Chapter 4: It’s Not What I Say, But What You Say That Matters

"Leah Mitchell, look at the wonderful daughter you've raised!" Joseph Mitchell's voice boomed from the phone, admonishing Leah instead of the cordial conversation she had anticipated. After briefing her about the cosmetic scandal, he hung up, leaving Leah seething. "Sophie Mitchell, get out here this instant!" she hollered. "What now, Mom?" Sophie, who had been on the phone, troubleshooting the company's issues, was forced to cut her call short. She emerged from her bedroom, bracing herself for another confrontation. "Acting as if nothing's happened when your company is peddling fake cosmetics?" Leah's voice dripped with disdain. Henry stepped out of the kitchen upon hearing the commotion. "Mom, I didn't want to worry you with company matters," Sophie tried to justify. Leah, however, was having none of it. "Ah, if only it weren't for that deadbeat you married. One disaster after another with him around." "What has he got to do with this?!" Sophie retorted, defending Henry. Leah continued unabated, "If not for him, would you have been stripped of your position at the main company to manage a lousy cosmetics brand? And now this scandal! Oh, the disgrace!" After giving Sophie a piece of her mind, Leah retreated to her bedroom, leaving Sophie and Henry alone in the tension-filled living room. "Are... are you okay?" Sophie finally ventured. "I'm fine," Henry replied simply. He then brought a basin of warm water, placing it by Sophie's feet. "You've had a long day. Soak your feet." Instead of gratitude, frustration bubbled up inside Sophie. "Are you really this spineless? Are you even a man? No wonder you've accomplished nothing in over two years." Henry took a deep breath, looking her squarely in the eyes, and calmly said, "First, she's your mother. Now that we're married, it's my duty to respect her. Second, we're tied by a contract, and it clearly states that I must heed your wishes and those of your family. Lastly, whether or not I'm a man isn't up to me to decide; it's up to you." Sophie, fuming, shot back, "You jerk. You're nothing but a scoundrel." It hurt to think that their relationship, to him, boiled down to just the terms of a contract. As if her day hadn't been trying enough, she received a message summoning her to a family meeting at the company the next morning. She couldn't shake off the feeling that things were about to take a turn for the worse. The next morning, Henry rose early, preparing breakfast for the family. Still, despite his efforts, Leah Mitchell wasted no time in berating him. "Could you be any noisier?" she snapped. "And by the way, both of you are finalizing your divorce this morning!" Henry's face faltered for just a moment before he calmly met Leah's gaze. Frankly, had she been anyone but Sophie's mother, Henry would've retaliated against such a venomous character. "Whether or not we divorce isn't up to you," he responded evenly. "If Sophie wishes to end our marriage, I won't cling or beg." Turning to Sophie, he searched her face for an answer. Despite her light makeup, the dark circles under her eyes betrayed her restless night. "Stop gawking and drive me to the office. My car's in for service," she briskly ordered, ignoring Leah. Though his e-bike was no match for a car's luxury, it had the advantage of dodging traffic. Soon, they arrived at the office. As Sophie adjusted her hair and outfit, she hastened towards the entrance, with Henry close behind. "Who's that guy with Manager Yuan?" "He looks so scruffy... like he's wearing flea market clothes." "That's Henry, Manager Yuan's husband." "Seriously? That's her infamous 'kept' husband?" "He's so out of her league. Look at him, he's so... ordinary." Their entrance into the company's lobby was punctuated by whispers and not-so-subtle stares. While Henry had grown used to such scrutiny, Sophie's irritation was palpable. "Don't any of you have work to do?" she snapped, silencing the immediate vicinity. But once they were safely enclosed in the elevator, the gossip flared up anew. "You know what I heard?" "What?" "That Henry's just some poor boy from the countryside. Somehow, he snagged Sophie Mitchell." "Two years of marriage, and he's practically her lapdog." Exiting the elevator, Sophie and Henry made their way to the conference room. Upon their entrance, all eyes zeroed in on them, their every move under scrutiny. "Sophie Mitchell, why did you bring this loser here?" The voice belonged to Ella Mitchell, a cousin from Sophie's family, their ages not too far apart.