Goodbye My Wretched Love! By Dolly Molly Series Novel
Goodbye My Wretched Love! By Dolly Molly Novel Chapter 1-10

Chapter 1

Amidst the pouring rain, a panicked–stricken woman stumbled outside a coastal villa in New York.

Her silk couture gown was drenched from the rain and clung to her porcelain skin, accentuating her exquisite curves.\

With a delicate appearance and creamy white skin, she stood out even more in the rain–soaked surroundings.

But her expression was one of panic and desperation. Running towards the villa’s front door, the woman lost her high heels but ignored her bare feet hitting the wet pavement.

Sofia Campbell quivered with fear, her body half–collapsed against the villa door, pounding on it with desperate intensity. Her voice echoed through the pouring rain as she called out the man’s name over and over again.

“Finley! Finley!”

The sound of footsteps walking towards her was followed by the door opening from the inside, revealing a tall, slender figure of a man.

Sofia looked up at her fiancé and took in his angular features. and every inch of his cold, hard, breathtakingly handsome face.

He was exactly her type. The kind of man who was calm, cool, and collected. And she had loved him so much.

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In his ever–immaculate black suit, his white shirt collar carelessly undone, he exuded an air of frustration. The tight knot at his throat hinted at the tension that coursed through him, while the exposed skin at his collar teased with a hint of restrained desire.

If things were normal, she would have leaned against his broad chest and run her fingers against the column of his throat, maybe even nipping at his skin.

He would instantly become beastlike and pick her up, throwing her onto their bed.

They would have been tangled in each other’s embrace. It would have been perfect on a rainy night like this. Just two people going mad with desire.

But this time, Sofia looked at Finley Stewart, and from the very depths of her heart. she felt afraid.

After four years of being in a relationship and being engaged, she believed she knew him inside out. However, as she gazed at the man standing at the door, his indifferent expression left her feeling unsettled.

Sofia didn’t see the familiar lust and adoration within Finley‘ s gaze. Instead, she found that his eyes were cold and ruthless.

Gasping, Sofia’s grabbed Finley’s pant leg and held on for dear life.

“The Campbell stocks have plummeted, and the Sanchezs set my dad up. Did you…Finley…did you…”

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The man stood in the doorway, a lit cigarette held delicately between his long fingers. As he nonchalantly flicked the ashes, each falling onto the shag carpet, Sofia felt a sense of impending doom.

“Say it!” Sofia cried out. “Finley! Was it you?!”

“Tell me, Sofia, have you ever loved me, or were you always playing a game? Tell me!”

With a sudden surge of strength, Sofia was lifted off the ground and forcefully carried by the tall, cold man into the villa. Once inside, he unceremoniously dropped her onto the luxurious leather sofa in the living room.

His figure loomed over her as he leaned down, pinching Sofia’s cheek with icy fingers.

He looked at her harshly, his handsome brow furrowed, and his eyes narrowed.

“Sofia, I was ready to let you off the hook, but why did you hurt Ellie?”

“I didn’t!” Sofia cried. “I didn’t even push her! She fell on her own!”

“She set me up! She did it on purpose!”

“She framed me!”

Smack!

A slap resonated throughout the room, and both of them

froze.

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Sofia looked at Finley, her beloved fiancé, incredulously. She knew Ellie Hill was his adopted sister, but she never understood why Ellie looked at him that way.

Sofia was engaged to him regardless. How could she push that woman down the stairs? She had no motives!

Sofia opened her mouth, floundering on what to say. Even if she tried to explain herself, Finley would slap her into silence.

“Listen to me, Sofia!” Finley’s eyes narrowed into slits as he painfully pinched Sofia’s cheek. His words came out through gritted teeth. “You shouldn’t have done that to Ellie! You know what? I thought you were different from your father! But I was wrong, you Campbells are all the same. All of you have black hearts!”

“Hmph!” Finley glared at Sofia’s pale face as she desperately tried to suppress her emotions. He sneered. “Wanna know what kind of a deal I just made with your dad? I gave Robert Campbell two ways to go, either the entire Campbell family, young and old, dies, or he dies alone. on his own accord!”

“No…no….,” Sofia’s eyes widened, and she desperately grabbed Finley’s arm, trying to break free from his iron grip.

Finley tightened his hold, pressing her forcefully against the couch. He took his time saying each word. “By now, I think Robert would’ve probably jumped from the twenty–eighth floor of Nobel Group. What say you?”

“NO!” Sofia’s eyes were rimmed with red as she desperately tore at the man pressing down on her.

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Like a trapped beast, she cried out mournfully, but the

person on top of her was ruthless and never even gave her a chance to catch her breath.

“Sofia, Ellie was a good dancer before, but she hurt her leg while protecting me. Now, because of you, the bones on her hand are shattered, and she’ll never be able to play the piano again.”

Finley slowly got up and dragged Sofia by the arm to the marble tea table, pressing her hand against it.

Faced with the threat of his attack, Sofia desperately tried to wrench her hand away and kick him, but her efforts proved futile.

“Finley, you’re a monster! A monster!” She cried. This man had confessed that he loved her but only got engaged to bring down the Campbells and their business empire.

Finley picked up a golf club and flashed a rare, gentle smile at her. That smile sank down the bottom of her heart.

“Sofia, you should ask your father what he did to the Stewarts back then.”

“I won’t kill you, Sofia. I’ll give you three years to serve your sentence in prison.”

“But Ellie’s left hand is completely shattered, and you’ll have to pay penance for that.”

He swung, and the golf club came down.

“No, no, no…AH!” Sofia screamed miserably as the storm

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outside the villa raged on.

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Three years later, the prison doors slowly opened.

Sofia walked out in a washed–out gray sweatshirt, her frail, thin body making her clothes look too big.

Her long, silky hair had been cut into a short, pixie cut. It looked like dead grass blowing in the wind.

Winter in NY was wet and cold and damp, and her

rheumatoid arthritis began to wreak havoc again. Her knees, wrists, and shoulders hurt so much that she cringed with every step.

But this pain was nothing compared to the inhuman abuse she’d suffered for the past three years.

She knew Finley wouldn’t make it easy for her in prison. The prison boss had many ways of torturing people, and she was bruised and battered under her frayed clothes.

The sun was a bit harsh, and Sofia tilted her head to look at it, her eyes glazed over, her hair tucked behind her ears, revealing a prominent scar on her right cheek.

The scar on her face was a cruel reminder of the bullying she endured in prison. Out of envy for her beauty, a cruel inmate viciously slashed her with a knife, intending to teach her a lesson about her appearance.

Hmph! Everyone had told her to seek repentance, but Sofia never knew what she did wrong.

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Sofia’s lips hooked at the corners, her expression numb and rigid.

She used to smile a lot, back when she was the Cambell’s darling daughter–a top designer who graduated from New York’s top fashion school. She even gained a small following from her hobby as a pianist.

Sofia subconsciously hid her withered and disabled left hand in her sleeve. She couldn’t smile anymore. She couldn’t even remember how to. Sofia vowed to herself that she would never smile again.

She lowered her head and deliberately let her hair cover the right side of her face, but a scar ran across her left brow that she could never hide.

“Sofie! Sofie!” a woman called out to her, and Sofia took a slight step forward. She winced, limping since her leg hurt so badly.

Step by step, she moved into the sunlight and out of the prison.

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If there was a light in Sofia’s world, it was Daisy Cooper, the woman who was walking towards her.

Daisy was her high school classmate and the top student in her class. But, in their sophomore year, Daisy suddenly dropped out.

In fact, she and Sofia didn’t see each other until a few years ago. Sofia had accompanied Finley to the club to have fun, and there she encountered Daisy, only to replace out that Daisy was an escort. Those who were wealthy knew about Daisy’s career and made it hell for her.

Sofia relied on her status as Campbell Family’s eldest daughter to help Daisy out of her situation and didn’t realize how much it meant to her.

In the three years, she was in prison, Daisy was the only person who visited Sofia. None of Sofia’s previous girlfriends, acquaintances, or business partners that the Campbells acquired had visited her or helped her in any way.

It was only Daisy who was there for her.

Daisy went above and beyond for her; not only did she come to visit Sofia in her cell, but she also used her savings to help Sofia’s mother at the hospital, who had been in a car accident and turned into a vegetable.

“Sofie! Are you okay?” Daisy was dressed casually, last

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night’s makeup still on her face, and her eyes were black and blue underneath. The guests from the night before were probably difficult to handle.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get you out,” Daisy said with red- rimmed eyes.

Sofia grabbed her hand but slowly knelt on one knee.

“Sofie?! What are you doing?”

Daisy took Sofia’s hand and helped her up. “Come on, I’m not some old granny. Why are you kneeling to me? Are you calling me old or something? Damn!”

Daisy roughly helped Sofia get into her moped and headed for her rental house.

Sofia held onto Daisy’s slender waist as she drove.

“Daisy, how much did my mom cost you in the hospital?” Sofia’s voice was raspy. Her vocal cords were permanently injured by the men who shoved lit cigarette butts down her throat.

“Oh, please! We’re friends, so it doesn’t matter,” Daisy laughed loudly.

“How much was it?” Sofia asked stubbornly as Daisy’s denim jeans slipped down, revealing the burn mark on her waist from a customer who had pushed a cigarette on her skin.

Daisy paused. “Just a few dozen thousand. But don’t think about that. You’re as thin as a spaghetti noodle. I need you

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to get better first, and then we can deal with the money.”

“Just get me a job. Anything is better than prison. I’m not picky.”

Sofia knows that Daisy had had a hard time over the years, selling smiles and alcohol to disrespectful customers. She spent her entire savings account to keep Mrs. Campbell alive. Sofia knew Daisy wanted to start a business and stop being an escort, but this had all dragged her down.

It would take more than one lifetime to repay Daisy back.

But Sofia’s mother was still in the hospital, and she needed money to take care of her. It didn’t matter what job she took as long as it made enough to keep her and her mother afloat.

As the night began, the NY Charming shone with a thousand bright lights. In the bar’s restroom, Sofia repeatedly apologized to a woman caked in foundation.

The woman was extremely tall, but Sofia shrunk herself to make herself smaller. She wasn’t even trying to pretend- Sofia was truly afraid of being fired.

After three years of being in prison, replaceing a job was extremely hard for her. It was Daisy who had recommended her for the janitorial position at the NY Charming.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, let me wipe your shoes,” Sofia said as she reached out to help the woman whose shoes were soaked in the cleaning solution.

A few moments before, Sofia was mopping the floor, and the

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woman suddenly rushed inside to vomit in the sink. She must have drank too much.

