Chapter 195
Only then did Sophia notice this. She had received the gifts before but never opened them to look. Now as she examined them carefully, she discovered that not only were they all bank cards, but each card also had the balance displayed on the back.
"Sophia, look at this - this one has a limit of one million dollars, this one is three million, and this one is five million..."
Evelyn was incredibly excited. Each bank card had a limit of at least one million dollars, and there appeared to be dozens of them.
Sophia's future mother-in-law was way too generous!
"Sophia, I'm so jealous of you. Once you marry James, you'll instantly become a millionaire. I can live the good life with you from now on."
Watching Evelyn fawn over her like this, Sophia couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Evelyn, don't get too excited. Don't forget that James and I only have a marriage agreement. I can't touch these bank cards his mother gave me."
Sophia thought about how she already owed James a huge favor.
James had used his connections to arrange Mia's surgery, and he was currently covering all the medical expenses. If she now spent the money from the bank cards Anais gave her, she would never be able to repay what she owed James.
Hearing this, Evelyn rolled her eyes at her, looking disappointed.
"What kind of talk is that? What do you mean 'marriage agreement'? You've already gotten the marriage certificate, which makes you legal husband and wife. You're the only one who thinks it's just an agreement with James. James has long considered you his properly wedded wife."
Sophia's heart sank. Based on today's situation, the Smith family clearly took her relationship with James very seriously.
Especially with Aiden planning the wedding.
Once news of her and James's marriage spread throughout Emerald City, everyone would know about their relationship.
Once that happened, just as Evelyn said, she would truly become James's properly wedded wife.
Sophia took a deep breath. She didn't know what to do.
"Evelyn, stop teasing me. Help me think of something. If I get my mother's inheritance later, how can I leave James?"
Once she got the inheritance and dissolved the marriage with James, it would be like deceiving Aiden and Anais.
She also didn't know if Mia could accept it. And Veda and Chase would definitely laugh at her.
Actually, Evelyn knew clearly that James would never let her leave, but she didn't say it directly right now.
"Sophia, there's no point thinking about this now. Everything needs to happen naturally. Alright, it's time. Let's go to work at the bar."
Although it had only been one day, so many things had happened. Sophia suddenly felt very worried.
Looking at the heavy bank cards in her hand and that family heirloom only made her feel more burdened.
The two left the rental apartment and went straight to the bar. As soon as Sophia walked in, the bar employees immediately surrounded her.
"Sophia, you're here! I thought you wouldn't be able to come to work today."
"Yeah, this is such great news for our bar. Didn't you ask the manager for time off for something like this?"
Sophia stood in the middle of the crowd, looking confused.
"Why would I take time off? What are you all talking about?"
Then Allegra came right up to Sophia.
"Sophia, stop pretending. Evelyn already told us everything. I can't believe things moved so fast between you and Mr. Smith. Just a few days ago, and you two have already gotten your marriage certificate."
A colleague nearby chimed in: "Yeah, you came to work at the bar today - didn't you bring any gifts?"
Listening to her colleagues chattering away, Sophia suddenly understood. Evelyn had already told everyone about her and James.
Sophia turned around and glared at Evelyn, who was secretly smiling.
Then Evelyn stepped forward.
"Sophia is always so careless. I figured she didn't prepare gifts for you all, but I prepared some on her behalf."
As Evelyn spoke, she pulled gift after gift from her bag and distributed them to the employees.
"I'm handing out Sophia's gifts for her today, but tomorrow you'll have to bring your own, Sophia."
Evelyn looked at the employees in front of her and said warmly:
"Don't think that just because Sophia married Mr. Smith she's above us now. I'm telling you, when she and Mr. Smith hold their wedding, we're all going to attend. Not a single person should miss it."
Hearing this, the employees were shocked, their faces full of surprise.
"Really? Evelyn, can you actually make that call? That's Mr. Smith's wedding - are we qualified to attend?"
James was a prominent figure in Emerald City. His wedding wasn't something ordinary people could attend.
Especially for part-time bar workers like them, attending James's wedding was something they could only dream of.
But James was marrying Sophia, their colleague, which suddenly gave them a feeling of being honored beyond their expectations.
Standing nearby, Sophia was worried that Evelyn might say something inappropriate.
She quickly nudged Evelyn, but Evelyn acted as if she hadn't heard. With a wave of her hand, she agreed to it all.
"Don't worry. Sophia has been our colleague for so many years - how could she not invite us to the wedding? Besides, Mr. Smith's wedding will be grand. A few more people won't make a difference."
Hearing this, Sophia felt helpless. She didn't know what to say to Evelyn.
Originally, her marriage to James was just going through the motions as far as she was concerned. But after one visit to the Smith Manor, she was told there would be a wedding.
Now Evelyn had even invited guests to the wedding for her.
Sophia suddenly felt like she was being pushed along. Why were all these things catching her so off guard?
She was somehow having a wedding, somehow inviting all these colleagues.
"Evelyn, don't talk nonsense."
Sophia said in a voice only the two of them could hear.