Sofia was heading home to Liam's estate, her mind preoccupied with the day's events. Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence.
"Hello, Mother," Sofia answered calmly, looking out the window.
"Where have you been?" her mother demanded, her voice icy with anger. "You haven't come home in days. I was worried sick!"
Sofia sighed inwardly. "I'm sorry, Mother. I've been busy."
"Busy?" her mother echoed. "Busy with Liam, I presume? Don't you hate him in past, why do you suddenly start chasing after him, aren't you you afraid of who has become?"
Sofia's grip on her phone tightened. "Mother, please—"
"No, Sofia! You need to focus on your own life and your upcoming marriage, not obsess over another man. Your father and I expect you home for dinner tonight. We need to discuss your marriage to Julian."
Sofia's heart sank. "Mother, I—"
"Don't argue, Sofia. Julian is a suitable match, and this marriage will secure our family's future. You will do as we say."
James's eyes met Sofia's in the rearview mirror, his expression sympathetic.
"Yes, Mother. I'll be there."
The line went dead.
Sofia's thoughts swirled with unease. Marriage to Julian felt suffocating.
As they approached the estate, Sofia steeled herself for the impending confrontation.
Sofia thought of Julian's deceitful face, his lips on her step-sister's skin, and her heart burned with rage.
She gritted her teeth and turned to James.
"James, can you please drive me to my home right now?"
James's expression turned sympathetic, but he nodded without question. "Of course, pretty sis."
He started the engine, and the car glided smoothly out of the estate's driveway.
As they drove, Sofia's anger simmered. How could Julian betray her like that? With her own step-sister, no less.
James's voice broke the silence. " pretty, would you like some music or—"
"No, James. Just drive."
The tension in the air was palpable.
After a few minutes, James spoke up again. "pretty, we're approaching your residence."
Sofia nodded, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery.
As they pulled up to her family's estate, Sofia's stepmother stood at the entrance, a stern expression on her face.
"Sofia, we need to talk," she said, her voice firm.
Sofia took a deep breath and stepped out of the car.
Her mother's eyes narrowed. "We'll discuss Julian and your upcoming marriage."
Sofia's eyes flashed with defiance.
"I won't marry Julian," Sofia declared, her voice firm.
Her stepmother's expression turned icy. "You'll do as you're told, Sofia. This marriage will secure our family's future."
Sofia shook her head. "I won't be a part of it. Not after what I saw." mum.
Her stepmother's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Lisa's anger boiled over. "I saw Julian with Sophia. My own step-sister!"
Her mother's face paled, but she quickly regained composure. "That was just a misunderstanding."
Lisa scoffed. "A misunderstanding? They were in bed together!"
James discreetly stay in the car, sensing the escalating tension.
He grabbed his phone and messaged a familiar number.
"Hey, cold face, your ex-lover is in trouble right now. Do you mind coming to save her?"
In the company, Liam, who was already in a bad mood, saw the chat. His face turned more dangerous and terrifying.
He dialed James' number, and it connected immediately.
"Where is she?" he asked with gritted teeth.
"At Mr. Jacob's resident, her father's place," James replied.
"What's going on?" Liam asked.
James responded with a sly tone, "If you want to know, come see for yourself."
James hung up the phone.
Liam's face darkened further,His eyes narrowed, His jaw clenched, He was already on his feet.
"Get the car ready!" he ordered.
Sofia stepmother's voice dropped to a menacing tone. "You'll forget what you saw and marry Julian. Or else."
Sofia stood her ground. "Or else what?"
Her mother's eyes flashed with malice.
sofia's stepmother's eyes flashed with malice. "Or else you'll regret ever crossing me. You'll lose everything: your inheritance, your reputation, and your family."
Sofia stood tall, her voice firm. "I'd rather lose everything than marry a man who betrayed me."
Her stepmother's face twisted in anger. "Fine. You want to play it that way? You're no longer welcome in this house."