With the mop bucket in front of her, Sofia had no time to step aside. The woman collided with her, tipping over the bucket and soaking her shoes. Afterward, Sofia insisted that she try to dry them off.

The manager rushed over to them, irritation written all over his face. All the customers who came to the Charming Bar were extremely wealthy, and he hated to offend them.

“What’s wrong with you?!” He said, glaring at Sofia. “Don’t come to work tomorrow. You’re fired!”

“What’s going on here?” A man’s sensual voice suddenly chimed in, and the mood immediately shifted.

Everyone tensed at the sound, and they looked at the man approaching.

Dressed in sleek, dark silver attire, he exuded an air of sophistication and style. His striking and refined features accentuated his handsome face, and his eyes glinted with slight amusement. He was the definition of a charismatic playboy.

As his voice reached Sofia’s ears, it sent a chilling shockwave through her entire body, like an unexpected splash of ice- cold water.

Sofia couldn’t control her anxiety.

That man was Brian Sanchez, the prince of the Sanchez family and the man who had a monopoly on New York’s

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shipping industry. The Sanchezs and the Campbells were neighbors in the past, and Brian used to play with Sofia when they were children. He would climb over his villa’s fence and drop down into Campbell’s garden.

Back then, Sofia couldn’t have imagined that the man would betray the Campbells.

“Wait! Sofia? Is that you?” Brian looked at the woman. kneeling on the ground. Although she was abnormally thin and frail, Brian still recognized her.

He picked Sofia’s chin with a flirtatious look and met her face.

Suddenly, his fingers pinched Sofia’s chin as and Brian reeled back, disgust written all over his face.

How did she get disfigured?

Sofia tried to turn away from him, but Brian caught her

wrist.

A crowd had started to gather around them, and Brian met all of their gazes before looking back at Sofia.

“Is that really Sofia Campbell?” Someone gasped.

“She’s the one who attempted to kill Ellie Stewart!”

“I heard Mr. Stewart sent her to jail!”

“Look! She’s got scars all over her face! God, that’s so ugly!”

Everyone knew the tensions between Sofia. The Sanchezs and the Stewarts didn’t get along, so, of course, this was

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their peak amusement. They were eager to treat Sofia like garbage.

Brian looked at Sofia for a long time before he laughed dryly. “When did you get out of prison? I could’ve picked you up! Of course, Finley didn’t have the time to see you, but I do!”

Finley!

That name pierced Sofia’s ears, and she started to tremble.

She was hurt and betrayed by her beloved fiancé and her childhood friend. Both of these men teamed up to shatter her family and made her life a living hell.

Now she had nothing but endless fear of these two people.

Sofia busied herself with trying to escape from Brian’s grasp, but she shook uncontrollably. She tried to keep her head down as she struggled to form words.

The woman with her soaked shoes had been yelling at the manager, saying that she was a close friend of Brian’s.

“Mr. Sanchez, I’m very sorry for inconveniencing your friend,” Sofia mumbled.

Brian immediately did a double take and stared incredulously at Sofia. Three years ago, she was the Campbell’s arrogant daughter. But who was this woman in front of him?

It felt so strange. It was like she had all her thorns clipped from her body–leaving her bloody and disfigured.

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His gaze fell upon Sofia, her once vibrant figure now visibly diminished and hunched over. Despite being in her twenties, her face bore the weariness of an old man weathered by the winds of time.

Brian lowered his eyes for a moment, feeling a surprising twinge of guilt in his heart.

The Campbells were infamous for their ruthlessness, evidenced by Brian and Finley’s collaboration to take down their empire.

The Sanchezs had reaped their rewards but didn’t expect Finley to be merciless and even more cutthroat than the Campbells.

Sofia had loved him, and everyone knew what had happened.

She was known to be Finley’s little pet. Their relationship was the most talked about in their circle, but Finley suddenly put her down.

Brian cleared his throat, raising his hands to disperse the crowd.

“All right, break it up!”

The Sanchez prince had spoken, and the drunk woman yelling at the manager didn’t dare say anything else.

The manager glanced at Sofia with a complicated expression. as Sofia tried to continue cleaning. She bent over to pick up the toppled bucket, but a sharp pain came from her knee.

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During her time in jail, the warden would snatch her blanket, leaving her shivering in the cold. Her bed was often placed in the doorway, exposing her to the harsh elements, and at times, ice–cold water would be poured onto her bed. The harsh winter took its toll, leaving her with severe arthritis.

She sucked in a breath and held back the pain as the manager started to shout at her.

“Room 808 needs cleaning, hurry up!”

Room 808 was the area Sofia was in charge of cleaning, and she limped over to it.

The spacious hall was part of the VIP lounge in the NY Charming. It was incredibly spacious, with no limit to indulgence and luxury, as those who were allowed in were part of the elite.

Amidst the dimly lit ambiance, the room was filled with attractive men and women. Countless bottles of renowned wines were being opened one after another. Sofia, busy tidying up the countertop, was unexpectedly pulled into a drunken man’s embrace and picked up off the floor…

“Heya! This sure is the best bar. But how can such a young woman like you be cleaning–my god! Your face!”

The man suddenly dropped her, and Sofia struggled to keep her balance until she fell to the ground with a thud.

She was about to get up but saw a pair of shiny leather shoes in front of her. Slowly, she looked up to replace tailored black suit pants that hugged slender legs. A gray button- down with its collar open revealed a seductive collarbone,

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and Sofia’s eyes finally settled on a face that was enough to captivate the entire crowd. It was as if the man had won God’s favor and was blessed with a cold, refined face.

The corners of his mouth were set into a thin line, his expression indifferent. He stood next to the arched window, framed by the moon and stars, looking like a bloodthirsty king amidst the dark night.

Sofia met those deep, cold eyes and felt the blood drain from her face.

Finley.

We meet at last.

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Finley didn’t expect to meet Sofia again in such a place, nor did he expect her to be so disfigured.

As he gazed at the woman before him, an inexplicable heaviness settled in his heart. He raised his hand to cup Sofia’s cheek and stared into her eyes.

The woman before him struggled out of his grip. She looked like she was suffocating as she tried to smack his hand away to hide her scars.

A slight furrow formed on Finley’s brow as he observed Sofia. Her palms were rough, adorned with thick calluses. Her short hair looked dry and messy as it framed her panic- stricken face.

His brow furrowed deeper, and his lips curled up in mockery.

“Miss Campbell. I see that you’ve been well?”

Sofia’s entire body trembled. Her lips quivered as her anxiety washed over her like a tidal wave.

All the pain she suffered was thanks to this man. She hated him as much as she was afraid of him.

Finley’s eyes narrowed. “It’s only been three years. Have you forgotten how to speak?”

“M–Mr. Stewart!” Sofia mustered up all her strength to say that name.

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Her raspy, unfamiliar voice pierced Finley’s ears, causing him to instinctively tighten his grip on Sofia’s hand before. quickly releasing it, the momentum causing her to fall to her knees. He felt a sense of discomfort as if he had touched something unclean, prompting him to reach for a paper towel to wipe his hands.

The crowd was stunned by the scene before them. They started to assume that Mr. Stewart knew the cleaning lady.

The door to the room swung open once more, and Brian entered with confident strides, intending to say something to his good buddy Finley. However, his gaze was

immediately captivated by Sofia, who knelt before Finley, catching his attention. He approached Finley, who now sat on a plush chair.

“Sofia!” Brian said. “Why are you kneeling? We’re all friends here!”

Looking slightly dazed, Brian took Sofia’s hand and half- pulled, half–dragged her to her feet.

Sofia stumbled as Brian helped her up. Still shaking, she thanked him with a nod.

Her actions caused Finley to look even more irritated.

She wanted to run away. The man in front of her was a demon. A demon that she couldn’t afford to mess with.

She wanted to live her life in peace. If it weren’t for her mother surviving the car accident and her brother, whose whereabouts were still unknown, she would have killed herself in jail.

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But sometimes, living was more difficult than dying.

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Sofia gritted her teeth and held on to her sanity. After all, there was still some responsibility on her shoulders.

In a sense, she was the one who did the Campbell Family a disservice.

Four years ago, she brought Finley into the Campbell household, and her dad had said there was something off with the man. She simply didn’t listen and begged if she could marry him but in the end….

Sofia just wanted to stay away from him. Forever.

Her knee hurt like hell, and she took a few steps backward, fighting through the pain.

“You stay right there!” Finley’s voice was cold as ice.

Sofia didn’t dare to take another step and stared at him with wide eyes.

Brian, on the other hand, laughed. “Finley, forget about it!”

“Get out, Brian!” Finley’s face darkened.

Brian’s eyes widened, and he glanced at Sofia, who stood there obediently, causing him to falter and remain silent, unable to replace any words to say.

He and Finley were good friends for many years. His family. had been in trouble and sent Brian abroad to shelter him from disaster. After that, Brian and Finley met and stayed friends.

Knowing Finley’s temperament, Brian glanced at Sofia, stood up, and walked out.

“Everyone else, get out!”

As the others vacated the room, Sofia’s body moved with a subtle inclination to escape. However, the man before her had already risen from his seat and approached her.

She subconsciously moved backward. His aura was too powerful and even more intimidating than three years ago.

He stared dead at Sofia, his gaze sharper than a knife.

Sofia finally couldn’t help herself and lowered her head, averting her gaze.

“Mr. Stewart, it’s been three years. While I sat in my prison cell, my father died by suicide, my mother became a vegetable and is still in the hospital, and my left hand is ruined…”

Sofia then looked up and felt her knees buckle, falling to the ground.

“I beg you. Just have mercy on me! I promise that you will never see me again!”

Finley didn’t expect her to kneel in front of him. His eyes flashed in surprise, but it felt like his heart was on fire.

He yanked her up and pushed her hard against the carved wall of the room, the marble trim pressing against Sofia’s slim waist, and she winced at the sharp pain.

She bit her lip to prevent her from screaming, and she was

terrified to see a pair of heartless eyes.

Finley saw her as a changed person, someone who had allowed herself to become an easy target for others to mock. This realization left him feeling disheartened.

“Sofia.” He sounded like he was bloodthirsty.

“Are you serious? It seems like you’ve gotten pretty skilled at kneeling.”

Sofia gasped slightly, her chest filling with panic.

Finley’s brow furrowed as he leaned in and whispered, “Did you really think that you could just waltz out of prison and immediately try to hook up with Brian?”

“I didn’t…I wasn’t…,” Sofia didn’t expect him to misunderstand that badly.

She was so battered and bruised that she felt like a ragdoll being tossed around.

