Chapter 89
Chapter 89
A young man, tall and lean in a white suit, stepped into the room
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He appeared to be in his mid–twenties, with striking good looks. His lips, a bright red, curled into a carefree smile, thought there was an unmistakable sadness lurking in his eyes.
“Everything has its place, don’t you think?” he continued, his tone slow and deliberate. “Xandra has been with the Roscente family for over ten years. By all rights… she should be your sister Miss Hoscente. So why are you being so hostile? Are you afraid of her?”
His voice was smooth and unhurried, and each word seemed to carry a challenge as he walked casually over to Xandra’s side.
The moment he approached, Sophia noticed the slight stiffening of Xandra’s pale face. But it passed quickly.
Almost immediately, Xandra straightened, a soft smile forming n her lips as she turned to face him.
“Patrick, what are you doing here?” she asked, her voice low.
“Of course, I came to see you after hearing you’d come back to the estate, Patrick replied, his voice light and warm. But as he spoke, his eyes didn’t stay on Xandra; they shifted past her, lecking onto Sophia with unnerving intensity,
His gaze was cold, like a snake’s, fixed and calculating, full of dark, predatory intent.
“Patrick,” Lukas‘ voice cut through the air, cold as ice. His tall frame moved to shield Sophia from view, his glare aimed straight at Patrick. “You’re not welcome here.”
Patrick let out a small, mocking laugh, clearly unbothered by Las‘ words. With a lazy smile, he sidestepped Lukas and walked directly to Sophia. He extended a hand toward her, graceful yet condescending.
“Miss Roscente, it’s a pleasure,” he said smoothly, eyes gleaming with amusement. I’m Patrick. Your cousin–your father’s brother’s son.”
His gaze dropped just slightly, his eyes sparkling with mischief, as though savoring some private joke. He saw this as a game, and he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
Sophia’s eyes flicked from his outstretched hand to his face. She paused as if measuring him up, before finally allowing her gaze to rise and meet his.
She curled her lips.
Her features were vivid and intense beauty, with an air of cold elegance, appearing both cool and striking.
Her smile was radiant and enchanting, dazzling to behold.
But, when her bright eyes met Patrick’s gaze, even though he was rather tall, appearing arrogant and domineering, she still presented a commanding presence,
She didn’t take his hand, choosing instead to remain standing arms crossed, as if she were a queen surveying her subject.
“Does she count as my sister?” Sophia raised an eyebrow, her voe dripping with mockery as her gaze swept over to Xandra
“Her?”
She scoffed softly, her eyes moving slowly across Edward, Allen, and Lukas.
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Chapter 89
“I remember my grandfather said I was the only granddaughter. When did I suddenly get a sister?”
Her words were pointed, laced with contempt, and it was clear she didn’t take Xandra seriously–not even for a second.
Edward’s face hardened. Allen’s expression grew stern. Lukas‘ lips tightened in disapproval.
In unison, all three men spoke, their voices calm but unyielding The Roscente family has only one heiress. You have six brothers, no sisters.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow, her smile turning a bit smug as she glanced sideways at Patrick. Her gaze shifted back to Xandra the expression almost taunting, daring her to challenge what had just been said.
Xandra’s fingers clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The weight of Sophia’s gaze felt like a slap in the face. Every look, every word, was designed to humiliate her, to remind her that she didn’t belong,
Sophia wasn’t just trying to put her in her place; she was flaunting it. She was showing off her status as the legitimate heir to the Roscente name.
She made it clear that she could take anything Xandra had fough for without a second thought.
She was flaunting her ability to take away what Xandra had struggled so hard to earn.
Xandra’s heart burned with a mix of shame and fury. Her chest tightened, and her vision blurred with the sting of unshed tears. The urge to scream, to lash out, was overwhelming
But then, a heavy hand landed on her shoulder.
A cold chill ran down her spine as the warmth of Patrick’s malicious smile seeped into her skin, freezing her in place. Patrick’s lips curled into a wicked grin, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
He was the kind of person who thrived on making others uncomfortable, knowing he could get away with it.
