Chapter 4

Sophie had nearly finished packing her suitcase.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, the name "Eleanor Carter" flashing on the screen, making her pause.

She stared at the name, remembering how Eleanor used to hold her hand, insisting Sophie was the true lady of the Carter family.

Yet, near Sophie's death, Eleanor complained to Daniel that Sophie was too stubborn, not as charming as Lily.

"Sophie! Get to the Carter mansion now! Hurry!" Eleanor's voice came through the phone, frantic. "Daniel... he's completely out of line!"

Sophie gripped the phone and walked to the window, where the shadows of a sycamore tree swayed below.

Daniel had brought Lily to the Carter family home, a place he once despised.

"Got it," Sophie replied calmly.

The Carter mansion's gates stood wide open. The servants' faces showed hesitation as they saw her.

The living room felt heavy with tension.

When Eleanor saw Sophie, she rushed forward, grabbing her wrist like a lifeline. "Sophie, you're finally here!" Her eyes were red. "Look at this! Daniel brought that village girl into our home! Don't worry, I only recognize you as my daughter-in-law. She needs to leave now!"

Sophie followed Eleanor's pointing finger. Lily sat stiffly, hands twisting her clothes nervously, shrinking closer to Daniel when she saw Sophie.

Daniel sat beside Lily, his wrists still marked by faint rope burns from fishing nets.

He looked thinner than he had in Seaside Village, the innocence of Danny gone from his expression.

Had his memories started to return?

Hearing Eleanor's words, Daniel looked up at Sophie, his gaze complex.

It held guilt, struggle, but none of the confusion he had in the village.

Sophie understood clearly. The man before her was slowly becoming the Daniel Carter she once knew.

"Eleanor, please calm down," Daniel said, standing. "This isn't Lily's fault. I brought her here."

"You're defending her?" Eleanor snapped. "You've shamed the Carter family!"

"Father!" Daniel cut her off, his tone firm. "About the engagement..." He turned, his eyes meeting Sophie's. "Sophie, let's call it off."

The air froze.

Eleanor's cries stopped abruptly.

"Call it off?" she shouted. "You're already married! Sophie's name is right there in the family registry with yours. You think you can just walk away from that? Do you take the law for a joke?"

Sophie stood still, a mocking smile tugging at her lips when she heard "married."

Eleanor likely still believed the marriage certificate, arranged by Daniel's assistant, was real.

"The marriage can be undone," Sophie said. "If Mr. Carter cooperates, we can handle the paperwork at city hall."

Daniel's face darkened, his hand clenching into a fist at his side.

He knew the marriage certificate was fake.

His throat bobbed as he looked at Sophie, his expression tangled.

Lily, sitting on the sofa, went pale.

She shot to her feet. "Married? You're already married?"