CHAPTER TWO

In the morning, Sophia arrived at the company on time, even though she hadn't slept a wink throughout the night.

“Have you heard the news? Miss. Williams is back!” Tatiana Jenkins, one of the employees at the Daniels Group, commented.

She was chatting with her friend as they waited for the elevator. Behind them, Sophia remained silent while they continued discussing her as if she didn't exist.

“You mean that jewelry designer?” her other colleague, Charlotte, asked.

“Yeah, she's more than just an ordinary jewelry designer. She's also the only woman our boss has ever openly admitted to dating. I heard she's his first love.”

“Wow, but isn't there a rumor that our boss and Sophia have something going on?”

“Of course not! She was nothing but a mistress!”

“Haha! What a joke. She thought she could sleep her way to the top and make the boss fall for her. Now that the woman he truly loves has returned, I'm sure she'll lose not only her position as his mistress but also her job.”

Sophia curled her hands into fists. She gritted her teeth but remained silent. After all, only Daniel and his family knew about their marriage.

She was Daniel's personal assistant, but nobody knew they had been husband and wife for three years.

Everyone simply assumed she was Daniel's mistress because of their close relationship. However, Daniel had never corrected them, and Sophia had no permission to set the record straight either. Daniel had made her promise to keep their marriage a secret.

The elevator doors slid open, and they all stepped inside. Tatiana and Charlotte exchanged glances before resuming their conversation.

“If I were her, I'd resign voluntarily. It's obvious the boss already has someone he loves. It's humiliating to cling to him like a desperate woman,” Tatiana remarked mockingly.

“Hey... calm down. She can hear you,” Charlotte whispered loudly before bursting into laughter.

They seemed to be enjoying Sophia's misfortune. They had always been among the many women who envied her closeness to Daniel Kingsley. Now that the woman he truly loved had returned, they finally had a chance to make fun of Sophia.

“I'm only stating the facts. She's a mistress who's about to be discarded now that the future Mrs. Daniel has returned to the city,” Tatiana declared.

Sophia clenched her fists at those words.

The other woman?

She was his lawful wife! Yet, she can't even say it out loud.

Sophia pressed her lips together, her heart aching. Daniel hadn't returned home the previous night. He did not even bother to call and inform her of his plans.

She could only conclude that he had spent the night with his former girlfriend. The mere thought of it made her feel as though a cat were clawing at her heart.

Her colleagues' cruel remarks rang in her ears, and her throat tightened. She was his legal wife, yet she couldn't even speak up to defend her position. But could she truly defend her position?

How could she defend something that had never really belonged to her in the first place?

It wasn't long before Sophia reached the CEO's office. However, she had no desire to work that day. Instead, she went to ask Daniel for a day off so she could return home. 

When she knocked and stepped inside, she found Daniel seated in his office chair, wearing an outfit different from what he had on the night before.

“You're late,” Daniel remarked in a deep, icy voice.

“Yes... I went to bed late. I've come to request a day's leave,” Sophia requested, struggling to hold back her tears.

He didn't even seem concerned that he didn't come home.

“Why? Are you ill?” Daniel asked casually, his gray eyes examining her figure.

“I'm not feeling well,” Sophia answered, forcing herself to swallow the lump in her throat.

The truth was... she wanted to ask him where he spent the night, but she was afraid of discovering that he had been with another woman.

Thinking about it and hearing him admit it himself were two entirely different things.

“Okay,” Daniel replied. And When Sophia remained where she was, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is there anything else?”

Sophia shook her head. She couldn't help feeling disappointed. Daniel didn't even try to explain where he had spent the night. He behaved as though his actions were perfectly normal.

Heartbroken, she left the company and headed toward the parking lot. However, she unexpectedly collided with someone in the underground parking area.

It was none other than Ivy—the woman of Daniel Kingsley's dreams.

Sitting in her wheelchair, she appeared so fragile that anyone who saw her would instinctively want to protect her. She maneuvered her electric wheelchair toward Sophia and stopped directly in front of her, blocking her path.

“So, you're Sophia, Daniel's wife? I'm Ivy. It's nice to meet you,” Ivy greeted her.

Sophia's face turned pale. She didn't expect to encounter Ivy so soon.

“I appreciate you for taking care of Daniel for over the years,” she remarked with a grin.

Sophia scoffed inwardly! She made it sound as though Sophia had just been his caretaker! Was she subtly telling her to step aside now that the rightful woman had returned?

“You don't have to thank me for fulfilling my responsibilities as his wife,” Sophia replied through gritted teeth.

She felt sorry for Ivy because she was confined to a wheelchair, but her words sounded like a mockery of the reality of Sophia's relationship with Daniel.

Ivy smiled sweetly before replying, “Of course. I'll see you around.”

She began wheeling herself away when her phone slipped from her lap and fell to the ground. Turning toward Sophia, she asked, “Could you help me pick up my phone? As you can see, I can't reach it.”

Sophia nodded and stepped toward Ivy. But just as she bent to retrieve the phone, Ivy suddenly tumbled to the ground and screamed.

What's going on-

“ouch! Ivy cried as blood streamed down her face, making Sophia's eyes widen in horror.

“What the—”

“IVY!” a deep voice boomed through the parking area.

Sophia's heart skipped a beat when she heard that familiar voice.It was her husband's voice and she never before had heard such panic in his tone.

He hurried toward them and gathered Ivy into his arms. When he noticed the blood running down her forehead, his brows knitted together in fury.

He shot Sophia with a cold glare that sent chills down her spine.

Wait, did he think she had done it?

Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief as she realized what was happening. Someone was framing her!

“Daniel! I swear, I didn't shove her—”

“Get lost!” Daniel roared and pushed Sophia who fell hard on her backside.

He held Ivy close, his face etched with concern, and he murmured, “It's okay. I'll get you to the hospital right away.”