He hadn’t seen her for three years. But how could he still treat her like this?

Three years ago, she desperately tried to convince him that she hadn’t pushed Ellie down the stairs. However, everyone questioned how Ellie, who was in a wheelchair, could have fallen down the stairs on her own. Despite her repeated pleas and explanations, no one believed her, let alone Finley.

Sofia closed her eyes wearily, her expression becoming numb for a few moments, and stopped talking.

Her blank expression infuriated Finley, the man who hated

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everyone in the Campbell Family, including her. He thought that everyone in that family deserved to go to hell.

But seeing this woman once again made his heart panic. But Finley wouldn’t allow anyone to influence him. This woman meant nothing to him.

“Get Meroy over here!!”

The bodyguard standing at the door turned and walked out. the door. Soon after, a woman in a cocktail dress walked into the room.

She was the head of management, and long–time

employees, along with those who frequented The Charming Bar, called her May for short.

Sofia came here to work as a janitor and saw Meroy once from afar. To her, Meroy was her ultimate superior and one. of the big shots in the industry.

She didn’t expect Finley to be so demanding with her. It flooded Sofia with a sense of panic.

“Mr. Stewart,” Meroy said, her tone pleasant and respectful. “What is it?”

Sofia’s face paled for a moment as she finally understood.

NY Charming was Finley’s property.

Finley had brought down the Campbells, annexed their share in the Nobel Group, and ventured into the largest

entertainment industry in New York. She wondered just how ambitious he really was.

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Now he replaced his father as the president of the New York Chamber of Commerce, the title was enough to make the whole city tremble at his feet.

Finley nodded to Sofia with a disgusted expression. “Tell her to go greet the guests at the door!”

Meroy froze for a moment. Why would he want this woman, who was riddled with scars and could barely stand, to

welcome the guests?

Sofia instantly hung her head. She knew Finley wouldn’t let her go, and of course, he would put her in front of a large crowd to humiliate her.

The people from her past circle were mostly wealthy and high–status individuals who frequented exclusive establishments like The Charming Bar. If they were to encounter her at the entrance, they would likely taunt and humiliate her without mercy.

She no longer cared about her dignity or shame, as they were mercilessly trampled during her time in prison. All Sofia wanted now was to hide in a corner, working as an anonymous cleaner. She wanted to distance herself from those who knew the Campbells and avoid being repeatedly dragged into the spotlight and subjected to humiliation.

Sofia’s voice trembled as she grabbed Finley’s collar. “Mr. Stewart, please. Please let the Campbells go. We have nothing left! Please! ”

Finley slowly leaned down, his cool lips brushing her ear as his cold voice resonated inside her head.

“Sofia, you should disappear from my sight. Your cheap attempts to seduce me have only resulted in consequences you should have considered.”

Sofia’s eyes suddenly widened. At that moment, she felt hollow, as if her heart had been shattered into countless pieces. She had believed it would never ache again, but now the pain was so intense that she couldn’t breathe.

“Meroy? Are you deaf?” Finley shot a glare at the woman.

But Meroy was busy laughing out loud. “As you say, Mr. Stewart. I’ll head over to arrange things.”

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Sofia changed from her janitorial clothes to a cocktail dress that hugged her thin figure. She was now a greeter for the Charming Bar.

However, Finley simply had Meroy provide her with a change of clothes. Unlike the other women with their meticulously styled hair welcoming the guests, Sofia’s hair remained lifeless. She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, and felt an overwhelming desire to curl up into a ball.

Her body struggled to keep itself standing. At 11 pm, her shift would have ended. But Finley dragged her through the front doors and ordered her to greet people coming in.

Due to her arthritis and severe stomach issues, Sofia decided to skip dinner altogether. After work, she planned to cook noodles for herself and Daisy.

Suddenly, her stomach started to spasm, causing her face to turn pale and beads of cold sweat to form on her forehead.

“Sofia?” A few extravagantly–dressed women approached the entrance, flabbergasted at the fact that Sofia was standing right there.

A woman at the head of the group took one look and froze for a moment.

Sofia recognized the voice immediately–it was her former friend, Bella. They had both come from affluent

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backgrounds, but Perry’s, while wealthy, was not on the same level as the prestigious Sanchez, Stewart, and Campbell families.

Sofia had been on the highest pedestal, and Bella was at her feet, bitter at the fact that she had to pretend to be friends with her.

When Sofia was later imprisoned, Bella was the first to visit Ellie in the hospital and tell her the good news.

It was impossible for Sofia not to feel deceived..

Bella Perry had wanted to make it big in the film and television industry, but she faced numerous challenges at the beginning of her career. Sofia had reached out to several film agents to help Bella secure prominent roles. Now, Bella was a renowned and beloved actress in the industry.

Now, Bella’s astonishment turned into contempt as she clutched her purse.

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“Oh my god! What happened to your face?”

Bella had noticed that Sofia’s hair was hiding the shocking scar on her cheek and raised her hand to touch her face.

Sofia subconsciously backed away.

Bella’s face filled with satisfaction. She had lived in Sofia’s shadow since she was a child.

Sofia was a girl who excelled in every aspect of her life. She was intelligent, attractive, and came from a prestigious family. She was the girl every parent compared their kids to.

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Bella hated her, even if she was friendly with her. Her perfection just made Bella feel mediocre in every way. But she never imagined that one day Sofia would become a nobody.

Bella winked at her friend beside her and stepped into the Charming Bar without sparing another glance at the miserable–looking girl.

If I can’t do the honors, someone else can, Bella thought.

Ella, the woman who Sofia spilled cleaning solution on her shoes, was part of Bella’s entourage. She glanced at Bella and thought that it was time to take advantage of Sophia.

After Sophia had spilled the mop water on her shoes, Ella followed Brian to complain about her, but Brian snapped at her. He told her not to make things difficult for the janitor, which made Ella furious.

Why was he defending the janitor? She was ugly anyways.

Ella had a hard time pleasing Brian, a man who was notorious for being heartless, but afterward, she met up with Bella.

Bella was now the leader of their circle, and she was busy bending over backward to maintain her reputation. After all, the entertainment industry was cutthroat.

At that moment, Ella’s gaze toward Sofia turned venomous.

She understood Bella keeping her composure to maintain her status. Besides, it wasn’t necessary to talk to an employee.

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But Ella was different. She raised her hand and slapped Sofia hard.

Sofia jerked her head and looked at Ella. The look in Sofia’s eyes was hard to describe, but it made Ella’s heart beat faster.

She regained her composure. This woman was just an ugly janitor, nothing more. Ella had nothing to be afraid of. Slapping Sofia was just like stomping on an ant.

Sofia didn’t expect Bella to signal to someone to slap her. But she couldn’t cause another scene. She sucked in a breath and lowered her head.

She had lost all pride and ambitions she once held, now simply focused on keeping her job and saving money for her mother’s medical expenses.

“What are you staring at? What’s wrong with you?” Ella scolded Sofia in a loud voice for everyone to hear. “Why would The Charming Bar hire someone so ugly to greet us? You’ll literally scare people to death!”

Ella’s curses grew increasingly venomous, and Bella seemed to derive great satisfaction from it.

Ella saw Bella smile slightly and was motivated to bully Sofia even more. She grabbed a fistful of her dry hair. “You spilled a bucket of dirty mop water all over me! Why don’t

you kneel down and apologize?”

“Come on, kneel!”

“I’ll forgive you if you kneel!”

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“Who gave you the audacity to ignore me? Aren’t you supposed to listen to what I say? Kneel down!”

“Stop it! Who are you?!” Suddenly, Daisy, wearing a gold halter dress and heavy makeup, rushed over and pushed Ella

away.

“What are you doing?” Daisy had been drinking with the guests at the bar and had just gotten off the stage when she heard that something had happened to Sofia.

Daisy felt afraid for her. When Sofia was hired to work at The Charming Bar, Daisy had some reservations, but as a janitor, Sofia’s job was to clean and earn money discreetly.

And there was also the fact that they paid more than other places.

What she didn’t expect was Sofia to come face–to–face with Finley.

Daisy chased after her and found Ella yanking Sofia by the hair, forcing her to kneel.

She grabbed Sofia’s hand, yanking Sofia behind her as she glared at Ella.

Ella laughed coldly. “What? Do you not want to do your job too? Let me talk to your manager.”

Sofia sidestepped Daisy and bowed her head at Ella. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault, I’ll kneel down and apologize.”

“Sofie, no!” Daisy’s eyes were almost filled with tears. She couldn’t let Sofia fall to her knees in front of so many

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people. After all, she was such a prideful person before all this, she couldn’t let her be humiliated.

Ella shook her head and laughed. “That’s right, Miss Campbell. It’s not the same as it used to be. You have to learn how to adapt.”

“Ella!” Daisy walked up to Ella and lowered her voice, “Are you really going to be this mean?”

Ella blushed, and Daisy looked at her with gritted teeth. “I just recorded what you did with Mr. Walter in the stairwell. I have the video in hi–res. I know I still work for the bar, but I’ll post it on the internet even if it gets me fired!”

“And Mr. Sanchez is going to know that you’ve spent time on two different boats owned by two separate men!”

“You-” Ella didn’t expect Sofia’s friend to be so merciless. She couldn’t do anything about her threats, so Ella crossed her arms and left.

The people around finally dispersed, and Sofia broke out in a cold sweat.

“Come with me. We’re going to Sis May to tell her we both quit! Let’s go!” Daisy tugged Sofia’s hand. She felt sorry for her and couldn’t bear to see her being harassed in this state.

Three years ago, Sofia was like a proud peacock, using her words to defeat morally corrupt rich kids to save Daisy. If it weren’t for Sofia, their ruthlessness would have left her crippled that night in the private club,

“Daisy,” Sofia whispered as she tightened her grip on

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Daisy’s hand. “It won’t work.”

“What do you mean? Can’t we just leave and replace another job? The money isn’t worth the harassment.” Daisy felt like exploding in anger.

“The Charming Bar is Finley’s property. He won’t let me go. You’re my best friend, but I’ve changed. I’m worthless now, and I can’t drag you down with me, Daisy.” Sofia pleaded. “You need to stop helping me and stop standing up for me, okay? I’m begging you! I’m scared for you.”

Sofia’s eyes were filled with panic and despair. She knew how scary that man was, and Sofia had lost both family and friends because of him. She was worried that she’d lose Daisy too.

She had lost too much.

Daisy’s face went pale. Finley owned the Charming Bar?

It was over. Sofia was sentenced to her doom.

What was she going to do?

