Sophie’s pov :With their careful care, I finally woke up."Bella, you're awake."My vision was still blurry, but the warmth surrounding me felt… familiar. A sense of closeness, of something I had been missing my entire life, wrapped around me.It was a feeling deeper than words—something only blood could explain.I swallowed, my throat dry and sore. "Dad… Mom… Brother.""Hey, Mom is here," Mrs. Carpenter whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Don't be afraid. Mom will protect you."Before I could say anything else, she pulled me into a tight hug, as if afraid I would disappear again.I felt her tears on my skin.Jason and Brandon stood nearby, their eyes red-rimmed, barely able to hold back their emotions.I exhaled softly. "Mom… I remember everything now."Mrs. Carpenter pulled back slightly, her hands trembling as she cupped my face. "Do you really remember everything that happened?"I nodded. "Yes. I remember now. They sold me to a family first, and later took me to Mark's home
Sophie’s pov :Mamma’s questions stumped me.I tilted my head, trying to gather my thoughts. "He seems to be working in a company, and he's almost thirty this year," I answered hesitantly.The moment the words left my mouth, I felt the air shift.Her expression froze, and her lips trembled slightly. Dad instinctively reached out to calm her down, patting her back lightly. Brandon’s brows furrowed, his arms crossed as he processed what I’d just said.He’s so old! And just an ordinary employee?!I could practically hear the thoughts running through their minds.Dad cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "What does he look like? Not ugly, right?"This question was even harder for me to answer.I hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Although Sir looks so good, he also has a good heart."She gasped. She looked like she might faint at any moment.Brandon's face darkened.I didn't notice their reactions at first—I was too busy defending Sir."Really, Mom and Dad, you have t
Sophie’s pov ;The day of the trial arrived, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I walked into the courtroom. Mrs. Carpenter, my mother now, had reassured me earlier."Bella, when you will be present as a witness later. Don’t be afraid. Just say whatever you remember. No one can do anything to you." Her words were comforting, but the weight of what I was about to do still pressed heavily on me.My parents and brother were there too, their presence giving me strength. "Yes, Bella, your parents will be with you. Don’t be afraid," my father said, his voice steady and reassuring.With their encouragement, I took a deep breath and stepped into the courtroom.The moment my old family—Mark and his wife—were brought in, the air seemed to thicken. As soon as they saw me, they started screaming, their voices desperate and pleading. "Girl! Save us! After all, we were the ones who raised you. Don’t you care about family affection at all?" Mark’s wife cried out, her voice shrill."Al
Sophie’s pov :After coming out of the court, my dad, Jason, turned to me with a concerned look. "Bella, is your household registration still in Sophie's old family's household registration book? Let us help you move your household registration out and change your name."I shook my head, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. "Dad, my household registration is no longer in there."I could see the pain in his eyes as he processed this. He must have thought that since I was married now, my household registration might be in Dominic's family's book. As a father, it must have hurt him deeply to think about it."You can change your name anytime you want," he said, his voice soft but firm."Yeah, I get it, Dad," I replied, trying to reassure him."The Sophie's old family incident is finally over. After the New Year, we will hold a family reunion banquet and invite you to meet your parents' friends."I nodded obediently, "Okay."…During the New Year, I followed Dominic back to the family’s ol
Brandon’s pov :"Bella, Happy New Year!" I greeted my sister with a warm smile as she approached. Sophie's eyes curled into a happy crescent as she replied, "Thank you, brother.""This is a New Year's gift prepared for you by your parents and me," I said, opening the trunk of the car. It was filled to the brim with gift boxes of all sizes. Sophie's eyes widened in surprise as she reached out to touch one of the boxes."Which one is my gift?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.“These are all,” I replied, gesturing to the entire trunk.Sophie looked stunned. "Why are there so many?"I couldn’t help but chuckle. She had just received a carload of gifts from the Williams family, and now here we were, unloading another carload from the Carpenter family. If her house were any smaller, it might not be able to hold everything. "Brother, these gifts are too many. You don't need to give me so many," she said, her tone a mix of gratitude and disbelief.I smiled warmly at her. "We are al
My hands were sore from opening presents, but I still had so many left.Just as I was rubbing my wrists, Jenna called me on video. Perfect timing."Jenna, when are you free? Come help me open all these presents." I pouted at the screen, hoping for some sympathy.Jenna's eyes widened as she took in the living room floor, completely covered with gift boxes."Sophie, how come you received so many gifts?!"I glanced around at the extravagant collection—boxes upon boxes of luxury items. Even I hadn’t expected this much."Some were given by my husband's family, and some were given by my family.""Your family?" Jenna looked shocked, and I could guess why.She knew about Sophie's old family, and she knew they would never be so generous. If anything, they were the type to suck me dry rather than give me anything.I smiled softly. "Jenna, there's something I haven't told you yet. Actually, my old family isn’t my
Sophie’s pov :As I stood in the middle of my childhood room, now transformed into a lavish space with a dressing room added just for me, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. The room was decorated exactly as my mother remembered my preferences from when I was a child—soft pastel colors, delicate lace curtains, and shelves filled with dolls and books. It was surreal, like stepping into a memory I had long forgotten.“Bella,” my mother said, her voice warm and filled with affection. “This is your home now. You should come back and live here. There’s plenty of space, and it would be wonderful if you could bring your husband too.”I smiled at her, touched by her eagerness to have me close. “Mom, when Sir is free, I’ll bring him over to meet you. He hasn’t had the chance to meet my family yet, and it’s only right that he does.”She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tear
Sophie’s pov :I was sitting on the edge of my bed, teasing Coco with a cat toy, when the maid brought in the beautiful evening dress that had been custom-made for me. The dress was stunning, and I could already imagine how it would look on me. Today was a special day, after all—my official introduction as Sophie Carpenter, the long-lost daughter of the Carpenter family. I had even brought Coco with me, planning to make my grand entrance with him in my arms.“Miss Bella, let me help you change,” the maid said, holding the dress carefully.I nodded, setting the toy aside. “Alright.”But just as I was about to slip into the dress, Coco suddenly pounced on it, tearing a big hole in the fabric. I gasped, quickly scooping him up into my arms.“Tch! What are you doing?” I scolded gently, though I couldn’t stay mad at him for long. He just stayed in my arms, purring softly, as if nothing had happened.
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