madwoman. As soon as she reached the dining room, she saw Sophia sitting there, dressed in a red knit sweater, sipping a cup of hot milk with a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
Livinus stood beside her. When she finished drinking, he handed her a tissue.
The two of them had a tacit understanding, one that wasn’t built overnight.
Andrea clutched the door handle, seething with fury.
At that moment, the old master and old madam also stepped out.
“Livinus, where’s your girlfriend?”
Upon seeing Sophia, the old master was momentarily surprised but still smiled. “Sophia? What brings you here?”
Sophia smiled back. “Hello, Grandfather.”
She placed the gifts she had brought on the table. For someone of the old master’s status, material things weren’t lacking, so she had struggled with what to bring. Then she remembered he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, so she prepared some herbal medicine packs for him.