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Sofia looked at Daisy pleadingly, “Daisy, just go back to work and mind your own business. Please.”

“Finley isn’t someone you and I can afford to mess with. Besides, I’ve already hit rock bottom. When he’s had enough fun, he’ll probably just let me go.

“You could try to fake your own death?” Daisy choked out, eyes filled with tears.

“What are you two standing around for? Go back to work!” Meroy gave Daisy a cold glare.

Daisy tried to answer her as she looked at Sofia, whose eyes. were filled with desperation as she silently pleaded with her.

A feeling of powerlessness hit Daisy. There was nothing she could do to help Sofia.

Finley had trapped Sofia in his hell once again, and all the money Daisy had earned over the years was spent on keeping Sofia’s mother, Lily, alive. Just keeping her mother in a comatose state was extremely expensive. It was like a stone on her and Sofia’s chest, pressing down until they couldn’t breathe.

As soon as they couldn’t afford her mother’s medication, Auntie Lily would die.

Daisy was an orphan, but she didn’t want Sofia to become one too. So, Daisy clenched her jaw, apologized to Sis May,

and walked back into the Charming Bar.

Meroy gave Sofia a cold look as Sofia lowered her head in embarrassment. “I apologize, ma’am.”

“Sofia, do you know how much trouble you’ve caused me this evening? Just shut up and do your job!” Sis May huffed and left. At the sight of Meroy’s retreating silhouette, Sofia felt a hint of helplessness.

She was always going to offend someone.

Sofia clenched her teeth for another two hours, enduring the agonizing pain that consumed her. Finally, her shift came to an end. She pressed a hand against her stomach, the intensity of the pain causing her vision to blur for a moment.

She stumbled into the staff locker room, barely able to maintain her balance. With trembling hands, Sofia retrieved a loaf of bread from her locker. Making her way to a secluded corner near the stairs outside the washroom, she hastily tore open the package and voraciously devoured its contents.

Her anxiety, combined with her hunger, made her choke on the food. It took her a long time to recover, not knowing whether her tears came from choking or something else.

Sofia tilted her head back and leaned against the cold wall. It was just like being back in her prison cell, struggling to stay alive.

She was tired, but Sofia still had to wait for Daisy to drive them back to their apartment.

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Daisy would’ve been done earlier, but she took a shift in room 607. Sofia didn’t know when she’d be done.

Usually, Sofia was worried that Daisy had drunk too much, so she would wait for her after her shift was over.

Sofia didn’t notice the camera situated in the corner of the wall. It swerved back and forth until it stopped once again. But she heard the sound of girls laughing and joking from around the corner. They couldn’t see her, but she heard their words loud and clear.

“Daisy will have enough trouble tonight! It’s all over for her!”

“Who knew Mr. Walter loves playing those types of games?”

“Didn’t you know that an escort died during one of his games? He bribed the police officers and said it was an accident!”

“Oh my god! Daisy also stood up for that ugly bitch at the door! She offended Ella. And I also heard Ella’s hooking up with Mr. Walter!”

“Ugh, that monster at the front door is a disaster. Wasn’t she a Campbell? She’s like their first daughter. God damn, whoever stands up for her is doomed.”

Sofia stood up, not caring about whatever else the women were saying, and rushed to room 607.

As Sofia approached the door, she heard Daisy’s desperate pleas, followed by the cruel laughter of a group of people.

Sofia pushed open the door and entered the dimly lit room.

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Inside, a group of wealthy boys sat on leather sofas, accompanied by young models and starlets. In the center sat a large, obese man whose laughter made his fat jiggle.

Mr. Walter, despised by everyone in Charming Bar, sat in the midst of the room. His obese body and perverted desires truly fit his villainous character. Despite his wealth, no one with morals was willing to engage with him, regardless of how much he bribed them.

Daisy knelt in the middle of the circle. A large golden pot filled with red wine was in front of her, and a lean man kept dunking her head into the basin.

“Drink up! If you drink that entire pot of red wine, you win a hundred thousand dollars!” The crowd jeered at Daisy, laughing and clapping maniacally.

Daisy fought desperately, managing to break free and gasp for air. However, she was quickly overpowered and pinned against the basin. The wine invaded her eyes, nose, and mouth, causing her to cough and sputter.

Sofia’s brain buzzed, and she rushed forward without thinking, forcefully pushing away the person holding Daisy’s head.

The pot tipped over, and Daisy slowly sat back, vomiting. But Sofia was relieved that she was still alive.

“Mr. Walter, look at that ugly monster! Even if she has a few scars, her body isn’t that bad. She may be more fun than the last girl!” Ella leaned against Boris and smiled wickedly.

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Sofia stared at her with a blank expression, realizing what had happened. It was clear to her that Daisy’s schedule for the night only included two shifts, and she should have already gone home. The fact that she was offered another shift indicated that someone wanted to toy with her.

And, of course, it was Ella.

She wanted her to enact her revenge on both of them.

Boris lifted his fat face and glanced at Sofia. “What an ugly ass face!”

He lifted his foot and kicked Daisy, who was drunk and

delirious, on the floor. “Get up and keep drinking! Didn’t you say you were short on money? If you want to earn 100k, then drink!”

“Mr. Walter, I’ll drink the wine,” Sofia pleaded. “Daisy will die if she continues, and that’ll tarnish your reputation.” She stood in front of Daisy, blocking Mr. Walter’s view of her.

Sofia was being reasonable. Meroy would certainly come over if she heard that the guests were forcing an employee to drink herself to death. But she and Daisy were already on Meroy’s bad side, and there was only one other boss–Finley Stewart.

And since Daisy helped Sofia, Finley would want to make her suffer.

Boris was stunned, not expecting Sofia to be so quick with volunteering herself. But he wasn’t having fun anymore and wanted to have a good time.

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“Hmm. Okay, ugly–ass, fine. If you want to win 100k, then you have to drink.”

“Yes, Mr. Walter. I want to win!” Sofia stood in front of Boris and nodded in determination.

Boris Walter burst out laughing. “Alright then!”

“Someone fill up those glasses with wine! Yeah! The bottles over there! And now you guys stand over there! That’s it!”

Sofia saw the scene play out in front of her, and her face turned pale.

A few cronies around Boris spread their legs apart, cruel smiles plastered on their faces. Under their crotches, they placed glasses of red wine along with wads of money in pineapple cups.

“Alright! So you need to army crawl through and drink every glass while picking up the wads of cash. Ten glasses with 10k next to them equals 100,00 dollars!” Mr. Walter chuckled, eyeing Sofia. “Ready?”

“Mr. Walter, you’re so mean,” Ella kissed Mr. Walter on his fat face, “but this sounds so fun!”

Sofia felt the air escape her lungs. She stood there, frozen, in front of everyone, waiting for her to crawl through their legs. They shouted slurs at her, urging her to crawl.

“What? Are you not playing? Maybe your friend wants to play instead.” Boris burst out laughing, his smile wicked to the bone.

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Sofia slowly knelt down.

“Quickly! Crawl, little bitch!”

“Hahaha!”

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Sofia’s stomach spasms, and she almost fainted with the pain. She’d die if she drank in this state.

“Crawl!”

There was shrill laughter and applause in your ears.

Sofia closed her eyes and crawled toward the crotch of the first man.

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Sofia gritted her teeth, trying desperately to hold back the nausea and cramping in her stomach.

She crawled toward the first man’s crotch, and Daisy’s cries reached her ears, but her mouth was covered with a gag. All Daisy could do was whimper and wail.

Sofia just had to hold on for a little longer. Or else the both of them would die.

Daisy fell into this hellhole, but Sofia was the one who told her to stay. It was her guilty conscience that urged her to do it.

Daisy needs to run away.

If Sofia did exactly what these people told her to do, Daisy could safely leave the room. So, she slowly crawled forward, wincing in pain as her knees hit the cold marble floor.

She crawled through the first man’s legs and picked up the glass of crimson wine. Her hand shook so badly, but still, she tilted her head and drank the entire glass.

The pungent taste hit her like a whip, and her stomach instantly felt like it was on fire.

She suddenly slumped to the ground and vomited, her mouth dribbling with blood.

“Sofie!” Daisy broke free from her restraints but was kicked

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to the ground again, grunting in pain.

“Don’t hurt her! I’ll keep drinking!” Sofia’s breath grew shallow, and a ringing sound filled her ears. She lifted her head, her gaze filled with despair as she surveyed her surroundings.

Boris slapped his fat thighs and cackled. “This is just too funny! Isn’t the wine delicious?!”

Sofia squeezed out a thin, feeble smile that felt worse than just crying.“Yep! Thank you, Mr. Walter!”

“Hahahaha! What a bitch!” Boris drew out a pile of money from his pocket and threw it on Sofia’s body. “Shake your ass for me, will ya?”

The top floor of Charming Bar was a private room for VIPs, but it resembled a small bar. It boasted stunning wine cabinets that showcased a wide array of famous wines.

The wide black leather sofa was occupied by several men of high status. This was one of Finley’s secret places to drink. and talk business, where only his closest friends gathered. Even Finley’s esteemed clients rarely had the opportunity to join him in a private drink and conversation with the infamous Mr. Stewart.

Compared to the pandemonium in the room below, this room was much quieter.

Finley, however, had not been in a good mood. His face was gloomy, completely unaware of what was unfolding on the

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floor below.

“Finley, a few partners of mine are in East China right now, and they intend to do an island reclamation and renovation project. If we can get a hold of them, we can expect a huge profit,” a young man in a silver suit smiled.

That was Just Watson, the biggest real estate developer in New York and Finley had befriended him while abroad. No one knew that Watson Real Estate was backed by Finley Stewart and that he had a sixty percent stake in it. Just was technically working for him.

“If you want, I can help you get more connections.” A handsome man in a biker suit and cartilage piercings grinned. He was Cecil Birgid, a financer with his home base in New York. He was Old K to the people who worked with him. He was Finley’s finance agent.

Finley was able to decipher Nobel’s finance passwords with Cecil’s help, stealing a large amount of financial information while also making it impossible for other people to access them.

Finley later set up a plan that completely crushed the Nobel Company and left the Campbells in ruins.

Just and Cecil excitedly chatted about the ever–expanding Stewart Empire while Brian stayed silent. His mind was elsewhere as he leaned back on the sofa, staring out at the city skyline.

Finley sat at the end of the bar, slender fingers squeezing his glass of wine, lips pursed. No one knew what he was

thinking.

All of a sudden, a hesitant knock on the door broke the silence, instantly capturing everyone’s attention in the room.

Strange. Usually, no one dared disturbed Mr. Stewart when he was in a private meeting with his group. They’d be asking for trouble.

