The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)
Chapter 767

Mango and Nathaniel's eyes met as they listened to Sophia.

If Novalee wanted to harm Sophia, she wouldn't have taken Sophia away with her. Her actions proved that she did love Walter. She might've known what was about to happen and was secretly protecting Sophia for Walter's sake.

Mango said in a hushed tone as she thought about it, "Let's not talk about this right now. We should wait and see what's her condition before determining the next move."

"Seems like it's the only thing we could do."

Sophia nodded.

When Nathaniel saw this, he said, "I will go with lona now to find her mother and Cyrus, and I will call for extra help to come here just in case something happens. If you need anything, then let me know." Nathaniel's worried expression made Mango smiled and said, "I understand. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'll probably go see Walter later."

"Alright, take good care of yourself. I'll head out now."

Nathaniel then said his goodbyes to Sophia before leaving with lona.

Sophia couldn't help but sighed as she watched lona left, "Children from divorced families are the most pitiful. The ones like lona are even more pathetic. She has no parents, so I wonder how her life would turn out to be in the future."

"She only said that her father died, she didn't say that her mother was dead, right?"

Mango's words made Sophia gave some thought to it.

"She didn't said that?"

"No, she never once mention her mother."

Sophia frowned and said, "Forget it. There's no use for us to know whether her mother is alive or not. To be frank, this child reminds me of my childhood."

"Uh? Your childhood?"

"Yes. My parents had a divorce as well at that time. My father insisted on keeping my sister but not me. I don't understand why he doesn't like me. It seemed that ever since I was born, he never loved me. Whenever my father would get mad at me, my mother would hold me tightly in her arms to comfort me. Meanwhile, my father liked my sister a lot. Even though mother loved my sister as well but she favors me over her. I guess it was because she wanted to make up to me since my father mistreated me. I always thought that my sister and I were unhappy. When my parents had their divorce, I was eight, and my siste was twelve. She had left home to pursue her studies. I didn't have the chance to see her when I left, and my father did not allow us to meet each other. Who would've thought years had gone by now. Mango listened quietly as Sophia brought up her sad past life.

She had never thought that her mother, Queena, would have such bad childhood.

"When grandfather passed away, didn't they ask you to come home?" Sophia shook her head.

"No, I don't even know when my father passed away. It was my sister who informed me. But my uncles would not allow me and my mother to enter the Xiao family, and my mother only complies. She never told me why he hated me till her very last breath. She only told me not to disturb my sister's life, nor to find my father, unless I can't live any longer on my own, then I can go to my sister."

Sophia looked at Mango with a bitter smile and asked, "Do you think I'm miserable?" "How could this be? Why would grandma make such an absurd request?" "I don't know, and I didn't have the time to know. When my mother passed away, Carter was by my side, comforting me and helping me. After my mother got divorced, she didn't take any money from the Xiao family with her. To raise me, she worked at different places with different jobs, to finally work as a maid in the Song family to pay for my school fees. Who knew the once high and mighty Mrs. Xiao would become a servant to others? But my mother wouldn't allow me to say that I was the child of the Xiao family, let alone tell others that I was related to the Xiao family. After so many years of working hard, her body couldn't take it anymore. I didn't have the money to treat my mother. It was Carter who paid the fees and helped me deal with her funeral. After my mother passed away, he married me regardless of his family's objection. I thought my happy life would begin from then on and thought that God had finally decided to show mercy on me. But what I hadn't expected was that after Walter was born, Carter had an affair behind my back."

The bitter smile never seemed to left Sophia's face.

She felt the heart-wrenching pain whenever she thought of it, but it didn't hurt as much as before.

Mango knew what it felt like to turned someone into your everything then found out they had betrayed you. That alone was enough to break someone down into pieces. She knew because five years ago, she felt the same way when she had mistaken Nathaniel for having an affair.

She held Sophia's hands tightly and said distressedly, "Auntie, it's all in the past now."

