Chapter 6 Madness
"Ms. Brown, it's getting pretty chilly tonight. For the kid's sake, I'll close the window for you."
The maid walked over to the window and shut it, glancing sideways at Sophia.
It was strange. Since the wedding, she hadn't asked any questions, not even about Philip's whereabouts.
"You're the only maid here with a purple coneflower badge."
Sophia leaned against the bed, her eyes fixed on the purple coneflower badge on the maid's chest.
"Yeah, my name's Isla. If you need anything while you're at the Mitchell Villa, just let me know. I'll be looking after you during your stay."
The implication was clear: she was here to protect the body carrying the Mitchell family's child from any harm.
To know such details, this person must have been planted by someone else.
Philip certainly wouldn't be so considerate. It must have been Rhea's doing.
"What's the current situation with the Mitchell family? Do you know about the kids?"
"Ms. Brown, the Mitchell family is way more complicated than you might think."
Isla picked up a tablet from the table, entered a command, and a series of portraits appeared on the screen.
"Right now, the Mitchell family is under Mr. Luca Mitchell's control, but he's always busy with business and rarely gets involved in family matters. He didn't even show up at your wedding with Mr. Philip Mitchell, leaving everything to Mrs. Rhea Mitchell."
Sophia's eyelashes fluttered slightly. She had met Luca twice when the Brown family was thriving.
He was a man with a fierce aura, never smiling at anyone or anything, a master of business warfare.
The Brown family and the Mitchell family had no business competition, each developing in their own fields.
If the Brown family were still as strong as before, they could have competed with the Mitchell family for the top family in Novaria. Unfortunately, twenty years ago, the Brown family started to decline, with various issues plaguing their projects.
Their century-old foundation was gradually eaten away, and there must have been secrets she didn't know about.
"Mrs. Rhea Mitchell has four kids: Milo Mitchell, Ollie Mitchell, then the head of the family, Luca, and a daughter, Sable Mitchell, who is Mr. Philip Mitchell's aunt."
Just hearing these relationships, it was clear that Luca must have used some means to take control of the Mitchell family.
The Mitchell family's power was deeply rooted. If she wanted to stay here, she had to be extra cautious, or one wrong step could lead to disaster.
"Besides what I've mentioned, Mr. Philip Mitchell also has a half-brother and a half-sister."
Her eyes flickered as if debating whether to reveal this information.
"Xander Mitchell?"
Isla's eyes flashed with surprise at the name Sophia mentioned, then returned to calm.
"Yeah, Mr. Luca Mitchell's current wife is his second wife. She has a pair of twins, a boy named Xander and a girl named Vesper Mitchell. But they're both abroad now and might not know that Mr. Philip Mitchell is married."
Sophia knew a bit about this secret too. It seemed the Mitchell family wasn't as peaceful as it appeared.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. When the person arrived, the face was flushed with urgency.
"What's going on?" Sophia asked.
"Ms. Brown, someone's at the front door. Ms. Vaughn is there, yelling that she wants to talk to you."
Isla glanced at the unresponsive Sophia, then lowered her head and spoke softly.
"You can relax and not worry about this. I'll send her away."
"Wait."
Sophia slowly stood up from the bed, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth as she walked out.
"She's a guest of the Mitchell family. Since she's a guest, there's no reason to send her away. Bring her in."
Isla couldn't fathom her intentions but followed Sophia's instructions and brought Lyric in.
As soon as they met, Lyric lunged at Sophia, her claws out.
"Sophia! You used dirty tricks to marry Philip!"
Her eyes were full of rage, glaring at Sophia as if her gaze could kill.
Isla blocked the aggressive Lyric, her tone icy.
"Ms. Vaughn, please watch your behavior. Don't..."
A loud slap landed on Isla's face, Lyric putting all her strength into it.
Feeling unsatisfied, Lyric pushed Isla, trying to knock her down, cursing all the while.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you stop me?"
Lyric was like a madwoman.
Isla turned her head, her face expressionless despite the red mark. She looked up calmly.
"Mrs. Mitchell has ordered that no one is to disturb Ms. Brown."
At this, Lyric's eyes shifted to Sophia behind Isla.
"Sophia, you schemed your way into Philip's bed and got pregnant with his child just to become part of high society. But who knows whose child you're really carrying?!"
Sophia couldn't help but laugh.
"Do you think you're smarter than Grandma and Philip?"
Lyric was speechless. She knew the child was indeed the Mitchell family's.
The Mitchell family would never allow an unknown child into the Mitchell Villa, so the child must be theirs.
This realization fueled Lyric's hatred even more, her eyes fixed on Sophia.
"You schemed your way into the Mitchell family, which shows your bad intentions. With your background, you're not fit to be Philip's wife!"
Her emotions grew more agitated, and Isla stayed alert, ready to prevent any extreme actions.
But suddenly, a pair of hands gently pushed Isla aside, and Sophia stepped forward.
She smiled triumphantly.
"I am Philip's wife. So what can you do about it?"
Lyric, enraged, lunged at her.
Isla, blocked by Sophia, couldn't intervene, watching as Lyric grabbed Sophia's neck.
"Bitch!"
Sophia's breathing became labored, her spine creaking under the pressure.
The next second, the suffocating feeling vanished as Isla pulled Lyric aside. Lyric was still shouting when the door suddenly opened.
"Mrs. Mitchell..."
No one expected Rhea to appear, not even Sophia.
"Take her away."
Rhea's cold voice commanded, and no one dared to breathe. Her sharp gaze fell on Sophia, scrutinizing her.
"Everyone else, leave."
At her words, everyone quickly left, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Sophia hadn't looked closely at the dignified Rhea before. Now, she could see the unique nobility in her face.
The oppressive atmosphere made Sophia uncomfortable. Just as she was about to speak to ease the tension, Rhea spoke first.
"With all this commotion, tell me what you want, besides reviving the Brown family."
Her words cornered Sophia's plans.
Her hand clenched at her side, controlling her emotions as she spoke.
"I want to return to the Brown family and bring my mother out."