"I know who you are," Karenina insisted. "You can't fool me."
"I don't know what you're talking about and I don't have time to talk to you," Sophie narrowed her eyes and looked at Karenina firmly. She had chosen Leland and left Nicholas in the past. Now, whatever happened to Nicholas with another woman was none of her business.
She didn't want to be involved in other people's affairs. She didn't know why knowing that Nicholas got Karenina pregnant felt so hurt. Did she still have feelings for him? How could she be jealous of Karenina?
Perhaps, this was how Nicholas felt when he found out Sophie was pregnant with Leland's child?
Also... this must be what Leland was feeling when Nicholas came and wanted to meet Sophie and the children.
Jealousy.
Only when she felt it herself, that Sophie understood what those men were feeling.
They were in an unfortunate situation that entangled them in a confusing web. Sophie massaged her temple. Was it really jealousy that she was feeling?
She searched her heart.
Perhaps it was.
It was human nature to feel jealous because she never fell out of love with Nicholas. The feelings she had for him were deep and cemented for years because she raised their sons that looked so much like him. She saw him every day in Luciel and Jan.
That's why her love for him never wavered even though she had been married to Leland for years and loved him with all her heart too.
It was difficult to explain.
"Why are you so greedy?" Karenina blurted angrily. "You already have Duke Romanov but you seem dissatisfied because you don't want to let go of the king."
She stared at Sophie with eyes filled with hatred. She no longer looked like a pitiful woman but instead, she was like an angry snake ready to strike.
Logo Chapter cũ
There was something about her that made Sophie feel worried. She had never felt this way toward another woman before, not even Leland's evil mother, Isolde.
"I don't have to talk to you. You are not welcome here. Please go before I ask the guards to kick you out." Sophie still tried to look composed. She felt nauseous again. Perhaps her stomach churned seeing Karenina like this.
"Nicholas is mine. He has been mine for five years and will always be mine. You greedy bitch have forgotten about him and could easily replace him with Duke Ariam Romanov, only in mere months after you thought he died. What kind of woman is that? I am sure you don't love him sincerely if you can move on that quickly!"
Karenina felt there was no more need for her to pretend. She went on her hateful rampage and insulted Sophie to make her feel better.
She hated Sophie so much. She hated her with every fiber of her being.
Sophie couldn't reply... or rather, she didn't want to reply to Karenina's insults. Only God knows her sufferings and the reason why she decided to marry Leland. It was not because she wanted to move on quickly from Nicholas... but because she wanted to protect her children.
Sophie thought she didn't have to answer to Karenina. What for? It was none of her business.
"You take advantage of Duke Romanov because he is rich... and for six years you thought you could live a good life. However, now that you know Nicholas is actually a bigger fish, you decided you want to go back to him. That's the real reason why you ask your husband to bring you back to Riga, isn't it??"
Sophie clutched her throat. She wanted to leave Karenina with her nonsense, but her nausea made her body feel so weak, and she had to lean on the tree to find balance.
Meanwhile, Karenina stepped forward and pointed her finger at Sophie. She continued venting her anger.
"I am sure your husband will be very interested in knowing the real reason why you made him return to Livstad. I am curious to know how he would respond..."
Sophie rolled her eyes. Karenina's accusations were becoming more ridiculous.
"Actually, we came back because my husband wanted to," she glared at Karenina. "I will go wherever he goes. And at this moment, I am staying here because this is where he wants to be."
"LIAR!! I don't believe you for one bit!" Karenina screamed. "You are not happy with your deformed and ugly husband, now you want my Nicholas! You want a handsome man to warm your bed and that's why you plan to go back to his arms."
Sophie stepped back. She didn't want to risk being attacked by this young woman before her who now looked like she had lost her mind.
She wanted to call the guards to kick Karenina, but suddenly her stomach felt churned and she turned around to vomit. Karenina's presence had truly given her a lot of stress.
This made Sophie suddenly feel sorry for Nicholas. Why did he involve himself with this kind of woman?
At first, Sophie was jealous because she still loved Nicholas even though her mind told her that she had to stay away from him and keep their distance for Leland's sake. But now she was sorry for him.
And if Karenina was truly pregnant with Nicholas' child... Sophie felt sorry for the child.
Karenina narrowed her eyes when she saw Sophie vomit. She subconsciously rubbed her own belly and she realized Sophie was pregnant.
Was it Duke Romanov's baby?
An evil smirk curved up on Karenina's face. She covered her lips and started to laugh.
So... Nicholas wanted Sophie but Sophie was already pregnant with another man's baby. How heartbroken would he be when he found out?
Karenina was sure that Sophie must have not told Nicholas about her pregnancy. She still wanted to keep the man under her radar. Karenina decided to break the news to Nicholas to make the man give up on his pursuit.
There was no use to keep chasing after his past love.
Sophie already belonged to Duke Romanov. She belonged in Nicholas' past.
Karenina was his present, together with her baby, whom he already thought was his.