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Fine,I’d play her game.
I had someone fake Ethan’s phone number,texting the mean girl whose phone I smashed before:
“At 7 PM, Five-Star Hotel, Room 1101.”
Using Nathan’s phone,I texted Ethan.
Then, I used Nathan’s phone to sent Sophie the hotel room details:”8 PM,Five-Star Hotel,Room 1101.”
When Sophie,full of hope,opened Room 1101,she didn’t find Nathan as expected.Instead,she saw Ethan entangled with another woman.
She tried to endure,telling herself Ethan would come back to her.
But when she recognized the woman’s face,her last nerve snapped.
She didn’t dare touch Ethan,so she attacked the mean girl.
“I treated you like a sister,and you seduced my man!”
This time,the mean girl didn’t back down.”If the you can do it,why I can’t ?”
Sophie’s blows grew fiercer.
Lying in bed,I watched Sophie’s meltdown through the hotel surveillance.
Nathan snatched my phone.”Don’t go too far.”
I rarely acted coquettishly with him.”You need to rein in your brother.If this leaks,your dad’s company stock will tank tomorrow.”
Nathan smirked.”How should I rein him in?”
“Maybe get your dad to cut Ethan’s allowance?”
Ethan’s allowance was slashed in half.Learning it was because of Sophie’s”caught cheating”drama,he unleashed his fury on her.
Poor Sophie had estranged from her loyal mean girl, and Ethan took back her several designer bags. She behaved herself for a while.
Though Nathan and I were married,I wanted to delay the wedding.
“My waist’s thick now—dresses won’t look good.After I give birth and slim down,I expect a grand wedding.”
I had to explain to Nathan,who kept pestering me.
Sometimes it’s not good when a man is too clingy.
During my pregnancy, Nathan decided to relocate his company stateside. During this period, he was so busy that he hardly had time to rest. But he always made time for my prenatal visits.
“Baby,did you hear?The doctor says we’re having twins!”
I caressed my belly, nodding. Then, thinking of something,I told Nathan,”Don’t tell your parents about the twins yet. Keep it a secret.”I feared Ethan might target me for the inheritance. His allowance cut had made him scheming.
As my belly grew,I moved into the Sterling estate.
Mrs.Sterling remained warm,gifting me a ruby set.
“Although you haven’t had the wedding yet, since you’ve got the marriage certificate, you’re already a member of our family. This is a gift for my daughter-in-law. Don’t decline it. Just take it.”
Under Sophie’s jealous glare,I accepted them,adding,”Nathan says I’ve been through a lot during my pregnancy and insisted on buying me a bunch of Hermès bags. I can’t even carry that many. Why don’t you pick a few, Mom?”
Sophie bit her lip,nails digging into her palms.
When I was eight months pregnant,Sophie finally got pregnant,too.
She stroked her belly that wasn’t showing much yet and swaggered in front of me,“Claire,don’t think Nathan’s love makes you untouchable as Mrs.Sterling.I’m telling you,the Sterling fortune belongs to my son.”
Her eyes bloodshot, and she lunged to push me.
There was a staircase behind me. If I fell down, my eight-month-old belly...But before she could do anything, I slapped her in the face, directly stopping her evil intention.She covered her swollen cheek and said in a trembling voice, “How dare you hit me?”
She clutched her swollen cheek,trembling.”You dare hit me?”
“I’m hitting an idiot like you!”
I slapped her again.
“Open your dog eyes and look up!”
Sophie glanced up,spotting a high-def infrared camera,her face a kaleidoscope of emotions.
“What century is this,and you’re pulling the push-down-the-stairs stunt?So cliché.”
That night,I told Nathan,abroad,about slapping Sophie.
He shrugged.”She’s not even married.You hit her,so what?Even if you hit Ethan,I’d back you up. Don’t worry.”