"Yes, it's all in the past, but it seems very hard to let go. My life and my son's childhood were ruined because of my feelings for him. I wasn't by Walter's side when he grew up. I've been doing nothing besides immersing in sorrows and letting it take over my life. I asked myself every day why did God do this to me. But I have no answer. Now I'm finally free from it, but there are just so many things that I've missed. There's no reset button in life. I feel very guilty for not being a good mother to my son. But, Mango, do you know that only when a woman turns into a mother will she understand her parents' love for her. The things I owe to Walter, I may never be able to pay it back in my life."

"Auntie, don't say that. Walter has never blamed you."

Sophia smiled bitterly as she looks at Mango, "I know that he is a good child. There were times when I woke up and saw him taking care of me. He is the one who needs to be paid attention to and cared for. I didn't give him a complete family, neither did I give him the mother's love he always wanted. He grew up alone all these years. To be honest, I hope that he can find a woman he loves to spend the rest of his life together with. Only then would his trauma from having a bad childhood be cured. But Walter is suffering again because of Novalee. I can see that Walter has feelings for her. Although his feelings aren't strong, if Novalee became disabled, he definitely wouldn't give up on her. Mango, I am a mother. I can't stand by and watch my son's life be ruined like this."

Sophia looked straight at Mango.

Mango's heart skipped a beat. She seemed to have already guessed something.

"Auntie, you'd better not get involved in this matter. This is Walter's relationship, you can't..."

"I can! Because I'm a mother! Mango, think about it. If he was your son, would you let him marry a disabled woman? He needs to take care of her every single day. Yes, he can hire a nurse, but what about carrying on the family line? Do you think Walter doesn't want a child of his own? He's healthy and wealthy. He could get any woman he wants. But why does he have to marry such a woman?" Sophia's question stunned Mango.

It was pointless to tell Sophia that love conquered everything at this point. People like Sophia who went through a lot would only do what was best fortheir children. "Auntie, I don't know what to say, but I still think you should listen to Walter."

"Listen to him? Even though I didn't raise him, but I know my son. Even if he had no feelings for Novalee, as long as he knows she became disabled because of him, he will take care of her for his entire life and even marry her. But Mango, is that true love? Walter told me once that you were the person he loved the most in his life. Back then, he didn't know that you were my sister's daughter. Once Walter decides to love someone, he would love them for eternity. That is something we have in common. But he gave you up. I don't believe it's because you're married. There must be some other reasons for it, right?" Sophia's question once again stunned Mango.

She never thought that the reason Walter decided to be with Novalee was that he owed it to her after she saved him.

If what Sophia said was true, did that mean Walter only felt grateful towards Novalee?

"Auntie, no, Walter has feelings for Novalee. I can see it."

Mango hurriedly said.

Sophia nodded.

"Yes, I do agree that he does have some feelings towards her. He won't put his entire life on it if he doesn't feel anything for her. But you have to know, having feelings and loving someone are two different types of things. I believe in love at first sight, but Walter and Novalee aren't. You and I both know the real reason he promised to be with her. Mango, if Novalee is a truthful and honest person, I can accept such a daughter-in-law. At least she will be good to Walter. But tell me, is Novalee that kind of person?"

Mango couldn't answer her.

There were too many doubtful points on Novalee. Even though her intention was good and she had done many things for Walter's sake, Mango could not deny that Novalee was indeed not a simple woman. Sophia saw the look on Mango's face and can't help but smiled bitterly, "See, even you don't think she's simple. Who knows what secrets she's hiding? Let's not talk about how her afterlife will be now that she's in such a state, but let's talk about the troubles she would cause Walter. Mango, you and Walter are not only friends, but you are also siblings. The two of you are blood-related. You can't possibly stand aside and watch

Walter suffer in the hands of that woman."

Mango was at a loss for words.

Even if she didn't know they were related, she still won't stand aside and watch Walter's life fall apart in the hands of Novalee. However, she believed that Walter was able to solve these problems.

"Auntie, please trust Walter. Although he seems wayward, he knows more than anyone else what he needs to do. I still think that you should not intervene in this matter."

"So, does that mean you won't help me? Even if I beg you, you still won't help me?"

The sincerity in Sophia's eyes and words made it difficult for Mango to chose either she should be on Sophia's side or Walter's side.

What should she do?