Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Sophia had just slapped Patrick in front of everyone, and yet the Roscente family barely seemed to notice.
It was becoming clearer than ever: Patrick was nothing but a discarded pawn in their eyes–no value left, no use for him.
From the moment Xandra had entered the Roscente family, she’d never thought much of Patrick.
To her, he was just like his useless father–weak, with big dreams of taking over the Roscente empire.
Patrick’s only goal was to worm his way back into the family, hoping to reclaim the power his father had lost.
As for Xandra, she always made sure to have an escape route.
She might despise Patrick, but she’d kept a connection with him–just in case things went south.
But now, seeing Patrick tossed aside like yesterday’s news, she felt no reason to keep up the pretense.
No more false hope.
“Is that it? A little push, and you fall apart?” Xandra sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I thought the Roscente family’s darling debutante was supposed to be able to stand on her own.”
Patrick’s lips curled into a cruel grin, his voice low and chilling. The way he spoke sent an icy shiver down Xandra’s spine. “Such a pity,” he drawled, his smile twisted and mocking. “If I were you, with a hand like that, I’d make sure I didn’t waste it.” Xandra’s throat went dry, but there was something about his words that made her pulse quicken–a jolt of realization she wasn’t ready for.
She clenched her fists and forced herself to look calm. “What exactly are you implying?” she asked, her tone sharp.
Patrick’s grin only deepened. His eyes gleamed with malicious intent as he closed the distance between them, making her feel even more uncomfortable.
Before she could step back, he chuckled darkly. “You sure you want to have this chat right here?”
Xandra’s gaze flickered over to the nearby security guards.
She bit down on her frustration and quickly shot a glance at the Roscente estate, the place she was supposed to call home.
With a sharp tug on her dress, she turned and headed toward her car, the sound of her high heels echoing sharply in the silence.
Patrick followed, his grin still in place, his voice a low taunt trailing after her.
He slid his hands into his pockets, matching her pace, his smile colder with every step.
*****
At the Roscente estate, Sophia found herself surrounded by the three family elders, feeling oddly out of place.
It wasn’t just Xandra who hadn’t seen this coming–Sophia hadn’t expected this turn of events either.
This was nothing like the cheesy novels about lost heirs and fake daughters she’d read before.
All the experience she thought she had? Totally useless here.
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Chapter 91
Sophia took a seat at the dining table, the elders still hovering around her.
With two of them practically breathing down her neck, she didn’t even have the chance to enjoy the elaborate spread in front of her.
Edward shot a sharp glance at Allen, who was still lingering way too close to Sophia. He rapped his knuckles on the table. “Go sit down. Let Soph eat in peace.”
Allen looked at Sophia like he was about to lose her forever, his gaze filled with an almost painful longing. He stared at her as she moved to a nearby chair, clearly reluctant to let her go.
Sophia couldn’t help but stare at him, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest. Something was off about her so–called father, Allen..
On paper, he was the head of the Roscente Group, the ruthless CEO who ran the city’s most powerful corporation. He was supposed to be the picture of dominance, the kind of man who made others feel his power just by standing in the same
room.
He should have been acting like a man with real control, especially when meeting his long–lost daughter.
Sophia had heard from Walter that Chloe and she had both been cut off from the family for years, and they had never even met the Roscente elders before.
And when she had first met her grandfather, his cold, distant attitude had made it clear that they weren’t exactly welcome.
Sophia knew the only reason she and Chloe had been brought back into the family was because of their bloodline–nothing more than a family obligation. There was no real warmth, no affection. Just duty.
Sophia had long been accustomed to the cold, detached attitude of the Stewart family. By the time she walked away from them, she had mentally braced herself: as long as the Roscente family didn’t treat her the same way, as long as they didn’t make things too difficult, she’d be okay.
But then, something unexpected happened…
The more time she spent with her grandfather, the more she realized that beneath his stern, proud exterior, he was actually a stubborn old man with a soft spot.
As for her so–called father and older brother… well, this was her first time meeting them.
Still, even though Sophia wasn’t quite used to Allen’s overwhelming warmth, she couldn’t deny that she felt it.
There was something genuine in the way he looked at her, something more than just surface–level affection. His emotions. were real, and that made all the difference.
Sophia was on her progress with the Roscente family
Edward, noticing her drifting thoughts, broke the silence. “Okay, enough staring. Eat, will you? You’re making me hungry just watching you,” he said, his voice teasing but affectionate.
He sounded annoyed, but his actions were anything but. With a flick of his wrist, he added a serving of Sophia’s favorite dish to her plate.
No sooner had Edward done that, than the other two men at the table jumped in, eager to show their hospitality. They practically fawned over her, loading her plate with more food as though they were giving her treasures.
Sophia, on the other hand, was starving.
She had planned to grab a quick bite after finishing her shift at the hospital, treating Tristan’s grandfather.
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Chapter 91
But then that unexpected kiss had thrown her entire day–and her plans–into complete disarray. Physically drained and emotionally unsettled, she was hungrier than she could remember.
It felt like she could devour an entire cow if it meant getting some food in her stomach.
But her plate was small. Every time they piled more food on it, the mountain of dishes only grew higher.
She barely had room to even take a bite,
It felt like cruel, delicious torture–so close to food, yet so far away. It was almost unbearable.
Sophia.tried to take a bite several times, but her mouth wouldn’t cooperate. Every time, she froze.
She glanced over at Allen and Lukas. They looked like they were waiting for her to eat, desperate to see her take a bite. If they could, they’d probably shovel the entire table into her plate.
With a sly smile, Sophia decided to turn the tables. She quickly grabbed her chopsticks and scooped up a bite, sending it straight to Lukas’s plate, then to Allen’s.
“Eat, eat,” she teased. “You two should hurry up and eat too.”
Of course, she didn’t forget Edward.
But as soon as she placed food on Edward’s plate, she noticed a change in Allen’s posture. His whole body stiffened, and his gaze locked onto the food she’d just served him. For a second, he looked… overwhelmed.
Before he could stop himself, he buried his face in his plate, stuffing food into his mouth as though he hadn’t eaten in days.
It was his daughter, Sophia, who had served him that food.
And he was going to eat every last bite.
Lukas, too, seemed touched by the gesture. He glanced down at the food Sophia had given him, a soft smile curving the corners of his lips.
His gaze lingered on her, warm and affectionate, as he picked up his fork and ate the food she’d given him.
Edward, on the other hand, just shook his head, taking his time with the food she’d passed him. “Really?” he muttered, rolling his eyes. “This is all it takes to get you guys all sentimental?”
Sophia, a little bemused, looked from one man to the next.
It was just food. Just a simple gesture.
She thought, ‘Is it really that big of a deal?”
But as she looked at the three of them–her grandfather, her father, and her older brother–something in her chest softened.
Her lips curled into a small smile and a warm, quiet feeling spread through her heart.
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