Chapter 5

Veda and Chase were already waiting for her in the living room. As soon as Sophia stepped through the door, a sickly sweet voice greeted her, "Sophia, what took you so long at the doctor's? Everything okay?"

Sophia glanced over at Veda, scanning her from head to toe before calmly retorting, "Well, some people have health issues. You, on the other hand, have brain issues."

"Are you insulting me?" Veda's eyes widened in disbelief.

Sophia, that bitch, had grown a backbone? How dare she talk back?

Sophia let out a mocking laugh and was about to say more when Chase stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Veda.

She hadn't even started dealing with Veda, and he was already playing the hero.

What a pair of scumbags!

Sophia rolled her eyes, deciding not to waste her breath on them.

But someone wasn't ready to let her off the hook.

"Where's the test result?" Chase called out, stopping Sophia in her tracks.

"Yeah, Sophia, where's the test result?" Veda quickly chimed in.

Sophia paused, her expression cold as she looked at the two of them. "The hospital didn't give it to me."

"Didn't give it to you?" Veda cut in, "How could the hospital not give you the test result? Sophia, are you lying because you don't want Chase to know the truth?"

Chase, already inclined to believe Veda, exploded with anger at her words.

"No test result, and you want to call off our engagement? A woman like you, Sophia, is not someone I, Chase, would ever marry!"

Sophia sneered coldly. "The test result is with Mr. Smith. If you want it so badly, go ask him yourself."

Her words left Chase and Veda speechless.

They didn't dare ask James for it.

"What, are you scared?" Sophia raised an eyebrow, taunting Chase.

Caught off guard, Chase retorted angrily, "What would I be scared of? But you'd better prepare yourself mentally. The Smith family would never let a woman like you marry in!"

Sophia shrugged, looking completely indifferent. "Is that all it takes to make you angry?"

The Smith family? As if she cared about the Smith family.

Her nonchalant attitude left Chase with no outlet for his anger.

"Sophia!" he growled through gritted teeth.

Veda stepped in at the right moment, gently patting Chase's chest. "Chase, don't be mad."

Sophia couldn't stand to watch their sickening display any longer and turned to leave. She didn't come back downstairs until dinner time.

Everyone was already seated in the dining room.

"Do you need an invitation to eat? No manners at all!" Hayden glared at Sophia, his disdain for his daughter evident.

Sophia didn't respond. She was used to such comments and had become immune to them.

After all, she had no feelings for the Brown family, so why should she care about what this so-called father said?

Hayden shot Sophia a look of disgust but said nothing more.

The table was quiet, the only sounds being the clinking of utensils.

Sophia had no appetite. She took a few bites and was about to leave when someone grabbed her wrist.

"Sophia, the soup is really good today. You should try it." Veda smiled sweetly, playing the role of the caring sister.

Sophia didn't know what game Veda was playing, but she wasn't interested in finding out.

"I don't want any," she refused, trying to pull her hand away, but Veda held on tight.

What a lunatic!

Sophia cursed inwardly and yanked her hand free with force.

In doing so, she caused a mishap.

With a startled cry, the bowl of soup tipped, about to spill all over Sophia.

Sophia reacted quickly, catching the bowl and flipping it over onto Veda's head.

Veda's scream was much more genuine this time.

Soup dripped down Veda's hair, ruining her makeup and soaking her clothes, leaving her looking utterly pathetic.

"Sophia! Are you crazy?!" The people at the table shouted in unison.

Chase quickly took off his jacket and draped it over Veda.

"Sophia, you lunatic! Veda was just being nice, and this is how you repay her?"

Sophia laughed. Nice? Which part of that did Chase see as nice?

If she hadn't reacted quickly, she would have been the one covered in soup.

Veda did it on purpose, and Sophia had a pretty good idea why.

Veda wanted to ruin her clothes and then use the opportunity to expose the marks on her body. Veda was both malicious and stupid.

"Chase, don't blame Sophia. I'm sure she didn't mean it." Veda leaned weakly against Chase, playing the innocent victim.

"My poor daughter, bullied like this and not even daring to speak up." Hazel circled around to Veda, crying as she helped clean the food off Veda's clothes.

Veda started to sob softly, her pitiful appearance stirring Chase's protective instincts.

"Sophia, apologize to Veda!" he demanded, glaring at her.

Always taking her side?

Once or twice was one thing, but every single time? Was Chase blind?

Sophia sneered, "Chase, if your eyes are useless, you might as well gouge them out!"

No sooner had she spoken than a slap landed on her face.

The sharp sound of the slap was accompanied by Hayden's furious shout.

"You ungrateful girl, how dare you speak like that? You've been back with the Brown family for so long and still haven't learned any manners?"

"Go kneel in punishment right now, or don't expect another penny from me!"

Sophia's ear rang from the slap, her cheek burning with pain. Hayden had hit her hard.

Hayden was Veda's father, not hers.

Sophia laughed bitterly, glaring at Hayden, then shouted, "Money? I've never used a single cent from the Smith family. Cut me off if you want!"

Hayden pointed a trembling finger at Sophia, furious. "You eat the Brown family's food, use the Brown family's resources, and dare say you haven't used the Smith family's money? I have Hazel send you money every month, you ungrateful wretch!"

"Then you should ask your dear wife if she ever gave me any money!" Sophia shouted back, her anger boiling over.

She was truly enraged.

Hearing this, Hazel felt guilty but still defended herself.

"How can you accuse me like that? I give you money every month, but you refuse it. Now you're blaming me? Being a stepmother is hard enough, and now this."

Hazel lowered her head, sobbing softly.

"Your acting skills are wasted here. You should be in Hollywood!" Sophia mocked.

"Sophia, get out of the Brown family! I, Hayden, have no daughter as ill-mannered as you!" Hayden's face was livid, his words cutting deep.

"And I have no father like you!" Sophia shouted, storming out of the Brown Villa.