Chapter 3

The Lowells wanted the Valdemar family's influence but refused to sacrifice their precious Emily. Since when did the world work that way?

Sophia had single-handedly rescued Lowell Entertainment from bankruptcy. The profits she generated far exceeded that measly three percent stake.

Silence fell over the living room after her declaration.

Victoria Lowell frowned. "Why do you need shares? Haven't we provided everything for you?"

Nathan Lowell scoffed. "Ungrateful wretch. Eyeing the family fortune already?"

Daniel Lowell studied Sophia with quiet intensity.

William Lowell adopted a conciliatory tone. "Sophia, those shares will come to us eventually. Why rush?"

Richard Lowell smiled ingratiatingly. "We're family. You'll always be taken care of."

Sophia's lips curled at his hypocrisy.

"No shares, no deal."

Today they'd force her into a therapeutic marriage. Tomorrow they'd sell her out completely.

When she first returned to the Lowells, they'd treated her decently.

That changed quickly.

Every action was twisted into an attack on Emily. One pout from their darling, and Sophia became the villain. Explanations meant nothing.

Perhaps blood ties couldn't compete with years of shared history.

She'd grieved that truth yet still craved their affection.

Now she understood how pathetic that hope had been.

Richard softened his voice. "The Valdemars are elite aristocracy. Even if Alexander is comatose..." He hesitated. "You'll always be family. Your position at the company is secure."

Sophia laughed softly.

Still trying to manipulate her with empty promises?

"I'll marry after the shares are transferred."

She turned toward the stairs.

"Sophia!" Victoria shattered a teacup. "I always knew adopted children never truly belong!"

Nathan sneered. "She's been like this from the start. That permanent scowl of hers—"

Daniel watched Sophia's retreating figure, an odd tightness in his chest.

William sighed. "That attitude is unacceptable."

Richard remained silent.

Emily spoke gently. "Father, Mother, perhaps I should—"

"Absolutely not!" Victoria cut in. "The Valdemars are in chaos right now."

Alexander wasn't the only heir.

With him comatose—rumored vegetative and physically impaired—those he'd suppressed were circling like vultures.

Marriage to him now meant jumping into hellfire.

Richard patted Emily's hand. "Your career is blossoming. We'll convince your sister."

——

Sophia's room occupied the north-facing corner of the third floor—a former storage space, she'd overheard.

Her original bedroom had adjoined Emily's, flooded with sunlight. Until Emily complained the music room was too far.

She didn't care.

This was still better than the hovel Emily's birth parents had kept her in.

William entered without knocking, wearing his practiced smile.

"We don't want to force you, but Patriarch Valdemar personally requested this marriage—"

Sophia nearly gagged on his duplicity.

"Don't want to force me? Or can't bear to sacrifice Emily?"

William cleared his throat. "Emily's at a critical career stage. Marriage would—"

"The engagement was between Alexander and Emily. Did Patriarch Valdemar agree to substitute me?"

"Not explicitly."

The old man had simply demanded the marriage proceed, offering concessions.

"Technically, you were Alexander's intended first. Emily... came later."

Sophia stared before bursting into laughter.

"When I first returned, you all warned me never to covet Alexander. That the Valdemar matriarch position belonged to Emily."

William adjusted his collar. "Circumstances have changed."

Her stomach turned.

How could they voice such shamelessness so plainly?

When Alexander thrived, Emily claimed the engagement.

Now that he'd fallen, they shoved Sophia forward without pretense.

The truth was simple—the Lowells never saw her as human.

And she'd been foolish enough to call them family, even helping Nathan at his cruelest.

Perhaps her derision showed too clearly.

William averted his eyes. "Think it over. This marriage benefits everyone."

He fled.

Nathan lounged in the doorway. "Waste of breath. She's always been a viper."

Unlike Emily, who lived for the family.

Without Emily refining his composition, would he have achieved fame?

"Alexander's practically a corpse. She gets the Valdemar name. What's there to refuse?"

William sighed. "She has her reasons."

Nathan snorted. "Reasons? More like throwing a tantrum after Ethan dumped her."