Chapter 206 I Fell in Love with Another Man

Chapter 206: Chapter 206: I Fell in Love with Another Man

A sarcastic scoff nearly escaped Sophie Winslow’s lips.

The Sterling family valued profit over affection. As long as someone could bring value to the table, worldly conventions, moral compasses, and human warmth could all be discarded. Sophie understood everything now.

She put down the incense, thoroughly cementing herself in the position of an outsider.

Originally, she had come today for her divorce certificate. Out of basic courtesy, she thought that offering a stick of incense to the Sterling family’s ancestors as a junior wasn’t a big deal. But now that the family wanted to have their cake and eat it too, she didn’t need to be so polite. She really didn’t have to burn this incense.

She might as well make room for Stella Sutton.

Putting down the incense, Sophie turned and retreated to the back. She showed absolutely no sign of stepping forward to drive Stella away, observing this silent acceptance ceremony for Stella with cold detachment.

Sophie’s "sensible" withdrawal from this two-women-fighting-over-one-man conflict caused Julian Sterling’s gaze to fall on her. He watched her walk straight to the very back, almost stepping out the door, like a mere bystander. He even suspected that if Sophie were asked to give them her blessing today, she would actually say it.

Unlike Julian’s indifference, Madam Sterling frowned at Sophie’s actions. "Sophie, don’t throw a tantrum. Why are you retreating so far back? You are still Julian’s wife."

Sophie knew Madam Sterling didn’t want to openly declare to the rest of the Sterling family that she and Julian had finalized their divorce. The old woman expected her to play along with this charade.

She chuckled softly. It seemed she was wrong no matter what she did. If she was jealous, she was petty; if she was magnanimous, she was throwing an attitude? Being composed and reasonable wasn’t enough; she had to be groveling and submissive.

Madam Sterling merely said that for show, having no intention of disrespecting Stella today. She waved her hand dismissively. "Continue."

If Sophie were as exceptional as Stella, Julian wouldn’t have had a change of heart. Ultimately, it was Sophie’s own incompetence.

In truth, Madam Sterling was quite displeased when Julian gave Sophie a massive sum of money a while back to help Stella leave Longview. That was ninety million. Giving Sophie such a large amount of money just for Stella’s sake was a terrible deal. Since when did the Sterling family allow others to take advantage of them? If it hadn’t been for Stella, Sophie would never have benefited from the Sterlings.

But now, at least Stella was proving her worth. This made Madam Sterling feel a bit better.

Sophie didn’t look at Madam Sterling again; she truly had no desire to act anymore. She didn’t return to offer the incense. She didn’t even watch how Julian and Stella offered incense and bowed together, shoulder to shoulder, like a newlywed couple.

Hidden in the back, she quietly exited the massive ancestral hall. Checking the time, Sophie figured she would go negotiate with Madam Sterling once today’s tedious procedures were over.

Fortunately, given Madam Sterling’s advanced age, she needed a brief rest midway. Sophie seized the opportunity, following closely on Madam Sterling’s heels into the tearoom.

Seeing her enter, Madam Sterling asked, "What is it?"

Sophie looked her straight in the eye. "My divorce certificate. Please give it back to me."

Madam Sterling’s expression gradually cooled.

Sophie spoke bluntly. "By allowing Stella to come today, the Sterling family is tacitly approving of her continuing relationship with Julian. You’ve seen it too—Stella has been in the limelight lately, receiving high praise from the public. Your prejudice against her has vanished, hasn’t it?"

As for the tangled family ties—her being a future sister-in-law—the Sterling family’s PR team could easily spin the narrative. Sophie was making her stance clear: she could step aside cleanly to let the exceptional Stella, whom the Sterlings were now satisfied with, take her place. If the Sterling family wanted heirs, Stella could bear them.

"Are you in such a rush?" Madam Sterling countered.

Sophie pursed her lips, hardened her heart, and blurted out, "Yes. I’ve fallen in love with another man."

At that very moment, the door was gently pushed open. Sophie didn’t turn around, but through the reflective mirror in front of her, she saw Julian standing in the doorway. Yet Julian showed no visible reaction. It was unclear if he had actually heard Sophie’s claim of falling in love with someone else.

"Dinner is ready," he said, his tone as steady as ever.

