"A friend gave it to me," Sophie replied calmly.
Emily's eyes narrowed."What kind of friend? I want that kind of friend too!"
That bottle of CC Parfum was empty now—Sophie had used the last drop.If Emily wanted any chance of getting close to Ethan again, she had to get her hands on that same fragrance.
Her face twisted with jealousy and frustration.Then—
Slap!
Emily raised her hand and struck.
"Sophie, you hideous freak! What right do you have to wear luxury perfume? Look at your disgusting face! Using CC on you is a total waste!"
But before her palm could land, Sophie swiftly caught her wrist mid-air.
Her fingers were slender and steady, and her voice was soft but unshakably firm.
"Oh? CC is only wasted on me but not on you? Then go buy it yourself, Emily."
Her bright eyes shimmered with a careless smile that only infuriated Emily more.
"You—you—you—!"
Just as Emily was about to explode again, the door to the master bedroom swung open.
Ethan stepped out.
Emily's eyes flickered. An idea.
She shrieked suddenly, took a few dramatic steps backward—and threw herself to the ground with a loud thud.
"AHHH! Sophie, you pushed me!"
A tall figure moved instantly, casting a long shadow over both of them.
Sophie looked up and locked eyes with Ethan. His gaze was cold, sharp—devoid of emotion.
"Who told you to touch her? Apologize," he ordered, his tone like steel.
He had believed Emily's act without hesitation.
The warmth from last night was gone.Of course—it hadn't been hers to begin with. He thought she was Emily.
To him, she was just the substitute.A warm body. Nothing more.
Behind Ethan, Emily clung to his sleeve, playing the helpless victim to perfection.
"Honey, she grabbed me and shoved me so hard... it really hurt~"
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"While I'm still willing to give you a chance," he said coldly, "apologize. Now."
Sophie stared at him, standing tall, back straight.Her voice was steady:
"I didn't push her. She's pretending. I won't apologize for something I didn't do."
Emily, still draped over Ethan's arm like a delicate flower, smirked in triumph.This was her win. There was no way Sophie would—
Then Sophie stepped forward.And with one swift, deliberate motion, she shoved Emily hard.
"AHH!"
Emily hit the ground with a yelp that echoed through the hallway.
This time, the pain was real.
Tears welled up as she sat dazed on the floor.
Sophie looked down at her coldly, her voice calm and clear:
"I'm sorry, Young Madam. That was me pushing you."
Emily: "······"
Sophie turned toward Ethan, brushing her hands off casually."Master, I've apologized. I'll go back to work now."
She walked away without looking back.
Emily's whole body trembled with rage as she scrambled to her feet."Darling, this little maid just assaulted me! You can't let her get away with it!"
Ethan didn't speak immediately.
He was watching Sophie's retreating figure, something unreadable flickering in his deep eyes.
His gaze slowly shifted to Emily.
Her makeup was smudged from her crocodile tears.The scent of cheap rose perfume clung to her heavily powdered skin.
But the woman in his arms last night...
She had porcelain skin, clean and bare. Her scent had been intoxicating—natural, soft, unlike anything else.
Something didn't add up.
Why did Emily feel so different during the day and at night?
Last night, he had been strangely drawn to her.This morning, all he felt was irritation.
His voice dropped to a dangerous low.
"Emily..."
She looked up, hopeful.
"Was it really you I slept with last night?"