Patrick smoothly withdrew his hand, slipping it back into his pocket, his other arm casually draped around Xandra’s shoulder. His lips painted the color of fresh blood. “Miss Roscente, he said with a mocking lilt. “You can’t just say things like that. Xandra’s been with the Roscente family for years. She may not have had to fight for everything, but she’s put in her time and paid her dues. And here you come, eager to prove that you’re the only one who matters to this family. Isn’t that a little too much?”
Sophia’s gaze flicked between the two of them, her eyes locking with Patrick’s in a silent challenge. Her lips quirked in amusement, a soft, dismissive laugh escaping her.
She leaned back, her posture as lazy as her smile was sharp. “Oh see her enjoying everything the Roscente family has given her the perks, the advantages. But ‘effort? Where’s that, exactly?”
She paused for effect, her eyes narrowing as she flicked a glance toward Xandra. “Or maybe… you think your heart’s been bruised after all these years?”
“No, I didn’t–Xandra’s face drained of color, panic flashing in her eyes as she sought refuge in Allen’s gaze.
But before she could finish her sentence, the arm around her shoulder tightened suddenly, squeezing out the words as the pressure cut them off.
Xandra’s breath hitched, and she stole a cautious glance at Patrick, whose presence was like a snake coiling around her, cold
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and unrelenting.
日
He didn’t even spare her a look. His focus remained entirely on Sophia as he continued, almost lazily. “I heard you were brought back from the countryside, Miss Roscente. Quite the character you are, huh?”
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“My character is none of your concern, Sophia replied coolly, her lips curving into a smirk. Her voice was sharp, and biting. and her eyes gleamed with an unsettling confidence.
“She crossed her arms with the kind of deliberate superiority that only the truly entitled could master. Then, without missing a beat, she turned her attention to Lukas,
Lukas…
Sophia’s voice was light, teasing, and filled with a playful sparkle, her smile unapologetically radiant.
She held Lukas’s gaze without hesitation, an unspoken connection passing between them.
At that moment, Lukas’s heart skipped a beat.
Under the warmth of her smile, something in Lukas clicked, as if a door had opened.
He understood now why Edward, a man who usually remained distant from family squabbles, had suddenly stepped in to defend Sophia
When her voice reached his ears, soft yet teasing as she called his name, Lukas couldn’t help but smile back, his response gentle. “Soph.”
Sophia tilted her head with a knowing look, then casually pointed at Patrick, raising an eyebrow as if the idea just occurred to her. “Do you need to keep up the appearance of being friendly with. Patrick, the one who’s been cast out of the family?”
Her words were sharp, and calculated–a dagger aimed straight a Patrick’s pride.
Lukas, understanding the challenge in her voice, smiled softly, his tone steady. “No need. He’s been expelled. He’s no longer a part of the Roscente family.”
Sophia dragged the word “Oh‘ out, her eyes narrowing with amusement as she turned her gaze to Patrick.
The mention of being ‘expelled‘ hit Patrick like a slap in the face
His expression darkened immediately, his once–pristine composure cracking under the weight of the words, especially when Lukas reinforced them with such finality.
But Patrick didn’t flinch. His lips twisted into a wider, colder smile–a smile that sent a chill through the room.
It was unsettling, like a predator savoring its hunt
Sophia noticed the tension building, the air thickening with it, and her smile grew even sharper, colder. She wasn’t backing
down.
So what if it’s the truth? she thought. ‘Lukas has already said it. There’s no reason to give Patrick the time of day anymore. If he thinks he’s untouchable, then it’s time to remind him of his place.
Patrick’s brow furrowed, his mood darkening further. He opened his mouth to speak, his voice low, controlled with barely contained fury. “Miss Roscente…” he began, but before he could continue-
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Chapter 89
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The sharp slap echoed through the grand, empty hall like the crack of thunder. The sound vibrated in the air, sending shockwaves through the room.
Patrick froze, his face going from pale to crimson in an instant, his skin stinging from the blow.
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Patrick’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his posture stiffening as his anger flared. He looked like a coiled snake, ready to strike His whole demeanor screamed fury, but there was something else behind it–something more dangerous.
Xandra, still in shock from the sudden violence, stared at Sophia wide–eyed. It took a few moments for her to snap back to reality, and when she did, her voice broke the silence, a sharp edge of panic in it. “Sophia, you–how dare you hit him!”
