Andrea stood at the entrance of the Scott family home, trimming the flowers with the servants.
The landscaping around the Scott family villa was well-maintained, with years of cultivation producing lush flowers and branches. Climbing roses, pink and white, covered the trellises, and wisteria, long past its blooming season, draped over the wooden structures.
As Andrea made a snip with her scissors, she saw Sophia jogging back into the house.
Aunt Lizzy remarked, “Ma’am, look at Sophia! She seems like a tough one, and it’s no surprise that the young Boss feels stifled with her around!”
Andrea huffed in agreement.
She preferred obedient, well-mannered daughters-in-law. But Sophia was stubborn and difficult to get along with. Andrea had opposed this marriage from the start. Her son, so handsome and distinguished, should have married a wealthy heiress, not a mere doctor. However, Scott Richard had been adamant about getting the prescription, using it to solidify his position in the domestic market while Scott Livinus was abroad. And so, Andrea had compromised.
Who would have thought Sophia had such a cursed fate? She had lost her parents early on—what kind of family would dare accept a woman like that?
It didn’t surprise Andrea at all that her daughter-in-law would look for someone like Olivia.
But Andrea had to admit, Sophia was indeed very beautiful and had a striking figure. She was tall, about 169 cm, with long, straight legs and a well-defined figure. Her face had a natural, dignified look—perfect for a legitimate wife. This was one of the reasons Andrea had eventually agreed to the marriage, but who knew that Sophia couldn’t even hold onto her husband? Beauty alone was useless if you didn’t have the brains to keep your place.
Sophia, dressed in a bright green tracksuit with a black headband holding her hair up, entered the house. After a quick wash, she went downstairs for breakfast. Midway through her meal, Andrea came upstairs with Aunty Lizzy assistance, looking every bit like an empress dowager with her grand posture.
Sophia took a sip of porridge, a slight smirk on her lips.
Suddenly, footsteps approached as Scott Livinus sat across from her. The maid served him breakfast.
Scott Livinus drank a few sips, then left without saying a word to Sophia.
Sophia shrugged. She preferred things this way. No awkward tension over a mere bedroom arrangement. This unspoken mutual avoidance deserved a thumbs-up in her book.
As Scott Livinus got into the car, he couldn’t help but glance back at the house.
Through the glass of the Scott family home, he could clearly see Sophia sitting at the table, eating. She seemed to be in a good mood, her lips curved in a contented smile.
It only made him more curious about her reaction.
—
Andrea returned inside, ready to sit down when she noticed a piece of paper wedged in the door.
She picked it up, and as she read what was on it, her face turned pale with anger, her hands clenching the paper as she trembled.
“Outrageous! Outrageous!”
Andrea’s chest tightened with rage, pressing a hand to her heart. “That shameless woman! I’ll tear her face apart!”
As she spoke, the front door swung open, and Andrea saw a woman in a black T-shirt walk in.
The woman looked plain, modest, with no particular beauty, yet she had a gentle air about her. Her shy, reserved smile and ordinary appearance in a cheap T-shirt, jeans, and frumpy flat shoes made her look like the most unnoticeable employee at any office, someone no one would give a second glance.
Andrea descended the stairs with a frigid aura. Her nails dug into her palms, and her narrowed gaze looked as if it could tear the woman apart.
She walked up to the woman.
The woman smiled politely. “Madam, Mr. Scott asked me to pick up a document, and I—”
*Slap!*
Andrea’s hand struck the woman’s face hard. The woman froze, clutching her cheek in disbelief.
“Madam, why did you hit me? What did I do wrong?”
“Wrong?” Andrea sneered, her eyes filled with cold fury. She grabbed the woman’s hand and said, “You earn a few thousand dollars a month, yet you’re wearing a ring worth seventy or eighty thousand! Tell me—who bought you this ring?”
The woman looked startled, her gaze shifting. “My boyfriend bought it. He treats me well!”
“Boyfriend? You shameless bitch!”
Andrea slapped her again, this time so hard that the woman fell to the floor.
“You dare seduce my husband? Fine! I thought that with your plain looks, you’d be safe around Richard, but you’re rotten to the core! Chasing after a man twenty years older than you—just for his money! Today, I’ll show you what happens!”
Andrea raised her hand for another slap, but the woman dodged it.
Andrea was shaking with rage, about to lash out again, when she noticed Sophia put down her bowl and help the woman up. With a smirk, she said:
“Mom, you’re getting so worked up. But isn’t this the exact advice you gave me? You told me that it’s normal for men to fool around as long as they come home. You said that if a man strays, it’s because his wife lacks the charm to keep him. By your logic, shouldn’t you be reflecting on yourself? Look at you—how can you compete with a young flower like this? Dad didn’t do anything that other men wouldn’t. Just bear with it! After all, you’re the mother here. Imagine what Grandma would say if she knew you were making a scene over Dad’s little affair.”
Just then, the old lady of the house came downstairs, dressed simply with a string of prayer beads around her neck.
She rarely came down, but the commotion must have drawn her attention.
After hearing Sophia’s words, the old lady said calmly:
“Andrea, Sophia is right. Richard isn’t even home yet, and you’ve already started hitting his assistant. If word gets out, you’ll lose all credibility as the main wife! Look at Sophia; Olivia comes home every day, and she remains composed, never causing a scene. Yet here you are, an older woman, unable to match the composure of a junior, causing trouble for a young girl.”
Andrea was about to explode with rage. Discovering Richard’s affair had upset her, but Sophia’s instigating words made her fury rise tenfold. Now, the old lady’s reprimand left her speechless.
