Chapter 187 Hongmen Banquet

Or perhaps it couldn’t even be considered settling the score after the fact. After all, she had delivered herself right to his doorstep. Sophie Winslow wondered wryly just how far her husband of seven years would go.

In the eyes of Julian Sterling and Stella Sutton, she had viciously and deliberately tripped them up. But Sophie couldn’t care less about how they viewed her.

Julian had long legs, catching up to Sophie’s pace in just a few strides. He stared straight ahead, his thoughts unreadable. “Come to think of it, you’ve got quite a temper now.”

His voice sounded exceptionally cold and detached in the night. She couldn’t tell if it was laced with mockery. Sophie didn’t look at him, but she knew Julian was referring to how she had recklessly gone public with the fact that Stella was his future sister-in-law.

“I’m already doing a good deed by not laying my cards on the table and exposing your morally bankrupt affair. I covered for you. Why aren’t you thanking me?” Sophie’s words were truly sharp and unforgiving.

Julian finally cast his gaze down to look at her just as the two of them arrived at the door. The servants respectfully stepped forward to take their coats.

It was a family banquet today, and quite a few people were in attendance. Aside from Chairman Sterling and Spencer Sterling, who were far away overseas, and Charles Sterling, who hadn’t gotten out yet, almost everyone was present.

The Sterlings’ dining room was massive, requiring only a few tables. They sat at the main table. Sophie no longer needed to curry favor with the Sterling elders just to survive like she used to. She could barely even be bothered to keep up appearances, merely offering a brief greeting to Madam Sterling and the others before taking her seat.

Barbara Coleman was dissatisfied. She shot Sophie a sideways glance. “Throwing trouble our way just to achieve your own goals—you’ve certainly got quite the scheming mind, Sophie.”

In Barbara’s eyes, Sophie had “intentionally” exposed her future sister-in-law relationship with Stella to ruin the good thing Stella had going with her own husband. But there was no way her Charles would want a second-hand woman like Stella!

Sophie held her water glass, not even lifting her eyelids. “That’s right. Over the years, dealing with people like you has given me stress nodules. My doctor advised me to let my temper out whenever I need to and not tolerate awful people and their awful deeds.”

Barbara’s face twisted, so angry she wanted to teach Sophie a lesson. “Are you insulting me? Julian hasn’t formally taken full control of the Sterling family yet. What gives you the right to put on the airs of a matriarch with me?”

Julian pulled out the chair next to Sophie and sat down. As he poured himself some tea, he asked, “Aunt Barbara, is Charles doing well inside these days?”

Barbara stiffened. She knew exactly what kind of person Julian was—ruthless and utterly heartless. He had once ordered her son’s legs broken while in prison. She worried that if she fought too viciously with him and his wife, her son would be the one to suffer again. She could only grit her teeth and endure it, forcing herself to suppress the urge to slap Sophie.

When Madam Sterling came over, she didn’t seem to have heard Sophie’s hugely disrespectful remark. Instead, she asked with concern, “Are you feeling unwell, Sophie?”

Sophie had now also learned from Madam Sterling how to speak lies as if they were truth. “Thank you for your concern. I just need more rest, and I’ll be fine.”

“There’s no need to work yourself to the bone. Longview is a massive company, and the more you worry, the more your body will give out. From now on, Grandma will arrange for some elites to go over and assist you,” Madam Sterling said kindly.

Sophie silently frowned. Was this helping her? This was planting the Sterlings’ people in her company to eventually strip her of all real power, eating her alive until nothing but bones remained. Would Longview even belong to her then?

However, Julian spoke up at an unhurried pace. “Sophie is fiercely independent. If she can’t handle it, she’ll ask for help. There’s no need to worry about her affairs.”

Madam Sterling glanced at Julian and leaned back slightly in her seat. “True enough.”

Barbara sneered. It seemed Julian didn’t care whether Sophie lived or died either. He probably knew she didn’t have the capability to swallow such a huge business and was just waiting for her to mismanage it so he could justifiably take Longview back from her.

Everyone harbored their own hidden thoughts throughout the meal. Barbara seemed to be in a good mood, deliberately mentioning, “Charles is coming out soon. Sometime next month.” When that time came, the Sterling family would have to deal with this absurd mess.

