Heiress Retribution

Chapter5

Sophie looked out of her window in business class as the plane came closer to the familiar ground. She had flown in and out of this same airport several times with her family while growing up but now, as the plane touched down on the runway, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and dread.

Once the plane came to a halt, she took a deep breath before standing up and taking out her items of luggage. She had only traveled back home with the essentials while the rest, she gave them out to a very grateful Lydia.

Making her way through the airport, her heart pounded with each step as she tried to guess what sort of reception her family would give her. Especially her dad.

When she eventually emerged into the arrivals hall, she spotted her mother immediately.

“Sophie”! She exclaimed before running towards her with her arms opened wide before enveloping her in a tight but warm embrace. “My sweet baby girl, it's been so long”! She said.

“I'm not a kid anymore Mum”. Sophie replied with a disgruntled expression. “You do not have to treat me like that”.

“You will always be a kid to me as long as I am your mother”. She replied, smiling happily.

“You're still so sunny mum”. Sophie said with a sigh.

“Yes, I am”. She replied with a huge grin.

“Where is dad”? Sophie asked quietly.

“He's behind me of course”. Her mum replied matter-of-factly.

Turning her head from her mother's face to look behind her, she noticed her father standing by the side with his arms folded and his expression stern.

“Good day, Dad”. Sophie said calmly with her father grunting in response. The tension between them was palpable but she pushed it aside for the moment and focused on her mum who looked happy to see her as she pulled her gently by the hand and led her to a waiting limousine by the side.

“Hope you and dad haven't been waiting long”? She asked.

“Not really”. Her mother replied.

The drive home was filled with her mother telling her multiple things about the house and how everything had been after she left while also adding a bit of neighborhood drama. Her father remained silent throughout the journey but she couldn't ignore the feeling that this was the calm before the storm.

When they got to their mansion, Sophie was hit with a wave of nostalgia. She still remembered running around the compound with her friends while having as much fun as was possible. The familiar front porch, the garden where she used to play, everything seemed unchanged which brought a smile to her face.

“You've missed this place, having right now stood still while smiling”

“Oh…..I didn't know that”. Sophie replied in embarrassment.

“That's not a problem”. Her mum, Beatrice responded. “Come in, I'm sure you must be starving right now. I made all your favorites myself”.

“Thank you, mum”. Sophie replied before following her to the dining table and sitting down. Her father followed suit, sitting down on another chair with his gaze lingering on Sofia.

Dinner started pleasantly with her mother always eager to fill her plate whenever she asked while asking what she has been up to over the past two years. She tried to answer her mum's questions to the best of her ability but she felt the lingering gaze of her father throughout which unsettled her a little bit.

“So Sophie,” her father finally spoke up, “what have you been up to all this time”?

“As I've been telling Mum here, I have been working and trying to build a life for myself”. She replied calmly.

“Is that why you stayed away from your parents for two years? Couldn't you also build a life for yourself here”? He asked.

“Darwin please”. Her mother said with a pleading expression but he waved her off.

“Please, let me speak, Beatrice”. He said. “She left her family without a single word all for what? Because she didn't want to face reality”?

“You were going to marry me off to someone I hated Father”! Sophie replied. “There was no way I was going to let you do that”.

“William is a good man”! Her father insisted. “He would've given you a stable life and provided for you”.

“A stable life at what cost father”? She asked. “My happiness? My freedom? Why would you want me to be with someone I do not love”?

“You will love him if you give him a chance”. Her father retorted. “People grow into loving someone as far as they open their hearts to the person”.

“That will not happen if that person is someone they hate”. She replied.

“Why did you even hate him in the first place”? Darwin asked in exasperation. “I don't recall him ever doing anything to you”.

“He's an awful person, father. I've seen the way he treats those beneath him and it's horrible. He thinks people can be divided into two categories, namely the people that are useless to him and the ones that are useful to him and I am sure the only reason he accepted to get married to me was because getting related to the Peterson family was going to benefit his business”. She said,

“That isn't true”. Darwin replied with a frown.

“Why can't you see that he is a horrible person”? Sophie asked in annoyance. “You just think that he's a good person without trying to find out who exactly he is”.

“Is that why you married a low-life scum that didn't appreciate you”? Her father asked.

“Darwin”! Beatrice exclaimed. “Don't bring that up”!

“No! She needs to explain to me why she married a guy without our blessing despite how much we tried to dissuade her from doing that”.

Tears gathered in Sophie's eyes as she heard that. “I might have made a mistake with Alexander but I do not regret it”.

“Sophie dear, calm down”. Her mum said, reaching out to her but she couldn't calm down. The years of being misunderstood and the hurt she felt when she found out she was being cheated on came flooding back and she became lightheaded and her vision blurred.

“I just wanted….to be happy…” Sophie whispered, her voice barely audible as she swayed in her seat.

“Sophie”! Her mother called out. “What's wrong”?

The last thing Sophie saw was her father's trademark scowl before she slumped sideways, unconscious, and everything went black.