Signed, Sealed, Scandalous

Chapter 4

After a long silence, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley let out a series of heavy sighs.

"It's our sons who don't deserve you. We've truly wronged you, Sophia."

With that, they accepted the family heirloom but gently pushed the bank card back toward her.

"Sophia, sweetheart, keep the money. You might need it someday."

But Sophia slid the card back into their hands, smiling reassuringly.

"Uncle, Aunt, if you don't take it, I won't feel right."

"My parents left me more than enough. I've never touched a cent of it. And after all these years living with you, you're already like family to me. I'm getting married from this house, remember?"

Unable to argue with her sincerity, the Kingsleys reluctantly accepted.

Over the next two days in the hospital, not one of the three Kingsley brothers came to visit her.

When Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley found out from the staff that their sons were too busy consoling Lily, their disgust only grew.

"Sophia, stay here. We're dragging those ungrateful boys over to take care of you. At the very least, you're their sister, how can they treat you like this?"

"Please don't," Sophia said gently. "You being here is more than enough."

Seeing how genuine she was, they finally backed down.

When Sophia returned home, her phone rang. It was Adrian.

"I designed a wedding dress for you," his voice said, warm and soft, so unlike his usual cool tone. "It should've already arrived at your place."

"You design wedding dresses?" she blurted out in surprise.

Adrian chuckled, low and sweet. "A little. I just wanted to give my wife the best gift, from the heart."

Her face flushed hot. Words caught in her throat. She mumbled a few vague responses, her mind blissfully blank except for the warmth blooming in her chest.

But the moment she stepped inside the house, that warmth turned to ice.

There it was, the wedding dress. White and breathtaking. Its train shimmered with hundreds of tiny diamonds, like fallen stars stitched into silk.

But the problem?

Lily was wearing it.

She stood in the middle of the room, twirling like a ballerina. The gown clung to her fragile frame, and with her innocent little smile, she looked like a misplaced fairy from a dream.

"Ethan, Liam, Noah, what do you think?" she asked coyly, lifting the hem just so.

"Gorgeous. Like a goddess come to life."

"Prettier than any model I've worked with."

"Lily, when you get married, you'll be the most beautiful bride in the world."

The brothers showered her with praise, and Lily beamed, all fake modesty and fluttering lashes.

Sophia's blood boiled.

She stormed forward, her voice slicing through the air.

"Lily, that's my wedding dress. Who gave you permission to sign for it, much less put it on? That's theft. Take it off. Now."

Lily flinched, her eyes going wide with tears.

"I-I didn't know it was yours! It was just so pretty, I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry, Miss Sterling. I didn't mean any harm."

Yet her fingers lingered on the fabric, stroking it like a precious treasure.

"Then show you're sorry and take it off!" Sophia snapped, fists clenched at her sides.

But Lily hesitated, holding the gown tighter.

"I've never worn anything this beautiful before. It's like the dress I always dreamed of. Miss Sterling… since you're not really getting married… could I maybe have it?"

Sophia's jaw dropped.

"Are you deaf? I am getting married. This is my wedding dress. If I give it to you, what do you expect me to walk down the aisle in?"

Lily's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

The brothers immediately stepped in, bristling with annoyance.

Ethan rubbed his temples. "Seriously? It's just a dress, Sophia. You're not actually getting married. You bought a wedding gown just to mess with us?"

Liam rolled his eyes. "Right. Another one of your attention games. Cut it out."

Noah pulled out a black card. "If Lily likes it, she can keep it. Just tell us where you got it, I'll pay."

Sophia took a deep breath, rage simmering just beneath the surface.

"For the last time, this isn't a stunt. I am getting married. That dress was hand-designed by my fiancé. It's one-of-a-kind. It's priceless."

The word fiancé was like gasoline on fire.

But before the brothers could explode, Lily stepped in with her perfect tears.

"Please don't fight over me. I'll take it off, okay?" she said softly, brushing a tear from her cheek before running upstairs.

When she returned, the dress was shredded, ripped to pieces as if someone had taken scissors to it.

"Sorry, Miss Sterling," Lily said, eyes wide and trembling. "I accidentally tore it while taking it off."

She clutched the ruined gown, eyes full of mock remorse, though the faint smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her satisfaction.

Sophia's chest burned. Her vision blurred.

"Accidentally? You think I'm stupid? You did this on purpose!"

"I didn't mean to!" Lily sniffled. "I'll pay for it, okay?"

Just as Sophia was about to explode, Ethan yanked Lily behind him.

"Enough!" he barked. "How far are you going to take this lie? Fine, you say it's hand-designed by your husband? Then call him. Let's hear from the guy himself. We'll pay whatever it's worth."

Liam and Noah crossed their arms. "Yeah, call him. Right now."

They thought they had her cornered, finally ready to force her to admit it was all fake. That the talk of marriage, the ring, the dress… was just a desperate fantasy.

But Sophia just narrowed her eyes and raised her chin.

"Fine."

She pulled out her phone and, without flinching, tapped the contact labeled "Husband."

And called.

Right in front of them all.