Chapter 4

Seeing the newcomers, Felix forgot about taunting me and eagerly greeted her with a delighted expression.

"Rachel, why didn't you tell me you were back in the country?"

Rachel, arm in arm with Gabriel, giggled in response, "I wanted to surprise you!"

Gabriel stood beside them, his expression unreadable.

The two feuding brothers, suddenly so cordial because of Rachel.

Making my situation all the more awkward.

The others looked at Gabriel and Rachel, then at me standing alone on the other side.

Trying to find a trace of distress on my face.

But they were disappointed.

I ignored all of this, turning to find a seat at the dining table.

The seating arrangement for Young family dinners was always fixed.

Mr. and Mrs. Young sat in the middle, Felix and his mother to Mr. Young's right, while Gabriel and I sat to Mrs. Young's left.

The rest were mostly the younger generation.

The Young family didn't have many relatives, but thanks to Mr. Young's prolific nature, Gabriel had quite a few younger brothers and sisters.

Apart from Felix and his mother who lived in the Young mansion, the others only came back for family dinners.

With Rachel's arrival, there was one seat short.

Gabriel, accompanying her, didn't rush to sit down.

"Gabe, can I sit next to you?"

As soon as Rachel spoke, all eyes at the table fell on me.

Now there was only one empty seat left beside me, Rachel's intention was clear.

Felix was the first to chime in, "Sister-in-law, why don't you give your seat to Rachel?"

Hearing his tone that left no room for negotiation, I didn't move.

I was waiting, waiting for that person to make a decision.

"Uncle Wang, add another chair next to me."

Gabriel finally spoke.

The servant tactfully added a chair between me and Gabriel. The space was originally empty, so it didn't affect much.

If the rift between Gabriel and me was a crack, Rachel could easily slip into it.

Rachel sat down, pressed close to Gabriel. The looks from others at the table towards me became even more contemptuous.

I could probably guess what they were thinking.

No doubt they thought I was willing to endure such humiliation just to keep my status as Mrs. Young.

But what I cared about was never the seating arrangement at the dinner table.

The year I first arrived at the Sullivan house, I was ten years old.

At a similar dinner table, I was isolated to one side.

Rachel threw a tantrum, yelling that I didn't deserve to eat at the table.

At that time, it was Gabriel who spoke up for me.

"Your name is Sophia, right?"

"I'm Gabriel."

Fifteen-year-old Gabriel was like a ray of sunshine, illuminating my gloomy world.

He asked someone to add a chair for me, let me sit beside him, and slowly taught me table manners.

And now, he had become the one who embarrassed me the most.

"Gabe, can you move that plate of shrimp away? The smell is making me feel sick."

Rachel's delicate voice pulled me back from my memories.

She covered her nose and mouth, half-leaning on Gabriel.

As she spoke, her glance towards me was full of provocation.

Everyone present was shrewd enough to see through Rachel's intention.

They casually swept their gazes over Rachel's belly.

Gabriel's brows furrowed slightly, "Uncle Wang, please remove the shrimp."

"Oh no, brother, Sophia loves shrimp the most. She'll be upset if you do this."

Apparently, someone decided to pour salt on the wound.

Felix put on a show of standing up for me.

I continued eating, not looking up, "It's fine, the smell is indeed a bit nauseating today."

I had smelled this scent on Gabriel many times before.

I didn't know what expression Gabriel had, but his words seemed to hide some guilt.

As if he suddenly remembered the existence of his lawful wife.

"Your sister-in-law hasn't been feeling well lately, she can't eat shrimp."

"Sister-in-law, you're feeling nauseous and unwell, could it be that you're pregnant?"