Chapter 8 It's Just Changing Clothes
1143 Words
When Bruce heard about the enormous bride price, his eyes lit up brightly.
Especially the one billion cash gift!
He stammered and stood up shakily, "Mr. Graham, compared to the Graham family, our Whitmore family’s assets are negligible, as you’re surely aware, I..."
"As the father of the bride, it’s only proper for you to make some gesture, isn’t it?"
As Ethan finished speaking.
An assistant hurried over from not far away, holding a share transfer agreement in his hand.
When Sophia saw the contents of the document, she was taken aback!
It was obvious that Ethan had come prepared today, not on a whim.
She was about to speak...
The man beside her seemed to notice her skeptical look, and tightened his hand around her waist, "Sign it."
His look was clearly meant to reassure her.
Bruce flipped to the last page of the document, where a line prominently displayed read, 'All shares under Bruce's name to be transferred to Ms. Sophia'.
He frowned, tentatively asking, "This... Sophia has never worked in the company, and doesn't understand management. Handing such a large company to her, I'm afraid it might not be wise—"
Before Bruce could finish, the mother and daughter in the small reception room nearby could no longer contain themselves.
Melanie glared at her mother in annoyance, then looked towards the others in disbelief, "Mom, is Dad going to transfer all the shares to that woman? I'm Dad's daughter too, why her?"
Ignoring Mina's attempts to stop her, she stormed into the living room.
"Dad, I have just as much right to your shares as she does—why are you giving them all to her?"
Ethan curled his thin lips in a cold, disdainful smile, then leaned down to whisper against Sophia's neck, "I, Ethan, never make things difficult for others. If you're unwilling, I'll publicly announce that Sophia has severed ties with the Whitmore family."
Bruce was still waiting for Ethan's one billion dowry to solve his urgent crisis!
Wasn't the reason he wanted Sophia to marry into the Graham family to use their far-reaching power to save his company from the brink of bankruptcy?
Even if Sophia married Julian, she definitely wouldn't get so much money.
Moreover, even if the company was rescued, it might not be able to generate so much cash flow.
Bruce was tempted.
Melanie was about to make a scene.
The next second, Bruce swung his hand and slapped Melanie across the face, "You have no right to speak here, shut up!"
From childhood, Melanie had been pampered by Bruce and his wife.
No matter what trouble she caused, Bruce had never spoken harshly to her.
Yet now, Bruce had hit her because of Sophia!
Melanie covered her red and swollen cheek, stomping her foot in anger, "Dad, you've never treated me like this in my entire life!"
Sophia, furrowing her delicate brows, let out a long sigh and, reading the room, said, "It's alright, I don't need Dad's shares either. I don't want to put Dad in a difficult position."
"No difficulty at all, no difficulty!"
Bruce said with a smile. Without waiting for Sophia to pick up the equity transfer agreement, he hastily signed it.
As if he feared that a moment's delay would cause Ethan to change his mind!
The assistant collected the signed equity transfer agreement and immediately nodded to Ethan.
Ethan leisurely helped Sophia adjust her clothes and said with deliberate slowness, "It’s time to go home."
Go... home?
Before Sophia could react, Ethan turned and took her hand.
The two of them left the Whitmore family villa hand in hand, openly and dignifiedly.
Leaving behind three dumbfounded family members.
Bruce wanted to inquire about the bride price.
But now that Sophia and Ethan hadn't officially registered their marriage yet, he was afraid of offending Ethan if he asked rashly.
He could only put on a fawning smile and run alongside them to the car, saying, "Mr. Graham, if you have any instructions, please let me know. Our Whitmore family will fully cooperate!"
Her father's bowing and scraping attitude made Sophia feel a pang in her heart.
She had given so much for the Whitmore family in the past, only to be met with cold faces.
And today, without asking for any reason, her father had scolded her harshly and even threatened to kick her out of the family.
Yet in front of Ethan, he was so cautious and deferential.
Indeed, in the face of absolute power, there was no right or wrong to speak of.
Sophia's heart was filled with a mix of conflicting emotions. She didn't know if marrying Ethan was right or wrong.
But she understood that she had no choice in the matter.
After getting into the car, Ethan held her tightly in his arms and then closed his eyes to rest.
Sophia sat on pins and needles, not daring to even take a deep breath.
Until the car drove into Ethan's villa.
As if anticipating it, he slowly opened his eyes and glanced out the car window.
His large hand gently caressed the side of her face...
Ethan leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You must be starving. Let's go home and eat."
The distance between them was just a hair's breadth away.
She could even clearly feel his warm breath.
Sophia's face turned red again and again, her voice barely audible, "Okay."
"Mrs. Graham hasn’t properly explored our home yet. Let me introduce Aunt Wang..."
Ethan held her hand as they entered, skillfully introducing her to the layout of the house and the servants and drivers.
For a moment, she even had an illusion she shouldn't have had.
Was Ethan really treating her as his wife?
With his iron-fisted methods, he could destroy the entire Whitmore family as easily as dealing with a nest of ants...
She thought of the agreement he had made her father sign.
Sophia arrived at the door of the master bedroom, her hesitant gaze betraying her uncertainty about whether to ask about the status of the shares in their marriage, or—
Ethan, who had already reached the bathroom door, turned back when he saw Sophia hesitating.
"What’s the matter? Must I carry you inside, Mrs. Graham?"
His cool, magnetic voice was captivating.
Sophia pressed her lips together and stammered, "We haven't eaten yet... is this the right time?"
Ethan raised his hand to brush away the stray hair near her ear.
He lowered his head, a playful look in his eyes, "It’s just about changing into some comfortable clothes. What were you thinking, silly?"
Just... changing clothes?
Sophia's cheeks instantly turned crimson.
She awkwardly averted her gaze, "Nothing, I wasn't thinking anything."
Just then, there was a 'click' as the bathroom door opened.
A graceful figure wrapped in a bathrobe appeared before their eyes.
- Writer
