Chapter 7

After a moment of silence, Sophia spoke.

"I can do what you're asking, but you have to agree to one condition."

Bianca nodded dismissively. "No need to say it, I know. We'll throw you a big birthday party this year, just like Margaret's before. Happy now?"

Sophia was two years younger than Margaret, but their birthdays were only a week apart.

All her life, she'd celebrated Margaret's birthday, wearing the dresses Margaret had rejected, serving as a backdrop to her sister on the most important day of the year.

She'd protested to her parents many times, wanting a birthday of her own. They always agreed, but the next year it was always the same—nothing ever changed.

Bianca probably assumed this was still what Sophia was hung up on.

But she shook her head without hesitation. "That's not the condition I want to ask for."

Bianca frowned.

She'd never had much patience with Sophia and snapped irritably, "Just say what you want! Who has time to keep going in circles with you?"

Sophia lowered her eyes. "I'll tell you at the party."

Bianca couldn't stand this kind of uncertainty and was about to explode on the spot.

Vincent appeared just in time, stepping in front of Bianca.

He looked at Sophia kindly and said with a chuckle, "I trust Sophia is a sensible child who would never make any request that would put the family in a difficult position, right, Sophia?"

This was the third time Vincent had used the word "sensible" to describe Sophia since entering the room, but rather than a compliment, it felt more like emotional blackmail.

Sophia smiled bitterly. "Yes, I won't make things difficult for you and Mom. My condition will definitely be great news for you."

Bianca still seemed uneasy, but Vincent smiled sincerely. "That's good. Your mother and I will head back now. Get some rest."

As they were leaving, Bianca's bag accidentally knocked a document off the cabinet by the door.

It was the pregnancy test report Sophia had picked up on her way home from work.

But Bianca didn't notice at all and left without a second glance.

The room fell quiet again. Sophia stood in silence for a moment, then bent down to pick up the report.

Actually, the results had been ready for a while—she just hadn't gone to get them.

No time, and also a bit afraid to face the results.

But avoiding it wasn't going to solve anything. Sophia sighed and opened the report.

[Five weeks pregnant.]

Seeing those four words, Sophia lost all hope for a different outcome. Her legs gave out, and she sank to the floor.

She really was pregnant, carrying Robert's child.

What should she do?

Terminated it, or kept it?

Logic told Sophia that getting rid of the baby before anyone noticed was the best choice.

After all, Robert's attitude toward her was clear.

He didn't love her, so naturally he wouldn't want her child either.

But Sophia slowly placed her hand on her flat stomach.

She had a father, a mother, and a sister, yet still lived a lonely, miserable life.

This little life was her family too!

Sophia gently closed her eyes, unable to make a decision no matter what.

That night, she tossed and turned without sleeping, which left her looking terrible the next day at work—enough to startle the HR manager who came to find her.

"Why do you look like a panda? Oh, by the way, there's news about your resignation—it wasn't approved. Go ask Mr. Howard what's going on!"

After delivering this message, the HR manager hurried off.

Sophia stood dazed for a moment, then got up and went to Robert's office.

"Come in." Robert's voice was stern.

When he saw it was her, his expression grew even colder.

"If you're here about resigning, you can leave right now." His attitude was clear—he wouldn't let Sophia go.

Sophia didn't move.

She thought for a moment, then said calmly, "The resignation process and work handover will take half a month. Approving it won't delay anything, Mr. Howard."

After all, the party to announce Margaret's identity was being held next Saturday. After that, Robert would have no reason to keep holding her back.

As soon as she finished speaking, a teacup flew past Sophia's forehead, nearly making her fall to the ground in fright.

Ever since Margaret's accident, Robert had become volatile and unpredictable.

He stood up and strode over to Sophia, gripping her chin harshly and forcing her to look up at him.

"I told you, I'll never let you go in this lifetime. Stop dreaming!" Then Robert's gaze became more scrutinizing.

"What makes you think you can leave me now and stop being punished? Could it be..."

Sophia's heart jumped.

After faking her death, Margaret had spent three years abroad having fun, only recently returning home.

And she hadn't been low-key about it either—you could see her everywhere: bars, clubs, shopping malls.

Had Robert noticed something?

But the next moment, Robert patted her cheek lightly with the back of his hand—it didn't hurt, but it was deeply humiliating.

"You don't actually think that because Victoria and I are engaged, you have some leverage over me, do you?"

This was an angle Sophia had never even considered.

She was trying to avoid him and Victoria—how could she possibly think of using them as leverage?

But she'd barely started to explain when Robert cut her off without mercy.

"Sophia, you're just a criminal who killed Margaret. Other than atoning for your sins, you have no right to do anything!"

Criminal. Atonement.

Sophia had heard these words for three years, endured them for three years.

But now, she couldn't take it anymore.

"What if I told you Margaret isn't dead?" Her voice wasn't loud, but her words were clear—Robert heard them perfectly.

His pupils contracted, then he showed a contemptuous smile. "Sophia, what kind of fantasy are you living in?"

There was no such thing as people coming back from the dead in this world.

Robert assumed Sophia was talking nonsense, his tone becoming sarcastic. "Fine, if you can bring Margaret back to life, I'll let you resign from the Howard Group!"

This was something that could never happen—he said it with complete confidence.

Sophia slowly straightened her back, her pale lips curving into a satisfied smile. "Alright, please remember what you said today, Mr. Howard. I'll be going now."

Watching Sophia's retreating figure, Robert suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if he were about to lose something important.

It was only then that he noticed Sophia seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

Just as a hint of sympathy was about to emerge from his heart, Margaret's bright, beautiful face appeared in Robert's mind, crushing that thought completely.

Sophia had always been scheming, constantly causing conflicts with Margaret, and had deliberately ignored Margaret's calls, leading to her death.

A woman like that didn't deserve anyone's sympathy!

Robert reopened his computer and threw himself back into work, expressionless.