Chapter 125 Sophie's Mockery
Aria didn't respond to Lance's words. Her gaze drifted gently to the churning sea in the distance, and her thoughts suddenly flew back to the past five years.
When she first came to Iceland, she was pregnant. Her body in the second trimester was heavy and sensitive, and it was this cold, quiet sea that gradually soothed her restless heart.
Arthur's name and his life seemed to have disappeared into this sea as well.
Later she settled down in this small town. Even though she had the money her father left her and her own savings over the years, as a woman with a child in a foreign country, things were still tough.
She thought she would have to spend the long days alone, but then Lance came. Though he could be reckless sometimes, he helped her a lot behind the scenes.
Whether it was everyday matters or business affairs back home, he always lent a hand.
With his frequent help, those days weren't so hard to bear after all.
Near her due date, her baby was positioned low. She was admitted to the hospital as soon as she reached full term, and later almost had complications during delivery.
If she hadn't used every ounce of strength to bring the child into this world, she might have left along with the baby.
It was that dangerous experience that completely broke down her body, leaving her weak for a long time.
Only in the past two years had she managed to recover somewhat. Fortunately, the child was growing up gradually, and her hardship hadn't been in vain.
Watching Jasper grow up, his features, expressions, even the slight purse of his lips—all bore some resemblance to the Arthur in her memory.
Actually, after all these years, she had long since let it go.
Toward Arthur, she no longer felt the burning love that once scorched her, nor did she harbor deep resentment.
All those emotions that once entangled her had scattered completely in the day-after-day sea breeze.
He was no longer her obsession, no longer her pain, not even someone from her past.
To her, he was just Jasper's father, a stranger who had little to do with her current life.
She had calmly accepted the past and completely let go of that person.
Now, her heart only held her child and the peace before her. She would never be shaken by the past again.
So when Lance asked what her plans were, she really didn't have any plans. If Arthur came looking, she would accept it calmly. She wouldn't stop Jasper from acknowledging him, but likewise, she wouldn't let Arthur take Jasper away.
"We'll deal with it when the time comes."
Lance looked at her, something unclear flickering in his eyes.
He knew better than anyone how Aria had gotten through these five years.
From when she was pregnant and settled here, to when her body broke down after giving birth, to raising Jasper alone while barely holding herself together—he had witnessed every difficult stretch, and it was precisely because he witnessed it that he felt for her.
He couldn't imagine how that delicate girl from before had become the woman who could handle everything on her own now.
"Alright, just tell me directly if you need anything. I'm here."
"Okay."
Little did they know, this scene of them walking down the street together was also captured by someone...
Grant Corporation.
After receiving the message from William earlier, Arthur wasn't reassured and sent people to investigate again.
On this day, he happened to have business outside, and that investigation report happened to arrive just as they missed each other.
Assistant Morgan happened to be in the office. Seeing it was an urgent confidential document for Arthur, curiosity got the better of her and she opened it without permission.
Looking at the contents, she saw a line clearly stating that the owner of The Potting Shed was none other than Aria.
A photo was attached below. When she saw the person in the photo, her fingers gripping the paper suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white.
She stared blankly at the person in the photo, then unconsciously touched her own face.
Similar. They were so similar.
Assistant Morgan stared at Aria's face in the photo, her mind in chaos, not even noticing someone approaching.
Sophie happened to need Arthur for something. As soon as she entered the office, she saw Assistant Morgan clutching the document in a daze. Her eyes flashed, and she slowly walked over.
"What's wrong with Assistant Morgan?"
Without waiting for a response, she tilted her head to look, her gaze falling on the document and photo. The moment she saw that face clearly, she glanced at Assistant Morgan and a mocking smile curved her lips.
"Oh, so Assistant Morgan has found out. Weren't you acting all high and mighty before? Why do you look so lost now?"
She still remembered how disrespectful Assistant Morgan had been to her a few days ago. Now that she had the chance, of course she would make her taste the same medicine.
"Did Assistant Morgan think she earned Arthur's favor on her own merit? If it weren't for your face bearing some resemblance to that woman, someone like you—would you even qualify? In Arthur's eyes, you're nothing but a substitute!"
Assistant Morgan's face turned deathly pale, her fingertips aching from gripping so hard, unable to say a word.
So... so all those rumors whispered behind her back at the company were true.
Those comments about how she was promoted so quickly and could stay by Arthur's side so steadily weren't baseless gossip.
It wasn't because she was exceptionally capable, not because she worked hard enough.
It was simply because she looked like someone.
She had always thought she earned her position through her own abilities and hadn't taken those words to heart. But now, it was like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over her head.
All her dignity, all her pride and special treatment—it was all just because she had a face that somewhat resembled that woman's.
She was nothing but a living substitute.
Assistant Morgan clutched the document tightly, her chest feeling sour and bitter. An indescribable humiliation and shame came crashing down on her.
Sophie watched Assistant Morgan's pale, shaky appearance, and the resentment that had been building up inside her finally surged out satisfyingly. Her smile became even more mocking.
She stepped forward, her tone casual yet cruel, each word stabbing at the other's most painful spot. "I'm really curious now—if you stay by Arthur's side a bit longer, will he actually fall in love with you? Or... have you been nothing but a replaceable shadow from the very beginning?"
She paused, looking at Assistant Morgan's instantly stiffened expression, and continued twisting the knife. "When that woman comes back, will you end up exactly like me?
After all, he could throw me away and abandon me just like that, even though I was by his side for five years. And you've only been by his side for a few days—what do you have to compete with?"
Assistant Morgan's fingertips trembled violently, the document in her hand nearly crushed, but she couldn't refute a single word.
Yes, Arthur could easily cast Sophie aside and quickly take back everything he had given her.
So what about her?
She was just a substitute who looked like that woman. Why wouldn't Arthur abandon her too?
Sophie looked at Assistant Morgan's devastated appearance, a cold yet satisfied smile curving her lips.
She had originally just come to discuss something with Arthur, but she hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise—getting back at her for the humiliation from a few days ago all at once.
"Assistant Morgan, think carefully about what I said."