Chapter 483 William and Hayden （84）
Sophia greeted her with a warm smile as she walked through the door.
Even without Finn around, Sophia could put on a convincing show, and Hayden felt compelled to match her performance.
During dinner, Sophia ladled soup for the two sisters. Jocelyn, still young and less adept at hiding her feelings, though understanding the situation, received her soup without a smile and didn't touch it.
Hayden paid no attention to Jocelyn's reaction. After all, Sophia was a master of manipulation and surely knew they were all just playing their parts.
It was now a matter of who could keep up the act longer and more convincingly.
That evening, Hayden spent time in her room helping Jocelyn with her winter break homework while also studying herself.
Although Finn had arranged for a leave of absence from Southern Business School, it didn't mean she wouldn't return. She was determined to get her MBA from Southern Business School, just as William had. No matter when, she wanted to stand at the same level as William and look at the world.
Finn had gone on a business trip and had yet to return. So, after Jocelyn had gone to sleep late at night, Hayden took the milk from Cassius's hands and brought it to Sophia.
Sophia was surprised that Hayden had become addicted to delivering things to her. With Finn not home, she actually came to give them herself. Naturally, she smiled and warmly pulled Hayden into the room.
"Hayden, you've changed so much all of a sudden. It's a bit hard for me to adapt," Sophia said as she sat on the couch, sipping the milk before setting it down with a smile. "Since your dad isn't here, you don't have to go out of your way to bring me anything."
Hayden sat beside Sophia, watching her in her silk robe, revealing a long, graceful neck and a generous swath of pale skin, and smiled without changing his expression. "Auntie, I'm truly repentant. After all, you've been part of the Smith family for a while now, and if I keep on being unpleasant to you, I'm the one who loses out, right?"
"Do you really think that way?" Sophia asked, glancing at Hayden and taking another drink of her milk with a smile.
Hayden raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Of course. In the world today, pride is the cheapest commodity. I'm a woman; what do I need that for when preserving a lifetime of wealth and status is what's truly practical?"
Sophia's collarbones and chest bore several light purple marks. Hayden clearly understood what those marks signified. But Sophia was so good at enticing Finn that it was totally normal for her to have such marks.
"If that's what you really think, then you're right," Sophia said with joyful eyes, putting down her milk and moving closer, taking Hayden's hand. "Don't worry. As long as you acknowledge me as Mrs. Lin and treat me as family, I will never let you down. I'll make sure both you and your sister marry well and into families that are a good match, ensuring a life of wealth and status."
Looking at her, Hayden smiled faintly and nodded without pulling his hand away. "As for marriage, I'm not thinking about that right now. Since my dad doesn't want me to study at Southern anymore, I can't just idle away my days doing nothing."
As they talked, Hayden cracked a smile, trying to curry favor. "Could you talk to my dad and get me a job at the company? Any position will do."
"You want to work?" Sophia looked at Hayden, seemingly understanding why she had suddenly changed her attitude toward her.
"Yes!" Hayden's lips formed a smile that lacked any real meaning. "I can't just stay at home every day, playing mind games with you."
Sophia chuckled and nodded immediately, "Alright, I'll handle it. I'll talk to your dad."
Hayden had lowered her guard, even setting aside her pride, so Sophia felt obliged to offer her a sweet deal in return.
After all, everything would still be under her control.
"Thanks. Get some rest, and I'll wait for the good news," Hayden said, standing up.
"Sure, you too. Once your dad gets back, I'll discuss it with him right away."
"Okay."
...
The next day, Azalea called Hayden to join her at a fancy jewelry store. They hadn't even entered the VIP lounge when they saw a mother-daughter duo dressed in incredibly lavish attire leaving the neighboring lounge.
Hayden found them familiar but couldn't place them at the moment.
"No wonder when I called your dad to join me for jewelry shopping, he said he was busy and had to go home for something," the older lady said, her expression darkening as she briskly walked out with her daughter. "Let's hurry back."
"But I haven't finished choosing!" the daughter protested.
"We'll come back. Let's go home quickly," the mother insisted, pulling her daughter along without a second glance at Hayden and Azalea standing by the other VIP lounge.
Watching their retreating figures, Hayden frowned.
"You don't know them?" Azalea asked, surprised.
"Should I know them?"
"Oh my! You really don't know?" Azalea laughed. "They're Pierre's sweetheart Sienna and her daughter Ophelia."
That's when it clicked for Hayden—Sophia was the one Ophelia was talking about.
Sophia's return to the Johnson family had clearly unsettled Sienna, the sister-in-law. Sienna was not just unhappy; her demeanor was guarded and uneasy.
Sophia had become a woman that everyone wanted to appease: the Madam of the well-regarded Smith family. Moreover, it was through Sophia that the Johnsons achieved their wealth and status. Shouldn't Sienna be eternally grateful to her sister-in-law, Sophia?
It puzzled people why Sophia revisited the Johnson household. She had been there just yesterday. Why go back today?
The Johnson family's elders were no longer around, so what business did Sophia have that required her daily presence, something that couldn't be handled over a quick phone call?
"What's wrong?" Azalea asked, noticing the frown on Hayden's face. She gave her a gentle tug.
Hayden snapped back to reality and shook her head, "It's nothing. Let's go in."
