Chapter 3Â
The sounds from the video finally shattered me completely.Â
I sat up and slammed my head toward the wall behind me…Â
Only after the video finished playing did Henry “conveniently” grab Quinn by the collar and storm out, cursing furiously.Â
Chapter 1Â
Chapter 3Â
In his panic, Henry had left his phone behind.Â
Possessed by some dark impulse, I grabbed the device he normally never let me touch.Â
His photo album. 38,123 pictures with not a trace of me.Â
Every single image was of Sophia Sterling.Â
Her wiping tears during his proposal, toasting at her wedding, her every smile and frown while eating, even photos of her sleeping.Â
His diary contained hundreds of thousands of words chronicling his unrequited obsession:Â
“Sophia, today you’re marrying into the Foster family, but not to me. Yet you must be happy, and your happiness is mine…”Â
“Sophia, I heard you’re pregnant. Such bittersweet news-I’m jealous of everyone who can touch you, jealously driving me insane, yet I’m happy you’ve become a mother…”Â
“Sophia, I often dream of that five-year-old girl I killed. Now I’m about to murder my own child for you. If you asked if I regret it, I’d tell you-for you, I’d never regret anything…”Â
I sat frozen on the bed.Â
The phone crashed to the floor with my limp hand.Â
Though I already knew that monster’s heart wasn’t with me, seeing this evidence with my own eyes felt like having my heart ripped from my chest, dragging my organs along in excruciating pain….Â
While I was lost in shock, the door was kicked open violently.Â
A sharp perfume scent pierced the air with the sudden draft.Â
The staccato click of stilettos against the floor created a jarring rhythm.Â
Before I could turn, the visitor had reached my bedside.Â
She glanced disdainfully at the phone lying on the floor, its screen still glowing, and let out a harsh laugh.Â
“Well, well. Seems I’m redundant here today. I suppose you’ve discovered Henry’s devotion to me without me needing to say a word?’Â
Sophia Sterling stood with arms crossed, looking at me with pure mockery.Â
These past days had been utterly draining. The little strength I’d managed to summon was completely sapped by that video trending again.Â
I ignored Sophia’s taunts, turned away, and curled up under the blanket.Â
“Isabella! I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?!”Â
“That superior attitude of yours makes me sick. Your family’s been bankrupt for a decade-who are you putting on airs for?! From what I saw in that morgue footage, you seemed to enjoy servicing those men in front of your daughter’s corpse!”Â
The humiliating memories flooded back instantly.Â
14-23Â
1 beshed ch in bed meeting Sophia’s fierce glareÂ
Saphia, we used to stay out of each other’s way I don’t understand why you’re targeting me, but fine-I’ve given you both men.Â
Sanshed? Can you leave now?”Â
Aty attempt to end the conversation quickly only enraged Sophia further.Â
She hinged forward, grabbing my hair and clutching my collar, her voice a venomous snarl:Â
“Isabella, get this straight! These men weren’t gifts from you-they crawled into my bed willingly!”Â
One crook of my finger, and Kevin told that truck driver exactly where to find your daughter!”Â
“A few tears from me, and Henry didn’t hesitate to kill your child for my sake. I originally suggested just maiming her, but Henry personally ordered her death!”Â
That night in the morgue, I said maybe just scare her a little-after all, Henry would have to live with you afterward, and I worried going too far would disgust him when sleeping beside you. But he refused. He specifically demanded that man violate you all night long! Do you know he even took enhancement drugs beforehand, just for you…”Â
“You see, Isabella? Did I steal these men from you? They came panting after me like dogs! Everything that’s yours-your men, the children in your womb-I take with a single word…”Â
This overwhelming shame and humiliation finally broke me.Â
I rose and swung my palm toward Sophia’s face.Â
But before the slap could connect, the door burst open.Â
Henry stormed in with bloodshot eyes, rushing toward me.Â
His palm cracked across my cheek.Â
Before I could recover, he kicked me to the floor.Â
His eyes held nothing but ice and disgust as he looked down at me.Â
“Isabella, I understand you’re upset about losing the baby, but that has nothing to do with Sophia. She came here out of kindness to comfort you-what right do you have to take your anger out on her? And trying to hit her in front of me! Isabella, did dogs eat your upbringing?!”Â
“Henry…”Â
I struggled to gather my strength, gritting my teeth as I tried to defend myself.Â
But before I could speak, Henry swept Sophia into his arms and strode from the room.Â
BANG! The door slammed shut behind him, then bounced open again.Â
Through the gap, I caught sight of Sophia’s triumphant smile…Â
14:23Â
Whapter #Â