Sophia slid her lipstick back into her purse with ease, then looked up to see puzzlement in Ellinorâs eyes. She laughed. âMs. Mendoza, you donât believe what Iâm saying?â
Ellinor crumpled up the used tissue and tossed it gently into the trash can. âSophia, do you really think Iâd take your word for it? No wife wants to see her husband tangled up with another woman, right?â
Sophia shrugged nonchalantly and then nodded. âTo be honest, it does bug me a bit. But Iâm more focused on the long haul. Ms. Mendoza, if youâre out of the picture for good, Theo will always have a place for you in his heart, and thereâs nothing I can do to make him forget you. But if you two were to reunite, you might be together for a while and then get sick of each other. I wonât have to lift a finger, and Theo wonât fancy you anymore. Heâll come back to me, and weâll stay together.â
âSo thatâs your game plan.â Ellinor looked at Sophia with a hint of admiration in her eyes. Sophiaâs tactics were more sophisticated than Patricia Howardâs, and she was upfront about it.
Sophia smiled. âIâm not wrong, am I? I donât care about how many women Theo has been with; all I care about is whoâs gonna stick with him in the long run. I believe Iâm the one whoâll go the distance with Theo, and youâre just passing through.â
Ellinor returned the smile. âWell, of course, itâs you whoâs willing to go the distance with Theo. Even if itâs not you, itâs not gonna be me. Iâm no longer interested in that man.â
Sophia blocked Ellinorâs way. âBut youâre carrying his child.â
With that, she gently stroked Ellinorâs belly.
Ellinor backed off defensively. âThe child is mine; it has nothing to do with Theo.â
Sophia smiled. âMs. Mendoza, youâve got it all wrong. I didnât mean anything by it. I just love kids, and Iâm looking forward to the safe delivery of your child.â
Ellinor thought Sophiaâs thinking was off, but she might be another victim who had been initially deceived by Theoâs feelings.
With that in mind, Ellinor made her position clear. âMy child will be born safe and sound, and I will raise him on my own. I wonât let anyone else interfere.â
Sophia disagreed. âThat wonât do! Since itâs Theoâs child, itâs better to bring him back to the Blanchet Villa! Iâm confident that I can be a good stepmother. Iâll educate Theoâs child properly.â
Ellinor had never seen a woman like this before.
They had nothing in common, and she didnât want to waste any more time with Sophia. So she walked briskly past her and out of the restroom, only to bump into someone because she was in such a rush.
âWatch where youâre going!â
At the sound of the familiar male voice, Ellinorâs heart tightened. She looked up and saw Theo towering over her, looking at her disdainfully.
She took a step back instinctively. âIâm sorry, I didnât see you there.â
Theo sneered, gripping her chin firmly. âWhat are you thinking about that made you not watch where youâre going?â
Ellinor didnât like his arrogant attitude, and she pushed his hand away forcefully. âI wasnât thinking about anything! Mr. Blanchet, mind your manners. You can talk, but keep your hands to yourself!â