Chapter 183
Chapter 183:
It clicked for Sadie at last—the designer standing in her living room was the same woman who had married Adrian.
Sadie had skipped out on Adrian’s wedding, feigning a migraine, so she had never actually seen the bride for herself. Everyone had gossiped that the Barnes family wouldn’t waste their real daughter on Adrian. Instead, they had supposedly sent in a stand-in. Sadie had always pictured the substitute as someone unsightly or completely lacking in class.
She never imagined Adrian’s so-called fake wife would turn out to be a striking young woman with genuine ability. Against all odds, Adrian had somehow lucked out.
Meanwhile, Sophie paid no mind to the suspicion in Sadie’s eyes. Standing tall, she met Mike’s fierce glare without flinching, her voice calm and even. “Mr. Knight, I think there’s been some misunderstanding. I’m here as a designer from Pinnacle Jewelry. Your wife hired me for a custom commission. That’s all there is to it p>
“You call this a job?” Mike let out a sharp, derisive laugh. “Don’t try to play innocent with me! We haven’t even addressed that bride swap your family pulled! Some nerve—the Barnes family wouldn’t sacrifice their daughter, so they sent me an orphan as a substitute! Your mother died young, you grew up without a proper upbringing, and nobody knows who your father is. Doesn’t look like your mom had much class, either p>
“Enough!” Sophie snapped.
Her eyes blazed with cold fury. “Don’t you dare talk about my mother like that! You might be the big shot in Zhatwell, but to me, Adrian’s real misfortune is having you as his father. You’re the one who’s got no class p>
Mike’s cheeks flushed an angry red, barely containing his outrage. “Got a mouth on you, huh? Isn’t ruining Adrian’s life enough? He could’ve had it all, but now he’s scraping by, thanks to you p>
Sophie scoffed, completely unfazed. “Last I checked, you were the one who pushed him out of the Knight family. He’d rather grind it out in the real world than suffocate in this place! Ever think the problem isn’t Adrian, or me, but you? Why don’t you take a good look at yourself and see just how badly you’ve failed as a father p>
“You don’t know a damn thing!” Mike thundered, looking down his nose at her. “If you cared about him at all, you’d divorce him and let him come crawling home! You’ll only hold him back p>
Sophie squared her shoulders, her voice firm and unwavering. “Not happening! Adrian and I are happy, and we’re together because we love each other! That’s all that matters to us p>
о𝗋𝗀аn𝗂𝘻𝗲 у𝗈𝘶𝘳 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝘢ry о𝘯 𝗴𝗮𝘭ո𝗼𝗏e𝗹s.с𝗈m
“Love? Please,” Mike sneered, his face twisted with contempt. “That won’t pay the bills. You’re just a convenient distraction. Wait until he’s tired of being broke, tired of missing his old life, and he’ll come running back to what he lost. And when that happens, what will you be left with p>
Sophie met his sneer head-on, a fearless, taunting smile curving on her lips. “Is that so? Well, you’d better watch closely, and don’t hold your breath waiting for Adrian to come crawling back to this ice-cold mansion p>
Mike bristled, unable to hide how much her defiance got under his skin. “You’ve got some nerve p>
The last hint of politeness disappeared from his expression as he snapped, “You think you’ve won? Don’t get too comfortable. I’ve already lined up a new match for him—the daughter of the influential Ross family in Prasti. She’s way out of your league. If you have any brains, you’ll walk away now. Otherwise… I’ll crush you like a bug p>
Mike’s threat was open and vicious. “You’re just a junior designer! All it takes is one word from me, and Pinnacle Jewelry will toss you out! No company in Zhatwell will hire you p>
A flicker of fear crossed Sophie’s face as she knew this wasn’t an empty threat. Mike had the influence to make it real. But pride and grit kept her standing her ground.
With steady resolve, she stared him down. “Do your worst. I’m not scared p>
Not giving either Mike or Sadie another glance, Sophie grabbed her things and walked straight out of that oppressive house, never once looking back.