Chapter Five (part one)– The Engagement Party Battlefield
812 Words
Sophia had attended a lot of glamorous events.
But this one?
This was next-level entertainment.
The second Victoria arrived with Lucas, the energy in the room shifted.
Alexander—stoic and unreadable—barely reacted, but Sophia was trained to notice the small things. The way his jaw tightened. The flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
Oh, he was not happy.
And Victoria?
She clung to his arm like her life depended on it.
Sophia took a slow sip of champagne. Well, well, well. Let the games begin.
Round One: Grandma’s Disapproval
Margaret Kingston, the matriarch of chaos herself, eyed Victoria with thinly veiled irritation.
Sophia smirked. Ooooh. Someone’s not a fan of the clinging.
“My dear,” Margaret said, her voice sweet but sharp, “are you always this affectionate, or is this a special performance for tonight?”
Victoria’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. “I just missed Alexander, that’s all.”
Margaret gave a slow, deliberate nod. “Ah. And yet, you arrived with his stepbrother. How… quaint.”
Sophia nearly choked on her drink.
Alexander cleared his throat and subtly removed Victoria’s grip from his arm.
One point for Grandma.
Round Two: Lucas the Flirt & Sophia the Roast Queen
Lucas had spent most of the night watching Sophia.
And not subtly.
He sauntered over, his signature smirk in place. “I have to say, Sophia, you clean up well.”
Sophia turned, giving him a once-over. “And you… still look like a walking red flag.”
Lucas chuckled, unfazed. “Come on, don’t be like that. I was just admiring the view.”
Sophia sighed dramatically. “You know, if staring was a sport, you’d have Olympic gold.”
Lucas grinned. “Flirting with me already?”
Sophia placed a hand on her chest. “Oh, sweetheart, I’d rather flirt with taxes.”
Alexander, who had been pretending not to listen, took a sip of his drink—a little too aggressively.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s grip on his arm tightened.
Lucas, ever the menace, just laughed.
Round Three: Grandma’s Favorite
Margaret linked arms with Sophia and practically paraded her around the room.
“Ladies,” she said to her group of well-dressed friends, “this is my grandson’s wife. Isn’t she just charming?”
Sophia smiled sweetly. “Oh, stop, Grandma, you’ll make me blush.”
Margaret beamed. “Nonsense! You should be celebrated!”
Victoria, standing nearby, looked one second away from snapping her champagne glass in half.
Lucas, still lingering, muttered, “I really like you.”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “Again—tragic.”
Alexander exhaled slowly, counting the seconds until this night was over.
PART TWO(Sophia Turns the Tables)
The room was buzzing—a mix of laughter, whispers, and stolen glances.
Sophia stood at the center of it all, owning the space like she was born for it.
Victoria, still clutching Alexander’s arm, had spent the entire night glaring while Sophia effortlessly won over guests—and, much to her annoyance, Alexander’s grandmother.
But Sophia wasn’t done yet.
No.
It was time to end this little game.
The Moment Everything Shifted
“Oh, Sophia,” Victoria said sweetly, her voice dripping with fake politeness. “It must be so overwhelming to be thrown into our world so suddenly. Not everyone is built for high society.”
A few guests chuckled under their breath.
Alexander’s grip on his drink tightened.
Lucas smirked, clearly waiting for chaos.
Sophia?
She just smiled.
“Oh, Victoria,” she cooed, matching her tone perfectly. “You’re absolutely right. This world is so different from the one I came from.”
She turned, addressing the crowd with a perfectly innocent expression.
“Like, for example, I never knew it was considered polite to bring your boyfriend’s stepbrother as your date to his engagement party.”
Silence.
Then, whispers.
Victoria’s face paled.
Sophia continued, pressing a hand to her chest. “But don’t worry! I’m learning so much from you.”
A few guests laughed outright.
Even Lucas let out a low chuckle.
Victoria’s nails dug into Alexander’s arm, but he made no move to stop Sophia.
And why would he?
Because despite everything, a small part of him was enjoying this.
Enjoying watching Sophia turn the tables.
Enjoying seeing Victoria—for once—be on the receiving end.
Even if he’d never admit
Margaret Kingston, ever the queen of dramatic timing, let out a delighted laugh.
“Oh, I do adore you, Sophia,” she said, loud enough for the entire room to hear. “You’re such a breath of fresh air!”
She then turned to her guests with a beaming smile. “Isn’t she just wonderful?”
Victoria looked murderous.
Lucas looked amused.
Alexander… looked like he was re-evaluating his entire existence.
Sophia?
She simply sipped her champagne, victorious.
- Writer
