Chapter 1 Forced to Marry
"Sophia Brown, can you quit being so selfish?"
"Marrying Mr. White is a privilege! Who do you think you are to say no?"
Inside the Brown Villa, Hayden Brown slammed his utensils down on the table, his voice booming with anger as he scolded the girl sitting quietly across from him.
The Brown family used to be a big deal in Silverlight City, but now they were nearly broke.
Recently, Hayden heard that the White family was trying to arrange a marriage for Benjamin White, their sick grandson. This was his big chance.
The Whites were the richest family in town. Becoming in-laws with them could turn the Browns' fortunes around overnight.
The large dining room was eerily quiet.
Sophia put down her utensils and looked straight at Hayden with her clear, piercing eyes, like she could see right through his greed and ambition.
"Why me? Why not Isabella Brown?"
Everyone at the table froze at her words.
Hayden's face turned red with embarrassment. "Your sister's health is poor. How could she bring good fortune to anyone?"
Olivia Smith chimed in, "Isabella is already engaged to the Martinez family. You're the only one who can help us now."
"Sorry, Sophia, it's all my fault. Blame me. Mom and Dad are only doing this for me," Isabella said, her eyes welling up with tears, looking pitiful and drawing sympathy from Hayden and Olivia.
Sophia gave a bitter smile, her long eyelashes casting a shadow over her eyes. Her face was so beautiful it seemed almost unreal.
Isabella stared at Sophia's face, jealousy burning inside her.
Despite living in the countryside for years, Sophia's skin was still more delicate than her own, which she had meticulously maintained.
From a distance, Sophia looked like a perfect porcelain doll, flawless in every way.
But then Isabella's frown eased. What did it matter how beautiful Sophia was? Soon, she would be married into the White family.
Everyone knew Benjamin was bedridden and on the verge of death. He was known for his cold, irritable nature, and anyone who crossed him met a bad end.
Sophia would likely meet a miserable fate with the Whites.
Isabella's mood lifted at the thought. "Sophia, our family is nearly bankrupt. Only a marriage with the Whites can save us."
Sophia's eyes flashed with sarcasm. "So I should sacrifice myself for you all?"
These were the parents she had longed for over nineteen years—greedy and selfish, willing to trade her happiness for their gain.
Sophia had gone missing at the age of one and was only found a month ago.
She had often fantasized about her real parents, imagining they would love her like the parents she saw on TV. But upon returning, she discovered they had adopted a girl shortly after she went missing.
That girl was Isabella.
In nineteen years, Isabella had completely taken Sophia's place in the Brown family.
Olivia was about to speak when Sophia's clear, melodious voice rang out. "I agree."
"Really?" Hayden's eyes lit up, his anger dissipating, and he looked at Sophia with newfound satisfaction.
"Glad you came to your senses. The Whites won't mistreat you." Olivia looked at Sophia with relief.
Isabella's lips curled into a smug smile, her delight barely concealed.
Sophia took in their expressions, her last shred of hope for her family vanishing.
A strange feeling of bitterness welled up inside her, something she had never felt before.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her sorrow. "I haven't finished. I'll marry into the White family, but you must agree to one condition."
Hayden's smile faded, and he scolded in a low voice, "Marrying into the Whites is a blessing. Don't be ungrateful!"
His face darkened as he looked at Sophia with disdain.
Raised in the countryside, she was indeed unrefined compared to the carefully groomed Isabella.
Sophia laughed coldly to herself.
Benjamin was gravely ill, likely to die soon. Marrying into the White family meant she would soon be a widow.
Her own father called this her blessing.
How ironic.
Hayden frowned. "What condition?"
Olivia and Isabella also frowned, glaring at Sophia with displeasure.
Ignoring their looks, Sophia continued, "Once we get the funding from the White family, I want to cut all ties with this family. From then on, we owe each other nothing."
The sound of a glass shattering broke the eerie silence of the villa, sharp and jarring.
Hayden, furious, slapped Sophia hard across the face. "Say that again! You ungrateful wretch! I should never have let you be born!"
Cut ties? How dare she!
Olivia was equally angry. "Sophia, apologize to your father!"
Sophia, already small in stature, was knocked to the ground by Hayden's forceful slap.
Her cheek burned, and blood surged up her throat, spilling from her lips.
She wiped it away with her hand, her palm instantly stained with blood.
She laughed bitterly. "Marrying into the White family is my way of repaying you for giving birth to me."
"From now on, I have nothing to do with the Brown family!"
"Ridiculous!" Hayden glared at Sophia, his eyes burning with rage, as if he wanted to bore a hole through her.
"You are a Brown. Helping the family through tough times is your duty! Everything you eat, wear, and use comes from us!" He was seething, feeling that a slap was too lenient.
Sophia stood up, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "My clothes were bought by my teacher. I use what I brought with me. I live in a storage room for Isabella's things. You gave birth to me, but you didn't raise me."
"I owe you nothing."
Sophia glanced around the mansion, taking in the luxurious crystal chandeliers and expensive collectibles.
This was supposed to be her home.
But she felt no warmth here.
Hayden, seeing Sophia's determined look, felt his anger rise even more.
He laughed coldly, pointing at her. "Fine! I'll grant your wish. I hope you don't regret it!"
In a family like the Whites, status and background were everything. Without a strong family to back her, she wouldn't survive there.
Hayden sneered, pulling out his phone to call the lawyer.
Soon, the lawyer arrived with a document to sever ties.
It specifically stated that Sophia voluntarily cut all ties with the Brown family and relinquished any claim to their inheritance.