Mr. Chairman’s Devious Wife by Brey Mitchylle
Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“You do not mind sharing a room with me, do you?” Alexander's playful smirk lingered as he glanced at Sofia. After their latedinner, Jenny insisted. they stay at the house, and a couple of glasses of wine were shared.

between Alexander and Sofia.

Sofia’s expression turned complex, but Jenny, thinking they were already married, saw no issue with them sharing a room.“Aren't we practically married?” she quipped, strolling towards the balcony. The chilly August air greeted her, making her shiver.

“Care for another?” Alexander held out a wine glass, and she took itwithout a second thought. “First time spending a night in a place that’s not my own,” she confessed.“Really?” Alexander ch Well, that calls

for a celebration, don’t you. think?” He stood close, both of them gazing at the captivating view ahead, a subtle tension lingeringbetween them in the cool night air.

They clicked glasses, and Sofia downed her wine in just one big gulp. “Calm suits you...” Alexander said.

“Pardon?” her green eyes met his calm brown ones. The realization of their close proximity surprised her. Then she was quick toremind herself that they were already married.

“You no longer look like the nervous wreck that you were earlier, and it suits you.”Sofia could not help but smile. “Your aunt is amazing...”“Isn't she?”

“| would love for you to meet my mother...” Sofia said. “But she is currently not in that state.” She took in a deep breath as sheturned her head away. Jenny was like a breath of fresh air. She was fun, very sassy, and-

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smart. Sofia knew that her mother would like Jenny too. Then she started wondering what her mother would say when she metAlexander.

Would she tell Sofia how good he looks, or would she ask her how he was treating her? Would she ask her to immediately giveher some grandchildren?

The thought of it somehow made her cheeks hot. Sadly, her mother is lying in a hospital bed, unconscious.

“Lawrence had been poisoning my mother along with Dr. Mulach...” she uttered. She has yet to mention this to Alexander. “He iskilling her.”

“He would not do that... yet,” Alexander said.“Yet?”“He would wait for you to turn twenty-six and have access to your inheritance. Controlling you then would be easier.”

Sofia’s gaze shook. At the end of the day, it was still about her inheritance. Everything in her life seemed to revolve around herbillion-dollar inheritance. Wasn't this comical?

All her life, she thought she had established sincere connections. She had a sister, a boyfriend, and a stepfather who treated herlike she was his own. Sofia thought she was lucky to have them.

All this came crumbling down just because of some inheritance.

Sofia chuckled, her gaze turning sharp, a spark dancing in her eyes. “I expected you to start crying,” he mused.“Do | truly look that helpless?” she retorted, raising an eyebrow.

“Helpless? No.” His gaze remained fixed on her face. “I wouldn't call you that.”

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Chapter 12

“Then?”

“| heard stories about the soft Sofia Lockhart. Someone who liked giving her sister what she wanted. | heard about the charitiesyou sponsored. | thought you would be softer.”

So, he expected her to crumble.

She turned her body towards him, a smile playing on her lips. Whether it was the alcohol or the charged atmosphere, Sofia didn’tknow. Finding newfound confidence, she stood close, their proximity creating undeniable tension. “I’m going to take that as acompliment.”

Amusement flashed in his eyes. “It is...”

She lifted her chin, smiling provocatively. The world seemed to pause for a moment. Then, with playful boldness, she tiptoed andwhispered, “You are taking the couch...”

Not waiting for his response, she sauntered back into the room, leaving a soft laughter echoing on the balcony after shedeparted.

Who would have thought that Sofia would one day hesitate to visit her mother? She stood in front of Tranquil HavenRehabilitation Center, the healthcare facility where her mother was currently at.

She could not help but think about the reason why she agreed to send her mother to this facility even though they could affordinternational doctors to take care of her in the mansion. Naturally, it was because Lawrence. convinced her to do so.

Sofia no longer lived in their family mansion, and Lawrence was busy taking care of the family business. At first, Sofia wanted tokeep her mother in the mansion, but Lawrence assured her that this facility was the one that her mother needed.

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He talked about state-of-the-art facilities and international staff. He convinced her that this would provide her mother with thebest chance of recovery. The fool Sofia agreed..

Thinking back, Sofia quickly realized that she was stupid and indeed a bit. soft. Alexander’s words echoed inside her head. Shewas soft enough to trust those people. She was not someone who would defend herself when at fault, and this one wascompletely her fault. It was because she was lacking.

However, now that she was here, she would do everything to save her mother. “Miss Lockhart, | am so glad that you were able tovisit,” Dr. Mulach’s voice interrupted her stupor. “The staff told me you were outside. | apologize if you replace the interior of thefacility lacking.”

“Who told you that?” Sofia asked, unable to stop herself. She underestimated her emotions. She thought she would maintain hercalm as she faced the one who had been helping Lawrence poison her mother. She was wrong.

“What?”

“Who told you that | dislike the interior of the facility?” Sofia asked.Sofia

|" Dr. Mulach gave an awkward laugh. The previous Sofia would never point this out. She would have just smiled and nodded,then followed the Doctor inside. “I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

“Apologies accepted,” Sofia said. “| would really appreciate it if the good. doctor would not put words into my mouth. | do notwant people to misunderstand.”

“| understand,” Dr. Mulach said as he turned his head away. The man was already in his fifties with large eyeglasses and blueeyes. As always, he was wearing white and had a genuine smile on his face. Now that Sofia thought about it, this doctor seemedlike the exact copy of Lawrence.

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“Shall | take you to the madam?” Dr. Mulach said, keeping that irritating smile on his face.

Sofia nodded without saying another word. Dr. Mulach then led her to the interior of the facility. Sofia couldn’t help but feel atwinge of discomfort as she followed him down the sterile white hallway. The scent of antiseptic. hung in the air, a stark contrastto the warm, comforting aroma Sofia associated with her mother’s presence.

As they walked, Dr. Mulach continued his attempts at small talk, discussing the facility's various features that Sofia had heardbefore. “Miss Lockhart, we take pride in our state-of-the-art facilities and our diverse. international staff. Your mother is in thehands of highly skilled professionals, each dedicated to providing the best care.”

Sofia nodded her mind elsewhere. Her gaze lingered on the room where patient records were kept before turning her head away.“Your father just left this morning. As always, he spent the night here. | told him to take. care of himself, but he seemed adamantabout sleeping next to the Madam.” Dr. Mulach said as he opened the door to her mother’s room.

Almost immediately, her gaze landed on the patient chart that was on the bedside table. “How is she?” she asked.“We are seeing progress...”

Sofia was tempted to tell the doctor that this was the same thing that he told her a few weeks ago, but she did not want them tosuspect anything.

She stood in front of her mother’s bed, her gaze on her mother’s aging. face. “My birthday is in a few months, Mom...” sheuttered, deliberately letting the doctor hear her voice. Then she turned towards Dr. Mulach. “Would you give us some timealone?”

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