5
679words
"You promised me you wouldn’t date in college."
Lucian’s voice was gravelly when he finally spoke. The last time he sounded like this was when he’d caught her skipping senior year classes to attend a concert.
"I’m not dating." Sophia’s denial was calm.
"Stop it, Sophia! You liar!"
Lucian clearly didn’t believe her. No matter how she explained, it was just more deception for him.
"Fine, whatever. I’m going to bed."
Sophia was genuinely drained.
She’d cared deeply about Lucian’s feelings before. When he was unhappy, she’d be unhappier.
Now… she couldn’t care less about him.
"You have three days to break up with your boyfriend!"
"If you don’t, I’ll do it for you!"
Why? It might be the Thompsons valuing family reputation.
Dating without parental approval was strictly forbidden.
Lily’s fabrication about Sophia dating wasn’t to help her at all. It was to make the Thompsons despise her.
"I really don’t have a boyfriend."
Too tired for another round, Sophia directly went upstairs.
The next morning, Sophia was still asleep when her door was knocked on.
"Sophia, you’re not going to class, right?"
"Wake up and pack up your room. Lily says the view is better in here, more inspiring for her work."
"You move to the guest room downstairs. Lily takes your room."
Sophia hadn’t opened the door. Mrs Thompson simply walked in.
She delivered the order like a command and left, giving Sophia no room for refusal.
Sophia got out of bed and chased after Mrs Thompson,
"Mom, I have final exams soon, then I’ll be away."
"Could I keep the room until I finish my exams?"
Sophia had little time left in the Thompson house. She wanted to stay in her own bedroom for the last few days.
A proper beginning and end would feel complete.
"Are you the only one taking exams? Isn’t Lily taking finals too?"
"Move out today so Lily can settle in comfortably. Maybe it’ll help her ace her exams!"
Mrs Thompson’s mind and heart were entirely focused on Lily.
Sophia watched her retreating figure down the stairs, feeling she looked utterly unfamiliar.
She remembered when they first moved into this mansion, Mrs Thompson had said she was the family’s only daughter, their little princess.
"Your room has to be perfect!"
She’d spent months refining details with designers, then another month having Sophia’s bedroom specially decorated.
Every desk, every chair was painstakingly sourced from around the world. Mrs Thompson’s love was evident to all through those furniture.
Sophia knew everything had changed.
She had refused to admit it. Now that she faced it, her heart ached unbearably.
She emptied her bedroom that day.
Apart from daily necessities and clothes for the next few days, she took all her cherished belongings to the back garden.
Burnable items were burned.
Shatterable items were smashed.
Expensive items that couldn’t be burned or smashed were given away to the maids and housekeeper.
Ethan returned home just as the staff were carrying away Sophia’s former treasures – mostly gifts they’d given her over the years.
"Sophia?"
"What are you doing? Why are you giving away your favorite things?"
The floor even littered with Sophia’s handmade crafts over the years, most of which were portraits of their family of five.
"Mom told me to clear my room for Lily."
"My new room can’t hold all this. I figured I’d just dispose of it."
Sophia didn’t give a glance at Ethan. She smashed the last mirror with a hammer.
"Lily’s old room was a bit cramped."
"Her passion for painting is soaring. Your room is more spacious with good views, definitely better suited for her."
Ethan nodded indifferently and turned away.
He didn’t find Mrs Thompson’s actions unfair at all. He also didn’t seem to remember many of the destroyed items were things he had given to Sophia.
Sophia watched Ethan’s retreating back, offering another bitter smile.
It really was time to leave!
She dialed James’ number.
