Sophie’s pov :Gunshots rang out in the night, sharp and sudden, making my heart jump. My fingers clutched the blanket tightly, my breath hitching as I listened to the chaos outside.Sir didn’t seem bothered. He calmly got into bed with me, his presence steady and unwavering.I swallowed. "Sir, what's wrong with you?" My voice came out smaller than I intended. Could it be that he had a fever? Maybe the unfamiliar climate was affecting him?His cold, thin gaze fell on me, sharp and unreadable. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a dangerous undertone. "You really want to know?"A shiver ran down my spine.Maybe it was the foreign atmosphere, more open and reckless. Or maybe it was the gunfire outside, stirring something raw and untamed deep inside him.His cold, slender fingers traced along my jaw, deliberate and unhurried. Like a wolf sizing up its prey.My back tensed. An instinctive alarm rang in my head, telling me to run.I tried to move, to slip away from his grasp, but—Bang!
Dominic’s pov :Sophie pouted, her voice soft and coquettish. "Sir, don't buy me such expensive necklaces in the future. This much money can buy a lot of things. I could live off that for a long time."Nine thousand pounds.I took a slow sip of my wine, hiding my amusement.If she knew the real price of that necklace, she’d probably faint on the spot.Sophie had grown up in a modest home. In her world, nine thousand pounds was enough for her family to live comfortably for months.She was trying to act upset, but her eyes betrayed her.Bright, sparkling—like a child being spoiled with a gift she couldn’t resist."It's just a small amount of money. How long are you going to grumble about it?" I said, deliberately avoiding the truth.If she found out, I’d have to spend the rest of the night coaxing her out of her shock.Her eyes softened.She raised a hand and lightly hit my arm, pretending to be angry. "Sir, you don’t know how to live at all."I chuckled. This little girl…The auction e
Brandon’s pov ;I paced back and forth in Community, gripping my phone tightly. For several days now, I had been waiting—hoping to catch a glimpse of Sophie—but she never showed up.Where had she gone?I dialed her number again, and to my relief, she finally picked up."Sophie, where have you been?" My voice came out more anxious than I intended. "I’ve been waiting for you in your Community for several days, but I couldn’t find you."She shouldn’t be this hard to find. The school was on winter vacation, so I knew she wasn’t there—but I still didn’t expect her to disappear completely.Her soft, calm voice floated through the receiver. "I’m on vacation abroad. Mr. Carpenter, I was just about to tell you that I won’t be reporting to the Group for the time being. You know my leg, and it’s not suitable for such a big company."Abroad?I froze. Sophie barely had any close friends, and with her background, how could she afford an overseas trip?And why didn’t I know about it?I frowned. "Who
Sophie’s POVWhen Sir stepped away to answer a call, curiosity gnawed at me. I turned to Assistant Dexter and whispered, "Assistant Dexter, what did that woman say just now that made the Sir so angry?"Dexter hesitated, glancing around nervously. "Madam, I’d better not tell you, or sir will be angry."I pouted. "You can tell me secretly. I promise I won’t say anything!"With a sigh, he finally caved. "That woman just now said she wanted to play a game with you and the Sir."I blinked. "What game?"A mischievous glint flashed in my eyes, but Dexter’s expression was serious as he lowered his voice."Partner Exchange."I frowned, not understanding.Dexter explained further, and as his words sank in, my stomach churned with disgust.That blonde woman had actually suggested exchanging partners—as if people were just objects to be swapped around.No wonder the Sir had looked like he wanted to murder someone.I curled my lips in distaste and immediately regretted asking. "Ugh, that’s disgust
Sophie’s POVThe plane had landed, but I was still lost in deep sleep.I must have looked ridiculous, curled up in my seat like a child, but I couldn't help it—the warmth of the cabin had lulled me into a peaceful slumber.I felt something warm drape over me, the familiar scent of cedarwood and mint surrounding me. Sir.I stirred slightly but didn't wake up completely. Somewhere in my hazy mind, I heard soft footsteps and the quiet murmur of voices.Then, before I knew it, I was being lifted effortlessly.Even in my half-asleep state, I recognized the warmth of his embrace, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheeks.I let out a small sigh and nuzzled against his chest, feeling safe.Even in my sleep, I knew—I belonged here.As soon as we returned to London, my phone buzzed repeatedly.Brandon.I glanced at the screen and hesitated.After a few more rings, I finally picked up. "Hello?"Brandon’s voice came through, warm and eager. "Sophie, you’re back? I’d like you to visit
Mrs. Carpenter’s POVI kept glancing outside, my fingers gripping the edge of the sofa. "Where's Bella? Why hasn't she arrived yet?" My heart was restless, anticipation bubbling up in my chest. "Yunbai is such a fool. I told him to pick up his sister, but he's taken so many days to do it."Jason, ever the calm one, placed a reassuring hand on mine. "Don’t worry. There's snow on the road. They're probably driving slowly."I frowned. "The weather is bad today. If I had known, I would have asked Bella to come tomorrow instead. I don’t want the child catching a cold."Jason chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Come over tomorrow? Then you’d just worry for another day."He wasn’t wrong.Ever since I found out about Bella, I had been counting the days, longing to see her in person. I had barely been able to eat properly, my mind consumed by thoughts of my daughter.Finally, the butler entered, his voice breaking