Sofia felt a sting, but she refused to back down. "I'll leave, but I'll never marry Julian.".
Sofia turned to leave,
Her stepmother grasped her arm, nails digging deep, and dragged her back into the house.
"Let go of me!" sofia struggled, but her stepmother's grip tightened.
James intervened stepping out of the car, gently prying sofia's stepmother's fingers off her arm. "Mrs jecob, please—"
"Mind your own business, young man!" her stepmother snapped, pushing him away.
sofia's stepmother pulled her into the house, slamming the door shut behind them.
"You ungrateful child," she spat, her face red with rage. "You think you can just walk away from this marriage? From our family's legacy?"
sofia stood firm, despite her stepmother's fury. "I won't marry Julian. He's betrayed me, and I won't be a part of it."
Her stepmother's eyes blazed with malice. "You'll do as you're told, sofia. You'll marry Julian, and you'll make sure our family's interests are secured."
Suddenly, Lisa's father appeared at the top of the staircase.
"What's going on here?" he demanded, his voice authoritative.
sofia's stepmother's expression changed in an instant.
sofia's father's gaze fell on her, his expression stern. "sofia what's this nonsense about refusing to marry Julian?"
sofia stood tall, despite her father's disapproval. "Father, I saw Julian with Recheal. I won't marry a man who's betrayed and cheat on me."
Her father's expression didn't waver. "That's just a silly infatuation, sofia, Julian is a suitable match. You'll do as you're told."
sofia felt a sting from her father's words. "You're siding with her?" she gestured to her stepmother.
Her father's voice turned cold. "I'm doing what's best for this family, sofia. You'll marry Julian and secure our legacy."
Her stepmother's smile grew triumphant.
sofia's heart sank. She was alone in this fight.
Suddenly, James appeared at the door.
"Excuse me, Mr jecob," James said, his voice firm. "sofia has made her position clear. Perhaps it's time to consider her feelings."
sofia's father frowned. "who is this, this doesn't concern you."
sofia's father expression changed as he recognized James. "James Smit? The second young master of the Smit family?"
James nodded, his eyes locked onto sofia father. "Yes, Mr jecob. I won't stand by while she's coerced into a loveless marriage."
sofia's stepmother's smile faltered, her eyes widening in alarm.
sofia's father cleared his throat, his tone softening. "James, I appreciate your concern, but this is a family matter."
James's voice remained firm. "With all due respect, Mr Jacob, sofia's happiness is not just a family matter. It's a matter of her well-being."
The tension in the room was palpable.
Suddenly, sofia's father's expression shifted. "James, I think we should discuss this further in private."
sofia's stepmother protested, "But—"
sofia father raised a hand, silencing her. "This concerns the Smit family. We can't afford to offend them."
sofia felt a surge of gratitude toward James.
As James left, Sofia's stepmother watched him go with a calculating gaze.
Sofia's stepsister, Recheal, walked in, carrying shopping bags and humming a happy tune.
"Whoa, I'm exhausted!" Recheal exclaimed, dropping her bags. "Shopping is so much work!"
Her eyes landed on Sofia.
"Pretty sis, you're finally back!" Recheal rushed to hug Sofia.
But Sofia pushed her away, her expression cold.
"Don't touch me," Sofia hissed.
Recheal's smile faltered. "Sofia, what's wrong?"
Sofia's eyes flashed with anger. "You know exactly what's wrong."
Recheal took a step back, confusion written on her face. "No, I don't. What's going on?"
Mr. Jacob's face turned uglier, his voice thunderous. "Recheal, is this true? You slept with Julian, your sister's fiancé?"
Recheal trembled, panic etched on her face. "How did she know?" she thought to herself.
She looked at Sofia with red, tearful eyes and fell to the ground.
"Please, I was wrong, sis. It wasn't my doing, sis. Julian was drugged; I didn't know. You know he thinks of me as his little sister. I went to say hi, and... and..." Recheal stuttered, crying bitterly, tears flowing like a burst dam.