Chapter 384 Forced to Watch Others Show Off Their Love
Matthew didn't understand where the wariness and hostility in his eyes came from. He frowned slightly and warned, "You'd better take good care of Sophia from now on, or I definitely won't let you off."
"My wife - naturally I'll take good care of her. Thanks for your concern." Finnley put his arm around Sophia's shoulder.
Matthew nodded, feeling somewhat reassured.
Although Finnley could be domineering at times, if he had to pick the person who loved Sophia most, it would definitely be Finnley.
On this point, Matthew felt at ease.
Sophia didn't notice the invisible confrontation and interaction between Finnley and Matthew. She was just watching Celestia's departing figure.
"She just left like that? Nothing bad will happen to her, right?"
She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt something was off about Celestia's state.
"Don't worry about her. If she can't even handle this much, she doesn't deserve to be part of the White family." Finnley glanced mockingly in the direction where Celestia had disappeared.
Seeing Sophia's attention constantly focused elsewhere, Finnley felt a twinge of jealousy. "Honey, instead of worrying about others, how about worrying about your husband?"
"Aren't you doing just fine? Do you really need my concern?"
Sophia looked him up and down - full of energy, clear-eyed. Where did he look like someone who needed concern?
Finnley suddenly clutched his head, his brow furrowing as he put on a pained expression.
"It hurts so much. Must be from getting upset by Celestia just now."
Hearing him say it hurt, Sophia's heart immediately jumped.
Since starting treatment, Finnley had been getting headaches from time to time. Clifton said this was necessary for recovering his memories.
Sophia had examined his body and found nothing wrong - he was perfectly healthy.
She could treat physical ailments, but mental issues were beyond her abilities.
So at this moment, she didn't doubt Finnley's words at all. She immediately stood on her tiptoes, gently cupping his face with both hands, her eyes full of worry.
"Where does it hurt? Let me see."
Finnley lowered his eyes, the fine strands of hair on his forehead hiding the gleam that flashed in them.
Meeting Sophia's concerned gaze, his heart felt like it was being filled with something, stirring up a warmth inside.
With a thought, he slowly lowered his head and kissed her soft, rosy lips. "It's much better now."
Caught off guard by the kiss, Sophia froze for a moment before realizing he'd tricked her.
She clenched her fist and hit his shoulder, laughing as she scolded, "You lied to me!"
"I didn't lie to you - it really did hurt just now."
Seeing her about to leave, Finnley quickly reached out to grab her wrist and brought it to his lips for a kiss.
"Don't joke about this again, understand?" Sophia commanded sternly.
"Yes, ma'am."
Matthew, forced to watch others being affectionate: "..."
Meanwhile, Celestia left the Lumina Group in a dejected state, walking aimlessly along the street.
It was already dark. The city center was brightly lit, with vehicles coming and going in noisy bustle.
Celestia felt a bone-chilling coldness radiating from her entire body. Matthew and Benjamin's cold faces kept echoing in her mind.
She walked to a lake and slowly stopped, carefully recalling what had happened during this period.
More precisely, what had happened over the past two years.
Ever since Sophia appeared, she felt her entire life had changed.
Preston, who used to dote on her exclusively, started being kind and gentle to another girl. Her cousins, though usually cold to her, treated everyone else the same way.
Compared to others, she shared a blood bond with them.
This bond was unique.
But Sophia's appearance shattered all of this.
As soon as Sophia married into the White family, Preston gave her all his love. Even her cousins, who usually didn't like girls getting close, doted on her.
Even Matthew was the same.
Her chest accumulated countless grievances and hatred, pressing down until she could barely breathe.
She put her hands to her lips and shouted toward the lake, "Sophia, you just wait - I won't let you off!"
"Matthew is mine - no one can take him away!"
...
Finding an outlet for her emotions, Celestia felt embarrassed at first, thinking it was shameful.
But the more she shouted, the more satisfying it felt. Finally, tears flowed uncontrollably - grievance, sadness, pain, despair... all emotions intertwined.
She slowly crouched down, leaning against the railing by the wall.
Just then, someone slowly approached. A clear voice came from above her head, "Want to make Sophia pay? I can help you."
Celestia suddenly looked up, almost thinking she was seeing things. "Isabella? Didn't you go abroad?"
"That's not important. What's important is that I can help you deal with Sophia."
Isabella wore a moon-white long dress with her hair loose over her shoulders, her face an unnaturally pale color.
The early autumn wind blew from the lake, lifting her hair and dress hem. Combined with that face, it was truly startling.
When Celestia saw that face clearly, she was shocked, thinking she'd run into a ghost in the middle of the night.
She braced one hand against the lake railing and the other against her knee, slowly standing up, looking at Isabella with suspicious eyes.
"You want to use me to deal with Sophia?"
Isabella was stunned, not expecting her to be so blunt.
Looking at Celestia covered in designer brands with her noble, aloof manner, she smiled disdainfully.
This White family young lady was just as she'd imagined - not a bit cunning, even stupid, you could say.
Her lips curved in a slight smile. "Don't put it so harshly. Don't you want to crush Sophia under your feet so she can never get up again?"
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. She'd heard every word Celestia said when passing by earlier.
Celestia liked Matthew, but Matthew liked Sophia, which was why she was so resentful.
As long as she firmly grasped this point, wouldn't Celestia be completely in her control?
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I dream of making Sophia get out of the White family."
She's hooked!
Isabella was delighted inside but showed nothing on her face.
She furrowed her brows, putting on an understanding look. "I hate Sophia too. How about we work together?"
Celestia laughed mockingly, looking Isabella up and down with undisguised scorn in her eyes. "Want to work with me? Take a look at yourself first and see if you're even qualified."
She did hate Sophia, true, but not enough to stoop to Isabella's level.
Because of Sophia, she knew all about the shady things Isabella had done.
An illegitimate daughter who couldn't see the light of day dared to talk about cooperation with her?
Ridiculous!
Celestia turned and left without another glance at Isabella.
Watching Celestia's departing figure, Isabella was stunned. This was completely different from what she'd expected!