Sophie’s pov ;
Ava’s sudden outburst startled me. Her face was filled with anger as she stomped her foot.
“I’m so angry! Look at that table full of food! They can’t finish it, but they’d rather waste it than let you eat. What kind of family is this?”
I felt my throat tighten as sadness crept in. But I forced a big smile onto my face, hoping to calm her down. “Forget it, Ava. I’m used to it. Don’t be angry because of me—it’s not worth it.”
She grabbed my wrist tightly, her eyes glistening. “Don’t comfort me! You should pay more attention to yourself instead. Look at how thin you are. I thought I was skinny, but you’re even thinner than me.”
I looked away, not knowing how to respond. Her warmth and genuine concern stirred something inside me that I tried to suppress.
“They treat you so horribly. Just ignore them from now on,” Ava s
Dominic’s pov ;When I walked through the door that evening, the first thing I noticed was Sophie sitting on the sofa, her headphones on, completely absorbed in her music.“Didn’t I tell you I’d be late tonight? Why didn’t you eat first?” I asked as I set my briefcase down.She took off her headphones and stood up, her face lighting up when she saw me. “I’m not hungry. I wanted to wait for you to eat together.”The food on the table was cold. Stubborn as always.I sighed. “Don’t wait for me next time. Eat first if you’re hungry.”“Um,” she replied softly, agreeing as she always did, though I knew it was just lip service. No matter how many times I told her, she wouldn’t listen. When Sophie made up her mind about something, there was no changing it.“I’ll heat up the food. Sit down and wait.”In the kitchen, I warmed
Sophie’s pov ;When I walked into class, I ran into my family again. This time, it was my father, Mark.After what happened yesterday, I didn’t have any expectations for them anymore.Mark gave me a fake, friendly smile and said, “Sophie, your mother came to see you yesterday and mentioned you’ve been tired from studying lately. I brought you a few boiled eggs from home. Eat them when you’re hungry to keep your strength up.”I pursed my lips and replied flatly, “I don’t want them. You can take them back.”In the past, I might have been swayed by small gestures like this. But not anymore.I wasn’t the foolish girl I used to be. I could tell who genuinely cared for me and who was trying to use me.Mark didn’t give up. “We were wrong before,” he said, his voice soft and coaxing. “We thought you were the most sensible and obedient, that you’d underst
Sophie’s pov ;Ava grabbed my arm, her tone firm yet reassuring. “It’s just a small matter. Don’t worry, my brother has a driver. I can ask the driver to drive slower.”I frowned slightly. “Still, Ava…let’s just go together. I feel a little stressed when your brother’s around.”Ava nodded quickly, smiling. “Okay, I’ll listen to you then.”But there was something about her expression that made me wonder. Ava had this subtle way of hiding her true intentions, but I knew her well enough to catch the flicker of mischief in her eyes.It didn’t take long for me to figure it out. Ava had an agenda—one she thought I wouldn’t notice. She wanted to bring me and her brother closer together.In her mind, the idea must’ve seemed perfect. One was her closest brother, someone she admired deeply. The other was me, her good friend who’d gotten along w
Sophie’s pov ;I was curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow and half-watching the television. The sounds from the screen painted vague scenes in my head, but my attention was elsewhere until Jenna's voice snapped me back to reality.“Sophie, do you still remember Ronny, the beauty from the department next door?” she called.I turned slightly, still clutching the pillow. “I remember her. What’s wrong?”Jenna’s voice carried a mix of irritation and amusement. “Well, it seems like she’s back with Sam, and now she’s flooding Instagram and forums with sarcastic comments.”“Really?” I asked, half-distracted.“She’s been posting gems like this: ‘People who truly love each other will eventually be together, no matter the meddling of certain people with bad intentions.’* And, oh, this one: ‘Sam and I are doing great. For those trying to poach
—---------sophie’s pov—--------This was the first time in my entire life that I had been spanked.And it wasn’t just anyone—it was *him*, my husband.The deep, sharp sting on my backside didn’t last long, but the shame lingered, swelling like a tidal wave inside me. My face burned hot, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to cry or scream.Dominic’s voice came from behind me, low and steady, but chilling. “Do you know you’re wrong?”I turned sharply, glaring at him with all the rage I could muster. My cheeks felt as though they were on fire.“Stinky Sir!” I shouted, stamping my foot. “I’m ignoring you!”Without waiting for a response, I fled to my room as fast as I could, slamming the door behind me. My heart pounded, a mix of embarrassment and fury coursing through me. I threw myself onto the bed, burying my face into a pillow.How co
Mrs. Williams (Dominic’s grandma) POV ;The old Williams house was quiet that afternoon, except for the soft rustle of leaves outside the window and the faint clinking of tea cups in my parlor. I sat in my favorite chair, listening to the news that Mrs. Carpenter had been recovering well.At last. I had been waiting for this opportunity for quite some time.“Madam,” our butler informed me, “shall we invite Madam over for a visit?”I nodded with a smile. “Yes, send the invitation.” My thoughts churned as I sipped my tea. Her health improving meant I could finally confirm the suspicion that had lingered in my mind ever since Dominic brought Sophie home.---The next day, she arrived. When I saw her, I was startled anew by her resemblance to Sophie. It was uncanny. The same delicate features, the same soft gaze, though her face was lined with years of sorrow.“You’re looking much bett