Meroy’s voice sounded from outside. “Mr. Stewart, Mr. Stewart!”

Finley’s brow furrowed. “Come in.‘

With caution, Meroy pushed open the doors and stepped inside, holding a tablet connected to the CCTV cameras. The tablet displayed a live video feed of the room where Daisy and Sofia were located.

Meroy couldn’t help but alert Finley since the woman

seemed to be in a horrible situation. If one of them died, the entire bar would have bad publicity.

The Charming Bar always had customers who were rowdy and excessive, but risking people’s lives was a no–go. After all, Mr. Stewart was strict about that, and no one sensible enough would be that reckless.

Meroy wanted to intervene, and the girls would also be spared. Yet, she knew that Finley wanted to torture Sofia deliberately. Meroy was well–acquainted with the type of men who wanted to hurt women, but Finley treated Miss Campbell a little differently. Maybe he didn’t want her to die?

If someone did end up dying, Meroy was the first to be reprimanded.

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After ruminating on it, Meroy still needed to take action.

“Mr. Stewart, it seems like Miss Cambell is dying!” Meroy’s voice was shrill as she placed the tablet on the bar

countertop right in front of Finley.

Finley looked at the real–time surveillance and froze. His face was filled with emotion for a moment as his brows knit together in anger.

Sofia crawled through another man’s crotch, grabbed a glass of wine, drank it, and lay on the floor, vomiting incessantly. Her entire body looked like a dirty rag.

Just and Cecil came to stand next to Finley and were dumbfounded. They had just learned about Sofia’s release from prison and her unexpected encounter with their boss.

Despite their awareness of Finley’s grudge towards the Campbell Family and his desire to inflict punishment upon Sofia, looking at the live feed made Just and Cecil, known for their ruthless nature, feel that. Finley had crossed a line this time.

Unaware of the longstanding feud between the Campbells and the Stewarts, Sofia found herself unfortunate to be born as a Campbell and even more unfortunate to have fallen in love with someone like Finley.

Now that the Campbells were finished, Sofia had been in prison with a disabled hand. Hasn’t she gone through enough?

The two men exchanged glances and attempted to reason with Finley, but the murderous expression on their boss’s

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face made it clear that any attempts at persuasion would be futile.

They both swallowed their words and kept quiet.

Finley fixed a piercing gaze on the repugnant group of men led by Watson. Though he remained seated, the intensity in his eyes was palpable, and his jaw was tightly clenched.

Taking a deep breath, he was about to rise from his seat when someone swiftly brushed past him. Brian stormed towards the box’s door without uttering a word, his usually composed and handsome face now contorted with icy rage.

Finley didn’t move a muscle and let Brian leave, his eyebrows knitted together.

The other two men held their breaths. What was Brian planning to do?

Sofia was once Finley’s fiance, so what was Brian thinking?

Meanwhile, in room 607, Sofia had already downed her third glass of wine and was about to black out.

All the surrounding noises faded into the distance as she realized that in the midst of excruciating pain, one could actually become numb to the agony. It felt as though she was slowly drifting towards death, and strangely, there was a slight sense of relief in her heart. The thought of being free from weariness and suffering brought a fleeting comfort.

Suddenly the doors were kicked open from the outside, followed by sounds of bones cracking and fists smashing

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against the glass, then howls and cries of pain.

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Sofia no longer had the strength to look back and see who had saved her.

She blacked out, and all that remained in her ears was a man’s familiar voice.

“Sofia! Are you okay? Sofia!”

Brian had sparred regularly with Finley in the underground boxing ring in New York’s Chinatown, and the man who Sofia had just crawled under had his face punched in.

Boris was stunned. Why would Brian care about this frail woman? It didn’t make any sense. She was ugly and worthless. The man couldn’t have that bad of a taste in women, right?

Ella, who had been cowering in the corner, screamed in terror when she saw Brian punch a man, breaking his nose and causing an eye to burst out of its socket.

Brian couldn’t care less about who was hurt. He bent down to pick up Sofia and froze.

Her body was so light. She was probably 90 to 100 pounds, at least. Only people who were anorexic or chronically malnourished would be in this light.

His gaze sank as he moved to carry Sofia out of room 607, but Finley stood at the door.

Finley’s gaze turned cold as he locked eyes with Brian, but his attention quickly shifted to Sofia nestled in Brian’s arms.

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He suddenly felt a storm of emotions in his chest.

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Finley stood at 6’2” and was a few inches taller than Brian. He stood in Brian’s way, blocking him from leaving.

Finley’s gaze landed on Sofia’s feeble form cradled in Brian’s arms. She was like a broken doll, twisted and contorted.

The left side of her face was tucked into Brian’s arm, and the scar on her right cheek stood out prominently, shocking him.

Brian drew a sharp breath and looked at Finley. His eyes silently asked him to step aside while his arms around Sofia were taut. He had no intention of her letting go.

“Finley, leave her alone. If we don’t send her to the hospital, what if she really dies? She and I were good friends, so just let me take her to the ER, and we can talk afterward.”

In Finley’s circle, Brian Sanchez was a man who was his equal. He was different from Boris Walter. When the Campbells had sidelined the Sanchez’s a while back, Brian’s father did nothing to help them recover. If Brian hadn’t stepped up to take the reigns, his family wouldn’t have been able to afford any luxuries at all.

Although Finley was one step ahead of him at times, Brian was still above all of their fellow businessmen.

It was rare for Brian to lower his head and plead, let alone to Finley. But as Sofia lay in his arms, Brian begged him to

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move.

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Finley’s eyes narrowed, his expression cold. Yet, he stepped aside.

Meanwhile, Meroy sent in someone to help Daisy, who was too injured and inebriated to walk, evacuate the room.

“You’re a bastard, Finley Stewart!” Daisy slurred. “You think that murdering Sofia would do you justice? She almost died in prison! What more does she owe you?”

“You literally crippled her hand, and people cut her face with a knife. She’s got nothing left! Just leave her alone! Can you do that?”

“Why are you still holding your grudge against the Campbells? Her father committed suicide, her mom’s a fucking vegetable, and her brother is missing! They’re finished!”

“Sofie literally ignored her father’s warnings when she dated you. What did she ever do to you to deserve this? You’ve lost your mind!”

“She’s drunk! Find a place to sober her up!” Sis May broke out in a cold sweat. Did that woman have a death wish? She had the audacity to yell at Mr. Finley Stewart.

Charming Bar’s two bodyguards also looked nervous. They let Daisy finish talking and wondered if tomorrow was a good day to put in their two weeks.

They dragged Daisy to a smaller room to help her recover, and Finley was left standing at the doorway to room 607.

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His expression was livid as he slowly walked inside.

Boris and Ella sprang to their feet, ready to explain themselves, while Finley sank into the sofa, stretching out. his long legs. He leisurely lit a cigarette, bringing it to his thin lips and inhaling slowly.

The flickering flame of the lighter illuminated his chiseled. jaw, casting a sharp contrast. Only his deep eyes remained concealed in the darkness like black voids penetrating the light.

With a drag from his cigarette, Finley acknowledged the speechless guests, their wine glasses scattered on the floor. He motioned to his entourage of bodyguards, ordering them

to move.

“Take them down.”

“Be careful with the camera. Beat them in the blindspots. Meroy, remember to pay the medical bills afterward.”

Despite being the top power elite in New York, Finley was never one to engage in conversation. His demeanor resembled that of an iceberg, with even his voice carrying a trace of coldness.

With a few simple words, a wave of fear swept through the room as everyone began to cower and plead for mercy from Finley.

“Mr. Stewart, we promise we’ll never make trouble again.”

“We really didn’t know you cared about the venue.”

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“Mr. Stewart…Mr. Stewart…”

Several people were taken out of the room.

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Boris, sensing the tense atmosphere, forced a nervous smile, his small beady eyes appearing even smaller as if they were being squeezed out.

Behind him, Ella trembled in her attempt at a smile to please Finley only making her appearance more strained and uneasy.

She was beautiful and rich enough to catch people’s

attention. She even wanted to hook up with Brian, but Ella wouldn’t dare try to seduce a man like Finley. She was too afraid to die.

“Mr. Stewart, I apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused. I was unaware that this was your establishment….” Boris forced a smile as he picked up his wine glass, but suddenly Finley swiftly kicked him in the knee.

The mountain of meat fell to the floor with a loud thud. Boris quickly scrambled up to his hands and knees, his eyes vicious. Yet he froze at the sight of Finley staring him down, and Boris swallowed his words.

“Mr. Stewart…,” Boris‘ voice trembled.

Ella covered her mouth, afraid of even screaming. She wouldn’t get away with what had happened in room 607.

But didn’t Finley hate Sofia? Now it felt like he was taking it out on Ella and Boris.

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She saw how Sofia had incurred the wrath of the Stewart

family and realized that in the NY social circle, no one had the courage to defend her, allowing Ella to bully the woman.

But now it seemed like Finley was defending Sofia.

Ella was losing her mind, and she was scared to death.

Finley motioned to Boris, who had fallen to the ground as if he was beckoning a dog to sit.

Boris held back his anger and stood up, smiling at Finley. “How do you want me to fix this, Mr. Stewart? I can give you some money for the damage and to pay for the medical bills.”

The corners of Finley’s lips curled in mockery. “You’ll pay me back? Hasn’t your company been struggling lately? Your father’s shares are dwindling, and Century’s lost 3 million. I bet in three days, your bank account will reach zero or even negative numbers.”

Boris’s fat face finally showed a hint of panic. How did he know these things? His father had listened to Old K’s advice and spent a lot of money to cover their stocks. They should be in the clear unless…

Unless this was Finley’s game, and he was going to swallow Century Incorporated.

“Mr. Stewart! Mr. Stewart!” Boris fell to his knees with a grunt. “It’s all my fault. It has nothing to do with my dad or any of the Walters.”

Finley looked at him with disgust. “Two years ago, a girl

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from NYU was kidnapped by your men and forcibly brought

to your private club. The next day the news reported she fell down some stairs and died.”

“You paid two thousand dollars just for the police to shut up. Your lawyer said that the girl was a promiscuous woman with a criminal history. But you killed her, didn’t you?”

“You destroyed all the security cameras, but there was still a single camera hidden in that clubhouse. Video evidence shows you, ass–naked, pushing her down the stairs.”

“Please, just spare me!” Boris breathed heavily and clapped his hands as if in prayer.

Finley’s eyes narrowed, his gaze targeted on Boris. “You forced her to drink more alcohol than humanly possible. If she couldn’t finish her drinks, then you would replace a way

for

her to finish it all.”

