Free Web NovelChapter 44: Chapter 44: I Am the Official Pairing
"Everyone in Aethelburg knows you’re the fake heiress kicked out of the Quincy Family. You have no money and no connections. By staying with Felix, you’re no help at all. He needs to start over, which requires money and connections, neither of which you can give him."
"It would be one thing if you were just useless, but you insist on causing trouble for Felix. You were careless and got involved with some man, and that man came for revenge and nearly got Felix run over and killed! Felix had no choice but to call the police, but you don’t have the power to make them investigate the matter thoroughly."
"What are you, if not a burden? You think you’re so special just because you’re pregnant? Don’t forget, I’m a woman too. If Felix wants, I can give him children too."
Renee Sinclair’s words were filled with malice, every syllable intended to grind Sonia Quincy into the dust.
Sonia Quincy listened in silence, leisurely finishing the pork flatbread in her hands.
"And so?" she asked airily, rolling up the wrapper, stuffing it into a plastic bag, and pulling a tissue from her pocket to wipe her mouth. "You’re a woman too, and you can have children. So, are you offering to have one for Felix? If so, I can give him a call and have him come down to cooperate."
"Stop playing dumb." Renee Sinclair wasn’t falling for it. "Aren’t you just relying on the fact that you’re still Felix’s wife? Felix is a responsible man, and you’re just taking advantage of that. That’s why you’re refusing to leave."
"Sonia Quincy, I suggest you have some dignity. What can you do besides cause trouble for Felix and drag him down? He almost lost his life because of you, yet you can’t even find the person responsible. If I hadn’t shown up in time to give him hope, who knows when you might have gotten him killed."
"Felix treats you well. If you have any conscience at all, you’ll divorce him immediately and give him a fighting chance."
Sonia Quincy laughed. "After all is said and done, don’t you just want me to divorce Felix Preston and make way for you? You know it too—Felix isn’t the type to fool around. As long as I don’t leave, you’ll never have a chance to get close to him, right?"
"That’s right." Renee Sinclair was surprisingly frank. "Only when you’re gone will Felix accept me."
Sonia Quincy raised an eyebrow, opened another plastic bag, and took out a soup dumpling, which she began to eat leisurely. "In that case, I’d like to ask you a question, Miss Sinclair."
Renee Sinclair said, "Go ahead."
Sonia Quincy said, "As the heiress of the Sinclair Group, Miss Sinclair, you’re beautiful and powerful. It stands to reason that you shouldn’t be interested in a bankrupt man like Felix Preston."
"Felix Preston has fallen on such hard times, yet you, Miss Sinclair, remain deeply in love with him—so much so that you feel you must have him, even at the risk of being labeled the other woman. For you to go to such lengths... is it because you truly feel for him, deep down? Or is it for some other reason?"
"...I-It’s because I genuinely feel for him, of course. I’ve loved him for so many years. The fact that he’s bankrupt doesn’t affect my feelings for him in the slightest." Renee Sinclair said this forcefully, her neck stiff with defiance. But Sonia Quincy could see a clear flicker of insecurity in her eyes.
Sonia Quincy continued, "You’re truly a devoted soul, Miss Sinclair. I’m just curious... after all you’re putting in, aren’t you afraid Felix Preston will never get back on his feet?"
"It’s impossible for Felix to stay down!" Renee Sinclair’s tone was firm, the flicker of insecurity in her eyes vanishing in an instant. "Sonia Quincy, you can’t even begin to imagine how capable Felix is. With my help, he will definitely make a comeback."
"That certain?" Sonia Quincy asked with a smile.
Renee Sinclair lifted her chin, looking down her nose at her. "Of course."
"Oh," Sonia Quincy replied dismissively, taking another soup dumpling from the plastic bag and taking a bite.
Renee Sinclair demanded, "So, are you leaving or not?"
Sonia Quincy’s answer was succinct. "I’m not."
Renee Sinclair’s face darkened. "Why?"
Sonia Quincy’s tone was infuriatingly smug. "Well, since you’re so sure Felix will make a comeback, then I am too. You said it yourself, he’s going to be a big shot in the future. So why would I divorce him now? Isn’t it a better deal for me to just stick by his side and let him provide for me once he’s rich?"
"You—" Renee Sinclair was incensed, her face flashing with anger. "Sonia Quincy, have you no shame?"
Sonia Quincy: "Nope."
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Stop!" Renee Sinclair reached out, grabbing Sonia and yanking her back. "Sonia Quincy, what gives you the right to stay?"
Sonia Quincy laughed in disbelief. "And why, exactly, should I leave?"
"You..." Renee was speechless, so she resorted to a different tactic. "Name your price. What will it take for you to leave Felix Preston?"
Sonia Quincy shook her head. "Not interested."
Renee Sinclair pressed, "What if I give you money? Is five million enough?"
"Five million? What, you think this is some TV drama?" Sonia Quincy rolled her eyes at her and walked away, munching on her soup dumpling.
Renee Sinclair stared resentfully at her retreating back. Her composure finally broke, fists clenched, she yelled, "Sonia Quincy!"
Sonia Quincy turned back, annoyed. "What now?"
Renee Sinclair yelled, "Do you think you’ll get a happy ending with Felix just by clinging to him? Dream on! In this world, you’re nothing but a delusional, disposable side character. I’m the one heaven chose for him—his official, canon pairing! We are destined to be together!"
Sonia Quincy said, "...You’ve been drinking some bad booze, haven’t you."
Renee Sinclair retorted, "If you don’t believe me, just you wait!"
"..." Sonia Quincy couldn’t be bothered to deal with her anymore. Munching happily on her soup dumpling, she went to find Lynn Preston.
Lynn Preston had just gotten their takeout dinner. When she saw Sonia return, she unceremoniously snatched the remaining soup dumplings and started eating them.
"Sonia, I think I just saw Renee Sinclair outside the restaurant."
Sonia Quincy played dumb. "Oh, really?"
Lynn Preston said, "Yeah. You were just outside. You didn’t see her?"
Sonia Quincy replied, "Nope..."
Renee Sinclair moved quickly. By the time Sonia Quincy got back to the studio, Renee was already sitting beside Felix Preston.
"Dinner’s here!" Lynn Preston announced loudly, carrying the takeout containers to the table.
Several busy police officers pulled themselves away from their computers and came over to get their share of the food from Lynn Preston.
Renee Sinclair stood up as well, feigning a casual glance toward Sonia Quincy.
Sonia Quincy met her gaze.
Their gazes met in mid-air for a brief moment before they both looked away, as if nothing at all had happened.
"Felix, it’s time to eat." Renee Sinclair placed two meal boxes in front of Felix Preston and asked with a beaming smile, "Which one would you like?"
Felix Preston looked at the food in the two boxes, his eyes lighting up. "Thanks," he said, pleasantly surprised. "I’ll take both."
Renee Sinclair shyly tucked her hair behind her ear. "You’re wel—"
"Sonia, come eat with me. This one has those chicken wings you like."
Before she could finish her pleasantries, Felix Preston took the two boxes she had brought and used them to dote on Sonia Quincy.
"..." Renee Sinclair’s expression instantly soured.
