"I… I can't say it. In that situation, I couldn't bring myself to say those words," she answered.
Ned suddenly laughed. "That situation? I thought you'd stand your ground no matter what. Have you forgotten how you fought tooth and nail over two bottles of mineral water when you were mistaken for sexually harassing me?" He stared at Sophie, growing agitated. "In a situation like that, you could argue your case—why didn't you say a single word yesterday?"
She turned away, trying to escape the crushing pressure weighing on her heart. "Do you want me to fight with them? It's obvious your mother despises me. If I had spoken to her with that attitude last night, it would only deepen her hatred."
"Heh, even if you didn't say anything, the outcome's the same." Ned's tone and expression were ice-cold. "Where's your courage? All this time, have I been the only one invested in this relationship? Sophie, look at me. Tell me—do you love me?"
She closed her eyes. It was a long while before she opened them again, asking weakly, "Aren't you afraid I'll get hurt? Is this how you love me? Or did you want me to get hurt all along?" She gazed into his eyes—those deep blue eyes held only intensity, no tenderness.
"If you love me, getting hurt is inevitable. So you'll get hurt sooner or later…" After locking eyes with Sophie for a long moment, Ned snapped back and replied, "If you're afraid of getting hurt and lack the courage to face it, the one who ends up shattered will be me—and only me."
His words twisted Sophie's heart into a knot in an instant. The moment she looked away, she suddenly understood what he meant. The two of them were already sunk deep in a quagmire—unable to free themselves, unable to turn back.
Ned gently pulled her into his arms. She gasped lightly, trying to break free.
He held her tighter, so tight she could barely breathe.
"Where's your courage, Sophie? Please bring her back. Let me see your courage. Only then can I be sure you truly love me!" he murmured against her lips, pressing close.
Then came his possessive kiss, sucking gently on her soft earlobe. That burning sensation shook every nerve in Sophie's body…
She closed her eyes. As his hot, wet kisses trailed down her neck, she felt herself trembling with excitement…
Why did every place he kissed feel like a branding iron, searing with pain?
Amid the pain and trembling, she fell again and again—into confusion, clarity, surrender, and certainty…
In this cycle of alternating emotions, mutual erosion, Sophie sank deeper, utterly unable to pull herself free.
......
After last night's prolonged argument with her husband and son, followed by a night of cold silence, Victoria woke up with a splitting headache that felt like her skull was about to crack open. Even a painkiller did nothing to ease it. Remembering that she hadn't returned to the garden to greet the guests after entering the villa, she felt terribly rude and began calling each attendee from the previous night to apologize.
Just as she was about to dial Isabella, the butler approached. "Madam, Miss Lara is here."
She nodded, instructed the butler to bring some fruit and drinks, and settled on the sofa to wait for Lara.
"Auntie, how are you feeling today? Sore throat? Headache? You've always had migraines—try not to worry…" Lara entered the living room in a chic little dress, clearly trying to look her best, but the exhaustion on her face couldn't be hidden.
"Come here, Lara, sit beside Auntie. I was just about to call your mother to apologize. Last night was unforgivable." Victoria beckoned her over.
"We didn't mind at all. We all understand the circumstances. Please don't worry!" Lara sat gracefully on the sofa, gently taking Victoria's hand and comforting her with warmth.
"Hmm, only you would say that. You were wronged last night—how could Ned not see how wonderful you are! Don't worry, I will make sure you marry him."
Hearing this firm assurance, Lara lowered her head shyly, and the gloom that had hung over her all night instantly vanished.
"That woman last night—do you know her? You looked shocked when you saw her," Victoria suddenly asked.
"She… was my college classmate; she's also Ned's assistant; a while back, she even dated Archibald; and Auntie, have you forgotten?" Lara paused deliberately.
"What did you say? Ned's assistant? Dated Archibald? What else don't I know? Tell me—quickly!" Victoria was already growing angry.
"And you've met her before. Think hard, Auntie—you'll remember," Lara said mysteriously.
"Met her? I have?" Victoria fell into recollection. "Should I remember someone like that? Why would I?"
Lara said nothing, but her eyes glinted with venom, like a viper's.
"Oh—yes, now I remember. The day you were volunteering at the hospital, I saw her. Then we drove home together, and that's when I met her." Victoria suddenly realized. "You told me then she was your college classmate, Ned's assistant, and that you two weren't close."
Lara nodded encouragingly, as if to urge her on.
"That day, my husband was holding her arm as they walked into the hospital. Later, I went to visit him. The first time, he sent me away; the second time, he'd transferred hospitals. We even fought about it. Then I got busy planning Ned's birthday banquet and pushed the whole thing out of my mind. There's definitely something wrong here. Yes, something's not right." Victoria pieced the events together, muttering to herself.
She suddenly turned to Lara: "You just said she dated Archibald?"
"Mm-hmm. It wasn't a secret at LSE. Archibald even came to campus looking for her and confessed his feelings. If that's not dating, what is?" Lara feigned innocence.
"That woman is utterly shameless—stringing two men along!" Victoria exclaimed in anguish. "And my son last night actually said he loves her, that he wants to marry her. A fickle, vain woman who falls for whoever crosses her path…"
Lara gripped the hem of her dress tightly, silent, a surge of bitterness flooding her heart.
"No. I absolutely won't allow a woman like that near Ned again. If she dares hurt my son, I'll make sure she regrets it!" Victoria glared fiercely out the window at the large tree—yesterday, under that very tree, she'd seen Sophie and Ned holding hands intimately. She turned back, clasping Lara's hands in hers. "Lara, you have to help Auntie. Both father and son have been completely bewitched by this woman. No matter what I say, they won't listen. I'll have to handle this my own way…"
"Of course, Auntie. I'm on your side. We're both from noble families—we can't let some low-class, identity-less commoner taint us."
Their eyes hardened with resolve.