As he spoke, Chase rolled up the car windows.
Belinda blushed inexplicably and frowned at him. âWhat are you so nervous about?â
Chase leaned in closer and whispered, âWeâre getting married tomorrow. Arenât you nervous?â
Belinda was taken aback for a moment and forced a smile. âNot reallyâ¦â
Before it actually happened, she couldnât believe that Chase would really marry her. She just felt like he was messing around again.
Chase feigned disappointment. âAhh, it seems Iâm the only one whoâs nervous. Youâre not taking our marriage seriously.â
Belinda was a bit frustrated with him. âCome on, itâs getting late. Take me home.â
Chase looked slightly helpless. But it was his own fault for missing out on Belinda when she once put him above everything else. He deserved this.
At Greenhaven Airport.
Sophia came alone to pick up her father, leaving her incapacitated husband, Marcus, and their child at home.
After seeing her father and his current wife, Bertha, emerge from the airport, Sophia instinctively shot Bertha a glare, then rushed over to her father for a big hug.
âDad, Iâm so glad youâre here. You wouldnât believe how tough itâs been handling all the issues youâve left me with. I thought I was going to lose my mind.â
Thaddeus held his eldest daughter close, soothingly patting her head. âDonât worry; now that Iâm here, no one will dare give you a hard time.â
Sophia nestled into her fatherâs embrace in relief. With her father around, no one could trouble her.
âSophia, you havenât greeted Bertha yet. Donât forget to be polite.â Thaddeus reminded her.
Sophiaâs face fell, but she controlled her emotions well. When she rose from her fatherâs arms, she looked composed.
She gave Bertha a fake smile. âBertha, itâs been a while. You look even more beautiful and not a day older. It seems like my father has been taking good care of you.â
Bertha réturned the smile. She heard the sarcasm in Sophiaâs voice but chose to ignore it. She genuinely expressed concern for her stepdaughter. âSophia, youâve lost weight. Have you been too busy handling your fatherâs affairs to eat properly?â
Turning to Thaddeus, she gently reproached him. âItâs all your fault. You had Sophia take on so much work by herself. Look at her, sheâs wasting away.â
Thaddeus just smiled at his wife, accepting her criticism without comment.
Sophia wasnât grateful, however. She gave a polite but insincere laugh. âThanks for your concern, Bertha. But itâs my duty to help my father. In the future, Iâll be. taking over his business. Heâs just trying to prepare me for that. understand his good intentions.â
This was a warning to Bertha. She was the heir to her fatherâs empire, and anyone else with designs on it would be wasting their time.
Bertha just nodded. âAs long as you understand your father, thatâs all that matters.â
Sophia was overthinking things. Bertha had no interest in Thaddeusâ business or wealth, and neither did her daughter, Lea. So, no matter how Thaddeus chose to distribute his assets in the future, she wouldnât interfere.