Jailbird's Vegetable Husband

"1107, your family's here to see you!"

Through the thick glass, Sophia Anderson, in her orange prison jumpsuit, stared at her mom, Adele Taylor, on the other side. In five years of being locked up, this was their first face-to-face.

Adele picked up the phone, her eyes lighting up. "Sophia, how have you been holding up in here?"

Sophia's face stayed cold, her eyes steady. "If you've got something to say, just spit it out."

Her flat, dismissive tone made Adele's smile falter. She forced a grin. "I know you're mad I haven't visited, but I just couldn't find the time. Anyway, I'm here to tell you your grandma's in the hospital."

Sophia's brow furrowed. "What happened? Grandma's always been healthy."

Adele sighed. "She's getting old. The doctor gave us a critical condition notice. Her biggest wish is to see you married. I've arranged a marriage for you with the Martinez family."

She looked at Sophia intently. "I've told the Martinez family about your situation. They don't mind you've been in prison. Once you're out, you'll be Mrs. Martinez."

To an outsider, it might seem like a mom planning her daughter's future with care. But Sophia saw right through her. Her face was icy, her eyes mocking. "You mean Nicholas Martinez, the guy who's been in a coma for a month after that car accident?"

Adele's smile froze.

Sophia's lips curled in a cold smirk. "Doctors say he's gonna be in a vegetative state for life. Plus, he's got a five-year-old kid. The Martinez family wants to marry him off to bring him good luck."

Adele's eyes widened. "How do you know this?"

Even in prison, Sophia had her ways of getting news.

Adele quickly attempted to regain her composure. "Sophia, in your situation, who else would want you? This is the best I could do."

Sophia didn't hesitate. "I don't need it, and Grandma wouldn't want me to marry and become a stepmom."

Adele's face turned red with anger and embarrassment. "You're a convict. Do you really think you can find a good match? No matter how pretty you are, you can't erase your record."

Sophia gripped the phone tighter. "I took the fall for your son!"

Five years ago, Sophia's brother accidentally killed someone. When their grandma found out, she ended up in the ICU. Adele used their grandma's life to force Sophia to take the blame.

Her grandma was the only one who'd ever been kind to her. With no other choice, Sophia took the fall.

She was 22, about to graduate from college, with her whole life ahead of her. Instead, she spent five years in a dark cell.

Adele's face was now completely grim.

Sophia sneered. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You want the Martinez family's benefits, so you're pushing me into this marriage."

From a young age, Sophia always knew Adele didn't like her. She never knew what she did wrong. For countless years, she had tried, painstakingly, to curry her mother's favor, convinced that no mother would hate her child without reason. Sophia believed it must have been something about her, something she could change or rectify. Yet, despite her efforts, she never received a shred of maternal affection from Adele.

She remembered being five years old, standing on tiptoe to present the lopsided clay cup she'd made in kindergarten to Adele. She barely glanced at it before turning to the housekeeper with a dismissive wave. "Don’t leave this filthy thing in the living room."

When Adele used her grandmother's surgery fees to threaten her into taking the blame, Sophia had already lost all hope. Sometimes, she even doubted if she was really Adele's biological daughter, because the way Adele treated her and her sister, Claire Anderson, was worlds apart!

Sophia exposed Adele's true intentions, stripping away any pretense Adele had left. Her face contorted with a mix of anger and frustration as she could no longer hide her emotions, and she finally spoke. "Believe it or not, your grandmother is really in the ICU! And, after being in prison for so long, don't you want to know the whereabouts of your two children?"

The latter half of the sentence made Adele feel like she had regained control, and it instantly hit Sophia's weak spot. Her pupils contracted, and her emotions became agitated. "Where are my children?"

Before she went to prison five years ago, she had a romantic encounter with her first love. It was that encounter that led to her pregnancy, but after giving birth, the Anderson family took the children away. For so many years, she missed her children every moment.

Adele's face regained a smug smile as she slowly spoke. "As long as you agree to my terms, I'll let you see the children. Otherwise, you'll never see them in your lifetime."

Sophia's fists clenched instantly, her sharp nails digging into her palms. Intense anger and hatred surged in her eyes. Five years ago, she had no choice but to compromise. Five years later, the same situation was happening again. Even more sadly, facing Adele's threat, she had no way to resist.

The overwhelming anger eventually subsided into calm. Sophia closed her eyes tightly and exhaled. "I'll marry."

As long as her grandmother could be safe, as long as she could see her children, she was willing to endure any hardship.

Adele's eyes flashed with a triumphant smile.

Three days later, Sophia was released from prison. The first thing she did upon regaining her freedom was to find her children.

But unexpectedly, the first scene she saw at the Anderson Mansion was her boyfriend, Miguel Brown, and her sister, Claire Anderson, sweetly cuddling together.

Miguel had one arm around Claire's waist, his handsome face full of disdain. And Claire—oh, she—leaned into him like a satisfied cat, her crimson lips curved in a smile that dripped with mockery. Her fingers toyed idly with the lapel of Miguel’s tailored suit, a silent proclamation of ownership. The way her eyes flickered over, bright with triumph, said everything: Look at what’s mine now.

The air turned to ice. Every gaze in the room seemed to sharpen, waiting—anticipating—Sophia's reaction.

Sophia clenched her fists tightly, a hint of restraint in her eyes. After so many betrayals, she had become accustomed to it.

She had long guessed that with Claire's personality, she would find a way to take Miguel away. Claire had always been like this since they were young. She would stop at nothing to take everything from her.

Sophia didn't look at her but stared directly at Miguel. "Where are the children now?"

Miguel's eyes were full of contempt as he said disdainfully, "How would I know where those bastards are?"

Sophia stared at him in shock, suppressing her anger, and gritted her teeth. "You actually call your own children bastards?"

Miguel sneered, "I never touched you. If they're not bastards, what are they?"

Claire couldn't help but laugh, speaking with pity. "Sophia, you still don't know, do you? That night, the man who slept with you was Mr. Taylor!"