CHAPTER 43: THE ACCIDENT

"Grandma Taylor, sorry! Let me help Billy clean you up!"

Dustin marched out holding a full bucket of water—then dumped it straight across the living room.

In an instant, the place looked like a flood zone.

"Mom!" Richard tried to rush forward, but Julia threw her hands up and screamed, her shrill voice splitting the air.

"Ahhh! Sophia!"

Sophia, meanwhile, stood there innocently, holding Faye in one arm and tugging Billy up with the other.

"Quick—apologize to Grandma Taylor."

"Sophia! You did this on purpose!"

Aiden rushed to blot Julia’s clothes with tissues.

"Yes, I did. And what exactly can you do about it?" Sophia shrugged casually.

No matter how furious they were, no matter how much they hated her, they couldn’t lay a hand on her. Not with Lucas behind her.

"You! Sophia, I’m Lucas’s aunt. Tell me, do you think he’d choose you over us?"

"Sorry, Auntie, but let’s be honest. I may not have much, but compared to your age... well, you’ve already got one foot in the grave. When you’re gone, I’ll still be alive and well. At the end of the day, the one sharing his life is me, not someone halfway into a coffin already. Don’t you agree?"

Her words made Julia’s teeth grind.

"You dare curse me to death?!"

"Auntie, time spares no one. You’ve got a generous heart—so generous it shows all over your body. Broad shoulders, thick waist... You really should rein it in. Unlike you, Uncle’s just past forty—the prime of a man’s life. Men need a balance of freedom and control, wouldn’t you say?"

Julia’s pudgy fists clenched, her glare so sharp it looked ready to tear Sophia apart.

Sophia stretched lazily. Even wrapped in a robe that hid her figure, she managed to look effortlessly alluring.

"Auntie, I’m afraid I don’t have any clothes that would fit you. Best head home and change before you catch a cold. Otherwise, if you end up blaming me for giving you the sniffles, I’d feel so guilty."

Her voice dripped with mock concern.

"Sophia, I’m not leaving! If you want me gone, dream on!" Julia snapped.

The room grew tense, silence pressing down.

"Is that so?" Sophia sauntered toward the door.

Suddenly—

"Mommy! Here’s the mop!"

Charles barreled in, mop over his shoulder, charging straight toward them.

Julia’s eyes went wide, and she bolted for the door.

Seeing them run, Charles sprinted faster. "Grandma Taylor, let me help you!"

Julia shrieked, grabbed Aiden, and practically flew out the door. Richard scrambled after them.

Just as they made it outside, Angela appeared with a bucket of water and dumped it over them.

Bang! Sophia slammed the door shut in one clean motion.

"Bye-bye!"

By the time they left, all three of them were drenched.

Julia shook with rage. "Sophia! I’ll never forgive you!"

"Mom, should we just head home?" Richard muttered.

"You just wait, Sophia! I’ll be back! You’ll regret this!" Julia sputtered, tripping over her own fury.

But before they could storm off, a sleek car rolled to a stop in front of them.

Lucas stepped out, cool as ice, his gaze sweeping over their soaked clothes.

"Uncle," he drawled, "did you just finish a water fight?"

The Taylors froze, too bitter to explain.

Aiden’s face darkened as he glared at him. "Lucas, that wife of yours needs to be taught some respect. No regard for her elders, no manners, and now look at us—drenched because of her antics!"

Lucas’s voice was deceptively mild, his eyes glinting cold.

"My wife? She can’t lift heavy things, she spends her days sketching designs at her easel. To accuse her of this... isn’t that going a bit too far?"

Aiden’s jaw tightened. "She can’t even lift? Lucas, you—"

"Uncle, Sophia is my wife. As of yesterday, she became my bride. In my eyes, she’s the best—and on top of that, she’s incredibly kind. She’s never picked a fight with anyone. I expect you to treat her with the same respect."

Inside the house, the so-called "kind-hearted" Sophia was lounging on the sofa, sipping milk and nibbling on a boiled egg.

Meanwhile, six little ones scrubbed the floor diligently, cleaning up the chaos they had caused just minutes ago.

"Mommy, do you think those three will come back?"

"Of course. They’re already convinced my marriage to Lucas is fake. With the will expiring in just two days, they won’t be able to hold themselves back. We’ll probably be dealing with nonstop trouble until then."

Her gaze softened. "The only thing I really worry about is you six. You must keep yourselves safe, no matter what. Understand?"

"Don’t worry, Mommy—we’re smart!"

Sophia smiled, completely assured. She knew her children’s wits would keep them safe.

What puzzled her more was the Morgan family. They hadn’t made a single move during the wedding, no odd behavior, no schemes.

But that wedding video—with all those CEOs sending blessings? How had that even happened? Who pulled it off? Because she definitely didn’t believe Lucas would do something like that.

Ding dong.

"Mommy, they’re back already?"

Sophia calmly handed Billy her empty milk glass and eggshells.

"Billy, don’t hold back. We’re practically professional troublemakers anyway. We’ve got plenty of milk, and the eggshells are free bonuses."

"Got it, Mommy!"

Billy swung the door open and, without hesitation, hurled the eggshells and splashed the milk forward.

The very next second, his eyes went wide.

"D... Daddy!"

Standing there, dripping and shell-shocked, was Lucas himself.

He wiped the mess from his face, his eyes narrowing.

"Billy, remember—quick, precise, and decisive. And next time, close the damn door."

He strode inside, radiating icy fury, barely holding back his temper.

"My wife at home, looking quite smug, I see..."

Sophia froze, then turned slowly. The sight of a soaked, furious Lucas made her squeeze her eyes shut.

"I... why do I suddenly feel dizzy?"

She clutched the sofa dramatically. "Angela, Mommy’s got a headache. Take me upstairs to rest."

"I’ll help you, Mommy."

But Lucas was already there, sweeping her up into his arms without warning.

"What are you doing?! Put me down! Lucas, let me go! I’ll call it harassment!"

He tossed her onto the bed like she weighed nothing.

"Lucas, don’t you dare! I helped you chase those people off!"

"By throwing eggshells at me? And pouring milk?"

Sophia scrambled to burrito-wrap herself in the blanket, leaving only her face exposed.

"Accident! Pure accident!"

"Accident?" His voice turned dangerously low. "Sophia, you never fail to surprise me. Cause chaos, play innocent—what a talent you have."

Her wide eyes locked with his, brimming with faux innocence. "I’m just a delicate little lily. Why don’t you let me go? I swear I’ll run away so fast you won’t even see me walk!"

Lucas leaned closer, his tall frame shadowing her. Their eyes clashed, sharp and unyielding.

His lips curved into a dark grin. "Funny... because I happen to be the perfect cure for wildflowers like you."