CHAPTER 35SOPHIEI wondered if he really meant what he just said about liking my family if I said a word to the cops.But then the incident of cutting my credit cards and stopping my mum's hospital payments when I left flashed back in my head.There is nothing this monster can't do, but I have to take my chances and leave this car.Telling the cops that I was kidnapped will be my only escape route right now.It's now or never. I narrowed my eyes forward and saw a lot of police officers at the front. It looked like some of them were not just searching the cars; they were also searching the surroundings. Something must have happened for them to be all over the place like this.Leo drove slowly as he approached the checkpoint where he would be searched.I felt my heart racing with fear and anticipation. My hands were starting to tremble, and I clenched my fists slowly, trying to calm myself down.Leo didn't notice my pain and fears; his eyes were fixed on the area of police officers in
CHAPTER 36VINCENZOWhen we arrived at the Bianchi family mansion, I hesitated before stepping out of the car.“Vin?” Niko called out to me. “The news is still not taken down. Do you think we should tackle that first, then come back later to see the family?”I breathed in. “Don’t worry about the news anymore. That bastard would never take it down. Besides, even if it gets taken down now, it has already done the damage they wanted it to do. The whole world now knows more about the Bianchi family. Let it go. I want you to find out how they got the information in the first place.”Niko nodded his head in approval, and then I stepped out of the car and started to go inside.I was a little nervous; I didn’t know how they’d all react. I wasn't entirely scared of what they would do, but they were still family, and they could overstep sometimes. In this situation, if they overstepped, I wouldn't be able to do anything. Right now, all I needed to do was apologize to them and find out who leake
CHAPTER 36EMMA I stepped away from Leo. “He kidnapped me!” I screamed again in a shaky voice. “We are divorced; we are no longer married. He is an abusive freak—please don't let him take me back there.”The officers exchanged furtive glances at each other, as if they believed me, but the next moment, they just walked off, allowing Leo to come closer to me.“Come on, baby, come on,” he said in a low and sweet voice, urging me to go with him. But I instinctively stepped away slowly, my heart racing and my hands trembling. This was it; if the policeman couldn't save me, then I was done for. I couldn't even run away from here. If I did, that would only cement his claims that I was mentally ill, and they would all try to bundle me back into his car. Leo smiled as he walked up to me. Once he reached me, he held my hand carefully. He whispered, “Bitch! You think you could outsmart me on this one? Jokes on you, Sophie.” I swallowed hard, a cold chill running down my spine as my life flashe
CHAPTER 37SOPHIELater that day, Jason took me to his house after he had arrested Leo. Though a part of me was still skeptical about Leo's arrest. He had been threatening Jason all the way to the police van, promising him that he would regret it. Leo's family is one of the wealthiest in the city, and I know how much influence they hold in society. A part of me is quite scared that he might try to sabotage Jason's job or role in the police force.Sitting in Jason's car, my gaze was fixed outside; I couldn't bring myself to look at his face. I avoided eye contact with him, even inside the car. I wondered how he felt after witnessing the scene between me and Leo, especially after I had flaunted that stupid wedding ring.Looking down at my fingers, I quickly took off the ring and threw it out the window.From the corners of my eyes, I could see that Jason was a little terrified by the way I forcefully removed the ring and tossed it away.Even inside Jason's car, the only thoughts on my m
CHAPTER 38 SOPHIEThe next morning, I woke up earlier than Jason. The first thing I did was move to the kitchen; the guest room he offered me was close to the kitchen, so I just strolled in to make something for myself for breakfast. When I got to the kitchen, I was surprised by how modern and sleek everything looked. All the appliances were top-notch, and the countertops were made of gleaming granite. But despite the impressive setup, it was crystal clear that Jason didn't cook much.All the utensils were sparkling new, barely used, and the pots and pans? I could swear they hadn't been used in a long time. Meanwhile, the fridge was stacked with takeout containers. I chuckled to myself as I opened the cabinets to see what ingredients I could find. It was clear that Jason relied heavily on delivery and takeout rather than cooking for himself. Well, I didn't blame him because of his job.Just when I was about to give up finding anything after searching for a long time, I spotted a loaf
CHAPTER 39SOPHIE“I'm fine, Mum.” I breathe in, wiping my tears away. “Trust me, I'm fine, Mummy.”The next moment, a car drove into the driveway, and when I looked, I saw Scott stepping out of it.“I have to leave right now, Mum,” I said before ending the call, wiping my face, and smoothing my dress so he wouldn't know what just happened.Once he got closer to me, he greeted me. “Hello, Miss Sophie?”I forced a smile. “Hi, Scott. I was looking for you earlier but couldn't find you.” I lied, now walking side by side with him. “My card isn't working. Do you know what might be the issue?”Scott paused and turned to me. “Have you tried it just now, and it didn't work?”I shook my head. “Yes, I just did, and it didn't work. I think it might be a glitch or something. Can you help me look into it?”I took out my card and handed it over to Scott, trying to play innocent and putting on one of the fakest smiles ever. He gently took the card, observed it for a while, then moved forward to chec
