Too Late She Already Married Mr. Right (Sophia) novel Chapter 15

A collective, sharp gasp rippled through the crowd.

The accusation of theft vanished in an instant, utterly eclipsed by this new, scandalous revelation.

A new, electric energy filled the room as every guest hung on Sophia’s next word.

“Well, Emily?” Sophia challenged. “How do you explain that?”

Emily’s eyes were filled with angry tears. “We’re talking about the missing earrings, Sophia,” she said, her voice trembling. “Why are you trying to change the subject?”

Sophia watched her performance with a cold smile. Emily had always been good at playing the innocent victim.

Growing up in a small town with her adoptive parents, Sophia had learned early that tears only brought more pain. She’d taught herself never to cry, never to show vulnerability.

But Emily had mastered the art of using tears to her advantage-they always got her what she wanted.

Just then, Lucas emerged from the crowd where he’d been watching silently.

He pulled Emily protectively behind him, his handsome face dark with anger as he stared Sophia down.

“You’ve gone too far this time, Sophia,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Sophia’s eyes lingered on his hand still holding Emily’s, her expression tightening.

“I’m the one going too far?” Sophia’s voice dripped with irony as her eyes zeroed in on the faint scratch mark peeking from his collar.

“Where was your righteous anger when they were all ganging up on me?” she pressed. “I simply stated a fact, and now I’m the problem?”

Then she suddenly raised her phone, a defiant glint in her eyes. “Alright then. If this is how you want to play, I’m done being the bigger person.”

Margaret frowned in disapproval. “Must you always make everything about yourself, Sophia? This is Emily’s night. Are you truly so selfish that you’d ruin her homecoming?”

When Sophia had first returned to the Evans family, there had been no fanfare, no official acknowledgment. She had always existed in the shadows, an illegitimate presence in their perfect world, and not one of them had ever seemed to notice.

But for their precious adopted daughter, they’d moved heaven and earth to arrange this lavish celebration, desperate to rehabilitate her image in society.

Worst of all, they were building Emily up by tearing her down. None of them paused to consider her humiliation, her anger, and the deep ache of betrayal she carried.

“Sophia!” Margaret’s voice was strangled.

Nothing cut deeper for Emily than being called the “fake heiress.” It was the reason she had disappeared all those years ago-she knew her place in the Evans family was never truly secure.

She had calculated that a sudden departure would ensure they never forgot her, and the plan had worked exactly as intended.

“Mom, please don’t blame Sophia,” Emily said, her voice trembling as tears glistened in her eyes. “She’s right. I’m the one who took everything from her. She has every right to hate me.

“I won’t let myself come between you.” With a heartbroken look, she turned to leave.