No matter how premium his drink was, it couldn’t compete with the unassuming appeal of her goji berry tea.
Sophia sipped her tea, smiling to herself. Young people should look after their health! All the hype around coffee and green tea—they might have their merits, but not everyone is suited for them. She’d checked her pulse that morning and found this body to be quite weak, with a serious imbalance of spleen from late nights and poor health. Out of breath after just a short walk, she’d been exhausted after yesterday’s trip outside. That’s why she prepared a health tea, intending to rebuild her strength today.
Honestly, everyone her age should carry a thermos and start taking better care of themselves!
And so, they ate their toast, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
She drank her homestyle goji tea while he drank his high-end black coffee.
Not a word was exchanged the entire time.
After breakfast, Sophia began to think about her next steps.
Starting her own traditional medicine clinic was a given. With her skills, she had no doubts about its success. As for her marriage to Henry, it was a hopeless mess. She couldn’t wait to get divorced and move out. But the original owner had been fixated on this marriage for so long—if she just abandoned it, what would she say if the original Sophia were ever to return? Besides, her family’s only remaining medical recipes had already been handed over to the Scott family. Henry had used them to make a comeback in his company, and now he thought he could simply dump her for a mistress? Things wouldn’t be so easy.
Clearly, her marriage to Henry would require careful handling.
As Sophia roamed around the house, she realized only a few servants were left. She approached a young maid and asked a question, receiving a puzzled look in response.
“The Scott family is hosting a banquet tonight to celebrate Master’s return. Didn’t you know?”
Sophia smiled and shook her head. She truly hadn’t known, and no one had bothered to tell her.
To be honest, she disliked such events. But she was still Henry’s wife; for the whole family to keep this from her definitely hinted at something suspicious.
She hurried back to her room and searched through her wardrobe.
The original Sophia’s closet wasn’t big. With her position in the family, Henry hadn’t gone out of his way to provide her a custom closet, and as a student, her wardrobe was mostly casual clothes—not suitable for a banquet. After rummaging for a long time, she couldn’t find a single decent dress.
Should she go out and buy something? There was time, but… the money…
Sophia quickly checked her bank account online. After covering her parents’ funeral expenses, a bit of their savings remained, but the Scott family didn’t give her an allowance. As a student, her expenses weren’t low, and after two years, her few bank accounts barely held a total of two thousand Dollars—not nearly enough to buy a formal gown.
Thinking it over, Sophia scrolled through her contacts and called one of Sophia’s original friends, who sighed sympathetically after hearing her request. “Young Madam, how would I know where to get a gown? Try a designer store?”
“Where’s the closest one?”
“Near Central Mall.”
After ending the call, Sophia sighed and sank onto the sofa. Finding an outfit for tonight was shaping up to be impossible. Maybe she should skip the banquet altogether. Showing up underdressed would only backfire, after all.
Just as she hung up, a man approached, smiling.
“Mrs Scott, my name is Felix. Mr. Livinus asked me to escort you to get ready for the evening.”
“What?” Sophia blinked, looking up in surprise. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, she glimpsed a black sedan pulling away.
Had he overheard her phone call? Or did he already sense her predicament without needing any clues?
Sophia’s lips curved slightly, but she said nothing.
Ladies had to start getting ready early, and when she arrived, several other women were already there. A well-dressed man with a faint scent of cologne opened the door, exuding a slightly effeminate charm but speaking with an easy, comfortable tone.
“Miss Smith, I’m Clinton.”
Sophia greeted him with a polite smile.
Clinton returned the smile. “Miss Smith, you know, you’re my favorite type of client. Creating looks for the average person can be fulfilling, but it’s not very challenging. You’re different; with your face shape and figure, it’s genuinely inspiring.”
“Well, I’ll leave it all to you today!”
“It’s my honor!” Clinton said, guiding Sophia to the mirror and beginning her styling.
Hairstyling, nail care, skincare, makeup, outfit selection…
By the time they finished, night had fallen. Sophia, now exhausted, stood in the dressing room, changing into her gown. If she’d known it would be such an ordeal, she might have skipped the banquet altogether.
Just as she finished changing, she heard footsteps outside. Sophia opened the door to see Livinus and Felix seated on the sofa.
Livinus looked up from his business magazine, his gaze settling on her.
Sophia wore a floor-length gown with a white base. The top had a daring V-neck that dipped to her chest, yet it was tastefully covered by premium lace that elegantly accentuated her figure without seeming overly exposed. The bottom was a fitted, mermaid-style skirt with a slit between her legs, giving the dress a loose, flowing effect. With her hair swept to the side and adorned with fine jewelry, she exuded a sophisticated beauty.
Livinus’s cold gaze skimmed over Sophia before he looked down expressionlessly.
Felix, however, was visibly impressed and grinned. “Miss Smith, that dress suits you so well. It makes your skin look radiant, and it really shows off your figure. I can say without hesitation that you’re the most stunning woman I’ve seen at an evening gala! Truly both sensual and elegant.”
Sophia smiled politely, offering a quick “thank you.”