CHAPTER 40.SOPHIEAs I arrived at Jenny's apartment, I stood outside for a while, taking time to calm myself down. I didn't want to be violent. All the time I was in the car, I thought it over, and there was no other person who could have done that. It was Jenny!She was the only one I told about Vincenzo's story, and all of a sudden, it’s in the news the same day she thinks that I betrayed her. Is this her way of revenge? So Vincenzo will think I'm a betrayer and untrustworthy?I guess that was her aim; she was trying to pay me back. At first, I didn't want to believe that she could do something like that and reach out to my worst nightmare, Leo. But I can't keep shaking it away; it's just not working anymore. The signs are crystal clear. Leo appears out of nowhere and picks me up from in front of Jenny's house. He also knows that the news has been released even before me, and he knows that Vincenzo wants to kill me? Make it make sense…?It was Jenny who pulled the strings behind th
CHAPTER 41 VINCENZO Inside Vincenzo Estate. I sat on the wooden mahogany chair in the garden, a wine glass in one hand and a cigar in the other.Drawing a puff, my eyes narrowed at the gates as I saw my gateman open them for an array of cars. I flicked my wrist to check the time; it had been over thirty minutes since I arranged a private meeting for my gang members who were loyal to me.Taking another drag, I slowly closed my eyes, reeling in the moment. I was trying everything possible to push Sophie from my mind. I just couldn't help it. Even in this moment, when I was supposed to hate her so much, I still found a way to like her. I could only imagine myself with her; I needed her gawking at me right now, giving me the satisfaction that I craved. That was the only thing I knew might cool me down.A lot was happening; I was still pissed that the head of the new cops was hell-bent on filing a criminal case against me. Now I had to deal with another rival gang burning down our club
CHAPTER 83 SOPHIE. My body tensed up, and my muscles turned rigid with fear. When his hands ran around my shoulders again, I shivered. I wondered who the hell he was. He wasn't just a mere Robert. Something wasn't adding up. How did he know Vincenzo so well, or was he just trying to guess, perhaps just a coincidence? “What do you think, dear?” He finally let me go and proceeded to sit back in front of me. I felt a deep wave of relief wash over me. I took the opportunity to drag my seat back and pushed myself forward, forcing my feet to stand even if my legs were now shaky. I felt a chill run down my spine, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. “With all due respect, sir, like I said earlier, I'm not interested,” I reminded him. Letting out a sigh, I moved to walk out. “If you'll excuse me, I would love to leave.” “Not so quickly, Sophie.” He jerked up from his chair and quickly made his way to me. “Come on, why are you suddenly acting tough, huh? Vincenzo can hit, and I can't
CHAPTER 82 SOPHIE I still can't believe that Robert tried to come all up on me. For a second, I thought he was a responsible guy with the way he stood up for me against Emma. Asshole! Did he really ask me to come bounce on his dick? Ewww! It was time to go home, and I packed up my things, ready to cruise in my new car. I was no longer staying in the company's lounge; I would be living in a short-let apartment down the street until I was able to scout for a house. Staying in the company lounge had always been a hassle with the crowd of coworkers who had just moved in. I love my space, and staying there only made my space public. Once I was done, I picked up my car keys and made my way to the garage to get my car and drive back home. From afar, I could hear the sound of a car engine. When I looked, it was Robert. He revved his car before driving out of the lane and taking a U-turn to head toward the gate. Unlike every other day when he was done with work, he stopped at my desk to giv
CHAPTER 81 SOPHIE The tension in the room was palpable. I could feel the atmosphere shift from what it was a few minutes ago, and right now I couldn't tell why I didn't feel very comfortable drinking with Robert. Aside from the fact that I knew Emma would go around spreading different stupid rumors, I just felt like Robert wasn't really genuine. I love to come to my job and do what I have to do. Once I'm done, I leave and don't get into a personal relationship with my boss or even my colleagues.I stayed still, sipping my wine silently. The only sound that could be heard was that of the wine pouring down Robert’s throat. He flashed me a smile and dropped his cup on the table. “I didn't know you were going to smash it so easily. How is it with Vincenzo? I have heard a lot of tales about him, and I'm surprised he had such a good sense of humor when you were interviewing him. Is there anything you think I should know?”I raised my brows. “I don't get you, sir?”He chuckled. “Come on, S
