Rural Belle & Three Heirs
Chapter 33 Grantie Won't Buy You a Bag

Since Sophia had basically signed her own death warrant, Chloe saw no reason to let her off easy. Without missing a beat, she shot back, "Oh please, I can't fake it like you. Twisting your ankle to save a client? Why not just twist yourself to death? You really think Grant's buying that crap? He doesn't even notice you."

Chloe knew precisely how to strike where it hurt. Everyone knew that Grant's indifference towards Sophia was the worst-kept secret in their social circle.

"You... Mr. Martin likes your ugly face?" Sophia snapped back, her insult drenched in rage.

Truth be told, Chloe was nearly flawless. As a member of the prestigious Davis family, she stood leagues above the Browns. Her fit physique and keen intellect made her a standout. If it weren't for that mole on her face, there would be no contest at all.

Chloe didn't flinch at being called ugly. Instead, she stuck her tongue out at Sophia and retorted, "Yeah, I'm ugly, so what? Doesn't stop Grantie from looking at me."

"He would never look at your ugly face," Sophia fumed, her frustration evident.

Chloe smirked, "Not only does he look at me with an interest, but he also promised to buy me bags, tons of designer bags. If I can't carry them all, I'll just give them away. And you? Can you get Grantie to buy you anything? He wouldn't even let you smell his fart. Must be driving you nuts, huh?"

Chloe's shameless comeback left Sophia speechless. She couldn't believe Chloe could argue like this. Even though she tried to maintain her composure, Chloe's relentless jabs had thrown her completely off balance.

"Chloe, you're too much. You're just bullying me." Unable to outmaneuver Chloe verbally, Sophia quickly shifted tactics, wiping her tears and adopting a victimized tone.

Chloe had no idea what Sophia was planning next. Already riled up, she snapped, "Yeah, I'm bullying you, you scheming two-faced witch."

Just then, Sophia lunged toward the space behind Chloe. "Mr. Martin, you heard it all, right? Chloe's bullying me. You have to stand up for me."

At that moment, Chloe realized Sophia had orchestrated her little show to frame her as the bully in front of Grant. Sophia truly lived up to her reputation as a two-faced schemer. But Chloe didn't care. If Grant criticized her over this, she'd leave without hesitation. She came to Sovereign City to find a husband, not to be treated like dirt. She'd stand up for herself if necessary.

Chloe took a deep breath, standing there with a calm, indifferent look, watching Sophia perform for Grant.

Grant, who had been in a good mood about the planned shopping expedition with Chloe, felt his annoyance rise the moment Sophia showed up. He didn't even bother responding to her whining, just gave her a look that said, "Really?" Seeing her opportunity, Sophia went into full melodrama mode. "I saw Chloe standing here alone. Since she's new to Sovereign City, I thought I'd be nice and say hi. But I guess my kindness got misunderstood," she sobbed, signaling to the two women with her.

Her friends dutifully jumped in to back her up.

"Sophia, you're just too nice. Who cares if someone knows their way around or not? It'd be better if she got lost. Next time, don't bother."

"Yeah, some people just don't appreciate kindness. Why waste your time?"

With her friends backing her up, Sophia felt more emboldened. She looked at Grant with faux-innocent eyes and said shyly, "I was just thinking, since she's a part of your family now..."

She clearly expected Grant to side with her or at least scold Chloe, but Grant's response was anything but that.

"So, when the company gave you time off to be in the hospital for treatment, you chose to go shopping?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

Sophia's face fell. Just yesterday, she claimed to have twisted her ankle saving a client, and Grant had personally taken her to the hospital. Seeing her out and about on the second day raised serious questions about her injury's authenticity.

"I was just bored in the hospital, so I came out for some fresh air. Plus, the doc mentioned that walking would speed up my foot's recovery," Sophia hastily fabricated an excuse.

Grant sneered. "Oh? The doctor told you to walk more? So, you walked from a hospital twenty miles away to this mall? That's quite a hike!"

Grant's words silenced Sophia. She couldn't understand what went wrong. They were just talking about Chloe bullying her; how did the topic shift so quickly?

"Mr. Martin? I..." Sophia was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, not knowing what to say to smooth things over.

Amused by Sophia's flustered state, Chloe's opinion of Grant soared, earning him a mental checkmark.

With one hand in his pocket, Grant glanced at Sophia again and reminded her, "I told you yesterday: if you're not in her circle, don't try to fit in. She won't bother you without reason. To avoid drama, just steer clear. It's better for your peace of mind."

Grant's words not only left Sophia dumbfounded but also stunned the two friends who accompanied her. They couldn't comprehend why Grant didn't seem to care about Sophia as much as she had claimed.