In Sofia's hospital room, Martina was cutting an apple for Sofia when her phone suddenly buzzed loudly.

She put down the knife and apple, picked up the phone, and her face instantly turned grim.

Sofia was eating the apple contentedly, noticing Martina's change in expression, she asked: "Mom, what's wrong?"

Martina clenched her phone, forcing a strained smile: "Nothing, just lost some money on an investment I bought earlier."

Sofia was speechless: "Mom, those investments are all scams, they are specifically designed to cheat elderly people like you."

"If you really want to invest, I'll find you a financial planner. Give him a commission, and he'll manage your assets for you. It's very popular abroad."

Martina waved her hand in rejection: "Oh, with my little bit of money, why would I need a financial planner? I'd have to give him a commission, it wouldn't be worth it, wouldn't be worth it."

She locked her phone and changed the subject: "Did you actually manage to return that dress?"

Sofia smiled triumphantly: "I did. I flashed them the wound on my wrist, and those sales assistants immediately gave me a refund."

She looked at her wrist, now wrapped in white gauze. She couldn't help but laugh.

The wrist-cutting was painful, but she had to admit, the ploy worked.

However…

A tinge of resentment crept into her voice: "Dad is really something, he wouldn't even part with a dress worth two million? "

At the mention of two million, Martina felt her heart sink.

Two million for a dress, two million for a fake painting. Those are all like carving her flesh, she thought.

Martina poked Sofia's forehead: "You don't know that two million can buy an entire village in our hometown?"

Sofia rolled her eyes: "What would I need an entire village for? Two million, or a village, I don't care. All I care about is why Daniela can have it, but I can't?"

Martina lost her appetite for cutting apples.

She threw the apple peel into the trash bin with a bang.

Sofia was right, why can Renata's daughter have it, but not her, Martina's daughter?

"Sofia, you have to keep a tight grip on Sebastian. As long as you have Sebastian, everything Daniela has now will be yours in the future."

Sofia didn't need any reminding.

For a small auction, the Romero family was willing to prepare a dress worth two million. What about the rest of her clothes, jewelry, and bags? They must be beyond her imagination.

But that's not all, more importantly, once she became Mrs. Romero, she would receive the careful service of those people.

Thinking about the obvious difference in treatment towards her and Daniela by the sales assistants and managers at Vic Fashion Design Studio, a wave of resentment washed over Sofia.

She nodded emphatically: "I know."

Yesterday, she tried to keep Sebastian to stay with her, but he had some urgent matter and left directly.

"Mom, you call Sebastian later and tell him that my wound is infected, and I have a high fever and am delirious, and that I want to see him."

Martina nodded. As she was about to make the call, she suddenly thought: "High fever and delirium? Won't it be exposed when he comes?"

Sofia's face darkened: "Then what do you suggest?"

Martina had no other options: "Then we'll just have to pretend to have a high fever."

That meant Sofia would have to suffer a little.

The call went through, and Juan answered: "Mr. Romero is currently in a meeting. Is there anything Mrs. Flores needs?"

The cold, emotionless voice made Martina feel a little afraid. Gathering her courage, she said: "Sofia has a high fever and keeps rambling, she keeps saying she wants to see Sebastian. What do you think…"

Juan's voice remained calm: "Mrs. Flores, please don't worry. I'll call a doctor right away. This doctor is an old expert from the city hospital, he will definitely cure Miss Flores."

"But…"

Before Martina could finish, Juan had already hung up.

Martina stared blankly at the black screen of her phone, her eyes wandering to Sofia: "What do we do now?"

Sofia's face was sullen, and she remained silent.