Chapter 237

As long as she wasn't killed, as long as she could survive.

With that thought, Sophia spoke calmly, "Fine. Let's go now."

"Drive!" Isabella commanded.

The car moved swiftly through the city, and after about an hour, it came to a stop outside the entrance of an exclusive underground club. Sophia followed Isabella inside, and the moment the private booth door opened, raucous laughter spilled out.

"Isabella, those heels must be custom-made, right? They look like they cost a fortune!"

"Of course. They were handcrafted in Milan. The price? Let’s just say it’s a lucky number—38,383."

"Perfect for you! But your dress is stunning too. Limited edition?"

"Only a hundred grand. Your shoes could buy two of these."

"Enough flattery. None of us can compare to Isabella’s emerald bracelet. I heard it’s worth millions—a gift from her grandfather."

"And her wardrobe? All flown in from Paris. Her fiancé, Ethan, hired a personal stylist just for her."

"Honestly, Isabella is the queen of Harborview now. No one lives better than her—"

"Shh! Miss Thornton is here!"

"Oh, Isabella! We’ve been waiting! Come in!"

Then, a sharp gasp. "Wait… who’s that behind you? Isn’t that… the convict from six years ago?"

Isabella smirked. "Ah, yes. Sophia was once my family’s charity case. Then she got herself arrested in college. Now, she’s just a plaything for me and my fiancé. Still a prisoner, really."

"Only you could get away with this, Isabella. No one else would dare take someone from Mr. Blackwood’s custody!"

"Because she’s his fiancée, obviously!"

"So, Isabella, how should we entertain ourselves tonight?"

The women in the booth hung on Isabella’s every word, their sycophantic laughter grating.

Isabella’s smirk widened. "Any suggestions?"

"I heard this woman ruined a lot of men back in the day. Poor Liam Sterling was one of her victims. He had some… creative ideas for her back then. Maybe we should find some street trash for her?"

"Brilliant!"

Money talked. With the right price, any desperate man could be dragged in within minutes.

"Sophia. Strip." Isabella ordered.

Sophia remained still.

"Or should I do it for you?" Isabella grabbed Sophia’s hair, forcing her head down—

The door burst open with a crash.

"You’ve got a death wish!" a furious voice roared.

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to the intruder.

Isabella recovered first, her laugh dripping with mockery. "Oh? If it isn’t Liam Sterling."

Liam stormed forward, his expression dark. "Let. Her. Go."

"Mr. Sterling," Isabella sneered, though she released Sophia’s hair. "She may have been your toy once, but now she belongs to me and my fiancé. Though… since you’re Ethan’s cousin, you’re welcome to join the fun."

She leaned in, voice taunting. "I heard you had quite the plan for her six years ago. Too bad she outsmarted you. Pathetic."

The women erupted in laughter.

"Liam! Do it!"

"Come on, we’re rooting for you!"

"Finish what you started!"

But Liam wasn’t the untouchable prince he’d once been. Six years ago, his name alone shook Harborview—only because of Ethan’s backing. Now? The Sterling empire had crumbled, its assets swallowed by Blackwood Enterprises.

Once worth billions, the Sterlings were left with scraps.

And Liam? Just another washed-up playboy.

No one feared him now.

Under Isabella’s lead, the women jeered, urging him on.

Sophia, still kneeling, met his gaze.

Six years ago, she’d been fragile, trembling under his cruelty.

Now? Her eyes were ice.

She’d survived hell. She could survive this.

Her soul had hardened.

And she would endure.