Villain MMORPG: Almighty Devil Emperor and His Seven Demonic Wives Chapter 1296: His Loss, Not Mine

Villain Ch 1296. His Loss, Not Mine

Sophia clenched her jaw, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. She knew what they were thinking, what they were likely saying. 'How did she get in? What is she even doing here?' The questions might have been silent, but their expressions spoke volus.

Mr. Bell, oblivious to the silent battle happening across the room, leaned closer. "Everything alright?"

"Yes," Sophia said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile. "Just… taking it all in," she announced, trying to keep her composure.

But her mind raced. Vivian's presence wasn't just a coincidence. Neither was Larissa's, or the rest of them. They were here because of Allen. They had to be.

'Does that an… Allen's here too?'

The thought sent a jolt through her. She hadn't seen him yet, but it made sense. There was no way all of this could be random. Her chest tightened, a confusing mix of emotions bubbling up—anger, longing, frustration.

Vivian whispered sothing else to Larissa, and both won chuckled softly. Sophia's fists curled in her lap, her nails digging into her palms. She already knew what they were doing, what they were thinking.

'Mocking . Judging . Thinking they've won.'

But despite her annoyance, she couldn't shake the nagging question. She glanced around discreetly, scanning the crowd for any sign of him. He wasn't with them, at least not visibly, but that didn't an he wasn't nearby.

The thought alone was enough to unsettle her. Allen, the one person who could still unearth feelings she didn't want to admit she had. Allen, the man who had moved on, who clearly disliked her now but still lingered in her thoughts more than she cared to admit.

She pushed the thoughts away, focusing instead on her surroundings. She wouldn't let them—or him—get to her. 'At least I'm trying to move on. I'll show him I'm better off without him. It's his loss, not mine,' she thought, repeating the mantra in her head like a shield against the growing irritation gnawing at her.

With Mr. Bell by her side, Sophia felt she could do anything. Sure, it was unconventional—an affair, really. He was older, married, but he hadn't rejected her advances, and that was validation enough.

Or was it?

The way Vivian and Larissa smirked at her monts ago still lingered in her mind, fueling her determination. 'I deserve to be here just as much as they do.'

Mr. Bell, however, seed distracted. His gaze wandered across the room until it landed on Vivian. He frowned, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Is that Vivian?" he asked, his voice lower than usual, tinged with unease.

Sophia's stomach twisted, but she forced a calm smile. "Yes, that's her."

Mr. Bell's frown deepened. He adjusted his cuffs and leaned slightly closer, speaking in a quiet but firm tone. "Just rember, Sophia. You're here as my assistant. I picked you because I thought you were the best person to handle this VR gaming thing. You're knowledgeable, and you know how this world works. So don't… make any weird or absurd statents tonight."

His words were like a slap, a sharp reminder of the precarious balance of their relationship. The sting was imdiate, sinking deep into her chest. It wasn't like she hadn't known this affair was ssy—desperate even. But hearing it spelled out so plainly still hurts.

The truth was undeniable. Mr. Bell was married. Their relationship wasn't built on mutual respect or affection but on convenience and lust. And while she had seduced him, he hadn't exactly resisted. It was a tangled ss that Sophia wasn't sure she even wanted to keep.

Still, she managed to smile, tilting her head just enough to appear unbothered. "Don't worry. I rember that," she replied, her voice steady, though her heart clenched as she said it.

Mr. Bell relaxed slightly, nodding. "Good. Just stick to what we planned, and everything will be fine."

'Stick to the plan,' she thought bitterly. 'Like I'm so disposable tool he brought along to make himself look good.' But she swallowed the anger, pushing it deep down where it couldn't surface, not here. Not in front of these people.

Her gaze flicked back to Vivian and her group, who were still chatting among themselves, occasionally glancing her way. Vivian's smirk hadn't left her face, and the others—Larissa, Mila, even Azura—seed to share the sa air of superiority.

Sophia clenched her jaw, gripping the edge of her chair. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.

Her gaze flicked to Vivian again, standing confidently among the others. The smirk on Vivian's face hadn't faded, and Sophia knew she was the topic of their conversation. The thought made her stomach churn.

Vivian had always been her nesis—ruthless, calculating, and unyielding. She had countered Sophia's every move without hesitation, and now here she was, flanked by Larissa and the others.

'And Allen. Is he here too?'

Once again, the thought of him nearby unsettled her in ways she hated to admit. She didn't want to care. She couldn't care. But the possibility kept gnawing at her.

'I'm here for work. Don't know or care if Allen is here!' she reminded herself.

It was a lie, of course. A thin one. But it was easier to tell herself that than to confront the truth.

Mr. Bell shifted beside her, his movents pulling her back to the present. "The event should be starting soon," he said, adjusting his tie. His tone was back to its usual smoothness, devoid of the earlier tension.

Sophia nodded, her voice even. "Yes. Everything looks incredible so far."

He glanced at her briefly, offering a small smile. "Good. Let's make the most of it."

She smiled back, but the bitterness lingered. She was here, wasn't she? She was doing her part, playing her role. This wasn't about her. It wasn't about Allen, or Larissa, or any of the others. It was about her. Proving she could rise above it all—even if she didn't believe it herself.