Chapter 84 At the Wrap Party

Chapter 84 At the Wrap Party

Susan had chosen this path herself.

It was only when she finally pushed herself upright against the doorframe that Sophia turned and came down the steps.

By the time she reached her, Susan was still gulping for air. 

Sophia's voice was soft, with the faint chill of a passing breeze — cool enough to notice, yet never cutting.

"Falling apart now won't help you. If Megan finds out you couldn't even secure your own wedding dowry from your parents, she'll lose whatever respect she still pretends to have for you. And life in the Simmons family will get even worse."

Susan's head snapped up, the vulnerability in her eyes hardening into anger. "You came here to gloat, didn't you?" 

She straightened against the wall, one hand clamped protectively over her stomach as if it were the last piece of armor she had left. 

"Don't get too smug, Sophia. No matter how bad things get for me, I'm still better off than you. At least I'm carrying a Caldwell heir. You? You're nothing in that house. Living there for free means nothing. If you have the guts, why don't you get Henry to actually put a ring on your finger?"

Sophia didn't answer. Her gaze flicked briefly to Susan's trembling knees before she turned toward the study.

Behind her, Susan's voice rose into a ragged scream, "I'm not losing! Not to any of you! And you, Sophia — I'll be damned before I give you that satisfaction!"

The words broke, and tears spilled anyway.

Three nights later, the grandest ballroom in City S had been taken over by Victoria's crew for their wrap party. 

Crystal chandeliers scattered light across the room, mingling with the scent of champagne and slow-roasted meat. Laughter from the cast and crew carried through the air, the sound loose and unrestrained.

Joseph, dressed in a sharp cobalt-blue suit like a peacock in full display, tugged Sophia and Henry through the crowd. 

Every few steps he stopped to greet an actor, all the while muttering, "Celeste has to be over there. She's closest to Victoria."

Sophia wore a simple black dress that fell to her knees, paired with flats that made her stand out among the staccato click of high heels. 

A glass of soda water rested in her hand as her gaze drifted to the film stills on the wall — Victoria's latest work, a spy thriller. On the poster, the lead actress stared back with a sharp, calculating gaze, a far cry from Victoria's usual warmth.

"There!" Joseph's voice rose above the music. 

He waved toward the far corner. "Celeste! Over here!"

Celeste, leaning in with Victoria over a phone, looked up and broke into a wide smile. She wore a soft yellow dress, her hair loosely pinned to reveal the curve of her neck, dimples deepening under the lights. Beside her, Victoria was striking in a tailored black suit. When her eyes found Henry, they brightened noticeably.

Victoria made her way over to Sophia, giving her a playful nudge. "Well, well. Mr. Caldwell gracing our little wrap party? I thought he was far too busy. He actually left Virensia for City S? How very dedicated."

Sophia opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted by a sudden stir behind her. 

A cluster of actresses in evening gowns swept toward them, led by Daisy Lynn, the current darling of the screen. She wore a champagne-colored mermaid gown and carried her glass with practiced elegance.

"Mr. Caldwell," Daisy said with a smile that could melt ice, "what a surprise to see you here. I'm Daisy Lynn — we worked with the Caldwell Corporation's media division not long ago." 

Her voice was soft, sweet, her gaze openly admiring as she leaned just enough to reveal the line of her collarbone.

Another actress followed with a notebook in hand. "Mr. Caldwell, I've always admired your work in business. Could I trouble you for an autograph?" 

Others chimed in — a cousin with a renewable energy project, questions about the corporation's flagship ventures, market predictions. 

In moments, Henry was surrounded.

He stood in the center of it all, tall and composed in a perfectly cut black suit, his tie understated, his posture unshakable. He nodded occasionally, answering in that low, steady voice of his. 

A young actress, clearly nervous, fumbled her glass and spilled champagne on his cuff.

Her face went pale. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Caldwell — I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Henry said, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbing at the sleeve. 

Even the simple motion carried an easy, unforced elegance that made more than one bystander blush.

Victoria leaned toward Sophia, grinning. "See? That's Mr. Caldwell's charm. He walks into a room and the spotlight just follows him. With all these women flocking around, you mean to tell me you don't mind?"

Sophia's gaze lingered on him. Though he stood listening to Daisy, brows drawn slightly as if enduring the attention, his eyes cut through the crowd to find hers. There was no irritation there — only a quiet plea for rescue. 

He looked like a hawk hemmed in by sparrows, perfectly capable of breaking free but holding back for the sake of the moment.

She could still see that morning as if it were framed in glass. He stood in the dressing room, lingering over the row of jackets before finally settling on the black suit.

"Why so formal?" she had asked.

Without looking up, he fastened his cufflinks with deliberate care. "I heard there would be a crowd," he said. "I can't have you feeling embarrassed."

"Why would I mind?" Sophia murmured now, a faint curve touching her lips. "If he's busy entertaining, that just means we can talk without interruption."

Victoria snorted. "Right. And I'm supposed to believe there's nothing going on between you two? Please. I've been around the block more times than you — trust me, Henry looks at you differently."

Sophia's heart skipped, but before Victoria could press, Henry said something to Daisy that made the crowd loosen. He slipped free and crossed straight to them, two unopened bottles of juice in hand. He offered one to Sophia.

"It's so annoying," he said simply. 

The cuff of his suit was still damp, but his eyes were clear, his expression lighter.

Victoria laughed outright. "Mr. Caldwell, that's awfully obvious. Aren't you worried about breaking a few hearts?"