Poof! Wife Status, ERASED

Chapter 4: She's Just a Student You Sponsored

Sophia Roberts pressed her hand against her lips, trying to stifle the sobs, but the grief slipped through her fingers anyway.

Twenty years. Not two weeks. Not two months.

The first time Ethan Vanderbilt held her hand, his ears turned bright pink. Throughout their relationship, he had been completely devoted—there wasn't a single female contact in his phone. Even work matters were left to his assistant.

But now?

"She's not as good as you?"

Sophia curled into a ball at the corner of the bed, as if struck by lightning.

She wasn't sure how much time passed before she steadied herself enough to reply to Olivia with a single word: "Okay."

Ethan didn't come home that night.

The next morning, Sophia was woken by a knock at the door. When she opened it, she found Emily Vanderbilt—Ethan's younger sister, who'd been studying abroad.

"Surprise, sis!" Emily wrapped her arms around Sophia in a tight hug and beamed as she presented gifts from her travels.

Emily quickly noticed Sophia's distracted demeanor.

"Hey, sis, what's wrong? Work stress?" Emily asked, her voice concerned.

Emily, just like her brother, adored Sophia. Without hesitation, she blamed Ethan.

"Come on, let's go max out his credit cards!"

True to her word, Emily whisked Sophia away to an auction.

But as soon as they arrived, something felt off.

The couple sitting in the VIP section—was that Ethan and Isabella Thompson?

Emily stormed over without a second thought, yanking Isabella's hair. "Who do you think you are, sitting here?"

Isabella collapsed to the floor, clutching Emily's pants leg pitifully. "Miss Vanderbilt, I was just helping Mr. Vanderbilt pick out a gift for his wife!"

Only then did Ethan notice Sophia. His sleepy eyes immediately brightened, and he walked over, pulling her into his arms. "It's just an auction, darling. Why'd you come all this way?"

In such a public place, Sophia couldn't push him away. "I felt like it."

Despite being a celebrity, Sophia had never cared much for jewelry or social events. Ethan, on the other hand, didn't hesitate to signal the server to buy out the entire collection.

Then he lifted Sophia's hand and kissed it. "Thank you, my love, for coming to see me."

The crowd erupted into gasps and applause.

"Well, I came here for nothing—no jewelry, just a mouthful of dog food!" someone joked.

"Next time, forget checking the almanac—just track your wife's schedule!"

Ethan playfully kicked the joker before tenderly smoothing Sophia's hair.

"Consider yourselves lucky to catch a glimpse of my darling. Go buy some stocks—guaranteed returns."

The single men groaned, begging him to stop flaunting his happiness.

In the car, Ethan cradled Sophia in his arms, showering her with affection, as if he hadn't just left Isabella kneeling on the floor like an idiot moments ago.

Sophia let him touch her but asked coldly, "Leaving your secretary behind like that, Mr. Vanderbilt? How ungentlemanly."

Ethan's face twisted in disgust, as if the topic repulsed him. "Sweetheart, she's just a student you sponsored. Without your influence, she wouldn't even have made it past the Vanderbilt Group's front door."

Right. She almost forgot.

Isabella Thompson—the girl who had bombed her interview but landed the job by praising Sophia.

Once they were home, Ethan grabbed a wooden kneeling board and dropped to his knees in front of Sophia without hesitation.

"Darling, an overseas client arrived this morning, and I didn't have time to make you breakfast. I wanted to make it up to you with jewelry, but then this mess happened. I'm sorry."

He nuzzled her knee like a remorseful puppy, his smile pleading. "It's all my fault. My Sophia missed her breakfast because of me."

Sophia squeezed her eyes shut.

How could someone lie so flawlessly? For a moment, she wondered who had actually studied acting.

A wave of suffocation and nausea hit her, and she couldn't suppress a gag.

Ethan's face paled, his heart aching as he scooped her into his arms. "What's wrong, baby? Don't scare me like this. I'll call a doctor—"

"Don't," Sophia stopped him. "I'm just hungry."

He sighed in relief, his shoulders sagging, before kissing her forehead as though he had been granted a second chance. "What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you."

Sophia took a deep breath and met his eyes, her gaze tinged with sorrow. "The pan-fried buns from Sunshine Street."

Sunshine Street was only a ten-minute drive away. Ethan often bought them for her, so he agreed without hesitation, grabbing his keys and heading out.

Once alone, Sophia picked up her phone, exhaling sharply.

A message from Isabella had arrived half an hour earlier.

The photo showed a woman in a bunny costume, complete with long ears, clutching a carrot with an innocent, clueless expression.

"Guess, sis—does Master prefer home-cooked meals or fresh carrots?"

Sophia wondered—would she even get to eat those buns today?