Chapter 209

Nathan's legs trembled with fear as he stammered, "Madam, please don't say such things. You won't die, and little Lily won't either. The master is here now—"

"Silence!" Ethan's voice cut through the air like a blade.

Nathan immediately clamped his mouth shut.

Lily, who had been sobbing, quieted down instantly, clinging tighter to her mother's neck.

Nathan cautiously asked, "Master Blackwood, your orders?"

"Someone has acquired Lucas Grayson's real estate company in full. As for Lucas himself, send him abroad," Ethan stated coldly.

Nathan hesitated. "Understood. But... which country should Mr. Grayson be sent to?"

"The farthest one from Harborview City."

Nathan swallowed hard.

Sophia exhaled sharply.

This was beyond unreasonable.

Suppressing her anger, she met Ethan's gaze evenly. "Mr. Grayson only spoke up for me. He didn’t interfere with your plans. Punishing him like this is cruel—"

"Nathan!" Ethan barked.

"Yes, Master Blackwood."

"Send Noah Whitmore and his parents abroad—now." His voice grew icier.

Nathan paled.

Sophia lunged forward, gripping Ethan's arm desperately. "No! Please, I beg you! Take my life if you must, but spare Noah! I’ll do anything—anything you ask! Just don’t hurt him!"

Ethan's lips curled in disdain. "Pathetic."

Sophia froze. "What?"

His mocking gaze raked over her. "No matter where you go, you leave a trail of besotted men behind. Back in Harborview, you had the entire elite circle wrapped around your finger. Joan lost his mind over you. Noah was even worse—he nearly destroyed himself for you. And now, in this backwater town, you’ve ensnared a man like Lucas Grayson."

He leaned in, voice dripping with contempt. "Tell me, Sophia—what’s your secret?"

Sophia didn’t respond to his taunts.

She only whispered, "Say whatever you want about me. Just let Noah go."

Ethan scoffed. "You think you can bargain with me? Even if I banish Noah to the ends of the earth, you’re still mine to deal with."

Sophia’s breath hitched.

Seeing Nathan still standing there, Ethan snapped, "Now! Get it done!"

Nathan fled.

Tears streamed down Sophia’s face as despair settled in.

Ethan’s voice was merciless. "Now, about your debt."

Sophia laughed bitterly. "Take everything I have. My life, my daughter’s—it’s all yours."

His eyes darkened. "Using my daughter as leverage? That only makes your crimes worse."

Sophia stiffened. "What?"

Ethan ignored her, crouching to Lily’s eye level. "Come here. Call me 'Daddy.'"

Sophia’s breath caught.

She hadn’t expected this.

A humorless smile touched her lips. "So you’re willing to acknowledge her now?"

Ethan shot her a glare. "Are you blind?"

Sophia said nothing.

"Call me Daddy," he repeated softly to Lily.

"You’re not my daddy! You’re a monster!" Lily’s small voice trembled with defiance. "You’re the man Mommy’s scared of! You—you’re a big, mean panda with one eye!"

Ethan blinked.

The child’s imagination was... vivid.

Sophia quickly pulled Lily into her arms, whispering, "Sweetheart, don’t provoke him. Listen to Mommy."

She couldn’t risk Ethan lashing out.

Memories flooded her—of running, of being hunted. One of Ethan’s men had once sneered, "Master Blackwood knows you’re carrying his child. But you’ll both die. He only wants heirs from his wife. Bastards like you don’t deserve to live."

Noah had saved her that day.

Now, how could she believe Ethan’s sudden change of heart?

Lily, though terrified, jutted her chin out bravely. "Mommy, I’ll protect you! This man is a big, stinky villain!"

She turned to Ethan and shrieked, "Go away, stinky villain!"

Ethan straightened. "No? Fine. Then we’ll settle this without familial ties."

His gaze locked onto Sophia. "Ten million. How will you repay it?"

Sophia clutched Lily tighter. "I don’t have ten million. I don’t even have one million. You don’t want money—you want revenge. So just get it over with."

Ethan smirked. "Wrong. I’m a businessman. Money solves everything. And your daughter injured someone. Compensation is due."

Sophia’s jaw clenched. "I have nothing."

"Then I’ll take what I can."

In one swift motion, he wrenched Lily from her arms and strode toward the door.

"Mommy!" Lily screamed, kicking futilely against his unyielding grip.

"Ethan! Please!" Sophia lunged after him, grabbing his arm. "Don’t scare her! I’ll pay—I’ll do whatever you want! Just give her back!"

At that moment, she understood—Ethan wasn’t here to kill her.

Death would’ve been too easy.

He wanted her broken.

Ethan paused, glancing down at her. "Finally seeing reason?"

Sophia nodded frantically. "I’ll pay. Just put her down."

He handed Lily back, watching as mother and daughter clung to each other.

Lily glared at him, tiny fists balled.

Ethan’s voice was calm. "So, Sophia. How will you repay ten million?"

He glanced at his shoes. "Plus these. They cost over a hundred thousand."

Sophia exhaled. "I have this house. It’s worth about three hundred thousand. I’ll sell it and pay you what I can. The rest... I’ll work for the rest of my life to repay."

Ethan considered her. "A fair plan. But how do I trust you won’t run again?"

Before she could answer, his phone rang.

He answered tersely. "What?"

A panicked voice crackled through. "Master Blackwood! Your grandfather’s collapsed—he’s been rushed to the hospital!"

Ethan’s expression darkened. "I’m on my way."

Hanging up, he turned to Sophia. "Lily stays with me as collateral. You return to Harborview and work off your debt."

Without waiting for a reply, he strode out, leaving Sophia trembling in his wake.