Chapter 5 Birthday Party

Sophia stared blankly at Ian as he calmly listed her so-called crimes. He'd once been the one who told her, over and over again, "Sophia, with me, you can be unreasonable, lose your temper, and even act like a child. You don't have to bottle your emotions up, because I love you for who you are. No matter what you're like, I'll love you and accept you." Yet now, the little temper he himself had nurtured had become one count after another in his indictment. Sophia stood there for a long time without moving. It was as if time itself had stopped. Her body was rigid, and cold sweat soaked her back. She bit down hard on her lip until she tasted blood, yet she couldn't suppress the creeping chill rising from deep within her. An indescribable pain swept through her entire body. Before she could recover, Ian spoke again from beside her, his tone distant and detached. "But don't worry. Evelyn won't threaten your position. I won't divorce you. In public, you're still my wife. It's just that in my heart, there's only Evelyn and her child now." Sophia trembled with rage. She took out the property settlement agreement she had prepared long ago and placed it in front of him. "Sign this, and I'll agree." Ian didn't mind indulging her in this childish game. He signed with a broad stroke of his pen. What he didn't realize was that the final page was the divorce agreement. As Sophia turned to leave after seeing his signature, Ian stopped her. "Tomorrow night is Ollie's birthday party. You should come too. Use it as a chance to ease things between us. After all, we'll still be living under the same roof." The moment his words landed, Sophia's pupils shrank. She stared at him in disbelief, her heart skipping a beat. He actually wanted her to live with his mistress and her child. It sounded like a joke, yet she couldn't laugh at all. Before she could respond, Ian, as if he had already anticipated her refusal, took out Rosalie's medical bill. Staring at the astronomical figure, Sophia knew that even if she worked herself to the bone, she could never afford it. For Rosalie's sake, she compromised once more. It didn't matter because she'd be leaving him soon enough. … The luxurious banquet hall was filled with influential figures from every circle. But unlike before, tonight's focus wasn't the enviable Mrs. Sheffield. It was a single mother and an unfamiliar child. Everyone knew that Ian and Sophia had been married for seven years without children. Yet now, he was suddenly hosting a grand birthday party for a six-year-old boy. Everyone present was perceptive enough to understand what that meant. Still, confusion filled their eyes. The woman before them was well-groomed, but compared to Sophia—Hillridge's most celebrated prodigy—she was no match at all. In looks, background, and talent, she fell short in every way. She even came with a child who shared no blood ties with Ian. The atmosphere grew awkward. But given Ian's status, no one dared to say a word. At the center of the venue, servers wheeled out a massive six-tier cake. Ian even publicly promised to give 10% of Sheffield Group's shares to Evelyn and her child. Evelyn covered her mouth in shock, yet she was unable to hide the delight in her eyes. Ian stood beside her, gazing at the mother and child with indulgence. They were the image of a happy family of three. When Sophia appeared, Evelyn immediately stepped forward, feigning kindness, though a flash of provocation and disdain flickered in her eyes. "Sophia, let's forget about the past. From today on, we're family." As she spoke, she pulled her child over. A sinister smile flashed briefly across her face. "This is my son, Oliver Henderson. You can call him Ollie." She added, "Ollie, this is Sophia. Hurry and call her Mommy Sophia. You'll need her to protect you in this house from now on." The words had barely left her lips when Oliver suddenly grabbed a chunk of cake and hurled it straight at Sophia. His small face was flushed red with fury, his eyes blazing with hatred. "You're an evil woman. You caused the accident that hurt my mommy and me. You made my mommy beg you. I hate you! You're the reason Daddy Ian didn't come see us!" With that, he burst into loud, wailing sobs.