Chapter 5 She Is Your Mother
943 Words
Ethan led Sophia into the ancestral mansion.
"Come meet my family, but rest assured, we won't be staying here."
Sophia nodded and stepped inside. The room was packed with Graham family members, their faces marked by disdain and contempt.
Ethan calmly led her to the sofa, settling her down before finally fixing his steady gaze on the others.
The Graham family was an aristocratic household, and its members were usually quite reserved and proud. However, as soon as the news of Ethan marrying Sophia spread, they couldn't sit still and all rushed to the old mansion to confront him!
But when actually facing Ethan, they became somewhat apprehensive.
The group looked at each other, and finally, Samuel, the eldest and highest-ranking member, was pushed forward.
"Ethan, you..."
He opened his mouth but was at a loss for words.
However, when he saw Ethan personally peeling an orange and handing it to Sophia, he became completely enraged.
"What kind of behavior is this!"
His prized wooden walking stick clattered loudly against the floor.
Pointing at Ethan, he shouted, "All these years, every woman presented to you has been of impeccable background and from a wealthy family. If you didn't like them, you could have found others, but anyone but her! Does the Graham family have no face left?"
Ethan remained impassive.
"She too has an impeccable background and hails from a prestigious family!"
Samuel was so furious that he nearly lost his breath.
"But she's Julian's fiancée! How could you?!"
He shook his head, looking too ashamed to continue.
Ethan sneered, his gaze cutting through the crowd and settling on the figure lurking in the corner.
"Does a scoundrel who barters his fiancée for profit even deserve her?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room felt suffocated.
Julian remained silent, his head hung so low he wished the ground would swallow him whole.
Hearing this, Samuel calmed down instead.
"Ethan, I already know everything about the situation. Under those circumstances, your actions were not wrong. The media won't dare to go against our Graham family. However, we all hope this matter ends here, and you should not have any further involvement with this woman."
The media might not dare to report recklessly, but they can't prevent those with ulterior motives from spreading rumors.
Julian and Sophia were engaged after all, even if it was only a private engagement with just the parents of both families present, without a grand banquet. Those who should know, know.
The Graham family can't afford to lose face like this.
He tried to reason patiently and earnestly, but Ethan's response was to throw out their marriage certificate.
"She is my wife now!"
Samuel pointed at Ethan with a trembling hand, struggled for breath, and then fainted.
The entire room erupted into chaos.
At that moment, a woman dressed in elegant luxury rushed up to Sophia.
She was Third Uncle's daughter, Lydia, and was more than ten years older than Ethan.
Seeing no sign of submission in Sophia's eyes, Lydia flew into a rage: "I opposed the marriage between the Graham and Whitmore families from the beginning. This woman's face shows she's clearly not one to stay in her place. Now she's even seducing her future father-in-law. You w***e, are you trying to ruin our Graham family?"
Her words were bitter and venomous, gritting her teeth as she spoke.
Ethan stood in front of Sophia, his sharp gaze sending chills down Lydia's spine.
"My wife is beyond anyone's criticism!"
Samuel became anxious and didn't bother to pretend to be unconscious anymore.
"Ethan, you can't..."
Ethan gave him a cold, sidelong glance, and Samuel immediately fell silent.
Ethan looked up and surveyed the crowd once more.
"Sophia is my wife. You'd better learn to respect her!"
At this time, Samuel's other daughter, Eleanor, slowly helped Lydia up.
Eleanor used to take care of Ethan when he was young, so he would still listen to her to some extent.
Eleanor gently said, "Ethan, don't hold this reaction against everyone. After all, this issue truly affects the Graham family's reputation."
Ethan arched an eyebrow, a faint sneer tugging at his lips.
"So, what is it that you want to do?"
Eleanor smiled.
"What's done is done, and it truly can't be changed, but..."
She paused for a moment, her gaze falling on the small hand barely visible behind Ethan.
"This matter is undoubtedly more difficult for Julian to accept. Please don't be too hard on him."
Ethan suddenly smirked. He pulled Sophia to sit on the sofa, wrapping his arm possessively around her waist.
This intimate gesture left everyone in the room momentarily speechless.
Ethan raised his hand and beckoned Julian.
"Come here!"
Julian didn't dare to refuse and meekly approached.
"Kneel down!"
Julian's legs went weak, and with a thud, he knelt before Ethan.
His knees hit the hard floor, the pain nearly bringing tears to his eyes, but he didn't dare show it. He hung his head, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Ethan spoke coldly: "From this day forward, she is your mother! As her son, you will honor her and never harbor any inappropriate thoughts again."
His eyes darted around, occasionally glancing in Sophia's direction.
The veins in his wrists stood out.
In the next second—
Ethan hurled a glass to the ground, where it shattered into countless fragments.
Everyone drew in a sharp breath, looking towards Ethan.
Ethan was angry.
He leaned forward, his gaze bearing down on Julian, and asked in a chillingly low voice, "Are you unwilling?"
Julian hung his head, clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury!
- Writer
