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"Now you’ve injured her! What are you trying to do? Are you deliberately defying me?"
"Just because we didn’t pick you up from the hospital, you take your resentment out on Lily!"
Ethan stormed out of his room, scooped up Lily, and glared at Sophia with pure disgust.
"Sophia, how can someone from our family be so vicious? You make me sick!"
"Sophia, you should’ve yielded to your Sophiater and taken care of her! Look at how you’ve treated Lily!"
Mr Thompson stood at the top of the stairs, frowning deeply at Sophia.
Sophia’s mind went blank. She stared at the familiar faces, feeling utterly alienated.
She opened her mouth to explain, but seeing Lily’s triumphant smirk from Ethan’s arms, she knew it was useless.
"Get Lily to the hospital! That cut is deep. She’ll need a tetanus shot!" Lucian arrived last.
He checked Lily’s foot, then looked at Sophia. His accusatory gaze made it clear he blamed her.
Ethan drove Lily to the hospital. Mr and Mrs Thompson quickly changed and followed in another car. Lucian stayed behind.
"Sophia, I don’t want to hear your excuses tonight."
"I stayed to tell you this is the last time."
"If I ever find you hurting Lily again, I won’t forgive you!"
He looked at her, his expression complex – disappointment, disbelief, and intense disgust.
"May I go to my room now?" Sophia understood Lucian’s meaning. She wasn’t sure if he had more to say. Seeing him staring coldly, she turned and locked her door.
Lily was injured. They panicked. They rushed to help, stayed with her, and Lucian stayed to warn Sophia.
No one asked why Lily was outside her door or why dishes had shattered there.
Sophia dialed James’s number. She hung up before the call connected.
It was too late. She couldn’t let James worry.
At 3 AM, Lily and the others returned. Sophia had already gone to bed. Yet someone knocked heavily on her door.
"Sophia Thompson! How can you sleep so soundly? Lily needed three stitches and a tetanus shot because of you! Are you satisfied now?"
Ethan pounded on the door.
"Ever since Lily won, you’ve been acting strange! Playing meek on the surface, but hurting her behind our backs! Wake up!"
Ethan shook the door handle violently when Sophia didn’t answer.
Sophia knew Ethan’s temper. Once ignited, nothing could stop him.
She got out of bed and opened the door. The entire family stared at her accusingly. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Mrs Thompson, exhausted, sat beside Lily, rubbing her temples.
"What should I say?" Sophia’s voice was flat. "Or what do you want me to say?"
She straightened her spine, her heart long scarred over. Now, no matter how they prodded her wounds, she couldn’t bleed. She was numb.
"An apology? Impossible!"
"You’re incorrigible! Utterly incorrigible!" Mr Thompson pointed a trembling finger at Sophia.
"Sophia, I don’t blame you! It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have gone to see you! If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be hurt!"
Lily, seeing the family’s anger directed squarely at Sophia, achieved her goal.
"Since I came home, Sophia has lost so much. She’s pitiful too."
The Thompsons, moved by her ‘generosity’, felt even more guilty and affectionate towards her.
"Pitiful? How is she pitiful?" Ethan scoffed. "We raised her in luxury! The whole family revolved around her!"
He glared at Sophia, "I’ll tell you what – we spoiled her rotten! If she’d had to struggle like you, Lily, endured hardships, she wouldn’t be so spoiled!"
Mrs Thompson’s thoughts turned to her real daughter. Tears welled up.
Lily, ever perceptive, handed her tissues.
"Mom, let’s give Sophia more time. Everything will work out!"
Lily comforted Mrs Thompson.
"Please don’t cry! I never knew a mother’s love growing up. Seeing you cry makes me want to cry too…" They embraced.
