Chapter 9 - Sophia’s Entrance
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Before I could deliver the final, crushing blow, the heavy oak door of the guest suite down the hall clicked open.
Footsteps echoed softly down the hardwood hallway.
Victor snapped his head around, his eyes lighting up with predatory triumph as Sophia stepped into the foyer. She wore a simple beige cashmere sweater and dark trousers, her hair tied back neatly. Though the bruise on her cheek was still faintly visible under her light makeup, her posture was no longer that of a terrified girl cowering on a porch.
She stood tall, her eyes burning with a cold, righteous fury.
“You’re not taking me anywhere, Victor,” Sophia said, her voice steady and clear as glass.
Victor’s expression morphed instantly from predatory anger to oily, manipulative charm. He took a swift step toward her, holding out his hands in a pleading gesture.
“Sophia, baby, please,” Victor cooed, his voice dripping with false contrition. “You scared me half to death last night! You ran out into the cold over a stupid argument. You know I love you. You know everything I do is to build an empire for our child. Come home with me right now. Let’s leave this crazy house.”
He reached out to grab her wrist.
Clack.
Before his fingers could even graze her sleeve, I stepped firmly between them, slapping his hand away with a sharp, stinging motion.
“Do not touch her,” I commanded, my voice echoing off the high ceilings of the foyer with the absolute authority of a federal magistrate.
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Victor pulled his hand back, his face twisting into a mask of pure venom. He looked at me, then back at Sophia, his mask of charm completely shattering into jagged pieces.
“Fine!” Victor roared, his voice bouncing off the walls. “You want to play hardball? You want to ruin our marriage over a tantrum? Enjoy your little family reunion, because by tonight, I’m going to make sure your precious mother’s pension is frozen, her reputation is dragged through the mud, and you are left with absolutely nothing!”