Sophie looked down at her bowl. Charles Sterling was getting out? What would happen between him and Stella Sutton then? And what would Julian do? It seemed the situation was about to become complicated again.

Her mind wandered for a moment, and she subconsciously reached for the glass pitcher of juice on the table. Just as her hand touched the juice that had spun around on the Lazy Susan, another hand beat her to it, moving the mango juice to the other side.

Sophie looked up and saw Julian place the pitcher of juice onto the dining cart behind them. Leaning against the back of his chair, his expression showed neither joy nor anger. “My wife has been married into this family for seven years. You only remember the tastes of the Sterlings, but you don’t remember that my wife is allergic to mangoes?”

It sounded like a normal question. The nearby servants all froze, subconsciously exchanging glances. They knew Sophie was allergic to mangoes. However, Sophie had little say in the Sterling household, and her needs always took a back seat. Today, Stanley Sterling had asked for mango juice, and since no one else objected, they had prepared it for everyone. As for Sophie, all she had to do was not drink it, right?

As soon as Julian spoke, everyone at their table looked over. Sophie was also taken aback for a moment. When she looked over, Julian’s smooth, chiseled profile showed absolutely no anger. It seemed to be merely an offhand comment. Julian knew she was allergic to mangoes, but his involvement ended at merely knowing. He was smart and highly observant. Today, he had simply noticed it and spoken up. She couldn’t even detect any distinct concern or displeasure on his face regarding the blatant neglect she faced from the rest of the Sterling household.

He was as calm and unruffled as if he were discussing someone else’s business. It was just a casual, coincidental remark that held no special meaning, and it certainly didn’t mean Julian was genuinely worried about her. In the past, she had never been cared about in the Sterling family; she was always ranked last. Sophie had long since gotten used to it.

Judith Jacobs curled her lips. “Julian certainly cherishes his wife.”

The moment her mother-in-law spoke, Sophie could hear the mockery. Since everyone knew she hadn’t won Julian’s heart, this was a blatant jab. But Sophie tragically realized that despite being sharp-tongued, she couldn’t utter a single word to fight for her own dignity in this matter. Because it was the truth. It was a fact that Julian didn’t love her at all.

“Just prepare something else,” Madam Sterling waved her hand, treating it as a trivial matter.

Julian didn’t say anything more. Kiwi juice was quickly brought to the table. Sophie glanced at it but didn’t touch it again.

Thinking of Julian’s attitude just now, Sophie couldn’t help but turn to look at him, only to find him looking down and replying to messages on WhatsApp. Her gaze just happened to sweep past his phone. Even while chatting at the table, he could still carve out time to promptly reply to the messages so the other person wouldn’t be left waiting. She couldn’t think of a single other person who would receive such special treatment. After all, whenever she messaged him in the past, Julian had never taken it so seriously. And chatting at a critical juncture like this—perhaps he was discussing with Stella Sutton how to handle the situation of Charles Sterling getting out?

Julian had already turned off his screen. Turning his head, he met her gaze and extended the hand holding his phone. “Do you want to just take it and look for yourself?” He had noticed her staring. Sophie frowned. Did Julian misunderstand and think she was peeking at his messages with the other party?

“That’s your private business,” Sophie said, not taking it. She knew Julian was only trying to embarrass her, not genuinely offering to let her check his phone.

After dinner, the people in the reception room split into several groups to play cards.

Madam Sterling, however, grabbed Sophie and said to Julian, “You and Sophie are going to meet someone today.”

Sophie actually really wanted to leave, but Madam Sterling gripped her tightly, leaving her no choice but to follow along.

They arrived at the side hall and saw a white-haired old lady sitting there. Seeing them, she stood up and chuckled. “It’s been a long time, old sister.”

Madam Sterling smiled and gave Sophie a gentle push. “Go say hello to Grandma Thorne.”

Sophie was confused but could only step forward. “Hello, I am—”

Mrs. Thorne grabbed Sophie’s hand, gripping her wrist as she said, “I know, the eldest grandson’s wife.”

Sophie noticed that Mrs. Thorne was feeling her pulse, and the technique… Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

But Mrs. Thorne tightened her grip again and murmured in surprise. “Your pulse… Have you given birth before?”