Chapter 331

Does Alexander look at her eyes?

How could that be?

She was a woman captured by Ethan. Six years ago in Harborview City, her reputation was already in ruins.

And Alexander—his family background was no less prestigious than Ethan's. How could he possibly be interested in her?

At most, it was just temporary guilt. Pity.

After a long silence, Sophia laughed at herself and asked, "Are you jealous of Alexander?"

"Yes." Ethan answered bluntly.

Sophia froze.

She hadn’t expected him to admit it so easily.

Him? Jealous?

Impossible.

There was a hint of complaint in Ethan’s voice. "Your precious daughter. This morning, she took down two women at Blackwood Manor. She was ruthless—defending your honor like a little queen."

Lily had forbidden him from interacting with any other women. She guarded her mother’s territory fiercely. The five-year-old was adorable, but when it came to her mother, she allowed another man to stand by Sophia’s side?

Unfair.

Of course he was jealous.

Furious, even.

Sophia was speechless.

The moment Lily was mentioned, Sophia recalled the earlier incident. Just then, Lily skipped into the cloakroom, a snack in her tiny hand. She tilted her head, glancing between her mother and father, then grinned mischievously.

"Mom, squat down," she commanded.

Sophia obeyed immediately.

Lily whispered excitedly, "Uncle Nathan has a photo on his phone. That woman’s face was slapped by an old man—swollen like a pumpkin. Fingerprints and all!"

Sophia blinked. "Only one was slapped?"

Weren’t there two women fighting?

Why was an old man involved?

She needed to know if this had anything to do with Lily.

"That Lanita woman. She keeps saying she’s Dad’s fiancée. Hmph! And that other one, Victoria—she actually dared to call herself my mother! Shameless!" Lily huffed, her little voice dripping with disdain.

Sophia finally pieced it together.

Two women had visited Blackwood Manor today—Isabella Thornton, Ethan’s so-called fiancée, and another named Victoria, likely related to Eleanor Blackwood.

Both were dangerous to cross.

And her daughter had provoked them both?

God.

Sophia looked up at Ethan in panic. "She—she didn’t mean to cause trouble—"

Ethan cut her off sharply. "Do you have any idea how much chaos she caused today?"

Sophia hadn’t witnessed it, but she could imagine. Just as her anxiety spiked, Ethan’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and answered coldly. "Speak."

Isabella’s voice, thick and slurred, came through. "F-Fourth Master… I—I’m sorry."

She was apologizing for the fight—for being slapped by Victoria and then beaten by Elder Thornton. Her words were barely intelligible, as if her tongue was swollen.

Ethan sneered inwardly.

Even after being humiliated, she still groveled.

While listening to her pathetic apology, he watched Lily tug Sophia’s hand, grinning triumphantly as they left the cloakroom.

His mother had already gone to the dining room.

Impatient, he snapped, "Get to the point."

"Master, my grandfather didn’t just beat me at Blackwood Manor. When we got home, he made me kneel on a washboard! He forced me to repent! I swear, I’ll never fight in public again. It was disgraceful. I’ll never dare to—"

Ethan interrupted, his voice dripping with disgust. "You think you’re wrong?"

This woman was unbearable—arrogant when she had the upper hand, pathetic when she didn’t.

And she still dreamed of marrying him?

Delusional.

If not for Elder Thornton’s interference, she would’ve been ruined long ago.

A woman without principles, without dignity—he couldn’t stand her voice.

Honestly, if any other woman had been publicly humiliated like that, they would’ve fought back fiercely.

But her?

Pathetic.

"You don’t need to apologize to me," he said coldly, about to hang up.

Isabella suddenly cried out, "Wait! Please—I have something else to say!"

Ethan exhaled sharply. "Speak."

"Master, I know Lily is your flesh and blood. I can see how much you love her. You’d never give up custody. But her mother—that Sophia—she stole your mother’s priceless bracelet. Ask her right now. She won’t have it. She’s been lying to you from the start. Even after bearing your child, she never truly loved you. She’s using you!"

Isabella knew better than anyone.

Sophia had been on the run for years, moving from place to place, hunted by the Lin family. She’d dragged a child and a paralyzed man with her.

How had she survived?

That bracelet had to be sold.

Ethan only laughed darkly before hanging up without another word.

Then, he immediately dialed another number.

Nathan answered on the first ring. "Fourth Master?"

"Where’s the photo?" Ethan demanded.

"What photo?" Nathan was confused.

Ethan’s voice was icy. "The one you took at Blackwood Manor. The woman with the swollen face."