Sophie’s pov ;Sitting in front of the mirror, I watched as the makeup artist dabbed layer after layer onto my face. I should’ve just said no. Ava, in her usual playful way, had insisted, and I hadn’t wanted to dampen her excitement. Now, as I looked at myself, I barely recognized the reflection staring back at me.The dark, cakey base makeup didn’t suit my skin tone at all, and the heavy purple eyeshadow made my almond-shaped eyes look smaller rather than enhancing them. The lipstick, poorly applied, extended slightly beyond the edges of my lips. The image was borderline ridiculous.Ava, who’d been getting her hair styled next to me, noticed the result and exploded. “What the hell is this? Do you call this makeup?” She threw her comb on the table with a loud clatter, standing to confront the makeup artist.The artist stammered, “Ms., I thought—”“You thought what? That I’d be
Sophie’s pov ;The moment I stepped into Rey's room, I was hit by a powerful floral scent. It was cloying, the kind of heavy perfume that clung to your throat and refused to let go. The air felt thick, almost suffocating, and I wondered how anyone could find this pleasant."My room smells good, doesn't it?" Rey said, her voice light and teasing. "This is a high-end French brand, and the spices are flown in from abroad. Oh, I forgot—I shouldn’t have told you this. Since someone like you wouldn't understand all this.”She covered her lips with a laugh, but there was nothing friendly about her expression. Her gaze was sharp, calculating, as if she were measuring me against some invisible standard and finding me lacking.I glanced at the faint glow of colors and light in the room. Almost everything was pink—the walls, the furniture, the decor. It was overwhelming, a bubblegum world that felt strangely familiar. Does she like pink
Brandon’s pov ;I stood in front of my father’s desk, clutching a stack of papers so tightly my knuckles turned white. My throat was dry, and my lips trembled as I tried to gather my words. I hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours, but that wasn’t the reason for the exhaustion weighing me down. It was the discovery I’d made—one that turned my entire world upside down.“Dad,” I finally said, my voice hoarse as I handed him the documents. “You need to see this.”My father, Jason Carpenter, had been scolding me just moments ago for being absent during critical company decisions. Normally, I would’ve explained myself, but this time I didn’t care about the business. Not when something far more important had come to light.He frowned, clearly irritated by my silence, but he took the papers from me anyway. “What is this?” he asked, flipping through the pages.I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I watched him closely as his expression shifted from confusion to shock the moment his eyes land
Brandon’s pov ;I stood in front of my father’s desk, clutching a stack of papers so tightly my knuckles turned white. My throat was dry, and my lips trembled as I tried to gather my words. I hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours, but that wasn’t the reason for the exhaustion weighing me down. It was the discovery I’d made—one that turned my entire world upside down.“Dad,” I finally said, my voice hoarse as I handed him the documents. “You need to see this.”My father, Jason Carpenter, had been scolding me just moments ago for being absent during critical company decisions. Normally, I would’ve explained myself, but this time I didn’t care about the business. Not when something far more important had come to light.He frowned, clearly irritated by my silence, but he took the papers from me anyway. “What is this?” he asked, flipping through the pages.I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I watched him closely as his expression shifted from confusion to shock the moment his eyes land
Brandon’s pov ;I could feel the weight of the conversation with Ava pressing down on me as I walked away.My mind was racing, each new piece of information about Sophie sending my thoughts spiraling. The way Ava described her—her difficult family, the fact that she worked to make ends meet—it painted a picture I hadn’t fully realized until now.Sophie was struggling, yet she still managed to smile, to hold herself with such strength. It made me think back to everything I’d seen in her, every quiet moment she shared, every piece of her story that didn’t seem to quite fit.Her family didn’t treat her well, Ava had said. That sentence kept echoing in my mind. It was a painful reminder of the life Bella had left behind, the life she’d fought so hard to escape.And now, Sophie was in front of me, so similar to her in more ways than one, yet so different in others. She didn’t know who she truly was, didn’t know the depth of the blood running through her veins, and I couldn’t help but wonde
Edwin’s pov ;I stared at myself in the mirror, adjusting my collar for the fifth time. Everything had to be perfect today. I’d been planning this for weeks—no more doubts, no more second-guessing.Today, I was going to confess to Sophie. I had everything ready. The flowers, the chocolates, the carefully chosen outfit.I wanted to look charming, rustic, just the right amount of down-to-earth. Nothing too fancy, nothing too flashy. Sophie wasn’t like that. She liked simplicity.I’d checked my appearance over and over again. Hair neat, shirt slightly wrinkled just enough to seem like I wasn’t trying too hard. Perfect. I gave myself a quick nod of approval and took a deep breath. This was it.Grandma had called earlier, reminding me to bring a girlfriend back with me. I could almost hear her voice: “When you’re free, come and see Grandma. It would be best if you could bring a girlfriend back.”
