Maggie’s face turned red with discomfort, and only after watching Sophia walk away under her umbrella did she scoff coldly.
“What’s she so pleased about? No wonder her husband’s always out looking for other women!”
—
When Sophia arrived home, it was mealtime, and she noticed immediately that something was off with the staff.
“What’s going on?”
Aunt Lizzy forced an awkward smile. “Promise me you won’t get angry if I tell you.”
Sophia paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow. “Olivia’s here?”
Aunt Lizzy nodded, her expression uneasy. Truth be told, she really didn’t like Olivia visiting. Olivia looked polite and put together on the surface, but she had a habit of bossing the household staff around like she was the lady of the house. For such a shameless mistress to be acting so arrogantly—wasn’t it a bit much?
Sophia smiled faintly, then walked into the house.
Sure enough, they’d already started eating, and no one had thought to call and see if she’d be coming home for dinner.
Sophia scanned the room. Olivia and Scott Henry were sitting close to Andrea and her husband, and Olivia was enthusiastically serving Andrea some soup.
Andrea beamed, saying, “You young people should have more vegetable soup; it’s good for your health and your ability to have children.”
Olivia jumped in eagerly. “Auntie, I’ve told Scott Henry already—I’m healthy as can be; having two kids within three years would be no problem for me!”
Andrea looked so pleased she was practically grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh, Olivia, it’s so refreshing to see a young person like you who’s open to having kids. Not like some of these girls nowadays who care so much about their figure that they won’t have any children at all.”
“Oh, I don’t just want to have one or two kids! I want to have seven kids for the Scott Family!”
Her words hit Andrea right in the heart, delighting her even more. She promptly pushed the bowl of vegetable soup toward Olivia.
“Here, Olivia, drink this soup. Take care of yourself and try to give me lots of grandkids. I’ll have a reward waiting for you!”
Scott Henry grinned, asking, “Mom, what’s the reward?”
Andrea shot him a look, smiling. “You think I’d skimp on you two? Your dad and I have already talked about it. The first one to give us a son will get a million-dollar red envelope!”
Olivia and Scott Henry exchanged gleeful looks, barely able to contain their laughter.
Sophia had to hold back a scoff. Look at them, laughing away like a real family. For a moment, she almost felt like an outsider in her own home. A mother-in-law who disliked her, a husband who didn’t love her—was there really any point in staying?
If the situation were different if her own family had power and influence, would Andrea dare to act this way?
The truth was, she was only being treated this way because she was an orphan with no family to defend her.
Sophia’s expression darkened at the thought.
She walked into the room and took a seat beside Williams, who cleared his throat uncomfortably. Andrea’s face turned cold, and she merely stirred her soup without looking up.
Leaning against Scott Henry, Olivia smiled and said, “Sister, I saw you weren’t back yet, so I took your seat. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not,” Sophia replied, filling a bowl with sweet potato porridge. She gave a small smile. “Sitting in my seat won’t make you the legal wife.”
Olivia’s face instantly froze, and she tugged on Scott Henry’s arm. He immediately jumped to her defense.
“Sophia, watch your tone when you speak to Olivia.”
Williams, uninterested in the younger generation’s squabbles, put down his cutleries and left the room.
With Scott Henry on her side, Olivia felt bolder. She raised her chin and sneered, “Sister, don’t take it the wrong way, but you’ve been married into the family for so long without having any kids. Makes me wonder… is it that you can’t have them, or…?”
She leaned close to Sophia’s ear, a mocking smile on her red lips.
“Or is it that Scott Henry just doesn’t want to touch you? So, how’s it feel to have been married for two years, all alone in that big, empty bed?”
Sophia paused, her dark eyes staring down at her porridge for a long time.
Olivia’s taunting words echoed in her ears, making her feel a pang of sorrow for the woman she had replaced. The original Sophia had been so sincere with everyone, and what had she gotten in return?
A cheating husband, a cold mother-in-law, and a mistress openly taunting her…
No one took her seriously. Otherwise, no mistress would dare to step on her like this!
Sophia suddenly found this life a bit tiresome. She stayed silent, letting Olivia continue her sneering.
“I just can’t help it. Scott Henry’s in love with me and only me. He needs me by his side every night to fall asleep. What can I do, sister? I tried telling him to spend some nights with you out of respect, but he just can’t bring himself to. He says even looking at you kills his appetite.”
Olivia finished, feeling a rush of satisfaction, her expression full of smug revenge.
Sure, Sophia was the legal wife in name, but what good did that do her? Scott Henry hadn’t given her a dime in two years, and her wardrobe and lifestyle were far from what you’d expect for the wife of a wealthy family. Besides, he wouldn’t even touch her. What use was that title? In contrast, though Olivia wasn’t the official wife, Scott Henry adored her. It was only a matter of time before Sophia was pushed out!
Unexpectedly, Sophia, who’d been quietly looking down, suddenly burst into laughter.
She looked at Olivia as if she were an idiot and chuckled.
“I should probably thank you. After all, a free woman is better than no woman at all. Hiring an escort costs money. With you around, my husband is not only sexually satisfied but much safer from diseases too. Don’t let the money he spends on you fool you—having you around 200 days a year breaks down to a lot less per night than an escort would charge.”
Olivia’s face turned cold, and she snapped, “Scott Henry! Did you hear what she just called me?”
Scott Henry was about to get angry, but as he met Sophia’s gaze, he deflated immediately.
To be honest, he’d thought Sophia was boring before. Sure, she was beautiful, but she had always seemed so dull. But ever since seeing her at that party the other night, dressed up and confident, he’d realized he hadn’t actually looked at his wife in quite some time. Living with Olivia every day had made her all too familiar, and he had to admit there was no novelty anymore.
Oddly enough, he now felt as though Sophia were the other woman.
He cleared his throat, awkwardly saying, “Olivia, don’t get upset.”
Fuming, Olivia stormed off with Andrea.
Once they’d gone, Scott Henry tried a more conciliatory approach. “Sophia, give Olivia a bit of respect. After all, you two will have to get along.”
Sophia smiled at that.
She looked Scott Henry over, as if seeing him for the first time. It was strange—this was the same man who had glared and raised his voice at her just days ago. Why was his attitude suddenly different? Testing him, she asked, “Get along? And how exactly do you plan to handle things?”
Scott Henry gave a sheepish laugh. “Sophia, things are going fine as they are, right? You can continue as the Scott family’s young madam, and Olivia and I will keep things low-profile. The three of us living peacefully together—it’s not so bad, right?”
Sophia swore it was the first time she’d encountered someone so shameless.
