After sending Dale off, Julian King couldn't wait to video call Sophie Mo.
"Babe, are you mad at me again? I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault." Julian King immediately admitted his mistake. "My mom’s been provoked lately by my older brother and the others, so she made a really dumb move. You know, you’re the only one in my heart. There’s no room for anyone else."
"Ha. What’s there to fight over in the King family anyway? The old lady actually cares about that mess? Does she think I’m blind, that I can’t see her trying to shove concubines at you? She’s been abroad for years, but her tricks are still stuck in feudal times! Setting rules, pushing concubines! Well, I’m not putting up with it! If she doesn’t want us to live in peace, I’ll take Sean and make room for you all! And don’t even think about taking Sean—he’s my son, I carried him for ten months, nobody’s taking him away from me!
"No one’s trying to take Sean from you." Julian King hurried to reassure her. "Who said anyone’s splitting us up? No one can! Sophie, you know me, right? I’m totally clean! The doctor said my mom’s going through menopause, her moods are all over the place, just try to cut her some slack."
"Cut her some slack? How am I supposed to do that? Cut my mother-in-law slack for throwing concubines at me? I can’t! If you want someone more forgiving, go find yourself a new wife! I’m telling you right now—if you ever bring home a concubine or an illegitimate kid, we’re getting divorced! My team of lawyers will send you the papers!"
"Babe, babe, what’s with all this talk about divorce? No way, absolutely not!" Julian King immediately made a vow gesture. "I swear, I’ll fix this as soon as possible. I won’t give you any reason to even think about divorce! For now, just relax at home and take care of yourself. Once I’ve sorted this out, I’ll come back to see you."
"Whatever." Sophie Mo was still furious. "I’m busy here, I’m hanging up!"
With that, Sophie Mo ended the video call.
Rona Muir waited until Sophie Mo finished her call, then leaned over. "Your mother-in-law still acting up?"
"You said it." Sophie Mo replied helplessly. "I honestly have no idea what she’s thinking half the time."
"It’s just because you had a kid, now you’re locked in as the King family’s daughter-in-law." Rona Muir tossed her big waves and said, "Honestly, you should make Julian King and his family feel a little threatened. You’ve been working nonstop these years, not a single scandal. That’s why they think they can push you around!"
"So, what’s your plan? Spill it, don’t keep me guessing!" Sophie Mo looked at Rona Muir.
"Are you serious?" Rona Muir leaned in and whispered, "Your mother-in-law’s trying so hard to throw women at Julian, but you’re still the Mo family heiress! You’re young and gorgeous, and even if you were eighty, you could have your own toy boy! If he’s seeing women abroad, you go meet men at home! Go to parties, dinners, meet more hot guys—let’s see if Julian gets jealous! You’re supposed to be the feisty heiress, don’t let your mother-in-law lead you by the nose! If she complains, fine, make it public and see who’s more embarrassed! If she keeps acting up and Julian doesn’t step up, so what? You’ve got your brother! Would he let you get bullied? Worst case, just end it and move on! Better than being angry and miserable!"
"You’re so right!" Sophie Mo grabbed Rona Muir’s hand. "You really get me!"
"Duh! Don’t worry! The King family isn’t stupid! If you really divorced Julian, the first one to panic would be Grandfather King! If you want to deal with your mother-in-law, you’ve gotta go through Grandfather King! It’s all about checks and balances!" Rona Muir went on.
Sophie Mo nodded. "You’re right! Why should I be the only one sulking while he gets to do whatever? Ha, maybe I’ve been too chill lately, that’s why they think I’m easy to push around."
"Exactly! That’s how it should be!" Rona Muir chimed in. "If anyone should be upset, it’s you, not them!"
Just then, Cici Grant and Molly Yun walked in, catching Sophie Mo and Rona Muir deep in conversation. Cici knocked on the door and said, "What are you two gossiping about? You look so happy!"
"Nothing much, just talking about how it’s been ages since we saw our old friends." Sophie Mo quickly slipped back into her Mo family heiress mode. "A bunch of my old classmates and good friends have been calling me to meet up for dinner."
Cici Grant said, "That’s great! There’s nothing big going on today, you should go early."
Molly Yun grinned, "Yeah, we’re all here at the company. If anything comes up, we’ve got your back. You hardly ever come home, so just have fun!"
"You guys are the best!" Sophie Mo cheered, grabbed her bag, blew kisses to everyone, and left the office while making calls.
Cici Grant asked Rona Muir, "She was so mad just now—how’d she cheer up so fast? You talked her down?"
