Chapter 124
Sophia Sullivan wore her bear-print pajamas, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
She rubbed her eyes and yawned.
Alexander Laurent stood at the door, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Did I wake you?"
The old building had poor soundproofing. Footsteps in the hallway were clearly audible.
Sophia shook her head. "I should get up anyway."
She had plans to go shopping with Eleanor Watson that afternoon and needed to get up early to review her thesis.
Seeing how tired she looked, Alexander softened his voice. "You can sleep a little longer."
She studied him. "Do you have a cold?"
He paused, surprised. "You can tell?"
"Your voice is very hoarse. Do you have a fever?"
He raised a hand to his own forehead. "I can't tell. Probably not."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Professor Laurent, that's not very scientific."
He sighed helplessly. "I don't have a thermometer at home."
"I do. Wait here."
She turned and went back into her room, retrieving a thermometer from a drawer.
She disinfected it with alcohol and wiped it dry with a cotton pad.
Alexander was already lying on the sofa.
He hadn't even taken off his slippers, a clear sign he wasn't feeling well.
"Professor Laurent?" she called softly.
No response.
She moved closer and called his name again.
His eyes snapped open.
Their gazes met.
Her face was inches from his, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
His heart skipped a beat.
"You scared me," she said, handing him the thermometer. "Check your temperature."
39 degrees Celsius.
A high fever.
"You need to go to the hospital."
He shook his head. "Medicine will be enough."
"Do you have any?"
"...No."
Sophia sighed. "I have some. I'll get it."
She prepared cold medicine and fever reducers, watching as he took them.
When she returned from washing the glass, he was already asleep.
She gently covered him with a blanket and quietly left.
…
Isabella Langley felt powerless against Ethan Roscente's coldness.
Everything she did was wrong.
She was afraid to provoke him again, but couldn't bear the growing distance.
She decided to start with Victoria Roscente.
Ethan respected his mother. That much was clear from the fact Isabella was still allowed to stay in the mansion.
The next day, she found out Victoria's schedule from Martha.
She arrived at the mall early to stage a chance encounter.
Victoria hadn't been shopping in a long time. A sales associate had invited her to see the new collection.
Running into Isabella, they decided to browse together.
Isabella proactively swiped her card to pay for several bags.
It was Ethan's supplementary card, but it was still better than last time's scarf.
The two women entered a luxury boutique.
A sales associate greeted them warmly. "Madam, the new arrivals would suit you perfectly."
Victoria tried on two outfits.
Isabella appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was bleeding.
Tens of thousands of dollars, gone just like that.
She had never been so extravagant.
Even with the supplementary card, to maintain a good impression, she only dared to make small purchases.
Her own luxury bags had all been gifts from others.
The entire wall of Hermès bags in the master bedroom? Ethan didn't allow her to touch them.
Victoria saw right through her, feeling a private disdain.
Coming from an ordinary family, she was stingy and lacked grandeur.
She wanted things but didn't dare to admit it, pretending to be above it all.
Hypocritical.
For the sake of the child, Victoria bit her tongue.
She pointed to the display area. "Pick out a couple of things."
Isabella pretended to decline.
"Suit yourself," Victoria said coolly.
Isabella was stunned.
Suddenly, the sales associate hurried toward the entrance. "Mrs. Laurent! You're here! I was just about to send the new collection to you!"
Victoria turned and saw Eleanor Watson.
She wore a celadon-colored cheongsam with a pearl shrug and carried a bamboo handle bag.
Elegant and intellectual, she looked like a figure from an ancient painting.
Eleanor came from a family of scholars, her demeanor gentle and refined.
Over forty, she was well-preserved and could pass for early thirties.
The social circle was small. The Laurent and Roscente families had business dealings, so they often crossed paths.
But they were never close.
Eleanor was talented, beautiful, and came from a prominent family. She was the center of attention everywhere.
Victoria often felt like a mere accessory in comparison.
Eleanor did not care for Victoria.
A minor actress who leveraged a pregnancy to marry into the Roscente family. She was calculating and acerbic.
Most importantly, she had treated Sophia Sullivan poorly.
Eleanor knew about Sophia's past with Ethan.
She felt sorry that such a wonderful girl had been fixated on the wrong man, but was glad she had come to her senses in time.
"Mrs. Laurent, it's been a while," Victoria said with a smile.
"Hello," Eleanor replied curtly, not wishing to engage.
She waved toward someone behind her, her smile warm. "Sophia, over here."
Sophia Sullivan emerged from the restroom.
Nina White stood inside the store, waving her over.
Victoria Roscente followed the direction of the wave.
A familiar face came into view.
Sophia Sullivan.
Isabella Langley saw her too.
Sophia wore light makeup.
A camel trench coat paired with brown suede knee-high boots.
Her hair was casually pulled up with a claw clip.
She looked comfortable and relaxed.
She carried a unique, effortless grace.
She walked over to Nina White.
Naturally looping her arm through the older woman's.
"Auntie Bai."
"Have you been waiting long?"
She completely ignored Victoria Roscente and Isabella Langley.
Not even a glance.
Victoria was instantly furious.
She thought of how her son still pined for this woman.
Yet Sophia had ended things so cleanly.
Isabella thoughtfully poured tea and handed it over.
"Auntie, some water."
"You must be tired from shopping so long."
Victoria managed a smile.
"Xixi is so considerate."
"Pretty and thoughtful."
"Not like some people."
"Who lack even basic manners."
