Chapter 13: 013. Dealing With the Love Child Chapter 13: 013. Dealing With the Love Child Editor: Henyee Translations Elly Campbell’s words landed without any hesitation, making it clear to both James Campbell and Sophie Baker that she would never acknowledge this illegitimate daughter.
Sophie Baker’s face paled slightly, her eyes expertly brimming with hurt as she lowered her gaze, biting her lower lip.
She chose not to speak, knowing someone would soon speak on her behalf. For now, all she had to do was remain quiet.
“Elly, I’ve said it before, Sophie is my daughter, she’s a Campbell, and she’s your sister. You can’t just refuse to recognize her.”
Elly raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp and mocking as it swept across Sophie Baker’s face.
She had long known of Sophie Baker as the one Adam Jones cared for, and while she hadn’t felt any hostility toward her before, the situation had clearly changed now.
Those who had torn her family apart and caused her mother pain would never receive mercy or be allowed any dignity in her eyes. James Campbell had no right, and Sophie Baker even less so.
“A member of the Campbell family?” Elly scoffed. “Isn’t her last name ‘Baker’? President Campbell, you have the audacity to force me to acknowledge this illegitimate daughter here, yet you don’t even have the courage to go home and ask the Old Master to write her name into the Campbell family genealogy. My recognition means nothing—it only counts if the Campbell family’s ancestors recognize her.”
“Elly, you… don’t go too far. I am your father! What right do you have to speak to me ?”
Though James Campbell knew Elly’s words were true, her sharpness struck a nerve deep within him, fueling a mix of fury and shame. Sophie was the daughter he cherished most, unlike Elly, who had always been at odds with him.
Sophie, in his eyes, would dutifully be the good daughter he had always wanted.
Even though he had never given her any status, Sophie had never minded; in fact, she would comfort him in return.
Now, all he wanted was to elevate her status, but was that really such a mistake? Why drag the Old Master into it?
It was precisely because the Old Master would never agree that he had thought to start with Elly, but to his surprise, this stubborn girl wouldn’t even extend him that much courtesy.
“You’re lucky you still remember you’re my father. Since you do, then act like one. Don’t embarrass yourself by flaunting an illegitimate daughter everywhere. If you want to become the laughingstock of high society, count me out.”
James Campbell was left speechless, seething with anger. His fingertips trembled as he pointed at her, unable to respond.
Seeing the timing was right, Sophie Baker, who had been quietly aggrieved, rose from her seat. Gently pulling the trembling James Campbell back down, she softly comforted him.
“Dad, please, don’t be upset. If my sister doesn’t want to accept me, don’t force it. I don’t want you to jeopardize your relationship with her because of me.”
Seeing Sophie Baker act so thoughtfully, James Campbell’s heart ached with guilt.
“You don’t need to worry about anything. There’s no such father-daughter relationship between President Campbell and me, so there’s no such thing as jeopardizing.”
Elly Campbell’s mocking voice interrupted, slicing through the father-daughter display. Her cold, piercing gaze, as if frozen for a thousand years, made Sophie Baker shiver involuntarily.
Adam Jones had come on a whim with Elly Campbell, not expecting to witness this father-daughter confrontation.
He had long known about James Campbell’s affair and the existence of an illegitimate daughter, but he hadn’t realized that the daughter would be Sophie Baker.
Watching Elly Campbell’s cold and aggressive demeanor, Adam Jones couldn’t help but laugh. This was the real Elly Campbell, wasn’t it?