The Stand-In Girl He Couldn’t Keep Chapter 05
Two days later, I ran into Sophia and her friends at a restaurant.
Knowing better than to cross paths with this spoiled young lady, I decided to settle the bill and leave before even finishing my meal.
But Sophia spotted me anyway.
“Well, well. Look who it is,” one of her friends sneered. “The little homewrecker herself.
“What’s wrong? Do you finally realize how utterly shameful it is to sell your body?”
Just because I couldn’t afford to offend Sophia didn’t mean I had to tolerate her friends.
Grabbing my glass, I splashed the water straight into that girl’s face.
She stomped her feet in sheer fury. “You bitch! How dare you throw water at me!”
“Your mouth was filthy, so I thought I’d help you wash it,” I retorted, eyeing her coldly. “You really should be thanking me.”
“What did she say wrong?” Sophia sneered. “You are Steve’s little stress-relief toy. Honestly, you’re cheaper than a sex toy.”
Reason told me I had to hold back. Clutching my fists tight to suppress the burning urge to slap her, I settled for a mocking smile. “My relationship with Steven is none of your business.
“And really, you live off him too. So, what exactly makes you any different from me?”
Compared to the humiliation Sophia had inflicted on me, my words were practically harmless.
Yet she immediately played the victim, running to Steven that very day to complain about how I had bullied her.
***
Inside the apartment, Steven leaned back against the sofa and flicked ash from his cigarette.
“Did you really slap Sophie across the face?”
I didn’t harbor any illusions, but I asked anyway. “If I said I didn’t, would you believe me?”
To my surprise, he nodded. “I would.”
I stared at him, startled.
I never expected that, between Sophia and me, he would actually choose to believe my word.
But then, he said, “Ellie, just go and apologize to Sophie. She was crying hysterically today, and it broke my heart to see her like that.”
A wave of bitter irony washed over me, and I couldn’t help but fire back. “You know perfectly well I did nothing wrong, yet you’re still forcing me to apologize?”
He massaged his temples, looking thoroughly exhausted. “Before Sophie’s parents passed away, I promised them I would take good care of her.
“I know I’ve spoiled her too much over the years, and she’s become a little willful. But she’s not a bad person.
“She simply can’t stand you because she cares too much about me, fears losing me, and wants to prove her place in my heart.
“It’s not that big of a deal. Just say sorry, and this whole thing will be over.”
I failed to comprehend it.
Did Sophia still need to prove her status in his heart?
She had already trampled me completely under her boots.
Taking a deep, heavy breath, I asked, “And if I refuse?”
He raised an eyebrow slightly. “You have every right to refuse, of course. However…
Pausing for a deliberate moment, he added, “There’s a new type of medicine available in the UK. It has exceptional efficacy for Melissa’s condition, and the side effects are minimal.”
The medication Mom was currently taking carried harsh side effects, leaving her frequently nauseous and vomiting.
Because of that, her appetite had become terrible, and she had grown painfully thin.
So, hearing Steven describe the benefits of this new drug, my heart wavered.
Seeing my resolve crumble, a faint, confident smirk touched his lips. “Ellie, you know I care about you too, and I would never let you suffer for nothing.”
He truly was a master at using transactions to force compliance.
And I had no other choice.