Ella stepped forward, still shaking. “I wasn’t a part of this! Really, Mr. Stewart. It was Daisy who let Sofia in. It was Daisy who did it, not me, I really don’t know what was happening.” Her lies were frantic and sloppy.

Boris made Sofia drink so much, but she ended up still alive.

People like him had the cruelest desires toward women. Once he sees under their skirts, Boris would try to drown her in his corruption.

“Mr. Stewart…” Ella also knelt down beside Boris.

Finley slowly got up and felt that one more look at these two would be a waste of his time.

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He walked to the door, and his bodyguards came in, holding cases that contained numerous bottles of cheap red wine.

The door to 607 closed, and the sound of bones crunching came through, and Ella finally let out her screams of horror.

In the private room on the 17th floor of NY General Hospital, the faint scent of medicine mingled with the floral fragrance of flowers. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a warm glow in the room.

Sofia slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the sun’s rays. She thought she had gone to heaven.

As she looked around, she realized it was a hospital ward. A sense of inexplicable disappointment filled her heart. She wasn’t dead, she was still alive, but she felt so exhausted and weary.

“Sofia, you’re awake?” Brian laughed quietly, his voice hoarse. “That was scary. I thought you wouldn’t wake up.”

His disheveled hair and tired appearance suggested that he had been awake all night. Despite that, there was still a hint of handsome charm that radiated from him.

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As soon as Sofia caught sight of Brian, she jolted up, but her vision started to blur, and she felt herself on the verge of blacking out.

“Careful!” Brian caught her, giving her a small smile as he held her steady.

Sofia knew that she needed to avoid trouble. With caution, she gently released Brian’s hand and slowly rose from the floor, using the edge of the hospital bed for support.

No woman in New York could resist Brian’s signature smile. Everyone loved it. But Sofia paid no attention. At that moment, Brian’s smile became a little stiff, and he quickly tried to stop Sofia in her tracks.

“The doctor said you have a serious stomach problem, and you need more medical attention. What are you doing? If you need anything, just tell me.”

Sofia was a little surprised. Brian had always been a lazy kind of person who relied on his employees to do everything for him. He seemed overly enthusiastic about her.

She gave him a bitter laugh and kept walking towards the door.

“What is it, Sofia?” Brian huffed. He had never been so ignored by someone, and so he caught Sofia’s wrist.

“I have to go to work, Mr. Sanchez.” Sofia didn’t dare offend

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him anymore. He was a demon with a charming smile, just like Finley. And she had already learned her lesson.

Sofia couldn’t help but feel perplexed by the sudden change in their behavior. Initially, they were horrible to her, but now they were putting on this friendly facade, which left Sofia feeling uneasy.

She quickly thanked Brian and gave him a crooked smile. “Thanks for bringing me to the hospital.”

She remembered that it was Brian who had saved her from Mr. Walter and his men. And though she didn’t know his reasons, Sofia thought she should thank him for that too.

As she spoke, Brian didn’t know how to respond. He let go of her arm, took out his wallet, and handed her a black card.

“Here, just use this to pay for things. I also have an empty apartment in Montefiore. You can move there.”

“And I can also help you replace another job. Weren’t you in design before? I have a friend who owns a design company, and I can recommend you to him. Your education and talent would make it no problem for you to have a high starting salary.”

Sofia felt as if she were listening to a story from a fantasy world. Those things didn’t quite belong in her reality.

She laughed a bitter sound that reached Brian’s ears and raised her left hand.

Sofia’s left hand was adorned with a worn–out, thin fleece glove, showing signs of years of use. The threads were

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frayed, and a hole had formed near the palm.

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She purposely concealed her hand behind her back or tucked it inside her sleeve, avoiding drawing any attention to it. The IV had been administered to her right hand the previous night, and she made sure to keep her left hand hidden even while she was dreaming.

After all, that hand was her worst nightmare.

Carefully, Sofia took off the glove and revealed the hand that she vowed never to show anyone.

Before, Sofia had long hands and long fingers, and her teacher said that her hands were best suited for playing the piano. And her hand had looked exquisite, with milky–white. skin as smooth as porcelain, untouched by any blemish or roughness. Sometimes she would entertain the thought of pursuing hand modeling and capturing their beauty in photographs.

But now, every finger except for her thumb was mutilated and disfigured. Tumor–like growths were strewn across her fingers, making them look red and swollen.

Every bone in her hand had shattered and never healed properly, resulting in deformities. Not only could Sofia never play the piano or work in design, but she also couldn’t even bend or use her fingers.

Brian stared intently at Sofia’s hand, reminiscing about her childhood piano skills. He had secretly listened to her play, and she had always won the gold medal in her recital competitions.

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His breathing became ragged as anger flooded his system.

“Did the inmates do this to you?!”

Sofia lowered her head and put her glove back on, then looked up at him to squeeze out a weak smile.

“Thank you for caring, but it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Brian took a breath and handed the card to Sofia. “Just take the card. I know you hate me, but consider this

compensation.”

Brian’s heart was filled with a deep sense of unease, yet he struggled to articulate his discomfort.

Sofia pushed his card away and was just about to say something when sharp footsteps sounded from outside.

Daisy had dark circles under her eyes, and she hadn’t wiped off her makeup. But, her face looked haggard from the drunkenness and what had happened.

She rushed in with a lunchbox and a thermos in her hand and was a little surprised to see Brian again.

She paid him no regard and rushed over to Sofia. “Are you okay?! They made me drink too much yesterday, and I went straight to sleep. Please tell me you’re okay.”

Sofia was relieved to see Daisy unharmed and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. “I’m fine. Let’s just go back home.”

“No, no. You have to stay in the hospital a little longer.” Daisy tugged Sofia to her bed. “Just a few more days. I’ll keep you company after my shifts.”

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“But,” Sofia protested. “A single room in this hospital is expensive. I’m fine with just an IV, so maybe the doctor can prescribe me something, and I can just rest at home.”

Once she heard the cost, Daisy flinched and took a look at Brian as she sighed and helped Sofia out of her bed.

Clutching the card tightly in his hand, Brian was overwhelmed with a sense of unease. Sofia’s left hand had pierced his heart like a thorn, causing him sharp pain.

Brian couldn’t comprehend what had happened. They had played together as children for so many years, but then he went abroad, and upon his return, their paths diverged drastically.

He didn’t expect to meet her again three years later.

Brian’s fingers clenched into a fist, the edges of the credit card digging into his palm.

Sofia followed Daisy to the nurse’s station and was quickly discharged from the hospital.

Daisy didn’t dare drive since her hangover was still horrible. So, the two of them hailed a taxi and drove home.

During the drive, Daisy unzipped her lunchbox to reveal cornbread and chicken noodle soup.

“Here, eat this. It’s good for your stomach.”

Sofia looked at the steaming soup in front of her, and warmth came to her cold heart.

As the cab pulled out of the hospital’s main entrance, little

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did they know a black Bugatti was parked discreetly nearby.

The glass window slowly rose up, blocking the cold, indifferent face from the sunlight.

Finley leaned back in his car seat, lit a cigarette, and took a drag.

Justin, the assistant sitting in front, sensed a heavy atmosphere inside the car as if the air pressure had dropped. It had been a few consecutive days now that the president had fallen back into his smoking habit, puffing away relentlessly.

He was usually a very restrained person who never indulged himself in women or anything bad. He often exercised, ate very healthily, had a regular sleep schedule, and drank very little. He even made chamomile tea sometimes–something a man in his 60s would do, but not people as young as Finley.

His only weakness was his excessive smoking habit, but he had made efforts to quit and had been successful to a certain extent. However, recently, there had been an unexpected change in his behavior and temper.

He now had sleeping problems at night, drank regularly, and chained and smoked.

“Justin!” Finley’s voice was slightly raspy from smoking.

“Mr. Stewart,” Justin answered respectfully.

Finley spoke in a deliberate tone, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency. “Justin, I need you to replace something to do for

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Mr. Sanchez. He’s been without work for too long, and it would be best if we can keep him away from returning to NY for a while.”

lustin gave him a confused expression. Since when did Mr. Sanchez offend Mr. Stewart?

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Sofia went against Daisy’s advice and slipped out of the apartment to work at the Charming Bar.

She couldn’t lie there and wait for Daisy to feed her while also paying for her mother’s medical bills.

It felt shameful to Sofia. Daisy had repaid her in every way possible, and, in fact, Daisy didn’t owe her a thing. If anything, Sofia felt indebted to Daisy for everything she had done.

Sofia entered the changing room, opened her locker, and retrieved her greeter’s uniform to change into. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her hair and put her changed clothes back into the locker.

Suddenly, she heard murmurs from outside of her changing

room.

“Have you heard about that one actress? Ella was disfigured by Mr. Walter, and it drove her to madness. Rumor has it that her parents have come to take her back.”

“Have you seen those videos Ella posted? They’re crazy!”

“Where’d she post it? Let me see!”

“She was banned online, and all of her videos were deleted in a night. But her career is completely finished.”

“Has Mr. Walter been caught yet?”

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“He got arrested, and it seems he’s also implicated in the previous case of the female college students. He’s likely to receive a heavy sentence!”

“Heavy sentence, my ass. His family has a ton of money, so they’ll just bribe him out.”

“Actually, the Walters lost everything this morning. Their stocks all crashed! I don’t think he’s getting out of this one!”

When Sofia heard this, she was momentarily taken aback, wondering if someone had stood up for her. But upon reflection, she found the thought absurd. What was she now? Was she even worthy of someone standing up for her?

But those two deserved it.

She finished packing up her things, got up, and walked out of the changing room. Those outside stopped talking and looked at Sofia.

It wasn’t until Sofia stepped out of the employee room that they resumed their conversation. “I heard that Mr. Walter and Ella got into trouble because of that woman that just walked by.

“No way! She was so ugly! What kind of person would do that for her?”

“Mr. Sanchez was there last night, right? Maybe he likes ugly women?”

The voices laughed, and Sofia froze in her tracks. She lingered by the bar doors, a few steps away from where she was stationed. But, Meroy started to shout at her.

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“Sofia, come here for a minute!”

Sofia turned and walked over to her boss, wondering what she was calling out to her for.

Meroy glanced at Sofia and felt bad, wondering what Mr. Stewart was thinking.

“You don’t have to be a greeter today.”

Sofia’s eyes widened, and she sighed with relief. Being at greeter was torture for her.

She rushed to thank Meroy, “Thank you, Sis May, I’ll go change and clean the washroom.”

