Chapter 19 Afraid She'll Come In Playing Empress
Unlike the cold atmosphere at Smith Manor, the Johnson family's small home radiated warmth.
The family gathered cozily around their little dining table, occasionally serving each other food, with two chicken drumsticks being politely passed back and forth among them.
"Kids get the drumsticks, adults get the wing tips, and the one in the middle gets the wings," Mary said with a smile, placing a wing on James's plate while giving Sophia and Lucas each a drumstick.
"Thanks, Mom."
James seems to be in a better mood than usual, perhaps because he saw Emily again and has finally let go. Sophia looked down at the drumstick that had ended up in her bowl, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.
The Smith family insisted on proper dining etiquette: seats spaced three feet apart, no talking during meals, no unnecessary sounds, and certainly no sharing food. Besides, with George and Jane frequently away and her two brothers shipped off to boarding school abroad, she'd usually eaten alone anyway.
The Johnson family was completely different—they shared the good stuff, chatted, and laughed while eating. Even crammed into this tiny 700-square-foot house, the atmosphere was joyful and filled with happiness everywhere.
This was what a real family felt like.
"By the way, Mom, Dad mentioned you know something about beauty treatment and hair styling. Have you ever considered opening a salon?" Sophia asked. She'd been talking with her classmates today, and the beauty industry seemed to have serious momentum lately.
There was potential there.
Mary waved her hands frantically. "Oh no, I only know the basics. I couldn't run a real business."
"Every business has to start somewhere," Sophia persuaded. "We could begin small, selling basic skincare products and such. I've already thought of the location, right near the school. We'd never lack customers."
"But the rent, utilities, all those costs..."
"Don't worry about any of that. I'll handle it." Sophia took a sip of her Coke, speaking calmly, "I've been looking to diversify my investments anyway. Better to invest in you than some stranger. I'll take 60% equity, you get 40%."
She had no interest in charity work. When it came to business investments, she kept things strictly professional. If this industry didn't have genuine potential and Mary didn't happen to have the right skills, she wouldn't consider this partnership.
Without false modesty, while she had diverse investments, she never made them carelessly. Eight out of ten ventures succeeded, and the remaining two could be restructured for profitability.
"I think it's a great idea," James encouraged. "Mom, if Sophia has enough confidence to invest, that means she believes in your abilities. Don't you have confidence in yourself?"
Mary took a deep breath. Since Sophia was willing to shoulder the costs and risks, what excuse did she have to back down?
"Alright, let's do it! I'm confident I can make this work!"
"Good. I'll get you the shop address and keys so you can check it out when you have time. I'll have someone handle the business license—should be ready in about a week."
Sophia moved fast, making a call to ask a friend to help expedite the business license process.
She was all about swift action.
The family chatted until after eleven. With three kids having school the next day, they were forced to wrap up and take turns showering.
After her shower, Sophia returned to her room, locked the door, and lay in bed scrolling through the lively class group chat.
[Did anyone add Emily to the group?]
[Nobody even has her on Facebook, and even if we did, we wouldn't add her. We're afraid she'd come in trying to play empress.]
[She's absolutely ridiculous, thinking that getting into the Smith family means she can just steamroll everyone. Did she even ask the alumni association before trying to get Sophia kicked out of Silver Fir Academy?]
Silver Fir Academy's alumni association was essentially the school's board of directors. Outstanding graduates contributed annually to the school in exchange for equity stakes.
The alumni association included top talents from every industry, and most of Silver Fir Academy's faculty were also graduates of the school.
So, although all the students were wealthy kids, none dared challenge the teachers or cause trouble on campus.
Within the alumni association, about half the members, including Bruce and Michael, were either Sophia's friends or business partners.
Trying to get Sophia expelled from Silver Fir Academy was pure fantasy.
Scrolling through the chat history, it was basically everyone roasting Emily.
Sophia didn't comment, instead switching to send Bruce a private message: [When are you leaving? Want to grab dinner?]
His reply came almost instantly.
Bruce: [My God! Perfect timing that you're still awake! I seriously suspect Emily has brain damage. Guess what she just called to tell me? She actually called me a "lower-class person"! Where does she get the nerve? I think she's a complete idiot! She even tried to intimidate me with the Smith family, saying I'd better watch how I talk to her or the Smith family would blacklist me. Does she think the Smith family is the presidency or something? I can't believe Jane and George went crazy enough to kick you out for this brain-dead moron. They love calculating profits so much—how come they can't do the math on this one? Here's the best part: right after Emily called to have her meltdown, a Smith family recognition banquet invitation was delivered to my door. So tell me, should I go give her a reality check?]
Sophia was speechless.
Her eyes lingered on the last sentence, and she chuckled softly before typing back a single word: [Childish.]
Of course, Bruce wasn't the only childish one.
"We absolutely have to go to the Smith family recognition banquet! Such great entertainment, I need to livestream the whole thing for Sophia."
The next morning at the school gates, when Wayne mentioned receiving an invitation, Amelia draped her arm around Sophia's shoulder with an expression of righteous indignation, though her face was full of schadenfreude toward Emily.
Wayne, knowing Sophia's temperament, said helplessly, "Please tell me you're not planning to crash the party? That's the Smith family we're talking about. If you really offend them, your parents will definitely give you hell!"
They could openly express their dislike for Emily because they clearly understood that inheritance rights in the Smith family came down to a power struggle between the two male heirs, while Emily was just a pawn for arranged marriages to secure business alliances.
People without value could be offended without consequence.
But the Smith family had four generations in government and six in business. Their current power and status were formidable. Causing trouble at the recognition banquet would be tantamount to openly challenging the Smith family's authority and humiliating them publicly; nobody would escape unscathed.
How could Amelia not understand this logic?
She replied frankly, "Why would I need to lift a finger? When those two brothers hear about the recognition banquet and learn that Sophia left the Smith family, they'll come back to crash the party themselves!"
Wayne raised an eyebrow, realizing she had a point. He gave Sophia a pitying look. "You're doomed."
Sophia shot him a look. "Could you maybe wish me well for once?"