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"You lusted after the man who raised you for seven years, and youtalk about shame?"
Amber spat, waving her hand to signal the men to continue. Then, the sound of a car locking echoed from downstairs.
"Meeting at the company? Why is he back so soon?"
Amber murmured, then smiled sweetly at me. "I know you love Sebastian. Let's see who he chooses."
Then I watched her tear her own clothes, mess up her hair, and slap herself hard across the face.
At her signal, the workmen scrambled past me and fled down the hall.
Sebastian’s furious shout came from below. "Who are you? What are you doing here?!"
Rapid footsteps pounded up the stairs.
Amber collapsed perfectly onto the floor, curling into a ball, wailing. "It wasn't my fault! I didn't know you were home! Please, don't let them hurt me!"
Her words barely finished when Sebastian burst into the doorway. Without a word, he kicked me hard in the stomach.
"Sophie Cook! So young and already depraved! Bringing men home for an orgy? Trying to have them assault your aunt? You deserve to die!"
He held nothing back.
Agony ripped through my abdomen. Cold sweat drenched me. I crawled forward, grabbing his pant leg. "You raised me for seven years. What kind of person am I? Don't you know?"
Even though I no longer loved him, seven years of living together... Did he truly see me like this?
His only response was to wrench his leg free. "You're a stranger to me now."
Amber, cradled in his arms, wept convincingly. "They didn't... succeed."
Those few words flooded Sebastian with tenderness. "Amber, I'm here. No one will hurt you!"
He turned his gaze to me, filled with utter disgust and hatred, his voice icy. "I indulged you too much before. But understand this: there is no legal tie between us. Pack your things and get out of my house. Never show your face to me again."
Amber pretended to plead for me. "Sophie probably just can't accept us getting married. After all, you've cared for her so long. Suddenly having someone else in the house... she needs time to adjust."
"It's fine. My suffering isn't important. Don't scold her."
I pushed myself up against the wall, leaning heavily, and started to laugh.
"A stranger, you say?"
Sebastian frowned, processing my words. Before he could react, I lunged. Grabbing Amber's hair, I slapped her across the face with every ounce of my strength.
I knew, with Sebastian here, I wouldn't get a second chance. Amber's cheek instantly swelled.
Sebastian raised his leg to kick me again. I didn't flinch, just locked eyes with him. "Those men shehired. Believe it or not!"
I turned to leave. Sebastian blocked me.
"Stop! You think you can hurt Amber and just walk away? What gives you the right to hit her? And trying to frame her? Apologize to your aunt!"
I knew he wouldn't believe me. I didn't want to argue. I kept walking.
"If you don't apologize, I'll have your father's headstone destroyed!"
His cold words froze me. He knew my father was everything to me, yet he used him against me so easily.
"My father helped you when you were desperate! Aren't you afraid people will call you ungrateful?"
"I told you, I repaid his investment long ago! I won't let his child's moral corruption let you harm Amber!"
I laughed bitterly. 'Moral corruption'? He really went there?
Sebastian stood firm. Cornered, I had no choice. I knelt and apologized to Amber.
Humiliation burned through me. I glared at Sebastian. He seemed shocked by my compliance. Yes, he knew me well after seven years – knew I couldn't stand humiliation. Yet, here I was, kneeling. This unexpected surrender visibly stunned him.
Sebastian roared, "Get out! And that nonsense about a miscarriage at the hospital? I'll deal with you later."
Amber, about to gloat, froze at the word 'miscarriage,' her eyes lighting up with malicious glee. But she also caught that Sebastian clearly didn't know the details.
Fearing I might blurt everything out in anger, Amber cried out sharply:
"Ah! Sebastian, my wound! It's opened! It hurts so much!"
Only then did I notice the bandage on Amber's calf, blood seeping through. So, this was why Sebastian had demanded my blood last night, heedless of my own condition.
Sebastian panicked, scooping up a triumphant-looking Amber and rushing out.
My phone buzzed. A text from Ryan confirmed the 5 PM rendezvous. His final question:
[Are you sure you want to go?]
[Going.]
