Chapter 173

"Yes, I’ve always known where Sophie was. I was the one who saved her from the sea five years ago," Austin confessed, his tone unusually stern and cold.

"The Sophie you knew, Cedric, was destroyed by you and Vivienne. The woman she is now is different. She's a woman you don't deserve," he added.

If not for Austin's vigilance against Vivienne’s actions, arranging for someone to be ready, Sophie would have died in the cold sea.

Cedric's eyes hardened as he recalled that fateful day from five years ago, a mix of pain and unspoken emotions evident. He gazed at Sophie, who sat nearby with calm composure, and spoke in a deep, commanding voice. "As long as she remains the same person at her core, she is my wife, your cousin-in-law. It's not your place to judge whether I deserve her or not."

Austin met Cedric's gaze with an equally cold look.

"Time will tell," he replied.

Sitting by the fountain, Sophie noticed Austin approaching and glanced at Cedric, who stood alone. With just one loo