Chapter 72
She kept calling him "Matthew" over and over, just to emphasize to Sophie how special their relationship was.
Sophie looked up at the sky and let out a laugh. "Matthew is my husband. Isn't it a bit weird for me to discuss my own husband with another woman?"
"I've talked to Matthew. You two haven't known each other long, so you probably don't really understand him."
"Not knowing each other long doesn't stop me from understanding him. At least I have time to get to know him slowly, instead of learning about my husband through an outsider." Sophie raised her eyebrows. Her tone wasn't too harsh, but definitely not friendly either.
Bella looked at Sophie. She knew this woman wasn't easy to push around.
They'd gone back and forth so many times on Facebook, and she'd never won. Sophie had never lost.
Before, she wasn't worried. One phone call from her and Matthew would always come see her.
Last night, when Matthew refused, she started to panic.
"You didn't marry Matthew for love, did you?" Bella kept her smile. "I heard you were the one who insisted on marrying him."
Sophie's expression was blank. She knew what Bella was getting at.
"So what?"
"Your marriage with Matthew won't last."
"If that's the case, why are you scared?" Sophie raised her eyebrows. Compared to Bella, she was much calmer inside.
Bella's smile froze slightly. "What makes you think I'm scared?"
"If you weren't scared, you wouldn't have shown up in front of me today." A mocking smile played at Sophie's lips. "Bella, if you want to take my place, just wait a bit longer. If you can't wait, go tell Matthew to get a divorce. Talking to me won't do you any good."
She laughed lightly again. "You know yourself that I was the one who insisted on marrying him. When he didn't have much time left, I still wanted to marry him. Now that he's better, I'm going to treasure him even more. Don't you think?"
Bella couldn't smile anymore.
Her pretty face turned slightly pale.
Sophie had never been a pushover. Leave her alone and she's fine, but piss her off and she'll say anything.
Saving face is only for people who deserve it.
Sophie was about to leave, then stopped and looked at Bella. "Oh, I've been meaning to tell you. Stop calling other people's husbands all the time. It's really rude. Also, you abandoned him when he was dying, and now you're back trying to get involved again. Don't you have any shame at all?"
Bella's hands clenched slightly. She took a deep breath, her eyes already turning red.
Sophie wasn't a man, and Bella wasn't someone she cared about. She didn't feel sorry for Bella's tears.
If Bella hadn't come looking for trouble, Sophie wouldn't have bothered confronting her directly. Just then, a familiar car pulled up.
Right as Matthew got out of the car, Bella's tears came on cue.
Two streams of tears appeared, and Sophie's eyes widened, then filled with amusement.
Matthew walked over, glanced at Bella, frowned slightly, then looked at Sophie.
Sophie raised her eyebrows slightly. She was curious to see how Matthew would defend his ex.
"What are you doing here?" Matthew asked Bella.
Bella sniffled and said with a choked voice, "I was passing by Miss Su's company and thought I'd invite her for coffee."
Sophie really had to hand it to Bella for lying to her face like that.
But she wasn't going to call out her lie.
That kind of argument was pointless.
"Did she bully you?" Matthew asked again.
Sophie had to admit Matthew still cared quite a bit about this ex.
His first thought was whether she'd been bullied.
Bella shook her head.
"Then why are you crying?" Matthew's brow furrowed tightly, clearly a bit impatient. "People who don't know would think she bullied you. You should be a bit older than her, crying in front of her, don't you find that embarrassing?"
Bella froze slightly, tears swirling in her eyes, unable to believe these were Matthew's words to her.
Tears fell, heartbreaking to watch.
Sophie was surprised Matthew would say something like that—not gentle at all, even more cold.
He'd been so concerned about Bella before, so why was he suddenly so heartless?
It couldn't be that he was only acting this way because she was there.
Matthew stopped looking at Bella and focused on Sophie's foot. "Does it still hurt?"
"Yes." Sophie lifted her pant leg to show her ankle, saying sweetly, "It's still red."
Matthew glanced at her. That affected tone of voice was hard to listen to.
"Can you walk?"
"No." Sophie just wanted to annoy Bella.
The woman had come looking for trouble. Why shouldn't she annoy her?
Matthew understood Sophie's personality well enough. He knew what she was trying to do.
He bent down and scooped her up in his arms.
Sophie had wanted him to do this, but now that he actually did it, she was a bit surprised.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, a smile on her face.
She planted a kiss right on Matthew's face. "Honey, you're so good to me."
Matthew looked at her sideways.
Sophie didn't care.
She was in a good mood today. He could glare all he wanted.
She could even let last night's escape slide.
Matthew carried Sophie toward his car.
It was only a few steps. Sophie was really being dramatic.
Bella stood behind them, watching Matthew pick up Sophie, watching Sophie kiss Matthew.
Most importantly, Matthew just let it happen.
Her heart felt like it was about to explode.
When did Matthew change?
Wasn't she supposed to be the one he cared about most?
Matthew placed Sophie in the passenger seat and closed the door.
He turned around, his deep gaze falling on Bella's slightly pale face. Crystal tears hung at the edge of her eyes, and with a light blink of her lashes, the tears fell.
Matthew walked around the front of the car and got in.
"She cries so beautifully." Sophie said carelessly. "She cried so beautifully my heart broke."
Matthew started the car, his tone cold. "Want to get out and comfort her?"
Sophie pouted. "Why would I comfort a woman trying to steal my man?"
Matthew hit the gas and the car quickly merged into the main road.
Sophie glanced at Matthew. "Do you believe she just happened to be passing by to invite me for coffee?"
"Doesn't matter." Matthew didn't care at all.
"She came at noon. I didn't see her, so she waited downstairs for me the whole time. If a guy chased me like that, I'd definitely say yes." Sophie was joking around.
Matthew hadn't expected Bella to have been waiting for Sophie since that early.
Sophie turned her head to look at Matthew. "Matthew, you say you don't love me, so why couldn't you control yourself last night?"
The light ahead turned red. Matthew hit the brakes hard and nearly rear-ended the car in front.
Sophie's body lurched forward violently, then was pulled back by the seatbelt.
She clutched her chest, catching her breath, but instead of getting angry, she smiled. "Look at your reaction. Do you think that's normal?"