The Great Ethan Lee

Chapter 10

Sophia looked coldly at her half-sister, Silvia, without any emotion.

"I came to see Dad," Sophia said.

Silvia walked up slowly, her face dark. "Dad? There's no Dad for you here! You're just a homeless dog. How dare you come back now?"

Seeing Silvia's sinister face, July hid fearfully in Sophia's arms. "Mommy, I'm scared!"

Silvia sneered, "Oh, so this is the little bastard you had? Look at that pretty little face. She'll grow up to be a shameless b**h, just like her mother!"

Sophia became furious. "Silvia Harris! Shut up!" She could tolerate insults, but she wouldn't allow anyone to insult her daughter. In her anger, Sophia pushed Silvia.

Silvia stepped back, pretending to lose her balance, and fell to the ground with a cry.

Seeing this, the crowd quickly helped Silvia up, offering words of comfort.

"Silvia, are you okay?"

"Silvia, are you hurt?"

Silvia put on a pitiful look, her eyes brimming with tears. "Sophia, you haven't been home for so long, and I really missed you! I know you've never liked me since we were young, but I just wanted to hug my niece! Even if you don't want me to, you didn't have to push me like this! Ouch, my foot, it hurts!"

Seeing Silvia's pitiful act, the guests began to scold Sophia. "Sophia, what are you doing?! Don't you know Silvia is the mainstay today?!"

"Silvia doesn't even mind the shameless things you've done, and you're still acting so arrogant. Do you think you're still the heiress of the Harris family?"

Sophia's face turned pale as she faced the guests' accusations. "I... I didn't! I just gave her a light push..."

The guests retorted, "Could Silvia fall from just a light push?"

"Sophia, you are truly a vicious woman!"

Under the crowd's reprimands, Sophia's explanations seemed powerless.

Lying on the ground, Silvia's eyes flashed with deep satisfaction. 'Sophia Harris! You deserve to be a humiliated puppet for the rest of your life!'

Sophia's father, Charles Harris, asked sternly, "What's going on?"

The crowd explained what had happened.

Charles looked at his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in five years, and said, "Apologize to Silvia!"

Sophia, with tears in her eyes, said, "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?!"

Her stepmother, Vivian Clinton Harris, supported Silvia and said, "Alright, Sophia. You just came back after so long. Don't get angry. I'm sure Sophia was just jealous and pushed you impulsively. Don't blame her!"

Although Vivian seemed to be mediating, her words were actually inciting further conflict. Charles became even angrier. "Sophia, apologize to Silvia!"

Sophia stubbornly lifted her head. "I did nothing wrong, so I won't apologize!"

Charles raised his hand, ready to strike, but Ethan suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Ethan said, "Others might be blind, but are you, as a father, blind too?"

Looking at the young man before him, Charles frowned. "Who are you? This is my family's matter. It’s none of your business!"

Ethan said, "My name is Ethan Lee. Sophia is my wife, and July is my daughter. This is also my family matter!"

The guests were shocked, whispering among themselves.

Charles looked at Ethan and then at July, noticing their resemblance.

Charles glared at Ethan. "So you're the scoundrel who ruined my daughter's reputation five years ago? How dare you step into my house? Do you know that because of you, my daughter's reputation and our family's honor were ruined?!"

Ethan said calmly, "I know. I owe Sophia a lot. That's why I came back. I will spend the rest of my life making up for the grievances she suffered!"

Hearing this, the anger on Charles's face slightly subsided. After all, Sophia was his daughter. When she became pregnant out of wedlock, Charles had driven her out for the sake of the family's honor, and he had felt terrible about it.

Charles's tone softened. "Are you really willing to take responsibility for my daughter?"

Ethan nodded. "Of course!"

Thinking of his daughter's hardships over the years, Charles smiled slightly. "That's more like it! Today is the day Silvia's boyfriend is proposing. We'll discuss our family matters later. Come inside."

Seeing the change in Charles's attitude, Vivian and Silvia's eyes flashed with anxiety.

Vivian, with a fake smile, walked over and said, "Sophia, I'm so happy for you. Ethan must be a young and promising man. Where is he from?”

Ethan wanted to reveal his true identity, but he knew they wouldn't understand. So, he simply said, "I'm a teacher."

The crowd, still envious of the Harris sisters marrying into wealth, was stunned by his statement.

Vivian smirked, "A teacher? Are teachers making so much now that they can afford limited edition cars? Or did you rent it?"

Sophia stepped forward. "Even if he rented the car, it's still his gesture for me. And he's still July's dad."

The crowd booed! Their admiration turned to mockery. The guests commented:

"I thought he was from a wealthy family, but he's just a loser renting cars!"

"Yeah, renting a luxury car to act rich? How pathetic!"

"All three of them dress like beggars."

Listening to the mockery, Charles, who was always proud, looked furious. Pointing at Sophia, he yelled, "Is this the man you waited five years for? Sophia, what were you thinking? I introduced you to so many men who didn't mind you had a child. You could have lived well! But look at you! And your daughter's dress is stained. Sophia, did you endured five years for this loser?"

Charles' tone was filled with shame, anger, and disappointment. "Sophia, you've disgraced our family!"

Sophia looked at her father, holding July tightly, and smiled sadly, "Fine! I'm a disgrace! But what have you ever done for me as a father? Ethan, let's go!"

Ethan held Sophia's hand and smiled, "Go? Why? This is your home! Everything here should be yours, not those outsiders!"

The word "outsiders" made Vivian and Silvia's faces change.

Silvia mocked, "Such arrogance! After five years, you suddenly show up. You're just a poor man trying to get our family’s wealth!"

The guests were shocked. 'Ethan left Sophia and disappeared for five years. Now he reappears. He must be after the Harris family’s wealth.'

Charles shouted, "Wishful thinking! I will never let my daughter marry a poor man like you!"

Sophia defiantly said, "Dad, who I marry is none of your business!"

Charles insisted, "As long as I'm your father, I have the right! A poor, irresponsible man like him can't give you a happy life!"

Ethan laughed, "How do you know I can't?"

Silvia said, "My boyfriend is the heir of a wealthy family in Crownspire. They make billions! He gives me countless gifts, and Sophia deserves no less!"

Ethan replied, "Don't worry, I have gifts too, and they're ten times better!"

Silvia taunted, "Really? Then show us what you've got!"

Ethan's servants arrived, holding exquisite gift boxes, attracting everyone's attention.

The servant opened the gift list. "A hundred gold bars!" The gold glittered in the sunlight.

One by one, the gift boxes were opened. The servant read from the list:

"A riverside luxury villa!"

"A custom-made top-tier car!"

"Three beautiful and rare oriental procelain!"

The crowd was shocked. These items were too valuable!

Charles asked, "Sir, what do these gifts mean?"

The servant said, "Mr. Harris, I'm here on my master's orders to deliver these engagement gifts."

All eyes turned to Silvia, and the admiration made her face flush.

Everyone exclaimed, "Silvia, your boyfriend treats you so well!"

"Yeah, so many expensive gifts! I'm so jealous!"

Silvia proudly raised her chin and glanced at Sophia and Ethan. "See? These are my boyfriend's gifts! And you? Can you match even one?"

When the guests thought Ethan would be humiliated, he smiled and said, "Silvia, are you sure these gifts are for you?"