Chapter 149: Sophia's Counterattack!
Without Sophia's consent, the Johnson family's bodyguards refused to let anyone go.
Melinda glanced in Sophia's direction but held her tongue. She could plead with Sophia privately, but in public, she believed she had to uphold her status as the daughter of the Smith family and couldn’t beg a poor orphan.
To put it bluntly, she always felt superior, viewing everything she had endured as merely a trial from Holden for being the only daughter of the Smith family.
Melinda looked to William for help, her voice urgent. “William, please save my mom!”
William's eyes were indifferent. He sat on the sofa with Emily in his arms without responding, showing through his actions that he was not on Melinda's side.
His eyes fell on Sophia, but she didn’t acknowledge him.
Seeing this, Melinda turned her attention to James and Michael. “James, Michael, could you plead for your grandma?”
The two kids obediently sat beside William.
James shook his head. “Melinda, great-grandpa said she’s not my grandma.”
Michael nodded in agreement with James, seriously suggesting, “Melinda, if you want to plead, you should bring some fruit and kneel at our real grandma’s grave.”
Sophia felt a bit relieved by James and Michael's reactions. If they had pleaded for Hannah, she would have had a tough time dealing with it. But now, that concern was gone.
Emily smiled brightly when she noticed Sophia looking at her, giving her a reassuring expression as she nestled in William's arms, her big eyes scanning the expressions of those around her.
Sophia walked back to the poolside.
This time, Hannah didn’t dare speak harshly to her. The greasy man beside her averted his gaze the moment he saw William.
Watching their expressions, Sophia felt a sense of mockery. They weren’t afraid of her; they were clearly terrified of William sitting across from them.
Everyone present represented the elite of Empire City, and she was about to set an example to deter anyone from provoking her.
As she organized her thoughts, Henry rushed in from outside.
He had received a call on the way and learned about Hannah being kicked into the pool by Sophia.
Henry looked furious. “What are you all doing?!”
Everyone’s attention shifted to him, eager to see how things would unfold.
Henry hurried to the poolside and, seeing Hannah in such a pitiful state, felt his own dignity was being tarnished.
“Dad, please save Mom! She’s barely hanging on!”
“Dear, Sophia is bullying me!”
Henry glanced at the bodyguards surrounding the pool, realizing they weren’t from Smith Manor. Then he saw William sitting on the couch, holding Sophia’s daughter and watching the drama unfold. Henry hesitated, weighing his options.
Melinda was confused. “Dad, what are you hesitating for?”
Over the years, Henry had grown tired of Hannah, but he had never found the right moment to divorce her. After all, it was he who insisted on marrying Hannah, hurting Holden in the process and cutting off his own financial resources.
If he handled this situation well today, could he reclaim those shares and properties?
Hannah was sinking lower in the water, and every time she tried to reach for the edge, she saw the bodyguards from the Johnson family ready to kick her back if she dared approach.
Even so, she still refused to back down to Sophia.
With Henry back, she felt more at ease.
Sophia found Hannah and Melinda amusing; they likely had no idea what Henry had just done.
She glanced at the electronic screen on the lawn and began speaking slowly.
“Hannah, speaking of which, I remembered something. Years ago, I met a man with a mole on his left cheek outside Smith Manor. He said his wife and daughter were living it up at Smith Manor.”
At the mention of a man with a mole on his left cheek, Hannah's already pale face grew even more as panic filled her eyes.
She forced herself to stay calm. “What does that have to do with me? I don’t know him.”
Sophia looked at her shifty eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. “Is that so? But I can’t help but notice your daughter doesn’t resemble Henry at all.”
Melinda spoke up first. “Sophia, you’re talking nonsense!”
Her voice trembled with panic. In fact, Melinda had already noticed she didn’t look much like Henry. To win his favor, she always tried to style herself to resemble him.
Henry, who had remained neutral, suddenly recalled how Melinda didn’t quite resemble him, and doubt flickered in his eyes.
Though he often acted recklessly, he had been handsome in his youth; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had such a good-looking son like William with Luna.
No man could accept being cuckolded!
Seeing Henry’s doubtful expression, Melinda quickly said, “Dad! Don’t listen to this woman’s nonsense. Mom loves you so much; how could I not be your daughter?”
Hannah chimed in, “Dear, just look at Melinda’s eyes; they look just like yours! After being with you for over twenty years, how could I betray you?”
Feeling anxious, she lost her balance in the pool and gulped down several mouthfuls of water.
The guests hadn’t expected such a show today; they were all intrigued, starting to scrutinize Melinda and Henry’s features.
Meanwhile, Melinda's boyfriend was distracted, his gaze frequently drifting to Monkey's face.
The latter shot him a sharp look. “Do you know me?”
Ethan quickly turned his head away. “N-No, I don’t.”
Sophia’s words shattered the calm between Hannah and Henry, her beautiful brows arching coldly as she stood by the pool, exuding an air of superiority.
William observed her handling the situation alone, his gaze darkening, and he felt an unexplainable sense of anxiety.
Emily sensed the tension in his arm and immediately patted his hand.
William slowly calmed down, surprised at how much influence Emily had over him.
At that moment, Henry, who had been silent, noticed the guests’ scrutiny and shifted the topic. “Everyone, today is my father’s birthday; please move to the banquet hall.”
Scandals abound in the elite circle, but as long as they remain hidden from public view, they don’t count as scandals.
Sophia saw through Henry’s attitude and exchanged glances with Monkey, who nodded.
The man with the mole on his left cheek had been brought to the scene.
“Hannah, let’s go. What’s so good about this old man? He doesn’t give you any money. I have money now and can provide happiness for you and your daughter. Come home with me, you and Melinda.”
His words struck Henry like a slap to the face, confirming the truth of his humiliation.
Hannah trembled, “I don’t even know you!”
“Hannah, you gave me such a beautiful daughter, how can you say you don’t know me?”
He looked at Melinda with excitement. “After over twenty years, I can finally see you openly, Melinda, I’m your father!”
Melinda’s face turned pale as she looked at Henry, whose face had turned angry.
She quickly asserted, “Shut up! My dad is Henry, not you, you scumbag!”
Sophia met Hannah’s piercing gaze, her lips curving slightly.
With a hint of mockery, she said, “So, Hannah, turns out your daughter is illegitimate.”