Chapter 102 They Misunderstood Sophia
Today is Isabella's engagement party.
Isabella was buzzing with excitement as she got ready, her eyes sparkling with joy.
The long-time servants of the Brown Family knew well how deeply Isabella and Zander loved each other.
Isabella had been dreaming about this day forever, and now it was finally happening.
Everyone was thrilled for her.
But no one expected Isabella to return in tears.
Her meticulously applied makeup was smudged, giving her a haunting appearance.
Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked utterly miserable.
Even Hayden and Olivia, who couldn't bear to see Isabella upset, were downcast, not even attempting to comfort her.
All the servants were puzzled.
But as mere employees, they had no right to inquire about the family's affairs.
"Dad, Mom, I don't want to live anymore! Why did Sophia do this to me?"
Isabella cried for a long time, yet Hayden, Olivia, and Flynn offered no comfort.
"How dare you say that! This whole mess is your fault! And now, the Stewart Family wants to call off the engagement! Do you have any idea what a loss this is?"
The thought of losing the alliance with the Stewart Family made Hayden furious, his face contorted with anger.
Though Hayden loved Isabella, he was a businessman, and business came first.
If Isabella could no longer bring any commercial value, he would abandon her just as he had Sophia.
Hayden's roar scared Isabella.
She shrank back, looking at him with terror in her eyes.
Olivia gently patted Isabella's shoulder and softly said to Hayden, "Why are you yelling? Look how scared she is! How can you blame Isabella for this? It's clearly Sophia trying to get back at us and make Isabella's life miserable!"
Hearing Olivia's defense, Isabella's grievances surged.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Mom, you have to believe me. I didn't do any of those things. I don't know why Sophia is framing me..." Isabella sobbed, struggling to catch her breath.
Seeing her like this, Olivia's heart ached.
"I believe you. I raised you myself. I know your character," Olivia said, stroking Isabella's hair with a pained expression.
"I think Sophia is just jealous that Isabella is marrying into the Stewart Family and set her up. Don't you think so, Flynn?"
Flynn looked at Isabella with a complicated expression.
"Isabella, did you really say those things in the audio?"
Flynn didn't like Sophia, but he didn't think she would lie.
Especially not in such a public setting.
"I didn't! Flynn, don't you believe me?" Isabella's eyes were red, full of hurt.
Flynn opened his mouth but said nothing.
"Flynn, is this necessary? Isabella has been through enough today, and you still question her!" Heath scolded coldly.
"I just want to know the truth. Have any of you considered that Sophia stayed with the Brown Family for a whole month, and what did she get?"
Flynn's words left everyone stunned.
"What do you mean by that?" Hayden frowned.
"Exactly what I said. We all thought Sophia would take away Isabella's affection and belongings, but did she ever ask for anything?"
Flynn looked around at everyone, a bitter smile on his face.
He answered his own question, "No, she never asked for anything. Because everyone in the Brown Family told her that everything here belonged to Isabella and had nothing to do with her, the real biological daughter."
Flynn's words struck like a thunderbolt.
Olivia's mouth fell open, her heart aching.
Even Heath, usually emotionless, pressed his lips together.
Sophia indeed never asked for anything.
To be more precise, the Brown Family had ulterior motives for bringing Sophia back.
They only needed to ensure she was alive.
Nothing more.
Not even a bit of concern.
Olivia sat on the couch, stunned. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart.
Seeing their reactions, Flynn couldn't help but laugh coldly.
"Sometimes I really wonder if Sophia is even your biological daughter. How can anyone be so cruel to their own child?"
Isabella stared at Flynn, shocked and disbelieving.
She never expected Flynn, who had always doted on her, to speak up for Sophia.
"Flynn..."
"Isabella, I always thought my sister was kind and gentle. But now, I don't know what to think of you."
In his mind, Isabella had always been obedient and sensible.
So when Sophia was brought back to the Brown Family, any hint of Isabella's sadness or grievance made him defend her fiercely.
But now, it seemed he had been played by Isabella all along.
"Flynn, I didn't..." Isabella whispered in defense.
"Stop calling me." Flynn cut her off coldly and turned to leave.
"It's so late. Where are you going?" Hayden frowned.
"I'm going to apologize."
Flynn paused, his voice choked, "Have you all forgotten that Sophia, like Isabella, is only twenty years old? She was so happy to find her biological parents, and what did we give her?"
Pain, despair, and hurt.
With that, Flynn left the Brown villa without looking back.
"Dad, Mom, how can Flynn not believe me!" Isabella cried in disbelief.
But everyone was lost in their own emotions, ignoring her cries.
That night, Heath stood in the yard, smoking one cigarette after another.
By midnight, the ground was littered with cigarette butts.
Flynn's words replayed in his mind over and over.
Regardless of Isabella's denial, everyone already knew the truth.
They had wronged Sophia.
But it was too late.
Everything was too late.
He and Hayden had treated Sophia as a pawn, trading her for their current wealth.
When the Brown Family faced bankruptcy, they had no other choice.
If someone had to be sacrificed, it had to be Sophia.
In fact, he and Hayden had known Sophia was alive for six months, but they couldn't find her.
Six months ago, Heath was injured and needed an emergency blood transfusion.
The hospital's blood supply was low, and Sophia happened to be there and donated blood.
The doctors discovered during testing that she was related to Heath.