Chapter 82: Because Of You
Sophia blinked in stunned disbelief, her mind spinning in shock. Her nails dug into the armrest of the chair, knuckles turning white. Today was supposed to be her day—when everything would finally go her way. But instead, it felt as though the universe had conspired against her.
"Did I wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Sophia muttered under her breath, the words barely audible. But the tension in the air was so thick, that everyone in the room caught it.
William’s brow furrowed, his usual calm demeanor slipping for just a moment. He glanced between Sophia and Annabelle, his eyes lingering on Evelyn for a heartbeat too long. Doubt flashed across his features— as if believing the kid’s words for a split second.
But before he could ponder further, Sophia quickly put on her damsel show. Tears welled up in her eyes, the perfect weapon in her arsenal.
With a theatrical sigh, she let them spill down her cheeks, her voice breaking just enough to sound believable. "Evelyn... do you hate me that much?" she whimpered, making sure her voice quivered with just the right amount of pain. "That you’d spread such vile lies about me in front of a child?"
Evelyn opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. How was she supposed to counter that? But even if she did, William would only lash out at her like he did every damn time.
Sophia’s gaze flicked toward William, her voice dripping with sorrow, calculated to evoke pity. She knew how to manipulate him. She had done it for years, expertly weaving tales that would get her out of any situation, but today, the usual reaction wasn’t there. William seemed... distracted.
Before William could respond, Avery intervened. She stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Kiana’s shoulder. "This is my fault. The kid must have mixed up the stories."
Kiana, feeling the weight of the situation, shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I... I didn’t mean it like that," she whispered, her small voice cracking with guilt.