Chapter 485

Lily blinked in confusion. "But today's Saturday. Daddy doesn't work on weekends. Even if he did, Mommy could take me out. Why are you here?"

Nathan Carter chuckled. "Hey! Your dad used to be the best boss ever. But ever since your mom came back, he's... different."

Lily tilted her head. "Different in a good way, right?"

Nathan shook his head dramatically. "No, no, no. More like a swoon-worthy CEO straight out of a daytime drama."

Sophia Montgomery perked up at the mention of "daytime drama." She nudged Nathan, demanding an explanation.

Nathan simplified it with a grin. "A daytime drama is where everyone's either scheming or swooning. Your dad? The ultimate heartthrob—powerful, devoted, and head-over-heels for your mom. And the villains? Oh, they’re everywhere, especially the women trying to tear them apart."

Sophia nodded instantly. "Got it."

She understood perfectly. Those "villainous women" Nathan described? Just like the two she'd outsmarted at Grandfather’s estate.

But Lily didn’t spell it out.

Instead, she smirked at Emily Wilson’s mother.

Mrs. Wilson took the bait. "You little—! How dare you! No manners at all! Who are you calling a villain? Why would you say that about me?"

Lily’s smile widened. "Auntie, you just confessed! I never said you were the villain. You did. So... how villainous are you, really?"

Sophia stifled a laugh.

This child was sharp. Too sharp. Clearly, she’d inherited her father’s cunning.

Sophia shot Mrs. Wilson an innocent look.

Fuming, Mrs. Wilson clenched her fists but held back—she was an adult, after all.

Lily sweetly reminded her, "Auntie, you’re so busy being dramatic, you forgot about Emily. She’s scared of the dark. If you’re late, she’ll cry."

Mrs. Wilson gasped. "Oh—Emily! I completely forgot!"

She rushed off, leaving Sophia and Lily behind.

Sophia knelt to meet Lily’s gaze. "Sweetheart, no more provoking adults, okay?"

Lily grinned. "Don’t worry, Mommy. Even if she tries to fight me, Daddy’s got our back."

Sophia sighed.

In just two months, Lily had grown attached to Ethan. And Ethan? He adored her.

That realization eased the tension in Sophia’s chest.

That night, Ethan wasn’t home. Sophia tucked Lily into bed, the little girl curling against her. But sleep eluded Sophia.

The bruise on her cheek had faded after a night of ice, but the shadow remained.

The Next Morning

Sophia opened a private account, depositing the five million Ethan had given her.

After lunch, she dressed herself and Lily carefully before driving to the hotel her mom friends had booked.

But this was no casual gathering.

The hotel screamed luxury—far beyond what average earners could afford. This "small party" clearly demanded more than the initial 50,000 fee.

Good thing she had that five million.

Sophia squared her shoulders and led Lily inside.

The private suite buzzed with chatter.

"Victoria, that bag is limited edition, isn’t it? So exclusive!" Mrs. Wilson gushed over Mrs. Thompson’s purse.

Mrs. Thompson preened. "Oh, this? My husband picked it up in Paris. Barely nine thousand. But yours—what brand is that? It’s stunning."

"Just a little Coach limited edition. Twenty-eight thousand," Mrs. Wilson said airily.

Mrs. Thompson’s smile stiffened.

Sophia stepped in, scanning the room.

The women glittered—furs, diamonds, designer brooches. They huddled in clusters, trading compliments laced with competition.

This wasn’t just about ostracizing the "poor mom."

It was a battlefield of status.

And when they noticed Sophia, the room stilled.

She wore a fitted turtleneck and an A-line orange leather skirt—simple, warm, effortlessly elegant.

Her clutch? No visible logo, just sleek diamond-embossed leather.

On anyone else, it might’ve looked plain.

But Sophia carried it with an unshakable grace, a blend of rugged charm and delicate poise.

She was radiant.

Not the flashy, jewel-dripping kind.

But the kind that made diamonds seem garish in comparison.

Mrs. Wilson’s jaw tightened.

No earrings. No jewelry. So plain.

That icy face—probably too much botox to even smile.

But Sophia didn’t need to.

Her presence alone dimmed their sparkle.