Chapter 8
He pulled out his phone and sent Sophie a tentative message.
“What do you want for dinner tonight? Is your wound still hurting? I’ll cook something myself and bring it over-takeout isn’t clean enough.”
But now, her reply was perfunctory at best.
“No need! You’ve been so busy with work, planning the wedding these past few days without getting proper sleep. I feel terrible for you.”
“Get some rest tonight. I’ll be fine on my own. Thanks for the kind offer, Adrian-1 really appreciate it.”
Then Sophie put her phone on silent right after sending the message like she was afraid of being caught.
After settling her bill, she headed downstairs at a rapid pace, not even bothering to wait for the elevator.
Her swift, effortless movement left Adrian momentarily speechless.
A thought slowly surfaced in his mind.
That creeping dread was about to swallow his remaining rationality whole.
nstead of heading home, he got in his car and, as if possessed, followed Sophie..
hey ended up at that bar.
he same place where Matt had met his end.
Jeon lights bled into the rainy night, casting everything in sleazy shadows.
He watched Sophie step out of a black sedan as the bar owner himself came out to greet her.
he man casually wrapped his arm around her waist, whispering something in her ear that made her giggle.
hat seductive, flirtatious laugh was nothing like the fragile act she put on around him.
drian’s heart felt like it was being crushed in an invisible fist. He crept after them upstairs.
he door to the private room at the end of the hall was slightly ajar, letting out the sounds of heavy male breathing and Sophie’s sultry laughter.
Mr. Wallace, you better make this worth my while. That idiot ruined everything last time and nearly got me in deep shit.”
Don’t worry, sweetheart,” came a sleazy voice. “But seriously though, that Cross guy actually fell for your bullshit? He’s really willing to dump his fiancée for
ou?”
Him? He’s completely lovesick.”
ophie sneered. “Thinks he’s some righteous savior, but I’ve had him wrapped around my finger this whole time. He thinks protecting me makes him a ero-doesn’t have a clue I’ve been playing him all along…”
I told him exposing the case would help his fiancée avoid getting dragged down with that loser brother of hers, and he ate it right up.”
At our last party, I snuck some of my photos into his study. His fiancée probably found them by now. God knows what kind of shitstorm that’s causing. This time, nobody’s gonna interrupt us.”
Adrian’s blood turned to ice. He thought about the leaked audio and surveillance footage online.
That recording-because he’d trusted Sophie, he’d never actually listened to it.
But now…
His hands shook as he hit play.
Matt’s weak protests formed a stark contrast to Sophie’s hysterical screaming. The surveillance footage showed him exactly how she’d torn her dress and collapsed on the floor, how she’d sobbed while framing Riley-every frame stabbed into Adrian’s eyes like a knife.
He couldn’t take it anymore. He burst through the door, making both people inside jump apart
Sophie saw him and her smile froze, scrambling to pull the sheets over herself.
“Adrian? What are you doing here? It’s not what you think…”
“Not what?”
Adrian’s gaze was like a poisoned blade, fixed on her. “You mean you didn’t lie to me? Or Matt wasn’t framed by you?”
He pulled out his phone and played the complete recording.
Matt’s anxious voice echoed through the room: “Sophie, that old bastard drugged you! Let me get you out of here-we need to leave now or it’ll be too late!”
Sophie’s face went white as a sheet.
Did you hear that?”
¡drian stepped closer, each step feeling like he was walking on his own shattered heart.
He came to save you! He was worried about you until the very end! And you made me kill him!”
lis stomach churned violently as he doubled over, retching.
cid burned his throat, tears mixing with the physical reaction streaming down his face.
le remembered calling Matt an animal, forcing Riley to apologize. Lighting that fire with his own hands… The memories pierced his brain like needles, the pain early suffocating him.
Ir. Wallace tried to sneak out, but Adrian grabbed him by the collar and slammed him to the floor.
Fuck off!”
ophie lunged forward to grab him, but he shoved her away.
Don’t touch me!”
he sobbed crocodile tears.
Adrian, I was wrong, please forgive me just this once? I was so scared…”
Scared?”
drian laughed through his tears. “You were scared your scheme would be exposed! Sophie, I must have been fucking blind to believe a psycho bitch like you!”
le stormed out into the rain, letting the freezing water soak through his dothes.
[is phone buzzed in his pocket-the law firm calling. But he declined immediately.
le sent Sophie one final message:” Enjoy prison.”
hen blocked her on everything.
