Chapter 477

The first woman to ever catch Ethan Blackwood's attention was Cassandra Montgomery.

Back then, Ethan was still a disgraced, rebellious young man with nothing to his name.

Cassandra had offered him her heart, but Ethan never spared her a second glance. She chased him relentlessly, yet he remained indifferent. Eventually, her love twisted into something darker—hatred.

But her hatred wasn’t for Ethan.

It was for any woman who dared stand beside him.

Six years ago, Cassandra had despised Isabella Thornton. She had even traveled to Harborview City in secret, intending to stab Isabella to death. But then she learned the truth—Ethan had never loved Isabella.

And worse, she discovered that Ethan’s mother, Victoria Blackwood, was dying.

Cassandra knew Ethan’s cruelty better than anyone. She couldn’t afford to provoke him during such a vulnerable time, so she quietly returned to Kingsbury.

Not long after, she heard the news—Ethan had publicly humiliated Isabella at their wedding, calling off the engagement in front of everyone.

Cassandra had nearly laughed herself sick with satisfaction.

From that moment on, her hatred for Isabella faded.

But then, Sophia Montgomery returned.

The moment Cassandra heard Isabella mention Sophia’s name, it was like a knife to her chest.

She had always known Ethan didn’t love Isabella. But Sophia? Sophia had given birth to Ethan’s child.

And Cassandra would never allow any woman who carried Ethan’s blood to live.

She wanted Sophia to suffer.

To die in agony.

Especially after what Sophia had done—ruining her sister Sophia Kensington’s carefully laid plans. Sophia Kensington had been on the verge of breaking into Ethan’s inner circle, but Sophia Montgomery had destroyed everything.

Now, Cassandra wanted Sophia dead.

She wasn’t like Isabella or Charlotte Kensington—all bark and no bite. When Cassandra vowed to destroy someone, she meant it.

“Sophia,” she murmured, her voice dripping with venom. “You won’t die just yet. When you do, I’ll make sure you understand exactly why.”

She turned to Olivia Kensington. “Olivia, smash that homewrecker’s face in. Do it for your cousin. And for my dear friend, Isabella.”

Olivia hesitated. “Miss Montgomery, I… I can’t.”

“Useless coward!” Cassandra spat in Olivia’s face, and Olivia didn’t dare wipe it away.

Elizabeth Dawson smirked. “Need me to do it?”

For Elizabeth, this was a golden opportunity—to curry favor with the second daughter of the Kensington family. And she hated Sophia even more than Olivia did.

This was personal.

She snatched the shoe from Olivia’s hand and stalked toward Sophia, grinning.

Sophia Carter, standing beside Sophia Montgomery, whispered urgently, “Run.”

But Sophia didn’t move.

Elizabeth raised the shoe high—

“STOP!”

A thunderous shout echoed through the office.

Elizabeth froze, the shoe still suspended in midair. She turned to see Oliver Bennett, the youngest intern in the department, standing there, his face flushed with fury.

Before she could react, Oliver lunged forward and kicked her to the ground.

Then, like a lion protecting its prey, he scooped Sophia into his arms and bolted for the exit.

Sophia was stunned.

This boy—barely out of college—was risking everything for her.

They had only worked together for a few weeks. He had always called her “Sis” and eagerly soaked up everything she taught him. But she never expected this.

As Oliver carried her through the halls, Sophia struggled. “Oliver, put me down! I have to go back. If I don’t let Cassandra vent her rage today, my daughter won’t have a home tomorrow. You don’t understand—let me go back!”

Oliver’s throat tightened. He didn’t stop running.

When they reached the street outside, he finally set her down, panting. “Sophia, run. Take your daughter and disappear. Never come back.”

Sophia shook her head bitterly. “I tried that for six years. He still found me.”

“Damn it!” Oliver cursed.

Sophia placed a hand on his shoulder. “Oliver, leave this city. Don’t ever return.”

“What about you?”

She gave him a sad smile. “Me? If letting them ruin my face means my daughter gets to live in peace, then it’s worth it.”

“You’re going back up there?”

Sophia didn’t answer. She turned toward the elevator, then glanced back. “Send me your bank details. I’ll transfer you a million. Use it to start over somewhere else. Promise me.”

Oliver’s eyes burned. “Sis—”

“Go.”

The elevator doors closed behind her.

Back in the office, Olivia snatched the shoe back from Elizabeth. “Miss Montgomery, let me chase her down. That boy can’t run fast carrying her. I’ll smash her face in!”

She expected Cassandra to stop her.

Instead, Cassandra smirked. “She won’t run. Sophia will come back. Trust me—she’s that pathetic.”