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"You’re coming?"
"I thought you weren’t planning to return to us."
James’s elation was palpable even through the phone.
"I’m sorry I made you wait so long."
Over the past year, Sophia had felt James and her bio-parents’ genuine care and affection.
She’d once thought herself lucky to have two families.
But today, watching the Thompsons shower Lily with trust, regarded by them as a plagiarizer, Sophia finally let go.
Though she was grateful for them raising her these 18 years.
"It’s okay, we’d wait forever. We just want you to be happy."
James was thrilled. He said he’d tell dad and mom the good news immediately, adding that they’d long since prepared her room.
Just as Sophia ended the call with James, her bedroom door swung open without a knock.
"Sophia, why didn’t you come down to celebrate with me? Are you mad at me?"
Lily stood in the doorway, clutching a crystal trophy, her eyes wide with a feigned vulnerability.
"You have plenty of people celebrating with you. You don’t need me."
"I’m tired and want to rest. Please leave."
After countless encounters with Lily, Sophia had long since deciphered her tactics.
She was too tired to play games, so she dismissed Lily bluntly.
"Sophia, I can explain about the painting! Please!"
Lily took two steps forward. Her eyes instantly welled with tears.
"There’s no one else in my room. The act isn’t necessary."
"If you truly want to make amends, kneel down to apologize."
Sophia was certain Lily wasn’t here to apologize, but to flaunt the Thompsons’ favoritism.
She thought this outrageous demand would send Lily scurrying away.
Unexpectedly, Lily actually dropped to her knees.
She even slapped herself hard for several times.
"Sophia, I know you’ve hated me since I came to this family."
Slap!
"It’s because you’re not the Thompsons’ biological daughter, isn’t it? But neither am I!"
Slap!
"The Thompsons are good people. They’re kind to me only because I look like their real daughter. It’s just pity!"
Slap!
"Sophia, you were raised as their daughter for over ten years! Their feelings for you must run much deeper!"
Lily slapped herself hard while loudly crying out.
Her nail had cut her face. The red cut wasn’t deep, but obvious enough to see.
Ethan and Lucian heard Lily’s anguished cries and rushed to Sophia’s room.
Seeing the cut on Lily’s face, their eyes blazed with fury.
"Sophia, you’ve gone too far!"
Ethan helped Lily up, glaring daggers at Sophia.
"Sophia, I’m giving you one last chance. Apologize to Lily now!"
Lucian stood rigid, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.
"I’m sorry..."
Tears welled up in Sophia’s eyes. She had apologized to Lucian instead of Lily.
When she’d learned she wasn’t a Thompson, Lucian had begged her not to leave. She’d promised him that she would stay with them.
Yet she was leaving in a few days now. Thinking of the broken promise, Sophia couldn’t hold back her tears.
"It’s good for you to admit your fault."
"Learn from Lily. Be more obedient."
"You’re still our family."
Lucian’s lips twitched slightly. He reached out and ruffled Sophia’s hair – a gesture of intimacy he hadn’t shown for a long time.
Lily’s weapon was her pretense of being obedient.
But Sophia had never stooped to that, and she never would.
The Thompsons’ affection? She no longer cared.
"We care for Lily because she’s kind and sweet."
"It’s you who changed after finding out you weren’t one of us!"
"But no one’s perfect. I understand why you felt that way."