Sophia nonchalantly pulled her hand back, her face as cold and fawless as ever, not a trace of emotion as she flicked her fingers in the air.
Walter, ever the observant one, quickly handed her a few wet tissues from the side.
Without a word, Sophia took them and meticulously wiped each of her fingers. Her crimson lips curved into a mocking, arrogant smile as she glanced at Patrick. “What’s all the fuss about? Did I hit your lover or something? Why the drama?”
Xandra’s face turned beet red. Without thinking, she shoved Patrick’s arm off her shoulder, her voice a frantic defense. “What are you talking about? Patrick’s our cousin! How could you just hit him like that?”
“He’s not my cousin.” Sophia continued wiping her fingers with precision, making sure they were spotless before tossing the tissues into the trash. “Didn’t my brother just say that someone who’s been kicked out of the family… isn’t part of it anymore?”
Sophia raised an eyebrow. happy family?”
“Since you’re so keen on calling him cousin, why don’t you go home with him and be one big
Although Sophia had only recently returned to the Roscente family, Walter, with his never–ending thirst for gossip, had filled her in on plenty of details.
Like how Edward’s second son–Allen’s younger brother–was the epitome of wasted ambition. Patrick’s father had tried to grab control from Allen but lacked the skills to back up his desires.
The result? Total failure, marked by ruthless and underhanded tactics.
Furious, Edward had stripped his son of his shares and kicked him out of the family.
Without the Roscente family’s wealth and power, the second son had nothing.
So now, Xandra, stuck in this mess, had no choice but to stick by Patrick. If not for him showing up, she’d already have been thrown out of the family estate.
But for Sophia? It was only a matter of time before she’d kick both Patrick and Xandra out for
good
“Seems like our dear Mr. Roscente, the one who’s been ousted from the family, really came prepared to stir things up. You’ve done your homework, huh? Investigated me so thorough–surely you must’ve uncovered my favorite hobby.. teaching people what real class looks like,” Sophia
said.
A smile played at her lips, but her eyes were as cold as a winter storm. There was something dangerously calculated about her tone, something far more chilling than the words themselve
20:47 Mon, Feb
Chapter 89
Sophia took a slow step toward Patrick..
Despite her simple white sneakers, her presence was commanding, more intimidating than if she’d been wearing towering.
heels.
The air around her felt thick, suffocating, as if she was closing in on him, trapping him in silence so heavy it was hard to breathe.
But Patrick didn’t back down. His eyes, dark with malice, flickered with a twisted thrill. He felt the tension, the danger, and reveled in it like a predator locking eyes with its prey.
His lips curled into a cruel, sinister grin. “Miss Koscente, I came here on behalf of my father, to congratulate you… on finally returning to the family.”
The words stung, not just to Sophia, but to his father as well. It was a slap in the face to the very man who had once raised him, as much as it was a jab at Sophia.
Sophia didn’t even flinch. “Oh?” she said, her expression unreadable.
Then, in one swift move, she stopped right in front of Patrick. Without warning, she bent her knee and drove it hard into his stomach.
“Ugh!” Patrick’s face drained of color as the air was knocked from his lungs. He crumpled, falling to his knees in pain. Xandra gasped, stumbling backward, eyes wide with disbelief. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Sophia had struck Patrick–right in front of the family, with a brutal force that was as violent as it was chilling
into
This wasn’t how a high–society lady should act. It wasn’t the image anyone would expect of someone just returning to the family after all this time.
Xandra’s mind raced. This, this isn’t how a noblewoman behave! she thought, biting down on her lower lip, her ambition rising.
If she could just show the family how composed she was, how poised she could be–unlike Sophia–then surely they would recognize her as the true heir of the Roscente family.
But then she looked at Sophia again who was standing above Patrick’s crumpled form with a radiant smile. Sophia said, “Did you come here to congratulate me with empty hands? Even if you’ve been cast out of the Roscente family, surely you aren’t this poor?
“But don’t worry, I’m generous. I’ll make sure you don’t leave here empty–handed.”
She turned around and walked towards the family members. He curled his lips into a contented smile. Grandfather, Dad, Lukas, my gift for Patrick should be generous enough, right?”
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