Sophie's POVMrs. Carpenter was really kind and stopped me for dinner.At the dinner, Rey arrived too.Rey took my hand with a smile that felt carefully practiced. “Come, let’s wash our hands before dinner.”Mrs. Carpenter and the others looked at us with satisfaction, their eyes filled with warmth. They wanted to see the sisters they had longed for—united, caring, and close.But as soon as we left the reception room and turned a corner, Rey’s grip loosened. Her entire demeanor shifted.The fake warmth in her smile faded, replaced by something much sharper.“Sophie, thank you for helping me play my sister. Although you look alike, I know you are not her.”My breath hitched.The soft illusion I had wrapped myself in shattered instantly.I lowered my head, my fingers trembling slightly. “Hmm.”I had never truly forgotten that this wasn’t my place. Bu
Mrs. Carpenter’s POVI sat in front of the large French window, staring at the snow-covered garden, my heart filled with anticipation."Why hasn't Bella come yet?" I asked anxiously.The servant beside me smiled gently. "Madam, have you forgotten? Bella comes every two days, and tomorrow is the day she should come."I sighed, disappointed. It had only been a day since she last visited, and yet, it felt like an eternity.Ever since Bella returned to our lives, my heart had been restless. The more I saw her, the more I longed to have her here permanently, to hear her call me mother every day, to make up for all those lost years.She had agreed to visit regularly, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted her to stay.Jason and Brandon were teaching her about the company, and she was spending her winter break at the family's house instead of interning at the Group. That was good—I wanted her to focus on us, on reconnecting.
Sophie’s pov :ONE YEAR LATER ;The air was filled with laughter, music, and the sweet scent of flowers as Brandon and Ava’s wedding reception unfolded in full swing.The grand ballroom was beautifully decorated with cascading floral arrangements, twinkling lights, and elegant table settings. Everyone was dressed to the nines, and the atmosphere was nothing short of magical. I stood near the edge of the room, holding a glass of sparkling water, my heart swelling with happiness for my brother and his new bride.Dominic stood beside me, his hand resting gently on the small of my back. He looked as handsome as ever in his tailored black tuxedo, his presence commanding yet comforting. I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, still in awe of how lucky I was to have him by my side.As the evening progressed, Brandon and Ava took to the stage to thank everyone for coming. Brandon’s voice was warm and filled with gratitude, while Ava’s eyes sparkled with joy. They were the picture of happine
Brandon’s pov :As we stepped outside the hospital, my eyes immediately caught sight of an expensive car parked nearby. It was sleek, modern, and screamed luxury. Sophie’s face lit up the moment she saw it.“That’s my husband’s car!” she said, her voice filled with excitement.I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Won’t you introduce me to him?” I asked, trying to sound casual.Sophie blushed but nodded, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. Before I could say anything else, the car door opened, and a man stepped out.Sophie didn’t hesitate. She ran to him, her steps light and joyful, and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “Sir!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with affection.I froze. Sir? My eyes widened as I took in the man standing before me. Tall, impeccably dressed, with an aura of power and authority that was impossible to ignore. And then it hit me—this wasn’t just any man. This was Dominic Williams.My throat tightened, and I choked on my own breath. This was the
Brandon's pov :I stood in the study, my arms crossed, as Rey walked in nervously. She looked around, her eyes darting between me and my father, Jason. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could tell she knew something was wrong."Brother, what do you want from me?" Rey asked, her voice trembling slightly.I didn’t waste any time. "Rey, why is there an error in Bella’s DNA test result?"Her eyes widened, and she stammered, "This... I don’t know either. Maybe the organization made a mistake."I couldn’t help but sneer. "Mistaken? Do you know that if such an institution makes a mistake in the appraisal results, it will face a claim of millions?"In other words, these strictly regulated institutions never make mistakes. Rey’s excuse was flimsy at best."I asked John to do this. Could it be that she..." Rey tried to shift the blame to the servant, but I wasn’t having it."I just asked John and she said that when she went to the café to get a cup, there were two cups on the table,"
