Rebirth: Love me Again

[BONUS Chapter for reaching 800PS! Thank you all!🤍 ]

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[SOPHIE]

Sophie was finally discharged from the hospital, though for appearances, she still remained in a wheelchair.

The soft hum of conversation filled the air as her classmates gathered around her in the living room, their cheerful chatter momentarily quieting as Lily leaned closer.

"It's Eve, isn't it?" Lily's voice was gentle but probing. Her sharp gaze didn't miss the flicker of pain that crossed Sophie's face. "She's the one who pushed you."

Sophie hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of her blanket. Her lips pressed into a thin line as tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's over now. I just . . . I'll be more careful in the future."

Lily and the others exchanged a knowing look, their silence heavy with unspoken truths. Sophie didn't need to say the name—it was obvious. Everyone knew who had done it.

"God, she's such a bitch," one of them muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.

"She's jealous of you," another chimed in, her arms crossed tightly.

"She wanted your role," Lily said bluntly, her words slicing through the murmurs like a knife. "And now she's probably after Daniel too. Typical whore. She's after your family's fortune, practically stealing your grandfather's favor. Now, she's pushed you down the stairs just to snatch your role. How low can she sink?"

Sophie forced a weak smile, trying to ease the tension in the room. "It's fine, really," she said, her voice trembling. "Let's not talk about her anymore. Tonight's supposed to be fun. It's our mini Christmas party, remember? I even got gifts for everyone."

The shift in topic worked like a charm. The room brightened as her friends exchanged excited glances and quickly gathered around her. Sophie's smile grew as she reached behind her chair, pulling out a neatly wrapped stack of boxes.

A satisfied smirk tugged at her lips. This time, the victory was hers, and she was certain Eve wouldn't be able to recover from the fallout. Her reputation was in ruins, shattered beyond repair.

"You really didn't have to, Sophie!" Lily exclaimed, though her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

One by one, Sophie handed out the gifts, her friends eagerly tearing into the delicate wrapping. A collective gasp filled the room as the contents were revealed: elegant dresses from Astrid's highly coveted winter collection.

"No way!" Lily squealed, holding up the luxurious fabric. "Sophie, how did you even get these?!"

"Yeah! Astrid's pieces sold out the moment her collection dropped!" another added, her disbelief mirrored on everyone's faces.

Sophie blushed under their praises, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well . . . not to brag," she began hesitantly, "but my mom and I invested in Astrid before her winter collection launched. As investors, we get early access to her newest designs."

Her friends stared at her in awe, their expressions a mix of amazement and envy.

"Wait, really?!" Lily's voice rose in disbelief.

"I heard Astrid doesn't even take investments anymore," another chimed in.

"Who could blame her?" someone added, running their fingers over the intricate stitching of the dress. "She's like a walking goldmine. Everyone wants a piece of her success right now."

Sophie offered a soft laugh, the warmth in her smile genuine this time. "It wasn't easy," she admitted. "But my mom and I always believed in her. And now . . . well, it's incredible to see how far she's come." Find adventures on empire

The room buzzed with admiration as they continued to gush over their gifts.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get you Hyun's designs," Sophie began, her voice measured and calm despite the tension in the air. "I thought that, given Astrid's current reputation and her past achievements—not to mention her longer-standing presence in the industry—it would be better to gift you her designs instead of someone as new as Hyun."

"It's fine, Sophie," one of them reassured her, a touch of awe in their tone as they glanced at the luxurious fabric draped over their lap. "These are absolutely stunning."

"Way better," another chimed in, her excitement palpable.

"Seriously, who's Hyun compared to Astrid anyway?" Lily scoffed, flipping her hair dismissively. The others quickly nodded in agreement.

"Astrid is leagues ahead. After her Winter Collection, does anyone even care about Hyun?"

They laughed.

"Isn't his show today?" someone asked with a slight sneer.

"Yeah, but honestly, who's going to bother when everyone's still raving about Astrid?"

The group broke into laughter again, the sound light and carefree, but Sophie couldn't share in their amusement. Her chest tightened. Every step she took to maintain her carefully constructed image seemed to tangle her further in an ever-tightening web of deception.

The conversation shifted abruptly.

"Speaking of events, did you hear? The Fay family is throwing a yacht party for Cole and Lina's birthday."

Sophie's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Cole's name. She forced herself to remain calm, sipping her drink to buy time.

"Well, yeah," one of them replied with a dreamy sigh.

"It's easily the most anticipated party of the year."

"Too bad the invitations are so exclusive," another added wistfully. "It's not like just anyone can attend."

"Exactly. I'd kill to go—it's going to be unforgettable. Grand beyond imagination."

"Not to mention the gorgeous, eligible bachelors who'll be there," someone teased, her eyes sparkling dreamily.

"And let's not forget—it's a yacht party!" The sheer extravagance of it sent them into a fit of excited chatter.

Then, all at once, their gazes turned toward Sophie.

Lily grinned knowingly. "You're Cole's fiancée, aren't you, Sophie? Surely you could get us invitations, right?"

The room buzzed with sudden energy as the girls clamored around her, their enthusiasm overwhelming.

Sophie felt a headache brewing, the pressure mounting as their eager faces closed in on her. She'd barely navigated the fallout from the Hyun-Astrid fiasco, and now another storm was brewing right in front of her.

Sophie immediately think of another lie to keep up her lies.