Unwelcome Realities and Unexpected Alliances

Lucien sat at his desk, his brows furrowed as he reviewed a stack of reports. The faint hum of the air conditioning was the only sound in the room when the door suddenly swung open.

"Lucien!" Mrs. Juliette Dusfresne's voice echoed sharply in the spacious office. She stormed in, her posture stiff with anger.

Lucien glanced up, his jaw tightening. "Mrs. Dusfresne," he said evenly, "to what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

"How many times are you going to treat my daughter like she doesn't exist?" she snapped, her voice trembling with both anger and frustration. "At least think about her a little! She's really sick at home, and you haven't even bothered to visit her. Don't tell me it's because of Amelie, Lucien. Amelie is in the past. Let her stay there!"

Lucien's eyes darkened at the mention of Amelie's name, but he remained silent, his hands gripping the edge of his desk.

"At first, you seemed a little close to Celine," Juliette continued, pacing the room, "but now you've become so distant. What happened, Lucien? Are you perhaps cheating with someone else? Or do you think you'll ever find anyone who can replace her?"

Her words cut sharply, but Lucien held his composure, though his anger was evident in the way his jaw tightened. After a moment, he stood, towering over her as he adjusted his tie.

"Mrs. Dusfresne," he said coldly, his voice calm but laced with steel, "our engagement was made legally with papers. Nothing more, nothing less. We do not share any kind of intimate relationship, and I have made that clear from the beginning."

Juliette opened her mouth to protest, but Lucien raised a hand to stop her.

"I understand your concern for your daughter," he said, his tone dismissive, "but do not come here accusing me of things I have no time for. I am already troubled with work. Please, stop disturbing me with unnecessary drama."

With that, he picked up a folder from his desk and strode out of the office without another glance at her.

Mrs. Dusfresne stood frozen for a moment, her face flushed with anger and disbelief. She clenched her fists, muttering under her breath, "That man… he's impossible."

As Lucien walked down the hall, his expression remained stoic, but inside, a storm brewed. Her words about Amelie echoed in his mind, reopening wounds he had tried to bury. No one will ever replace her, he thought, but even as the thought crossed his mind, the image of Sophie's face flickered before him, complicating everything further.

Margaux Dupont stepped out of the car, her dark brown hair cascading over her shoulders, and adjusted her scarf as she glanced at the grand mansion. It felt good to be back after her extended stay in Annecy, though the visit to her ailing grandfather had left her emotionally drained. She was eager to see her mother, Mrs. Madeline, and meet the mysterious Sophie she had heard so much about.

As Margaux entered the house, she was greeted warmly by her mother. "Margaux, you're back!" Mrs. Madeline exclaimed, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace.

"Of course, Mom. I couldn't stay away any longer. How is everyone here?" Margaux asked, her eyes scanning the elegant interior.

Mrs. Madeline smiled but hesitated for a moment. "Well, things have been... eventful. There's someone you should meet."

Curious, Margaux followed her mother to a cozy sitting room where Sophie was curled up with a book, a cup of tea resting on the table beside her.

"Sophie," Mrs. Madeline said gently, "this is my daughter, Margaux. She just returned from Annecy."

Sophie looked up, her gaze meeting Margaux's. The young woman had a kind and curious expression, her hazel eyes sparkling with warmth.

"It's nice to meet you, Sophie," Margaux said with a friendly smile. "Mom has told me quite a bit about you."

Sophie set her book down and stood to greet her. "It's nice to meet you too," she replied softly, feeling slightly self-conscious under Margaux's attentive gaze.

Margaux chuckled as she extended her hand. "You don't have to feel awkward. I know you're not Amelie."

Sophie blinked in surprise. "You do?"

"Of course," Margaux said, glancing at her mother with a knowing smile. "Mom explained everything about the situation here. It must be tough being mistaken for someone else all the time."

Sophie sighed in relief. "It is, honestly. Everyone seems to think I'm her... except for a few people, like you and Mrs. Madeline."

Margaux nodded. "Well, I can only imagine how strange it must feel, but don't worry. I'm here now, and I'll be happy to help you navigate through this... unique situation."

Sophie smiled for the first time in what felt like days. "Thank you, Margaux. That means a lot."

As the two young women began to chat, Mrs. Madeline watched them from the doorway, her heart swelling with hope. Margaux's cheerful and grounded personality was exactly what Sophie needed to balance out the chaos in her life. Perhaps, Mrs. Madeline thought, this will be the start of a new and much-needed friendship for Sophie.