Dominic’s pov ;I sat at my desk in the study, staring at the message on my phone. Sophie wanted to raise a cat.A cat.I could feel the familiar twinge in my sinuses just thinking about it. Allergies were one thing, but the idea of having an unpredictable animal roaming around the house was something else entirely. I couldn't afford such chaos.My life was structured and precise—two things that Sophie often disrupted, but in a way I didn’t mind.A cat, however, was non-negotiable.When she asked me again, her large, hopeful eyes fixed on me, I said, "No."Her expression fell instantly, and I almost regretted my tone. "Why?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with disappointment."I don’t like them," I lied, keeping my face impassive.Her pout deepened, and for a moment, she looked like she might argue.But then, in a rare show of restraint, she sighed and said, "Okay, then. I won't raise one."---Later that evening, my grandmother called. She rarely reached out unless it was about S
Dominic’s pov ;The supermarket trip was a spontaneous decision.She wandered through the aisles with a kind of wonder that I couldn’t quite understand. It was just a supermarket, but for her, it seemed like something out of a storybook.I followed a step behind, watching as she examined every item carefully, her eyes lighting up when she found something she liked.“Sir, can we get this brand of cookies? I heard they taste amazing,” she asked, holding up a box.I barely glanced at it before taking the box from her hands and tossing it into the cart. “If you want it, we’ll get it.”Her lips curved into a smile, and I could tell she was trying to contain her excitement.We moved further down the aisle, and she paused in the toy section, her gaze locking onto a pink stuffed rabbit. She reached out to touch it, her fingers brushing over the soft fabric.“Sir, I want a stuffed toy. Just one, is that okay?”Her voice was soft, hesitant, as if she expected me to say no. I frowned. Why did sh
Sophie’s pov ;The moment Jenna and I stepped into the small storage room, the soft cries of the mother cat greeted us.She was curled up in the corner, surrounded by tiny, wriggling kittens who hadn’t even opened their eyes yet.“Jenna, let’s be careful,” I said, crouching down. “We don’t want to startle her.”Jenna nodded, but she seemed more excited than cautious. “I’ll help make the milk powder for her.”I smiled at her thoughtfulness. “Okay, thank you, Jenna.”She waved it off with a grin. “Between us, what’s there to thank?”The mother cat looked exhausted, but her babies were nestled comfortably against her. Jenna leaned closer, reaching out toward one of the kittens, but I quickly stopped her.“Jenna, wait. We shouldn’t touch them yet.”Her brow furrowed. “Why not?”“If we get our scent on the kittens, the mother cat might think they’re not hers. She could stop feeding them.”Jenna’s eyes widened, and she pulled back immediately, clasping her hands behind her back. “Luckily, I
Sophie’s pov ;I frowned slightly, staring at the man in front of me. “I don’t remember my number, sorry. Please let me go.”My tone was polite but firm, though I could feel the irritation bubbling just under the surface.Instead of being offended, he laughed. Not just a chuckle, but a hearty laugh like I’d just told the best joke in the world.“No way, Sophie. You’re such a great student—how could you not remember?”It was exhausting. “I’m going to eat. Please don’t disturb us.”Without waiting for his response, I grabbed Jenna’s arm and walked away, leaving Sam and his cronies behind.The cafeteria was noisy, the usual lunch chatter filling the air, but all I wanted was some quiet. I sat down, but as I stared at my plate, I realized my appetite had disappeared.Carolyn noticed immediately. “Sophie, you’re going to eat just this little and then stop? You’re not going to eat anymore?”I curled my lips in a half-smile. “I’ve lost my appetite because of that guy just now.”Jenna, always
Dominic’s pov ;"Shh, Sir, please walk lightly. The mother cat just gave birth to her cubs, and she is easily nervous now," Sophie whispered, tiptoeing ahead toward the cat's nest.Her voice was soft, almost reverent. She squatted near the cats, completely absorbed, while I stayed back, watching her. She seemed so small compared to the big world around her, yet there was a tenderness in her actions that even I couldn’t ignore.She gently set the food down and reached in to touch the mother cat’s fur. “Meow.”The mother cat rubbed against her arm, purring softly. Sophie turned to me, her face glowing with excitement."Sir, don't you want to come and stroke the cats? They’re so well-behaved and not afraid of people at all."I shook my head, staying put. "No," I said firmly.Even from a distance, I felt the itch starting in my throat—an all-too-familiar sign of my allergies.She didn’t give up. "They love to be clean, not dirty at all. Really, you can tell when you touch them. They’re ve
Dominic’s pov ;Dr. Song arrived quickly, his sharp eyes assessing me the moment he stepped into the room. His gaze lingered on the redness creeping up my neck, and I could already see the question forming in his mind."Mr. Williams, did you encounter..."I silenced him with a single look. The man had been my doctor for years—he knew better than to finish that sentence.But I could see the curiosity in his eyes. Why would I, someone highly allergic to cats, allow myself to be anywhere near one? I knew exactly what he was thinking.Has Mr. Williams developed a new hobby?Sophie, oblivious to our unspoken exchange, tugged at his sleeve, her face painted with concern. "Doctor, what’s wrong with Sir?"Dr. Song coughed, collecting himself. "It’s nothing serious. Just an allergic reaction. I’ll prescribe two medications—one for oral use to suppress the allergy and one for external application."He turned to Sophie, handing her a small tube of ointment. "You’ll need to help Mr. Williams appl
Sophie’s pov ;I tried to leave but they blocked my way.My face turned pale with anger as I stood there, facing Ronny and her followers.“I don’t even know you! What right do you have to talk nonsense here?” My voice was sharp, the frustration boiling over.The chubby girl smirked, folding her arms as she sneered. “Haha, if your private life wasn’t so dishonest, how could Master Sam be seduced by you?”I narrowed my eyes at her, retorting, “Whether he’s ‘Master Sam’ or not has nothing to do with me. If you like him so much, go find him. Don’t drag me into it!”Ronny’s group looked smug as if they had the upper hand.Another one of her friends chimed in, “Ronny has become so thin because of you. Don’t you feel sorry for her? You stole someone’s man, and one day, someone will steal yours. Let’s see if you’re still this high and mighty then!”Their twisted logic was exhausting. My head buzzed with frustration, but I refused to let them intimidate me.“I’ll say it one more time,” I said
Sophie’s pov ;I’d heard sir's voice before I saw him. “Sophie.”I quickly put away the flower rope I’d been playing with. “Carolyn, let’s play next time,” I told her.Carolyn smirked and teased, “Sophie, you value men over friendship!”I glanced at her, blinking innocently. “Carolyn, don’t bring up irrelevant things.”Carolyn raised her eyebrows at me, clearly amused.I laughed awkwardly, not bothering to argue. “Okay, see you tomorrow,” I said, waving goodbye to my friends...................................Dominic held my hand with one hand and carried my schoolbag in the other. Seeing him holding my bright yellow duck backpack was…interesting.His cold expression didn’t change as he glanced at the bag. “Why is this so heavy?”“I’ve been having a lot of classes recently,” I expla
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