Sophie’s pov ;Winning the title of campus belle of the University of Finance and Economics felt surreal. The ceremony was over, and as I stepped down from the stage, the buzz of excitement around me was overwhelming. My friends quickly surrounded me, all of them beaming with pride.Jenna was the first to congratulate me, practically jumping up and down. "Sophie, congratulations! I knew you could do it!"I couldn't help but smile, the sense of accomplishment filling me up. "Great, I got a bonus of 20,000 Pounds," I said, a little smugly. Money was real to me—it was something tangible, something I could actually use to ease the weight on my shoulders.Jenna grinned, teasing me, "You don’t care about the great honor, you only care about the bonus."I shrugged. "The money’s more important. I’ll take it over any false reputation any day."Yanran, always the proud one, added, "From today on, your name will be known throughout the university circles in London."I gave a small, indifferent s
Dominic’s pov :I sat in the private VIP suite, my eyes fixed on the stage below. The woman I had expected to be waiting for was not the one drawing all the attention—no, it was her. Sophie.I had been on my way to a meeting overseas, but something made me change my mind at the last minute.I’d canceled everything, rushing to get here, just to watch a simple student competition. I knew I was obsessed with her, but this... this was different. It felt like fate."Good thing I arrived in time," I thought, my fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest. "Otherwise, I would have missed it."She appeared later than the others, almost as if the universe itself had conspired to make sure I wouldn’t miss the moment when she walked on that stage. It was like everything was falling into place.The lights dimmed as the music began to play, and suddenly, Sophie opened her mouth. Her voice—so pure, so angelic—poured over the audience like a soft rain, filling the space. The chatter in the room ceased
Sophie’s pov ;The backstage was buzzing with nervous energy, and I could feel my heart racing. Everyone was busy running around, preparing for their moment in the spotlight. But for some reason, I couldn’t shake the tightness in my chest. Maybe it was because everything felt so out of my control.The makeup artist rushed over to me, her face filled with panic. "Every contestant is wearing heavy makeup, and all the cosmetics are used up. What should we do?" she said, her hands trembling as she looked at the empty makeup trays.I swallowed hard, not wanting to let the pressure get to me. "No need to worry. I can go on stage without makeup," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. I wasn’t nervous—I refused to be. But the situation was definitely not ideal.The makeup artist looked at me like I had just suggested I would walk on stage without clothes. "That’s not a good idea! The lighting on stage is harsh, and with
Rey’s pov ;I couldn’t believe my luck. Of all the things I had planned, of all the precautions I had taken, this was what I ended up walking into.Amanda had assured me everything was in place, that Sophie would be eliminated in the first round, and I couldn’t afford any slip-ups. With connections from both the Gu family and the Carpenter family among the judges, Sophie’s defeat was practically guaranteed.It was supposed to be foolproof. Sophie was nothing. A nobody. But if she managed to sneak through—if that bitch somehow advanced—everything I had worked for would crumble. The Carpenter family’s precious daughter, the one they had been obsessing over for years, would be found. And then, Sophie would be everywhere. In the media, on the news, in public—and I couldn’t let that happen.I left Amanda to take care of things, heading toward the audience. I had to get out of the back, away from all the cha
Sophie’s pov ;The contest day~~I couldn’t help but smile at the advice Jenna and Carolyn gave me. "Treat everyone as cabbages," they said.Sure, that was supposed to help me not get nervous. But I wasn’t really all that nervous to begin with. I mean, what was there to be nervous about? It was just a competition.Jenna was right, though. She was more nervous for me than I was for myself. “After all, this is your first time participating in such a big competition, so of course I am nervous for you,” she said with a soft smile.I appreciated it, but I didn’t feel the same way. The prize money was all that mattered to me; winning wasn’t some big milestone.Carolyn leaned in and whispered, “I heard that Senior Amanda is here too.”I instantly stiffened at the name. “Which Senior Amanda?” I asked, though I already knew who she meant.“It’s Amanda, Senior