Madam Sterling’s face, which had darkened at Sophie’s outrageous remark, softened slightly. As she stood up, she said to Sophie, "If you truly have someone else you fancy, you can bring him over and let Grandma take a look."

Sophie’s lips instantly pressed together. She had already gone this far, even complying with Madam Sterling’s past demand that she must never remarry into the Sterling family after the divorce, and yet she still had to bring the man here? Who was she supposed to bring?

Madam Sterling glanced at Julian’s expression, which remained completely unbothered. His own wife had just declared she loved another man, yet he was utterly unfazed, showing not a shred of affection! Clearly, this negotiation was fruitless.

Seeing Madam Sterling walking ahead, Sophie stepped up to Julian. Just as he was about to leisurely follow his grandmother, she tugged at the corner of his sleeve. Julian looked down at her hand grasping his clothing.

Guessing that he probably didn’t want her close—after all, he had to keep himself pure for someone else—she immediately let go. "When exactly are you going to give me the divorce certificate?"

She practically demanded it right to his face, her demeanor stubborn to the bone. Sophie analyzed it for him. "If you give me the certificate, you can give Stella a proper title before Charles Sterling gets out next month. It will be a done deal and save you a lot of trouble, wouldn’t it?"

Julian lowered his eyes, staring at her for a moment before replying calmly, "You’ve certainly thought things through for me."

Sophie didn’t care what he thought. "Give me an exact time."

She didn’t get her answer. He suddenly grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him, and raised his other hand in a swift swipe. A basketball that had been flying straight toward the back of Sophie’s head was swatted violently away. It crashed onto a table displaying an antique porcelain vase. The priceless Celestia Ware shattered instantly upon impact.

Sophie jolted at the noise. Turning around, she saw Stanley Sterling standing there, equally terrified. The thirteen-year-old boy was so intimidated by his older brother’s expressionless face that he didn’t even dare to retrieve the ball. He had merely wanted to play a prank and mess with Sophie... It wasn’t like a basketball could kill anyone...

Sophie knew Stanley was spoiled rotten. She looked down at Julian’s large hand gripping her arm. Before she could tell him to let go, Stella’s voice rang out.

"Julian?"

The very second Stella’s voice carried over, Julian immediately released her. As if what had just happened was a trivial interlude not worth mentioning, he didn’t spare Sophie another glance and walked straight toward Stella. His decisiveness in avoiding any suspicion with Sophie was clear.

As Stella turned to leave, she cast a cold glance at Sophie. Sophie ignored her, tilting her head to look at the antique Julian had smashed. Just like that, millions were gone.

By the time they reached the dining room, Sophie felt she had arrived at a bad time.

Madam Sterling was just telling Stella, "There’s an empty seat next to Julian. Sit there."

Stella knew Madam Sterling was giving her a lot of face today. It was largely due to her recent project. Julian had helped her so much with promotion, recruiting talent, and gathering resources all for this very moment. Touched, she turned her head to look at the noble, elegant man sitting beside her.

Sophie immediately stopped in her tracks. After all, there was no seat left for her. She was slowly being phased out by the Sterling family’s "survival of the fittest." Stella’s current success had become her biggest bargaining chip. And the Sterling family was brazenly elevating a mistress right in front of Sophie’s face.

Madam Sterling added, "It’s getting late. If you’d like to stay the night, I’ll have someone prepare a room."

These words were directed at Stella. A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Stella’s eyes, and she immediately accepted. "Then I’ll impose on you."

As she spoke, she raised an eyebrow and shot Sophie a smirking glance. Her smug triumph was exceptionally glaring.

Sophie’s throat choked up severely. She never expected they would actually invite Stella to stay the night... Everyone in the Sterling family knew full well that Stella was the homewrecker who had ruined her marriage, yet they did it anyway.

After catching Sophie in her peripheral vision, Stella smiled gently at Julian. "Julian, is it convenient?"

Julian slowly raised his eyes.

In the moment he reacted, over a dozen pairs of eyes in the spacious dining room all focused on him. After all, if Julian agreed, he would be personally tearing Sophie’s heart to pieces and utterly destroying her dignity.

But before he could speak, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Julian glanced at the caller ID. Leaning back lazily in his chair, he ignored Stella’s question and swiped to answer.

His assistant, Clara Quinn, sounded incredibly urgent. "Mr. Sterling, something’s happened. Miss Sutton’s device... caused a medical accident."