“No need to do that,” Sis May looked her up and down, “don’t change your clothes, go straight to room 808. Mr. Stewart’s orders. From now on, you’re part of the PR department and will sit at a table.

Sofia’s face paled.

She knew exactly what the table was for. It wasn’t meant to deceive anyone. To put it politely, it was the public relations department.

Sure enough, Finley wasn’t going to let her off the hook. Placing her at the front of the bar wasn’t enough to humiliate her, so of course, he’d put her to work and drink with more elite businessmen.

She couldn’t drink at all with her stomach problems!

Other people had humiliated her like this, and she was numb to it, but why him?

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How could he ask her to accompany another man or in such a position? How could he humiliate her before he would let her go?

Sofia slowly lowered her head and clenched both hands into fists.

She knew it. Finley would never let her go.

That was the case three years ago, and it still held true today.

She really regretted falling in love with such a cruel, heartless man. Falling in love with him was her biggest mistake, so much so that she couldn’t forgive herself.

Meroy looked at Sofia up and down with pity in her eyes. Sofia had offended the wrong people, but Meroy couldn’t help her at all.

Meroy lowered her voice and lifted a hand to pat Sofia’s thin shoulder. “Go on,” She said gently. “It’s not good to keep the guests waiting.”

Sofia nodded and moved with difficulty toward room 808. She gently pushed the door open, not expecting the lack of commotion. There was only the strong smell of smoke.

The room was dimly lit, with only a few wall sconces giving off light and revealing the only guest in the room.

The tall figure leaned back on the sofa, looking tired, with a lit cigarette held between his fingers.

His handsome face slowly emerged amidst the smoke, and

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Sofia recognized that it was Finley. She backed away, turning towards the door to escape.

“Don’t try to run.” He flicked the cigarette. ash in his hand, his expression cold and his sight as sharp as a knife.

Sofia felt like a deer in the headlights. So, she slowly turned around and walked towards Finley.

With a click, Finley’s bodyguard stationed outside locked the door.

Sofia’s body trembled, and the moment she saw Finley, all her past trauma washed over her like a tidal wave swallowing her whole.

Finley looked at the woman trembling in front of him. Three years ago, the darling Sofia Campbell was the epitome of elegance and ethereal. But this version of Sofia irritated him to no end.

He extinguished his cigarette and pulled at his tie, revealing skin that reflected the eerie light.

Finley kept himself seated while Sofia stood there in trepidation.

Who would have thought that the two of them were once the most enviable couple in New York? She was a famous designer, and he was a renowned businessman. Both of them were good-looking, had rich family histories, and their engagement party was broadcasted live.

Everything had changed. And their circumstances were so absurd that they couldn’t even believe it.

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Finley pretended to relax, but his clenched jaw revealed his frustrations.

It was impossible for him to have loved her. She was always just a pawn in his game.

Even in bed, he was rough with her. He had bit her, bruised her. And he always thought that it was never love. All he wanted was revenge against her father, Robert.

Robert Campbell had set up Finley’s own father. He had killed him, swallowed the Stewarts‘ property, and forced his mother to work and die in New York’s underground prostitution rings.

Finley’s hand clenched into a fist. How could he love this woman, the offspring of his enemy? She didn’t deserve it!

She was no good with a father like that!

“Pour the wine.” Finley’s voice was low and cold as ice.

Sofia is truly afraid of him. She grew up sheltered and protected by her parents. Due to the torment, she had

endured because of him, she was terrified of him, fearing for her life.

Just standing in front of him made her heart start to panic. It was all too overwhelming for Sofia.

She carefully reached for an opened bottle of imported wine and was about to pour it into the glass in front of Finley.

“Use your left hand,” Finley said quietly.

Sofia froze.

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Finley motioned to her left hand, which was covered in her glove, and repeated himself.

“Pour the wine with your left hand.”

Sofia’s eyes started to brim with tears. Despite enduring immense pain, this was a torment she couldn’t bear deep within her heart.

He was clearly still fixated on Ellie. Sofia fought hard to hold back her tears, determined not to cry in front of this man. She refused to show any sign of vulnerability, despite the overwhelming frustration she felt.

She slowly lifted her hand and removed the glove. Then, she used both hands to grip the bottle and began to pour.

Finley’s eyes watched Sofia’s deformed hand, and his eyes darkened.

With a loud crash, Sofia accidentally knocked the wineglass, causing half of the wine to spill onto Finley’s suit pants.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She knelt down and grabbed a tissue off to the side to help him wipe his pants.

But Finley yanked her up, and her frail arms pressed her tightly into his chest.

Sofia’s body nearly collided with his, and she stared at Finley in horror, memories of that painful night flooding back. She pleaded, almost begging, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Stewart. I didn’t mean to, my hand… it just slipped…”

Her familiar scent enveloped his senses once again. It had

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been three years since Finley had been with a woman. After Sofia was put into prison, he remained celibate.

He thought he would forget about her, but now she was here, stirring up these unwanted emotions in his heart.

After three years of repressed desire, Finley felt something erupt in his chest. He leaned down and suddenly kissed Sofia’s dry, cracked lips.

Sofia’s eyes widened in horror, and she subconsciously pushed away the man who was already emotionally confused and raised her right hand to slap him in the face.

Slap!

Both of them froze.

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Finley rolled his eyes and stared at Sofia.

She stopped breathing.

She wasn’t just scared about the fact that she had slapped Finley in the heat of the moment but was also horrified that he had just tried to kiss her.

The room fell into an eerie silence as if all the air had been sucked out, leaving only the sound of Sofia’s rapid breaths, a clear indication of her fear.

Suddenly Sofia’s cell phone rang, and the ringing seemed to ease the tension.

Finley’s grip on her arm loosened, and he pushed her away in disgust.

Sofia turned around and ran towards the door, but Finley’s voice stopped her.

“I didn’t ask for you to leave.” His words were frosty.

“M–Mr. Stewart, I’m going to take a call outside so I don’t disturb you,” Sofia mumbled,

“You can talk right here.” Finley’s mind was a storm of emotions. He felt a mix of irritation and unspoken desire, leaving him teetering over the edge.

Sofia was too afraid to leave the room again, knowing the

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consequences of defying Finley. She shivered at his icy gaze and took out her cell, looking at the unknown number on the

screen.

Her contact info had only three numbers, Daisy, their

landlord, and the attending doctor who was responsible for seeing her mother.

She glanced at Finley, who sat back on the sofa and pressed the answer button.

A charming man’s voice sounded from the other line.

“Sofia, it’s me!” The man let out a relieved laugh.

Brian?

Sofia’s hand trembled slightly.

The surrounding atmosphere was filled with noise and chatter, making Brian’s voice stand out as he spoke loudly. However, in the silence of the box, his laughter echoed clearly, reaching Finley’s ears.

Sofia immediately hung up the phone.

She didn’t know where Brian had gotten her number, but she didn’t think it was wise to take Brian’s call in front of Finley.

Besides, Sofia really didn’t know what to say to Brian.

Finley sat there, playing with the lighter sitting on the marble countertop, his eyes lowered.

The phone rang once again, and Sofia didn’t answer.

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But Brian kept calling her, and it was becoming nonstop.

“Pick it up!” Finley’s eyebrows furrowed in anger and irritation.

Sofia took out her phone and raised it to her ear.

“Talk to him!” Finley felt like he was directing a puppet on a string.

Beads of sweat seeped from Sofia’s forehead, and she tapped the answer button.

Brian’s laugh came from over there, with a hint of exasperation.

“Sofia, you’ve got to be kidding me! I know you hate me right now, but just hear me out. I found out from the hospital that you left early. I’m in Italy right now, trying to close up a few business deals…” Brian was chatty, but Sofia didn’t say a word in reply. She suspected that he kept talking to fill the awkward silence.

“Oh! And I have some good news for you. I’ve contacted the best plastic surgeon in Italy and he said he can help you with those cuts on your face. I’m also trying to replace a doctor for your left hand.”

The mention of Sofia’s injured left hand struck a chord in Finley’s ears, and without hesitation, he rose from his seat and marched directly towards Sofia, closing the distance · between them. His encroaching presence almost made her panic.

Finley snatched the phone from her hand, and Brian was still

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chatting away about the list of doctors that could help her.

Finley dropped the phone, and it landed on the marble tile with a click! Brian’s voice came to a screeching halt as Finley stomped on it, shattering it to pieces.

Sofia’s heart ached as she looked at her phone. It was a gift from Daisy, bought with care and not too expensive, but it had still cost over 300 dollars, an astronomical amount for her now.

Sofia squatted down to pick up her phone, hoping to assess the damage or take it outside for repairs. But before she could do anything, Finley grabbed her wrist tightly and lifted her up, making her feel small and helpless, like a helpless child in his grip.

“You’re a real bitch, you know that?!” Finley spat through gritted teeth. He glared at the woman dangling in his grip.

Anger raged in his chest, making him say the most horrible things.

“I haven’t seen you in three years and thought prison would knock some sense into you, but I was wrong.”

“You’re a dirty slut for hooking up with Brian.”

“How could someone like him fuck a woman as hideous as you?”

“When did you sleep with him? Huh?!”

Sofia’s eyes widened as she looked up at Finley, observing a side of him she had never seen before. Even during the peak

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of their love, he had always been gentle, open, and composed, taking great care of her with attentiveness and consideration.

This was the first time she had heard such venomous words from him.

And Finley was also disgusted with himself. The words he uttered were degrading and terrible, and he shut his mouth.

Suddenly, the sound of several men talking came from outside.

“May I ask if Mr. Stewart is in this room?”

“I wonder if he’s busy with an escort right now.”

“We’d like to buy Mr. Stewart a drink!”

Justin, Finley’s assistant, laughed. “Mr. Baker, Mr. Richmond. I’m terribly sorry, but Mr. Stewart is currently occupied with something.”

“Oh, no need for apologies. Sorry to interrupt.”

Recently, Finley had been involved in negotiations for a major project on Long Island, near the Hamptons. This project carried an initial investment of several hundred billion dollars, attracting the attention of various

conglomerates in New York who were eager to get a piece of the action.

Even though Finley reaped most of the benefits, he made sure his business partners remained content to avoid minor squabbles.

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However, meeting Mr. Stewart was not something that could be accomplished easily. After spending countless days waiting at the Charming Bar, they finally spotted Mr. Stewart’s assistant, Justin, outside the private box, indicating that Mr. Stewart was inside.

They wanted to seize the opportunity by the throat, but now so many people wanted to see him nowadays.

Justin had just told them Finley was busy when suddenly Finley’s voice sounded through the door.