Nina White smiled faintly.
"Mrs. Roscente."
"And this is?"
Her gaze settled on Isabella Langley.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Victoria's expression tightened.
Isabella was pregnant.
But she had no official status.
At best, she was a girlfriend.
At worst, a mistress.
How could she introduce that?
If word got out.
Her standing in the social circle would be ruined.
Isabella's eyes were full of hope.
Status mattered most to her.
Ethan Roscente refused to give it.
But Victoria had spent a fortune today.
Surely she would acknowledge her now.
Victoria gave a dry laugh.
"Just a friend's child."
"Keeping me company while shopping."
Isabella's smile froze.
Nina White let out a faint "Oh."
"I thought she might be your future daughter-in-law."
"Of course not."
Victoria hurriedly denied it.
"Ethan isn't seeing anyone."
Nina White said no more.
She turned to Sophia.
"Clara has excellent taste."
"Help me pick out a few outfits."
Sophia nodded in agreement.
It wasn't her first time shopping with Nina White.
She knew the woman's preferences well.
Sophia went to select clothes.
Nina White suddenly sighed.
"Our Clara is so sweet and understanding."
"Beautiful and highly educated."
"I wonder which man will be lucky enough to marry her."
She cast a faint glance at Isabella.
Everyone in their circle knew about the Roscente family's situation.
Victoria wanted to hide the shame.
Nina White wouldn't let her.
"A girl should still have self-respect."
"Getting pregnant before marriage."
"No amount of beauty can cover up a flaw in character."
Victoria's smile was strained.
She couldn't retort.
Isabella paled.
An out-of-wedlock pregnancy was a stain.
Her education was an even bigger weakness.
Sophia did her undergrad at MIT.
Now she was in grad school.
Isabella's Caltech degree couldn't compare.
But she couldn't swallow her anger.
A sales associate brought over some clothes.
Isabella stepped forward to take them.
"Auntie."
"Let me help you pick something too."
Victoria glanced at Nina White.
Hmph.
So you have help.
I have mine too.
She smiled and nodded.
"Alright."
"I trust your taste."
Completely forgetting her previous complaints about Isabella's poor aesthetic.
Isabella immediately went to choose clothes.
Ordering the associate to fetch this and that.
Full of commanding presence.
Sophia was completely different.
She first examined the colors and styles.
Then felt the fabric.
Only then did she ask the associate to take it down.
She coordinated complete outfits.
"Auntie Bai."
"Please try these two sets."
Nina White took the clothes.
Her eyes full of anticipation.
She adored Sophia's taste.
Every outfit hit the mark perfectly.
It was even more enjoyable than shopping with her own daughter.
This was true compatibility.
Isabella finished her selections.
Victoria went into the fitting room.
She came out first.
A red A-line skirt with a Chanel-style tweed jacket.
It made her look considerably younger.
Victoria looked in the mirror.
Somewhat satisfied.
"Not bad at all."
Isabella smiled modestly.
"Auntie takes good care of herself."
"Your figure is slimmer than mine."
Victoria was pleased.
But the next moment.
Nina White walked out of her fitting room.
Victoria's smile stiffened.
Sophia had chosen a light cyan new Chinese-style cheongsam.
With a subtle bamboo pattern.
The silk had a luxurious texture.
The modernized cut flattered her figure.
It made Nina White appear tall, elegant, and graceful.
Her demeanor was gentle and refined.
Standing beside her.
Victoria looked like a meticulously dressed little old lady.
Trying too hard to appear young.
The difference was stark.
For the next look.
Nina White utterly outshone Victoria.
Isabella had been full of confidence.
Victoria was short.
Many clothes didn't suit her.
It was hard to find good options.
She had painstakingly chosen two outfits.
But.
Isabella's choices fit well.
They catered to Victoria's tastes.
The designer cuts weren't bad.
They could have passed.
But Sophia's two selections were too outstanding.
Nina White's superior conditioning.
Without comparison, there was no damage.
Victoria looked like a maid.
Drenched in luxury but exuding vulgarity.
Facing each other.
The contrast was even more intense.
Nina White looked in the mirror.
Surprised and delighted.
"Clara."
"This is my first time trying this style."
"But I love it."
"How did you think of it?"
A silk camisole with black silk wide-leg trousers.
The person was the same.
But the aura was instantly different.
Large silver hoop earrings were eye-catching.
Bold yet casually lazy.
The previous set was gentle and serene.
This one was sophisticated and capable.
Sophia Sullivan smiled faintly. "The cheongsam style is still too restrictive. Perhaps we could try something more relaxed."
Victoria Roscente's face darkened, but she suppressed her anger due to the setting.
Isabella Langley bit her lower lip. She hadn't expected to be completely outshone by Sophia.
Nina White took in their reactions with a slight scoff. "Some people can't tell pearls from glass. It's laughable."
"Wrap both of these up," she indicated to the sales associate.
"Right away, madam." The associate beamed and went to process the payment.
"Clara, let's go look elsewhere."
"Alright."
After they left, Victoria stared at the clothes she was wearing, wishing she could tear them to shreds on the spot.
Remembering how she had been utterly humiliated by Nina White moments before, she suddenly pointed at Isabella. "What an embarrassment! If you can't even handle something as simple as coordinating an outfit, what use are you?"
Isabella cradled her pregnant belly, speaking in a low voice. "I've been so tired since getting pregnant. Ethan had business entertainment until the early hours last night. I was up all night taking care of him.