Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, the Tuscan Villa ~

Sarah reached Sophia's and Felix's home, and the butler informed her that Sophia and Lia are in the garden.

"Can I help you keep that away for you?", the butler offered while gesturing toward the big gift bags in Sarah's hands.

Sarah rejected his offer. "No, thanks. These are for Lia…"

The bags are filled with toys, and treats, and cute outfits from Europe and Sarah wants to see Lia's reaction when she opens them up. There is nothing better than a smiling baby. Lia is now 7 months old and has bottom two and top two teeth and her smile is adorable. And she giggles a lot.

Sarah found Sophia on the back terrace, sipping her drink while her gaze was directed further down the garden.

Sarah was about to greet Sophia, when her sight moved in the direction Sophia is looking and she froze. Levi and Ryan are standing stiffly under the shade of the tree with Lia's nanny, while Lia and Sylvie are on the picnic blanket with a few toys.

There is one more woman a few feet away, that is the caretaker who came with Sylvie. She is the seventh (or eighth) caretaker who Felix hired for his mother. They don't last long.

Everyone is silently watching Lia play by herself.

"What is she doing there?", Sarah growled, unable to hide hostility from her voice.

Sophia knows that Sarah is asking about Sylvie. She responded calmly: "Spending time with Lia."

Sarah gritted her teeth. Other than Sylvie bringing another woman for Felix to their wedding, Sarah knows how Sylvie bullied Sophia when she visited her because Sophia used Eve to translate from French. Sarah can't believe how can Sophia be so forgiving.

"Do you care to explain this situation? Is she the reason you didn't come last night? Don't tell me that she is staying in this house with you. And why are you sitting here while she is so close to Lia? You are obviously not working, and Levi and Ryan are on alert."

Sophia sighed at the rain of questions from Sarah. She decided to answer some: "Sylvie is Lia's grandmother. Yes, she is staying here, but it's only for a few days and we don't leave her unattended. Every person a child interacts with is beneficial for her."

"Don't use Lia as an excuse, and that does not explain why you are watching from the distance."

Sophia looked at Sarah sheepishly while trying to conceal her embarrassment. "Sylvie never got over the fact that Felix married me without her consent."

Sarah looked at Sophia in disbelief. "And you let her inside your house? What are you thinking?"

Sophia avoided Sarah's gaze and rubbed her (almost) six months big belly. "I know that Felix would not be harsh to her if it's not for me…"

"Yeah…", Sarah cut off Sophia. "If not for you, Felix's company would go bankrupt and he would live in a one-bedroom apartment with a woman Sylvie picked for him; probably the one who shamelessly came to your wedding. Or no… it will be a two-bedroom apartment because Sylvie would live with them as well."

Sophia frowned and spoke defensively: "Don't blame Felix. We met and fell in love and both of our lives changed for better. I insisted on Sylvie coming here and I am doing this for myself. One day, she will be gone, and Felix will regret not trying to mend the relationship with his mother. I don't want to bear that guilt. And besides, she will not hurt Lia."

Sarah wanted to ask, if Sophia is so confident that Sylvie will not hurt Lia, why are Levi and Ryan there, watching the baby like hawks? But she had another question… "Where is Felix?"

"In his workshop. He said that until Sylvie apologizes to me, he will stay away."

"And how is this mending his relationship with Sylvie if he is not present?"

Sophia let out a heavy sigh. "I am trying, OK? Don't make it difficult for me."

Sarah moved her fingers in the air and shot a displeased side-glance at Sophia. "You don't have any drones watching over that woman."

"Levi and Ryan are there. And drones are watching the perimeter. There is no point in drones here since I am not wearing my lens." Sophia saw that Sarah opened her mouth to protest, and she quickly explained: "It's the pregnancy. My eyes are either dry or too watery, so I can't wear them."

Sarah shook her head in disapproval and instructed Eve to set a drone to watch over Sylvie.

"Drones are much more than remote cameras.", Sarah threw a snarky remark and walked toward the blanket where Lia is.

"Hey, baby…"

Sarah's singing voice got Lia's attention. The baby grinned and extended her chubby hands for Sarah to take her.

Sarah glanced at Levi and Ryan. "You can take a break. I will be here."

Levi and Ryan nodded and walked toward Sophia to confirm if they can take a break. Sarah is the one who is training them, and they know that baby will be safe with Sarah, but Sophia is signing their paychecks, so they don't dare abandon their post without Sophia's confirmation.

Before they reached Sophia she waved them that they can leave. Sophia is not sure what is Sarah up to, but she hopes that it will not be irreparable. Sophia does not want to give Sylvie more reasons to dislike her, and if she starts arguing with Sarah, Sylvie will say how Sophia does not get along with her sisters.

Sarah's eyes didn't leave Lia. She picked her up and spun a few times while humming airplane sounds, making the baby squeal and giggle. After the initial baby-greet, Sarah glanced at Sylvie who looked at her with a frown.

"Mrs. Martin, we meet again.", Sarah said flatly.

"I'm not sure I remember you.", Sylvie lied.

Sarah forced a smile. "It's OK. With age, memory goes bad. I am Sophia's sister, Sarah."

Sylvie thought that she is going to lose it. Did Sarah just insult her memory and call her old?

Sarah ignored Sylvie, she was focused on Lia. "You need to come to auntie's place. We have puppies! And Kitty is back…"

Sylvie watched Sarah talk in baby-voice to Lia and Lia was giggling and Sylvie fought with all her might to keep her cool. Why is Sarah ignoring her? Why is Lia laughing at Sarah when the baby is barely acknowledging her presence no matter how much she tries? Sylvie balled her hands into fists and chanted to herself to calm down. This is not why she came here.

Sarah plopped on the blanket and placed Lia to sit on her lap before observing Sylvie.

The fact that Sylvie came here without accepting Sophia as her daughter-in-law, rubbed Sarah the wrong way. How can this woman stay here and eat their food and enjoy their hospitality while being hostile?

Sarah knows that Sophia would never put herself in a position to be degraded like this if she does not love Felix, and Felix allowed this only because he gave in to Sophia. But Sarah is not Sophia and she will never allow any of her sisters to suffer grievances.

Sarah is not a mean person; however, she is vengeful. And she decided to push Sylvie's buttons and to see how much this woman can take it before she reveals her true intention.

Sarah can feel the malice seep out of Sylvie and there is no way that she will leave this place before she figures out the reason why Sylvie is here.

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