“Let them in!”

Justin was stunned but opened the door of the room and ushered Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond in.

Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond were overjoyed and asked the waiter for the best wine. They also had escorts with them.

The silent and suffocating atmosphere of the room instantly livened up.

Finley pushed Sofia aside, yet she didn’t dare try to escape again. Instead, she stood in silence.

Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond took a look at Sofia, showing a trace of surprise and then recognition. That was Sofial Campbell.

But she didn’t even look like Robert’s daughter. When the Campbells were at their height, they had attended her 18th. birthday party along with hundreds of other elites. At that time, Sofia was the dazzling little princess of New York. But now the Sofie they were seeing was marred, frail, and

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The two men, both seasoned businessmen, paid no attention to Sofia and instead directed their gaze toward Finley. He was reclining on the sofa, appearing somewhat fatigued, with a glass of wine in his hand.

“Mr. Stewart, I’ve been wanting to buy you a drink these past few days, but you’re so busy! Forgive us if we’re intruding on your space.”

“Thank you for letting us in!”

“We owe you one, Stewart!”

Finley squeezed his glass, and the beautiful women on either side of him were busy smiling and topping off their wine glasses.

Finley took a look at the beautiful woman who was almost attached to his body and didn’t refuse her antics. Her name was Josie, the most requested escort in The Charming Bar.

At first, Josie was nervous, unsure of how Finley Stewart would react. However, to her surprise, he didn’t dismiss her, and she smiled brightly.

“Have some cheese and fruit with this wine, Mr. Stewart!” Josie picked the grapes from the plate with a toothpick, and with her whole body almost on top of Finley’s, she fed the grapes to Finley’s mouth.

Finley laughed in a rare moment, but it sounded cold and robotic.

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He bit into the grape in front of Sofia but noticed that she kept her gaze averted. The more he looked at her, the more irritated he became.

She just watched him flirt with another woman and didn’t react at all.

Finley suddenly pushed the woman on top of him with annoyance and shot Sofia a cold glare. “What are you doing standing around?”

“Why don’t you accompany Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond? Aren’t you short on money? Don’t you like to be cheap?”

“Go on! Sit with them and drink. If you kiss them, I’ll give you a thousand dollars for each kiss.”

Sofia’s hand bal

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Finley rolled his eyes and stared at Sofia.

She stopped breathing.

She wasn’t just scared about the fact that she had slapped Finley in the heat of the moment but was also horrified that he had just tried to kiss her.

The room fell into an eerie silence as if all the air had been sucked out, leaving only the sound of Sofia’s rapid breaths, a clear indication of her fear.

Suddenly Sofia’s cell phone rang, and the ringing seemed to ease the tension.

Finley’s grip on her arm loosened, and he pushed her away in disgust.

Sofia turned around and ran towards the door, but Finley’s voice stopped her.

“I didn’t ask for you to leave.” His words were frosty.

“M–Mr. Stewart, I’m going to take a call outside so I don’t disturb you,” Sofia mumbled,

“You can talk right here.” Finley’s mind was a storm of emotions. He felt a mix of irritation and unspoken desire, leaving him teetering over the edge.

Sofia was too afraid to leave the room again, knowing the

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consequences of defying Finley. She shivered at his icy gaze and took out her cell, looking at the unknown number on the

screen.

Her contact info had only three numbers, Daisy, their

landlord, and the attending doctor who was responsible for seeing her mother.

She glanced at Finley, who sat back on the sofa and pressed the answer button.

A charming man’s voice sounded from the other line.

“Sofia, it’s me!” The man let out a relieved laugh.

Brian?

Sofia’s hand trembled slightly.

The surrounding atmosphere was filled with noise and chatter, making Brian’s voice stand out as he spoke loudly. However, in the silence of the box, his laughter echoed clearly, reaching Finley’s ears.

Sofia immediately hung up the phone.

She didn’t know where Brian had gotten her number, but she didn’t think it was wise to take Brian’s call in front of Finley.

Besides, Sofia really didn’t know what to say to Brian.

Finley sat there, playing with the lighter sitting on the marble countertop, his eyes lowered.

The phone rang once again, and Sofia didn’t answer.

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But Brian kept calling her, and it was becoming nonstop.

“Pick it up!” Finley’s eyebrows furrowed in anger and irritation.

Sofia took out her phone and raised it to her ear.

“Talk to him!” Finley felt like he was directing a puppet on a string.

Beads of sweat seeped from Sofia’s forehead, and she tapped the answer button.

Brian’s laugh came from over there, with a hint of exasperation.

“Sofia, you’ve got to be kidding me! I know you hate me right now, but just hear me out. I found out from the hospital that you left early. I’m in Italy right now, trying to close up a few business deals…” Brian was chatty, but Sofia didn’t say a word in reply. She suspected that he kept talking to fill the awkward silence.

“Oh! And I have some good news for you. I’ve contacted the best plastic surgeon in Italy and he said he can help you with those cuts on your face. I’m also trying to replace a doctor for your left hand.”

The mention of Sofia’s injured left hand struck a chord in Finley’s ears, and without hesitation, he rose from his seat and marched directly towards Sofia, closing the distance · between them. His encroaching presence almost made her panic.

Finley snatched the phone from her hand, and Brian was still

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chatting away about the list of doctors that could help her.

Finley dropped the phone, and it landed on the marble tile with a click! Brian’s voice came to a screeching halt as Finley stomped on it, shattering it to pieces.

Sofia’s heart ached as she looked at her phone. It was a gift from Daisy, bought with care and not too expensive, but it had still cost over 300 dollars, an astronomical amount for her now.

Sofia squatted down to pick up her phone, hoping to assess the damage or take it outside for repairs. But before she could do anything, Finley grabbed her wrist tightly and lifted her up, making her feel small and helpless, like a helpless child in his grip.

“You’re a real bitch, you know that?!” Finley spat through gritted teeth. He glared at the woman dangling in his grip.

Anger raged in his chest, making him say the most horrible things.

“I haven’t seen you in three years and thought prison would knock some sense into you, but I was wrong.”

“You’re a dirty slut for hooking up with Brian.”

“How could someone like him fuck a woman as hideous as you?”

“When did you sleep with him? Huh?!”

Sofia’s eyes widened as she looked up at Finley, observing a side of him she had never seen before. Even during the peak

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of their love, he had always been gentle, open, and composed, taking great care of her with attentiveness and consideration.

This was the first time she had heard such venomous words from him.

And Finley was also disgusted with himself. The words he uttered were degrading and terrible, and he shut his mouth.

Suddenly, the sound of several men talking came from outside.

“May I ask if Mr. Stewart is in this room?”

“I wonder if he’s busy with an escort right now.”

“We’d like to buy Mr. Stewart a drink!”

Justin, Finley’s assistant, laughed. “Mr. Baker, Mr. Richmond. I’m terribly sorry, but Mr. Stewart is currently occupied with something.”

“Oh, no need for apologies. Sorry to interrupt.”

Recently, Finley had been involved in negotiations for a major project on Long Island, near the Hamptons. This project carried an initial investment of several hundred billion dollars, attracting the attention of various

conglomerates in New York who were eager to get a piece of the action.

Even though Finley reaped most of the benefits, he made sure his business partners remained content to avoid minor squabbles.

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However, meeting Mr. Stewart was not something that could be accomplished easily. After spending countless days waiting at the Charming Bar, they finally spotted Mr. Stewart’s assistant, Justin, outside the private box, indicating that Mr. Stewart was inside.

They wanted to seize the opportunity by the throat, but now so many people wanted to see him nowadays.

Justin had just told them Finley was busy when suddenly Finley’s voice sounded through the door.

“Let them in!”

Justin was stunned but opened the door of the room and ushered Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond in.

Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond were overjoyed and asked the waiter for the best wine. They also had escorts with them.

The silent and suffocating atmosphere of the room instantly livened up.

Finley pushed Sofia aside, yet she didn’t dare try to escape again. Instead, she stood in silence.

Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond took a look at Sofia, showing a trace of surprise and then recognition. That was Sofial Campbell.

But she didn’t even look like Robert’s daughter. When the Campbells were at their height, they had attended her 18th. birthday party along with hundreds of other elites. At that time, Sofia was the dazzling little princess of New York. But now the Sofie they were seeing was marred, frail, and

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Chapter 10

broken.

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The two men, both seasoned businessmen, paid no attention to Sofia and instead directed their gaze toward Finley. He was reclining on the sofa, appearing somewhat fatigued, with a glass of wine in his hand.

“Mr. Stewart, I’ve been wanting to buy you a drink these past few days, but you’re so busy! Forgive us if we’re intruding on your space.”

“Thank you for letting us in!”

“We owe you one, Stewart!”

Finley squeezed his glass, and the beautiful women on either side of him were busy smiling and topping off their wine glasses.

Finley took a look at the beautiful woman who was almost attached to his body and didn’t refuse her antics. Her name was Josie, the most requested escort in The Charming Bar.

At first, Josie was nervous, unsure of how Finley Stewart would react. However, to her surprise, he didn’t dismiss her, and she smiled brightly.

“Have some cheese and fruit with this wine, Mr. Stewart!” Josie picked the grapes from the plate with a toothpick, and with her whole body almost on top of Finley’s, she fed the grapes to Finley’s mouth.

Finley laughed in a rare moment, but it sounded cold and robotic.

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He bit into the grape in front of Sofia but noticed that she kept her gaze averted. The more he looked at her, the more irritated he became.

She just watched him flirt with another woman and didn’t react at all.

Finley suddenly pushed the woman on top of him with annoyance and shot Sofia a cold glare. “What are you doing standing around?”

“Why don’t you accompany Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond? Aren’t you short on money? Don’t you like to be cheap?”

“Go on! Sit with them and drink. If you kiss them, I’ll give you a thousand dollars for each kiss.”

Sofia’s hand balled into a fist. Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond were basically her father’s age, and those two were once close friends with her father. When they visited their villa, she would endearingly call them Uncle Baker and Uncle Richmond.

Sofia stood still as Finley looked at her. He suddenly pulled her to his side and whispered in her ear. “I’ll give you two choices.”

“Either go kiss them or apologize for slapping me and say that you were in the wrong.”

led into a fist. Mr. Baker and Mr. Richmond were basically her father’s age, and those two were once close friends with her father. When they visited their villa, she would endearingly call them Uncle Baker and Uncle Richmond.

Sofia stood still as Finley looked at her. He suddenly pulled her to his side and whispered in her ear. “I’ll give you two choices.”

“Either go kiss them or apologize for slapping me and say that you were in the wrong.”