Sophie’s pov :As soon as I stepped into the Galaxy Hotel, I was greeted by the news that we wouldn’t have to wear uniforms in cold weather anymore. The person in charge mentioned it casually.Sir really knows everything.I was heading to the exhibition hall when Ava caught up to me, tugging me aside. Her expression was calm, but there was a sparkle of something in her eyes. “Sophie, Brandon wants to meet you. I’ll introduce you.”I blinked at her. “Okay. He’s going to be your husband anyway. It’s good if we’re not on awkward terms.”Ava’s smile wavered, her eyes dimming just slightly. “Stop teasing me,” she murmured, but her tone lacked its usual warmth.She led me to the back garden, where the bower was nestled among the greenery. Brandon was seated there, his posture calm but his gaze far away. Christopher sat across from him, exuding his usual quiet intensity.The moment I stepped into view, Brandon’s eyes snapped to me. His stare was so intense it felt like it weighed on my skin,
Sophie’s pov :“Brandon, if you have anything to say, please say it quickly,” I urged, my tone soft but firm.I didn’t want Ava to misunderstand our conversation. She and Brandon were engaged, after all, and the last thing I wanted was for her to think there was something improper going on.Brandon’s expression softened as he looked at me. “Sophie... I don’t mean any harm. It’s just that, the first time I saw you, I couldn’t help but notice how much you resemble my sister.”His words left me stunned. “Really?”How strange—I’d always thought I resembled Rey, but to hear this now?“My sister disappeared when she was five,” he continued, his voice heavy with sorrow. “That was fifteen years ago. Since then, my family has turned the world upside down searching for her, but we’ve never found even the smallest trace of her. She was the treasure of our family, Sophie, and when she vanished...”He paused, his voice cracking.“I couldn’t protect her. I was supposed to look after her, but I fail
I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling slightly, and played the recording.Rebecca’s voice filled the room: “Where have you been slacking off again? Go water the garden quickly. What’s yours and mine? We should work together, so don’t be so fussy. Is it clear now?”The room went silent.Whispers began to break out among the staff.“I can’t believe it. Rebecca really did set Sophie up.”“And to think I trusted her.”“She’s so jealous of Sophie—it’s disgusting.”Rebecca’s face turned pale. Her earlier bravado crumbled under the weight of the evidence.I stood there quietly, watching as people turned on her, their voices full of judgment.“She’s so narrow-minded, and Sophie didn’t even do anything to her.”“If Sophie had gotten hurt, Rebecca would’ve just blamed her for it. How cruel.”Rebecca’s composure finally snapped. “I was just joking! And besides, nothing happened to Sophie, so why are you all overreacting?”The manager’s voice was sharp as a blade. “If something had happened,
Brandon’s pov ;I couldn’t take my eyes off Sophie as she timidly thanked me. She didn’t know the truth yet—that she was my sister. The sister who had been missing for fifteen years. Seeing her here, standing before me, was surreal, but I had to hold back my emotions. If I rushed this, I might scare her away."You're welcome," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady. "Sophie, can I... leave you my contact information? You can always come to me if you have any problems in the future."When she agreed, I felt a small sense of relief. This was a step closer to protecting her, to keeping her safe."Thanks to your help this time," she added, "if there’s a chance, I’ll treat you and Ava to a meal."I smiled faintly, though the thought of a meal felt too impersonal. What I wanted was for her to see me as family again. "No need for that. If you want to repay me, just call me 'brother.'"Her expression shifted to one of surprise, her lips pressing together hesitantly. For a moment, I tho
Rey’s pov ;I stayed in my room the entire afternoon, my mind racing with thoughts, each more twisted than the last. Brandon had been gone all day, and Jason was too busy running around between the company and the hospital to notice anything. The Carpenter family was too distracted by Sophie, and that’s exactly where my problem lay.That bitch Sophie. Just seeing her face was enough to undo everything I had carefully orchestrated. Brandon’s attention had shifted toward her, and with it, all of my plans had crumbled. I had to do something. Anything to stop Sophie from taking what was rightfully mine.I toyed with my phone, tapping my fingers against the screen. I needed to strike while the iron was hot. So, I called Brandon. My heart beat faster in my chest as I waited for him to answer.“Brother, I have something to tell you,” I said, trying to sound casual, but my voice was tight with anticipation.Brandon’s response came, cold and guarded, “What’s the matter? Tell me.”I could feel
Ava’s pov ;I held the white cup in my hands, its warmth soothing but doing little to calm my racing thoughts. The café buzzed with life, but my attention was fixed on Rey as she spoke, her sweet words about my engagement to Brandon causing my cheeks to flush."Ava, the first time I saw you, I felt that you and my brother were such a good match. I hope you two can get married. I really want to become a family with you," she said with a wide smile.Her words made me blush even more. "Rey, you’re too polite," I replied modestly."After all, the engagement was arranged by my parents years ago. Whether Brandon and I can be together still depends on fate." I tried to sound composed, but my heart felt light hearing her approval of me.Suddenly, Rey’s smile dimmed. She sighed, and it pulled me out of my thoughts. "What’s wrong?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.She gave a small, bitter smile. "I won't hide it from you. Actually, my brother has never had a woman around him all these yea
Sophie’s pov ;The moment my phone rang, I picked it up without a second thought. I wasn’t expecting much—maybe Carolyn asking about class or Ava checking in—but as soon as I heard the voice on the other end, my stomach dropped.It was them."Sophie, my dear daughter, please don’t hang up!" My Father’s voice was frantic, his words tumbling out like an avalanche. "We had no choice but to find you. Your mother…she’s seriously ill. She can’t get out of bed. The doctor said…" His voice broke, and I clenched the phone tighter, my breath hitching."The doctor said she doesn’t have much time left. You should come home to see her."My mind froze. "What’s wrong with her?" I asked, though part of me didn’t even want to know."Alas, the cancer is in the advanced stage and can’t be cured.""Cancer?" My voice wavered as I shot up from my chair. "Advanced stage of cancer?""Yes. Yes," he continued. "We couldn’t reach you because you blocked our number. I had to borrow the neighbor’s phone. If you d
Sophie’s pov ;As soon as I stepped out of the taxi and saw my father waiting by the doorway, I felt my chest tighten. He rushed toward me, grabbing my arm roughly before I could even react."Girl, you're finally back. Come with me to see your mother," he said, his grip firm as if afraid I’d run.I tried to pull away, but it was useless. He wasn’t letting me go. His hand was like a shackle, and his strength left me no room to resist.The stairs were as dingy and crumbling as I remembered, each step a reminder of the place I had tried so hard to leave behind. The smell hit me before I even stepped into the apartment—a putrid, sour stench that made my stomach churn."Simon, Jack, your sister is back!" my father called as he shoved me inside.The sight of the small, cramped room made my heart sink. It hadn’t changed at all. The same peeling wallpaper, the same broken furniture. And there, lying on my old bed, was Mark.He wasn’t the same either—not the arrogant bully I once knew. He look
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