Chapter 275: She Deserves All of This

Chapter 275: She Deserves All of This

(Sophia POV)

The commotion of Thomas's family of three being dragged out of the hallway was heard by pretty much everyone in the hall.

When Robinson closed the side door again, the music was still playing inside, but hardly anyone's mind was on the music anymore.

In the corner, guests at several tables huddled together talking, their voices kept low, but everyone could hear them.

When I walked back into the hall from the side door, all eyes turned toward me.

I was wearing that champagne-colored gown, the hem swaying gently as I walked, no anger on my face, no smugness either. Just very calm. As if that scene in the hallway hadn't happened at all.

William was standing by the main table. When he saw me return, he took a couple of steps toward me.

"You okay?"

"I'm okay."

He didn't ask more, just naturally positioned himself to my left.

Owen came over from the bar area, holding a glass of warm water. He held the glass out to me. "Have some water."

I took it and had a sip. "I'm not angry."

Owen looked into my eyes. "Really not?"

I set the glass on a nearby table and turned to look at him. "Owen, you've known me this long. If I were really angry, I wouldn't look like this."

He smiled slightly and didn't press further. His right hand was still in his pocket.

The atmosphere in the hall quickly recovered. The band started playing again, waiters circulated through the crowd with champagne, and guests dispersed in small groups. Someone walked toward me.

The first was Tobias. An old-guard Midland real estate developer who carried weight in this circle. He walked up to me, smiling as he raised his glass. "Ms. Brooks, congratulations on coming home."

"Thank you."

His wife followed behind, taking my hand and looking me up and down, her eyes a bit red. "This girl looks like your mother when she was young, so beautiful."

Over the next half hour, at least a dozen people came over to greet me.

Some were genuinely congratulatory, some wanted to use the opportunity to connect with the Brooks family, some were purely curious.

But whatever their purpose, everyone's attitude toward me had changed—no longer "that former daughter-in-law of the Cooper family," but "the Brooks family heiress."

I handled it calmly, chatting briefly with each person, neither warm nor cold. William stood beside me the whole time, not interrupting, but not leaving either.

Someone asked: "And this is?"

I said: "William, my friend."

He smiled slightly and shook hands with them. He didn't correct the term "friend." But his position, from start to finish, remained half a step to my left.

Over by the dance floor, Chloe was pulling Noah toward the dessert table. Their hands hadn't completely let go yet.

She grabbed a piece of dessert and stuffed it in her mouth, saying something unintelligibly. Noah glanced at her and said something.

She swallowed, licked her lips, and gestured through another long string of words. The corner of Noah's mouth curved up a bit—a very small arc.

Chloe pointed at him shouting "you're smiling," and he pressed her finger down, then his other hand returned to her waist. Not much pressure, but closer than when they were on the dance floor. Chloe's ears started burning again.

I looked away.

In the corner, I saw Henry bracing himself on the armrest to stand up, heading toward the side door. Luke followed behind him. They walked slowly but didn't look back.

I stood by the window, holding half a glass of champagne. Noah came over and stood beside me. Brother and sister leaning against the window, neither of us speaking.

I broke the silence first. "Noah."

"Mm?"

"Thank you for today."

He glanced at me. "Don't thank me."

I smiled slightly and set my glass on the windowsill.

"I used to think I'd probably spend this life alone." I paused. "Now I've discovered that having family standing behind you feels completely different."

He didn't respond. He reached out and patted the top of my head lightly.

My nose stung, but I didn't cry.

I lifted my head and looked at the crowd in the hall. Chloe was bickering with Laura by the dessert table, William stood not far away holding a glass, Owen sat at the bar edge, spinning a coin between his fingers. My friends. My family. All here.

I suddenly remembered something and turned to Noah. "Noah, when you were dancing with Chloe just now, what did she say to you?"

He picked up his glass and took a sip. His expression didn't change. But the tips of his ears faintly reddened.

"Nothing much."

I stared at him for two seconds, my lips slowly curving up. "Noah, your ears are telling the truth."