Ava’s povI watched as Rey tried to play her little games, but she seemed to have forgotten one crucial detail—Christopher is my biological brother. How could an outsider like her possibly sow discord between siblings who share the same blood? It was almost laughable.Christopher glanced at her indifferently, his expression cold and unreadable. "Oh," he said simply, dismissing her attempt to gain his sympathy.Rey was left speechless, her carefully prepared words stuck in her throat. I hid my smile behind my teacup, taking a sip to conceal my amusement. My brother’s ability to see through people’s intentions was sharper than mine. Even he could see through Rey’s White Lotus act."Mr. Carpenter, I have something to tell you. Can we go out and talk?" I asked, turning to Brandon."Sure," he replied, standing up and following me out to the courtyard.As we walked, I noticed Rey’s anxious expression. She clearly wanted to follow us, but she couldn’t just leave Christopher alone in the room
Sophie’s pov :I was sitting on the lawn, still feeling a bit sore from last night’s… activities with the Sir, when I heard a familiar voice call out to me."Bella, I didn’t expect you to be so good at fighting green tea."I turned around, surprised and delighted to see Ava walking toward me. "Ava! Why are you here?"She grinned and sat down next to me. "Luckily, I came, otherwise I would have missed your green tea show."I blushed, realizing she must have seen me earlier, wearing all that jewelry to make a point. Embarrassed, I started taking off the necklaces and rings, putting them back into my bag.Ava raised an eyebrow. "Bella, you look so good wearing it. Why are you taking it off?"I groaned, feeling my cheeks heat up even more. "Don’t make fun of me. I was just trying to piss them off."Who would wear so many jewels out of nowhere? It was way too heavy, and my neck and fingers were already tired. I couldn’t wait to take it all off.Ava chuckled, clearly understanding my person
Sophie’s pov :The next day, I walked into school with an awkward posture, my legs feeling sore and unsteady. I was terrified that someone would notice, but of course, my friends did."Bella, what's wrong with you?" Carolyn asked, her voice filled with concern as she eyed me carefully.My face flushed red, and I quickly came up with an excuse. "It's nothing. I had a leg cramp when I slept yesterday. It hurts a little."Carolyn frowned, still looking worried. "Please sit down and have a rest. You have physical education class later. What are you going to do?"I sighed, already dreading the thought of running or doing any kind of physical activity. "Let me talk to the teacher and see if I can ask for leave."When the teacher arrived, I used my menstruation as an excuse, and to my surprise, she granted me leave. Normally, this teacher is very strict and rarely allows students to skip PE, no matter how unwell they claim to be. But for some reason, she was particularly lenient with me. May
Dominic’s pov :After coming out to pour a glass of water, I couldn’t shake the growing discomfort in my chest. The house felt too quiet, too empty, even though Sophie was just in the other room.I glanced at the clock—it was just past ten. In the past, the little girl would sit on the sofa and wait for me to get off work, no matter how late it was.Even if I told her countless times not to wait, she’d stubbornly stay up, her eyes drooping with sleep but her determination unwavering. She’d always greet me with that soft, sleepy smile, and it made coming home worth every second.But now? She was already asleep.I frowned, the wrinkles between my brows deep enough to pinch a fly to death. Was this what they meant when they said couples eventually lose their passion and become more like family? We’ve only been married for less than a year, and already she’s so… perfunctory with me. What would happen in the future? The thought made my chest tighten uncomfortably. I didn’t like it. Not one
Sophie’s pov :It all started with the rumors on the forum. Someone had posted that I, Sophie, had married a poor and ugly man. Honestly, I wasn’t angry. People say all sorts of things, and I’ve learned to brush them off.But Edwin, my cousin, couldn’t stand it. He was furious. How could anyone call Sir—Mr. Williams—poor and ugly? Edwin thought the people spreading these rumors were blind and stupid. He decided to take matters into his own hands.One day after school, Edwin secretly followed me. When I ran toward the Sir like a butterfly, Edwin snapped a few photos. He posted them on the forum, but to protect Sir’s identity, he only released blurry side profile photos. Still, the Sir’s tall, straight figure and his aloof aura were enough to win over a lot of female fans.The post was titled: Rumors Debunked: Sophie’s Boyfriend is a Handsome Guy! His Net Worth is a Mystery, He is Definitely Not a Poor and Incompetent Man!As soon as the photos were released, the forum exploded. Comment
Rey’s pov :I walked into Amanda’s room, my expression carefully arranged into one of concern. She was sitting by the window, her face pale and her eyes red-rimmed. It was clear she’d been crying. Good. The more upset she was, the easier it would be to manipulate her. I needed her to deal with Sophie for me, and for that, she had to be motivated.“Amanda, what’s wrong with you?” I asked, my voice soft and sympathetic. I sat down beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned to me, tears silently streaming down her face. My mind raced. What had happened?“Why are you crying?” I pressed, my tone gentle but probing. “Who bullied you? Was it Sophie?”Amanda closed her eyes, as if the mere mention of Sophie’s name pained her. She didn’t answer immediately, and I felt a flicker of impatience. I needed her to talk, to give me something to work with.Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling. “Rey, tell me, should I not like Dominic? I saw the pictures… he brought that neckl