Chapter 5

Their eyes met briefly in the air.

Sophia's heart pounded.

She swallowed reflexively and looked away.

Edward followed Lancelot's gaze and caught only Sophia's evasive eyes.

He frowned slightly, his expression suspicious.

Owen pushed himself up from the table. "Alright, don't all crowd around here. Go rest."

Sophia seized the opportunity and fled.

She returned to her bedroom and collapsed onto the large wooden bed as soon as she entered.

Clutching her chest, Sophia couldn't help but recall Lancelot's gaze.

Why did he say he had someone in mind?

Was he trying to drag her down with him as revenge?

That wouldn't work!

If rumors spread about her and Lancelot, she'd be drowned in gossip.

As Sophia pondered this, the door suddenly burst open.

Sophia looked up to see Edward, his expression displeased.

Edward stared straight at Sophia, demanding, "In the living room earlier, why were you staring at my brother the whole time?"

"Who I look at is none of your business."

"We're about to get married, and you're making eyes at another man right in front of me?"

Sophia glared at him. "Don't forget—I already told you we're not getting married. Even if I was staring at your brother, what right do you have to control me?"

Edward's eyes darkened. He strode forward quickly, bracing one hand against the wall and trapping Sophia in front of him.

"What are you doing!" Sophia was on guard.

He leaned in close, his warm breath hitting Sophia's ear. "I didn't agree!"

"I don't need your agreement!" Sophia lifted her head, sneering. "Give the bride's position to Dahlia. After all, she's served you so well for so long—she deserves some reward."

"Sophia!" Edward snapped. He immediately lunged forward, his tall frame casting Sophia in shadow as he reached for her collar and yanked it down.

Her right shoulder was violently exposed. Sophia's expression changed drastically.

"Looks like I need to remind you of your place! Sophia, you're mine, and you can only be mine!"

Her clothes were torn open violently. Sophia's fury ignited instantly, mixed with a trace of humiliation. "Edward! Let go of me! What gives you the right to treat me like this! You bastard!"

Edward pinned her struggling hands, his tearing growing more forceful.

Sophia's collarbone was already half exposed.

The rage in his eyes suddenly transformed into a strange possessiveness. "I'm your husband. From now on, your eyes can only be on me!"

Sophia struggled with all her might. "Let go of me! Edward! This is rape! It's a crime!"

"It doesn't matter. We're getting married soon. This is your wifely duty."

The tension between them escalated.

Just then, Edward's phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He was about to hang up when the name flashing on the screen made him pause.

Dahlia.

Sophia also saw the name jumping on the screen. She felt a wave of relief.

The pressure on her body suddenly released as Edward answered the call.

"Hello? Why are you calling so late? Can't sleep again? Okay, I'll come right now."

Without looking back, Edward headed straight to the closet, threw on a jacket, and left.

Sophia collapsed to the floor, clutching her clothes tightly, her whole body cold.

She hadn't expected Edward would try to rape her!

Before Sophia could recover, the door was pushed open again.

Thinking it was Edward returning, she looked up to find Edward's mother, Gemma Tudor, her face full of anger.

"What do you want, Mrs. FitzRoy?"

She tried to maintain politeness and composure.

After all, what had just happened was humiliating. She couldn't broadcast it.

Gemma suddenly strode toward her.

Sophia felt a rush of wind by her ear, and her cheek instantly burned.

She instinctively covered her right cheek. "Mrs. FitzRoy? What are you doing!"

Gemma pointed at Sophia's nose, her voice suppressed with rage. "You useless thing! You can't even keep your own man! Letting him leave in the middle of the night! And for another woman!"

Owen already disliked Edward associating with other women. If Owen found out, Edward would surely be punished again.

At the thought, Gemma's resentment deepened.

If it weren't for this woman, Edward's position in the FitzRoy family wouldn't have become like this!

Before Sophia could retort, the woman in front of her grabbed her arm and dragged her out.

Sophia was pulled into the garden. Someone kicked hard at the back of her knees, and she crashed down onto the ground.

Her knees slammed into the pebbles. The pain made her vision go black, and she gasped sharply.

Gemma's eyes were venomous. "It's all your fault! My son has become like this because of you! You'll kneel here and reflect! You can't get up until you've learned your lesson!"

She turned to two tall servants who had appeared behind her at some point. "You two watch her. Don't let her stand up!"

"Yes, Mrs. FitzRoy."

Gemma turned and left.

Sophia tried to stand, but she was pushed back down.

"Ms. Forbes should just kneel properly. If you anger Mrs. FitzRoy, you'll be kneeling even longer."

Sophia was held down and couldn't break free.

"Let me go! If Grandfather finds out you're treating me like this..."

"You fell on your own. It's not our business." The servant cut her off, pressing down hard on her shoulders.

On the small stone path, sharp pebbles dug into the flesh of her knees. Sophia winced involuntarily from the pain.

The sky had turned overcast at some point. Rain began to fall in a drizzle.

Sophia's clothes were already thin. Now she was freezing, her teeth chattering.

Cold blood continuously pooled on the ground.

Sophia's consciousness gradually blurred. Her vision kept going black, and her struggles grew weaker.

She couldn't lose. She couldn't pass out. She couldn't let them see her weakness!

She bit down hard, fighting to stay conscious.

In her haze, she heard hurried footsteps. The rain above her head was briefly blocked.

"Ms. Forbes? Mr. FitzRoy asked you to deliver a document for him."

Sophia looked up at the person in front of her and recognized him as Lancelot's assistant.

"Let go of Ms. Forbes immediately!" he commanded sharply.

"But this is Mrs. FitzRoy's order..."

"Do you want Mr. FitzRoy to come tell you himself?"

At those words, the two servants exchanged glances and hesitantly released her.

Without their restraint, Sophia finally stood.

But the pain in her knees made her unsteady.

The assistant quickly reached out to support her and handed her the document.

"Ms. Forbes, I'm sorry to trouble you."

He helped her into the house before leaving.

Sophia looked at the manila folder in her hands and stumbled toward Lancelot's room in a daze.

Her knees were a bloody mess. Her legs had long gone numb and stiff. Every step forward pulled at excruciating pain. Warmth hit her face as she entered the house, but the bone-deep cold still gripped her limbs. Her foot suddenly slipped, and her body lurched forward uncontrollably.

The cold floor she expected didn't come. She fell into a warm and solid embrace.