CHAPTER 80SOPHIE Someone like Emma calling me a whore is quite diabolical.I mean, that is her profession. She does that for a living. I see what she wears to get Robert’s attention, just like she was screwing our former boss, and now she stands in front of me accusing me of whoring myself out to get a BMW?Such a clumsy bitch. I just rolled my eyes and chose not to engage with her. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me riled up. I'm just a new car owner. I will let broke bitches holler. That is the best they can do. Barking dogs don’t bite.“What?” she scoffed. “You can’t speak anymore? Cat got your tongue now, huh?”“Go on, bitch! Speak! I see you have no evidence to refute my claims,” she snarled, and I just rolled my eyes.Soon, the door creaked open, and it was Robert. Every staff member quickly returned to their tasks, scurrying back to their respective seats now that the CEO was here. Emma, on the other hand, forced a smile and leaned in close to my desk like she
CHAPTER 79 SOPHIE “Hello, are you missing Sophie?” One of the airport workers walked up to me and asked as I alighted from the jet.I stopped scrolling through my phone to find an Uber and turned to him. “Yes, I'm Sophie. Any problems?”Before he spoke, I refocused on my phone, searching for the closest Uber from the airport to my workplace. I just knew Emma wouldn't spare me if I dared to show up late today. She hadn't seen me for seven consecutive days, and I'm sure her patience was wearing thin.That clueless bitch!“Ma'am, your car is parked that way,” the young man said, pointing to the garage. My eyes followed his gesture, and I saw a covered car. I gulped before turning back to him.“I’m sorry I could have come out earlier, but I was a little busy and didn’t notice when you dropped off. Mr. Vincenzo said you have the keys; I’m going to open it up for you now.”For a moment, it felt like I was in a fairy tale. My face lit up with excitement as I approached the car, and the man
CHAPTER 78VINCENZOI know something is wrong, but she isn’t willing to speak to me about it. After she went upstairs, her attitude and everything changed. When we came into the party, she was very much excited. What changed?I tried to talk to her in the car, but she wasn't even listening. Her mind was elsewhere. It hurt to see my kitten this way. Just when I thought I had gotten her back, now there’s a last-minute misunderstanding. She keeps saying it’s about work, but I know that it isn’t. Sophie is a resilient woman, and everything that happens at work would never affect her daily life or ruin her mood.It was at the party. I'm sure of it. I’m a hundred percent certain that something went down at the party, and I can't wait to call my mother and ask her if she knows any of the people who met Sophie and what they said to her that made her feel this way. But for now, I wanted to make sure I gave her the new car keys. After our misunder
CHAPTER 77SOPHIE I walked out with my heart pounding in my chest. I took the stairs, walking very fast as if scared she might be trailing me. I barely even knew her or her name to explain what she had just told me. For now, I couldn't stop to think about what she said. All I could think of was getting the hell out of this party. I didn't feel like staying anymore; I just wanted to leave. It seemed like the majority of the guests were psychos. I took the hallway leading to the elevator, and after a few minutes, it beeped. I pressed the button, waiting patiently for it to slide open. Once it did, I made my way out. On reaching downstairs, where the main party was happening, I met Vincenzo. He quickly approached me with a concerned look. “What happened, Sophie? I’ve been looking for you all over the place. Did you get lost coming down here?”I shook my head and forced a smile. “No, I didn’t. I just stopped to use the restroom; that was all that to
CHAPTER 76SOPHIE I forced a smile, turning to Vincenzo, and he nodded, giving me the go-ahead to follow his mother. My heart skipped a beat as I followed her. She held tightly to my hand as she navigated through the crowd of guests, and finally, we were in the hallway. She let me go and heaved a deep sigh of relief."Have you met Foxy?" she asked, and I nodded."Yes, ma'am. I met her a few minutes ago, and we exchanged pleasantries."She nodded and flashed me a smile before we continued. I couldn't really tell where she was taking me. It felt like I was now part of the family with the way they were welcoming me in. For the next couple of minutes, we walked down a large, straight hallway, and then we finally arrived at the large lounge on the right. Once we got there, she pushed the door open, and a deep wave of nervousness washed over me when I saw the crowd inside.It looked like there was another party happening in there. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. The next min
CHAPTER 75.SOPHIE The world seemed to pause. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by gasps. Vincenzo wasn’t lying; everyone was holding their breath as they stared at me. I froze for a moment, his eyes piercing into mine—both shocked and amused.“Oh my goodness!” The MC’s voice snapped everyone back to the stage. “That was spectacular! Is there anyone who can do better than this?”He looked around before continuing, “Okay then, it’s sold to the damsel sitting over there.”The room erupted into applause, and I felt a thrilling twist of excitement in my stomach. It felt exhilarating to have so many eyes on me, and bargaining at the auction was thrilling.But Vincenzo's face twisted into a frown as he leaned closer. “You’re making a lot of people aware of who you are. Right now, I feel like punishing you!”I smiled and rolled my eyes. “Go ahead and do it. I want to be punished for acting like a child.”He scoffed and looked away for a moment before grabbing my arm. “Let’s go