Chapter 471

Sophia watched as Lily and Emily entered the kindergarten hand in hand. Victoria Thompson, Emily's mother, didn't bother hiding her disdain as she sneered, "Mrs. Montgomery, no chauffeur today?"

Sophia suppressed her irritation. "My husband is traveling for business."

Victoria's gaze raked over Sophia's outfit with open contempt. "And these clothes? They look like something you'd wear to bed. Is this how you present yourself in public?"

Sophia clenched her fists briefly before forcing a calm tone. "Mrs. Thompson, is there a point to this?"

"The point?" Victoria scoffed. "You're scrambling to gather that 50,000 dollars, aren't you? Sold the car, pawned your designer clothes—pathetic. Did your mother teach you to beg for scraps? A family like yours has no place in our circle. Frankly, this kindergarten shouldn’t tolerate you either!"

Sophia exhaled sharply.

She wanted to walk away.

She could transfer Lily to another school.

She shouldn’t have to endure this woman’s venom.

But things were different now. Cassandra Montgomery was waiting for her at work, and Sophia had no idea what fresh torment awaited her.

Just then, Grace Dawson—mother of Lily’s classmate Grace Thompson—approached. Her expression was even more condescending than Victoria’s. "Oh, let her be," Grace drawled. "If she’s willing to pay, she can attend the party. Mrs. Montgomery, we’ll see you there."

Sophia nodded. "When and where?"

"Saturday, 3 PM," Grace replied with a smirk.

"I’ll be there," Sophia said firmly before turning toward the bus stop.

Behind her, the two women exchanged vicious whispers.

"Did you see her? That pitiful act won’t save her at the party."

"We’ll make sure she understands our circle isn’t for the likes of her."

"Absolutely."

Grace shot Victoria a pointed look. "Your Emily is too close to her daughter. You should put a stop to that."

Victoria hesitated. "The girls are fond of each other. I can’t just—"

Grace cut her off with a scoff. "Children don’t know any better. But we do. We can’t let them mix with inferior stock."

Victoria dipped her head. "Of course, Mrs. Dawson."

Sophia boarded the bus to Montgomery Designs. The moment she stepped into the elevator, hushed whispers followed. She ignored them, walking calmly to her desk.

Before she could sit, a cold voice rang out. "You actually showed up."

Sophia didn’t need to turn to know it was Cassandra.

She braced herself.

If Cassandra wanted to humiliate her, she’d endure it.

She had no choice.

All she wanted was to survive—for Lily’s sake.

"Like a dead fish in boiling water," Cassandra taunted as she strode forward, flanked by the HR manager, the director, and the head of design. The entire department held its breath.

Even the colleagues who had mocked Sophia before now watched in uneasy silence.

Something big was about to happen.

Cassandra smirked. "Your coworkers must be wondering why you’re letting me walk all over you."

The HR manager stepped forward. "Sophia. Your résumé—your education, your work history—all fabricated?"

Sophia met his gaze. "Yes."

"You worked as a laborer on construction sites?"

"Yes."

The room erupted in murmurs.

Elizabeth Dawson, a senior designer who had always resented Sophia, gasped dramatically. "You—you fraud! A common laborer posing as our superior? Disgusting!"

Cassandra chuckled. "Oh, don’t lose your composure now, darling. The fun’s just beginning."

Elizabeth simpered. "Thank you, Miss Montgomery, for exposing her. She’s been a nuisance since day one. She belongs in prison!"

Cassandra’s smile turned predatory. "Prison. Now that’s a familiar place for you, isn’t it, Sophia?"

Sophia’s nails dug into her palms.

She told herself to endure it.

But the mention of prison sent a sharp pang through her chest.

If not for Lily, she would have snapped long ago.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, keeping her expression blank.

Cassandra leaned in. "Today is just the first step. Play along, and maybe—just maybe—I’ll let your daughter keep her home."