Chapter 103

Sophia stood frozen as Isabella approached her with a venomous smirk.

"Didn't you already win?" Sophia asked coldly. "Why are you here?"

Isabella let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, Sophia, I thought you were so clever. Your so-called Ethan adored you, didn’t he? Yet here you are, still slaving away like some common laborer. If I recall correctly, you’ve been working here for over twenty days now?"

Twenty days.

That was how long it had been since Sophia was last cornered by Isabella.

Sophia clenched her fists, fighting the urge to wrap her hands around Isabella’s throat and squeeze until the life left her eyes.

She hated the Thorntons with every fiber of her being.

Why had her mother sent her to live with them when she was twelve? What connection did her parents have to this wretched family? Sophia had spent eight years under their roof, enduring nothing but scorn, humiliation, and false charity.

And in the end?

A prison sentence.

A child she never asked for.

And the Thorntons, who still tormented her.

But no matter how much she despised them, she couldn’t act recklessly—not yet.

She wouldn’t go back to prison.

She wouldn’t let her child be abandoned in an orphanage.

And she couldn’t leave Victoria alone.

So for now, she had to endure.

"Why?" Sophia asked, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "What have I ever done to you? Why do you keep coming after me? Why use my mother’s grave as leverage?"

Isabella’s eyes darkened. "Because I hate you."

She couldn’t reveal the real reason—not yet. Not until she was officially Ethan’s wife.

But she could still make Sophia suffer.

"I won’t just force you into submission," Isabella hissed. "I’ll destroy you. And that bastard in your belly? I’ll make sure it never sees the light of day."

Sophia’s fingers twitched.

She had expected this.

Before Isabella could lunge at her, Sophia reached into her bag and pulled out a brick.

Without hesitation, she swung it toward Isabella’s stomach.

"Then let’s see," Sophia said calmly, "if Ethan still wants you after I crush the child you claim to be carrying."

Isabella shrieked and stumbled back, her face paling.

Sophia smirked.

The brick had been her insurance—ever since she realized Ethan’s protection was gone.

And it worked.

Isabella fled, her threats dissolving into terrified whimpers.

Sophia tossed the brick aside.

She had other defenses in her bag.

She wasn’t helpless anymore.

That evening, Sophia waited at the bus stop, exhaustion weighing on her.

Then he appeared.

Benjamin Thornton.

Isabella’s father.

His face twisted with fury as he stormed toward her.

"You ungrateful wretch!" he snarled. "You dared threaten my daughter?"

Before Sophia could react, his palm cracked against her cheek.

Pain exploded across her face.

But she didn’t flinch.

Instead, she pulled out a knife—sharp, cold, lethal.

Benjamin froze.

Sophia pressed the tip against his ribs, her other hand already dialing the police.

"Hello? I’d like to report an assault."

Benjamin recoiled, his bravado crumbling.

"You—you heartless viper!" he spat before turning and fleeing.

Sophia watched him go, tears burning in her eyes.

Once, she had hoped Benjamin might care for her.

Once, she had foolishly believed he could be a father to her.

But now?

Now she knew better.

Back at the Thornton estate, Benjamin stormed inside, still seething.

"That little witch had a knife!" he roared.

Elizabeth smirked.

"Oh, darling," she purred. "I have a much better idea."

Her eyes gleamed with malice.

"Let’s break her completely."