Rona Muir snorted, crossed her arms, and said, "Of course I did! But don’t think I calmed her down for good! If anyone wants to mess with my girls, the King family better make sure they’re up for it."
Molly Yun smiled helplessly, "Don’t stir things up! If Max Mo finds out, he’ll flip out."
Cici Grant nodded, "Yeah, if Max finds out his little sister’s getting bullied, the King family’s toast."
"We don’t even need Max to step in. We can turn the King family upside down ourselves!" Rona Muir clapped her hands, full of swagger. "If the King family wants to play games, let’s give them a taste of their own medicine!"
Cici Grant and Molly Yun exchanged a helpless look and said together, "Alright, just don’t go overboard."
"Relax, I know what I’m doing. Sophie does too!" Rona Muir gave them a reassuring look.
Meanwhile, Sophie Mo called up her old classmates and friends. "Didn’t you all say you wanted to throw a party for me? Is that still on?"
Excited voices came from the other end of the line: "Of course! Absolutely! The heiress is back—how could we not throw a party? Don’t worry, I’ll call everyone right now. You’ll love it!"
Sophie Mo laughed, "Awesome! It’s a deal—no one’s leaving sober tonight!"
"You got it!" In less than half an hour after hanging up, the party was all set.
Sophie Mo headed straight to the Zhou Clubhouse, just like they’d planned.
Zhou Clubhouse was the newest upscale club in town, open only to high society.
All Sophie Mo had to do was give her name, and she was politely escorted to a large private room on the third floor.
As soon as she walked in, she saw several people were already there.
"Wow, everyone’s really showing up!" Sophie Mo handed her clutch and sunglasses to the bodyguard behind her and strolled in, totally relaxed.
A bunch of people rushed over, crowding around Sophie Mo like she was the center of the universe. "Wow, it’s been years, and our heiress is even more gorgeous!"
"Obviously! She’s the real Mo Family princess!"
"Sophie’s so gorgeous—if David Zhou saw her, he’d be even more obsessed!" someone joked.
As soon as those words were spoken, the room went silent.
The person quickly covered their mouth, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to blurt that out."
Sophie Mo tossed her hair and sat down on the sofa, totally calm. "It’s fine. I haven’t seen David Zhou in ages, how’s he been?"
"What do you think?" Lily Gao sat next to Sophie Mo, sighing. "Ever since you got married, he’s been really down. He stopped keeping in touch with us, and we can never get him to come out."
Sophie Mo nodded but didn’t say anything.
Everyone in their circle knew David Zhou had liked Sophie Mo since they were kids—from kindergarten all the way through college, he never changed.
Too bad it was all one-sided love.
In the end, Sophie Mo married Julian King.
After that, David Zhou just faded away and disappeared from their lives.
"Sophie, I heard some gossip—can I ask you about it?" the same person who’d slipped up earlier asked.
"You want to ask about the King family drama, right?" Sophie Mo didn’t shy away. "Just don’t let my brother find out, or he’ll be pissed! I don’t want to bother him with this stuff."
"So it’s true then." Lily Gao said angrily. "Are the King family nuts? Instead of treating you like the star you are, they actually make things harder for you?"
"Forget it, let’s not talk about all that." Sophie Mo said. "I’m here to hang out and relax with everyone today. No one’s leaving sober tonight!"
"You got it, we brought out the good stuff just for you. You’ll love it!" Everyone laughed.
Just then, a few more friends came in, and the place got even livelier.
Someone suddenly said, "Sophie, sorry, I brought a familiar face without asking. You’re not mad, are you?"
Sophie Mo didn’t mind. "If it’s someone I know, why would I be mad? Unless you’re telling me it’s an enemy! Honestly, I don’t think anyone in this country would dare go up against me."
"Of course not! Who’d dare mess with the Mo Family heiress?" everyone chimed in.
Just then, a familiar yet distant voice sounded at the door: "Sophie, it’s me."
Everyone turned to look at the door.
A refined, handsome man stood at the entrance, his gaze deep and intent.
The moment Sophie Mo saw who it was, she froze.
Speak of the devil!
They’d just mentioned David Zhou, and here he was.
"David Zhou? What are you doing here? Weren’t you living abroad?" Lily Gao couldn’t help but ask.
"I heard Sophie was back, so I came home too." David Zhou smiled. "Besides, Zhou Clubhouse belongs to my family. Just came to check on things—is that so wrong?"
"Not at all! You should’ve said it was your place! Tonight’s bill is on you!" everyone joked.
David Zhou looked deeply at Sophie Mo. "Of course! As long as you’re all happy."