Chapter 128 Sophie’s Inducement
No matter how unwilling Rachel felt inside, she could only force herself to swallow it down at this moment.
She had worked so hard to put on that wronged appearance. If she kept pushing, Arthur might see through her act, and all the false impressions she had carefully created would be exposed.
That would be more trouble than it's worth.
So even though she was extremely reluctant, she could only slowly back away. Before leaving, she softened her voice, putting on a caring look, "Then you rest well."
Arthur didn't look at her, only responding with silence.
Rachel suppressed her frustration and resentment, and walked out.
Just as she closed the door and turned around, her shoulder suddenly bumped into someone. Her heart jumped, and she instinctively looked up, only to see Sophie.
Sophie had been standing at the door for who knows how long. Her gaze swept over coolly, her eyes holding a mocking look that seemed to see through everything.
That look was too direct, as if it could clearly see through the grievance she had just carefully crafted in the room, as well as the resentment and scheming in her heart.
The gentle and pitiful facade Rachel had barely maintained in front of Arthur nearly crumbled in that instant of eye contact.
Her cheeks flushed hot, embarrassment and panic surging up, immediately replaced by intense anger.
Right now she just wanted to escape from here, but Sophie stopped her first, "Wait."
Sophie slowly stepped forward, her gaze falling on Rachel's face, her tone incredibly calm, "This is nothing. You can't handle it already?"
Seeing Rachel's face turn pale, she curved her lips slightly, adding casually, "Back then, Aria was much more... shameless than you."
Sophie's words were like tearing off a fig leaf, directly exposing what Rachel had just done.
Rachel's face immediately turned all shades of red and white, looking quite ashamed.
Sophie looked at Rachel's reaction with satisfaction, the corner of her mouth curving up, a deep meaning flashing in her eyes, "Want to talk?"
Rachel, who had been about to flee, inexplicably stopped in her tracks after hearing Sophie's words, her legs following Sophie away beyond her control.
Sophie led Rachel to a quiet balcony, with no one around.
She leaned against the railing, her gaze calmly falling on Rachel, "You want to be with Arthur, don't you?"
Rachel's heart jumped violently, like someone had hit her most secret thought. Her face instantly turned pale, but she couldn't say a word.
Sophie didn't waste words, directly exposing the thought Rachel had buried deepest in her heart, "Isn't that right? You've gone through so much trouble to stay by Arthur's side, isn't it because you want to be with him?"
These words struck Rachel's heart like thunder. She stiffened all over, emotions churning in her eyes, yet she forced herself to look calm as she raised her eyes to Sophie, not daring to respond, afraid that opening her mouth would expose all her scheming and ambition.
She never expected Sophie to be so direct, laying bare her true purpose beneath the disguise with just a few words.
Watching Rachel's panicked yet forced composure, Sophie suddenly laughed softly, her laughter carrying some mockery.
She gently raised her eyes, gazing calmly into the distance, slowly speaking to reassure her, "You don't need to be so nervous, and you don't need to put on an act in front of me. I have no ill will toward you."
She paused, her tone becoming heavier, "You should also know that I'm just someone he abandoned now."
These words completely stunned Rachel. The wariness and panic in her eyes faded slightly as she stared at Sophie in a daze, saying nothing.
Before she could recover, Sophie turned to look at her again, her eyes showing more certainty and directness, "So, if you really want to stay by Arthur's side, want to be with him openly and legitimately, I can help you."
Sophie paused, continuing, "Arthur has never had any lasting affection. His heart is cold."
Sophie laughed coldly, "Five years ago, he could abandon Aria without hesitation for my sake, discarding her like trash, turning a blind eye to all her grievances and struggles.
But now, he can't forget Aria, even to the point of deep obsession. Do you know why?"
Rachel held her breath, her heart racing uncontrollably, instinctively looking up at her.
Sophie curved her lips self-mockingly, her tone full of sarcasm, "It's because Aria was smart enough. She left decisively back then, taking Arthur's child with her, leaving nothing behind, giving him only emptiness.
Men are like that—what they can't have always stirs their hearts, they only know something's precious after losing it. His so-called obsession now isn't love at all, it's belated regret, it's unwillingness to accept it."
She turned her head, her gaze falling directly on Rachel's face that somewhat resembled Aria's, her eyes sharp, "Do you think you stood out among all those assistants, why Arthur shows you a bit more patience and gives you important tasks, just by chance?
It's only because your face looks so much like the Aria he can't have."
These words hit Rachel's deepest thoughts. Her face paled, but she didn't refute.
Sophie continued, her tone calm to the point of cruelty, yet every sentence seemed to be for Rachel's benefit.
"Instead of being so cautious here, you might as well make good use of this face. Someone like Arthur can't be tied down for life by anyone.
His affection comes quickly and goes even faster. You can't keep his person or his heart, but you can keep the benefits he can give you, can't you?"
"Think about it, even if it's just his temporary novelty and favor, what do you get during this time?
Being the center of attention, a status that others don't dare provoke, endless resources and preferential treatment."
"Aria used a child to get his current obsession, I used five years of my youth and got nothing, but you, in the current situation, as long as you can use your advantages, you can get much more than we did."
The evening breeze swept across the balcony, blowing the stray hairs by their temples, and also breaking down the last defense in Rachel's heart.
She stood there in a daze, her fingertips trembling slightly. The greed that had only been hidden in her heart, too shameful to speak of, burst through the soil under Sophie's precise analysis, growing wildly.
She looked at the clear-headed and cold Sophie before her, then thought of the occasional dazed and nostalgic look in Arthur's eyes when they fell on her face, and her heart clenched.
She was right!
What sincerity, what permanence—these were just pipe dreams in front of someone like Arthur.
If that's the case, why shouldn't she seize the opportunity before her and use this face to firmly grasp everything she could and should take?
In an instant, temptation overcame all unease and pretense. Rachel's hand hanging at her side slowly clenched into a fist, a determined gleam quietly rising in her eyes.