Chapter 209
“Sophia!” Catherine’s voice echoed down the hallway as she continued pounding on the door. I know you’re in there! Come out this instant
The late–night silence was shattered by her persistent knocking and shouting. When no one responded, Catherine’s patience completely evaporated. With an irritated mutter, she shoved the door open forcefully, ready to confront Sophia face–to–face
To her surprise, the bedroom contained only Henry, standing by the window with a glass of whiskey in hand. His tall silhouette was clearly ontlined pane the moonlight streaming through the glass.
“Mother?” Henry turned around, his expression becoming serious as he recognized the visitor. “What are you doing here at this hour?
Catherine momentarily froze, scanning the room for any trace of Sophia. Finding none, she struggled to regain her composure.
Ever since discovering that Catherine had helped Isabella sneak into Henry’s bedroom that night–deliberately orchestrating a situation to humiliare Sophia -Henry’s attitude toward his mother had noticeably cooled. Now his eyes still carried that same frostiness as he looked at her.
‘I’m looking for Sophia,” Catherine answered, forcing a casual tone into her voice despite Henry’s obvious displeasure. “I haven’t seen her in quite a while, I just wanted to chat with her, have a little conversation.”
The lie was transparent. Even in the dim light, Henry could see the tension in his mother’s posture and the calculation behind her smile.
“Isn’t Sophia here?” Catherine asked, deliberately using a light tone as she glanced around the room again. I thought she would be staying here tonight.”
Catherine had carefully planned this confrontation. If Sophia had been present, Catherine had intended to first verbally attack her–putting that “bitch‘ in her proper place–before leveraging her position as Henry’s mother to pressure Sophia into pleading for Grace’s release.
But with Henry standing there, watching her with those cold, assessing eyes, her original plan was completely useless. She quickly switched tactics, adopting a concerned, motherly expression.
Henry wasn’t fooled for a second. He had heard her shouting outside the door, her tone dripping with contempt. It was just another reminder that his mother had never truly respected Sophia, and how the entire household had treated his wife over the years.
Suddenly, Henry clearly understood why Sophia wanted to leave.
In this household, she was completely alone.
No one had ever stood up for her–especially not him.
‘It’s very late, Mother,” Henry said calmly. “What urgent matter brings you looking for my wife at this hour? If it’s something pressing, you can tell me instead.
His tone deliberately remained steady, but the coldness in his eyes was unmistakable.
Catherine noticed the shift in his attitude. This protective stance toward Sophia was unprecedented–and deeply disturbing. When she realized her son was actually favoring his wife, both physically and symbolically, her heart immediately sank.
“This is something I can only discuss with Sophia, Catherine insisted, desperation beginning to creep into her voice. “Telling you won’t make any difference. Where is she? Can you please ask her to come here?”
That bitch Sophia, Catherine fumed silently. How cleyer, hiding away and sending Henry to deal with me. The little slut has learned to
sames now!
Henry’s expression became even more serious. “Mother, don’t waste your energy. Sophia is asleep, and I won’t allow anyone to disturb her rest.
He had worked so hard to convince Sophia to stay at Maple Grove tonight. He wouldn’t let anyone–not even his mother–ruin this hard–won small victory. Catherine stared at her son in shock. Henry was protecting Sophia? The same Sophia he had claimed to despise for years? This made absolutely no sense.
“Why are you defending her?” Catherine blurted out, unable to contain her confusion. “Don’t you hate her the most? Henry, I remember you once said Sophia was the person you despised most in this world, that you would never, ever like her.”
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Chapter 209
She paused, carefully observing her son’s expression, then delivered what she thought would be a fatal reminder: “Now you’re protecting host why? Aiem going back on your own words?”
Catherine knew her son’s pride was one of his most sensitive points. Reminding him of his past declarations would sorely snap him out of whatever spat Sophia had cast on him.
But Henry’s gaze only grew colder and more resolute.
‘Mother,” he said slowly, his voice barely above a whisper, “there are things I know but choose not to speak about. I’ve respected you all these years out of gratitude for raising me. I’ve avoided direct confrontation, but if you continue to make things difficult for Sophia, don’t expect me to honor our mother–son relationship!”
The six years of mistreatment Sophia had endured at the hands of his mother and sister flashed through Henry’s mind. He had known about it all along but had chosen to ignore it because of his own resentment toward Sophia. Now, that deliberate blindness filled him with deep regret.
Looking at his mother–this familiar face that had once represented comfort and security–Henry felt a wave of self-loathing wash over him.
Sometimes it wasn’t Sophia’s fault for wanting a divorce; he had been the one to break her heart repeatedly.
If he had stood up for her even once–just once–his mother would never have dared to treat Sophia so terribly. Recalling Sophia’s cold, distant expression when she looked at him now, his heart pounded anxiously.
Catherine still wouldn’t give up, refusing to accept this new reality. “Henry, you hate Sophia more than anyone! She destroyed your relationship with Isabella, prevented you from marrying your true love! Don’t you hate her for that? Henry, you weren’t like this before! You despised Sophia more than anyone, wanted her to suffer, you hated her so much, you-”
Catherine’s words abruptly stopped when she sensed the murderous aura emanating from her son. Henry’s eyes stared directly at her, his jaw clenched so tightly that the muscle in his cheek was twitching.
‘Shut. Your. Mouth.” Each word was like an ice cube, precise and cutting. “Get out of here right now!”
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