Chapter 4
pain dulled by medication.
Emily woke a day later, her back bandaged, the p
Alex sat beside her, casually smolding, a cloud of smoke curling above them as his voice cut through the haze like a blade.
“Sophia’s sulking,” he said coolly. “Time to make things right.”
She turned her head slowly, her eyes empty. “What exactly does Mr. Harrington want from me?”
His expression darkened at her formal tone. He ground out the cigarette and leaned closer, tracing her lips with fingers still stained with ash.
“Don’t test my patience, sweetheart,” he warned, his voice soft but laced with threat.
Emily’s chest tightened. A memory surfaced–something Alex’s father once told her with chilling clarity. “Alex doesn’t want a partner. He wants a pet. If you stay with him, get used to living on a leash.”
Back then, she’d brushed it off as a manipulative attempt
to tear th
them apart. But now, the truth was crystal clear.
Allex didn’t love he possessed. He demanded loyalty, submission. And if you disobeyed, he’d break you until you begged to be owned again.
ན ཟ ཆ མ
Emily lowered her eyes to hide her fear and whispered, “I understand.”
“Good,” Alex said, satisfied. “Sophia wants a solo violin piece. Make
e sure it’s ready.”
He patted her head like she was some obedient dog, then began applying ointment to her wounds–his touch cold and clinical
That evening, Emily slipped into a long–sleeved champagne–colored gown glittering with diamonds. Her jewelry sparkled under the lights, but her expression remained vacant as the driver took her to the venue.
The banquet was held at the Harrington Group’s most luxurious hotel, drawing Cresthaven’s entire social elite.
Most women arrived in minimalist designer dresses and understated makeup, all clearly mimicking Sophia’s effortlessly chic style.
Emily, draped in opulence, stood out like a sore thumb–too much sparkle, too much effort. And people noticed.
The moment she stepped I in, the whispers began:
“She’s trying way too hard. Just look at her–drenched in diamonds like a Christmas tree”
“She’s old news. Clinging to whatever scraps of attention she can get.”
“She’ll never be Sophia She’s still just a beggar in pearls.”
Their cruel words echoed in her ears, heavy and suffocating
She remembered past events, when someone once insulted her background and Alex had that person blacklisted overnight.
“Anyone who mocks my wife disappears from Cresthaven, he’d vowed.
Bu! loyalty among the rich was a fickle thing. Now that Alex no longer shielded her, the vultures circled freely.
The murmurs finally died down when Alex and Sophia walked in.
Emily turned, following the shift in energy. Sophia wore a pale, sleeveless gown, her high ponytail swinging as she lifted her chin with effortless pride.
In that moment, Emily understood the allure. Sophia carried the same fire Emily once had when she first joi confident, unafraid of her roots.
joined the Harrington family–untamed,
But Alex had stamped that fire out of her. He’d told her to be polished, proper, submissive. And now, he craved the very spirit he’d crushed. Emily’s eyes dimined, pain blooming quietly in her chest. As the crowd buzzed around Sophia, Emily turned to leave.
“Alex, didn’t you promise me a performance?” Sophia’s voice rang out, saccharine and smug.
Emily froze.
The room quieted. No one ever spoke to Alex that way–no one except Sophia.
But instead of scolding her, Alex gave a small smile and gently guided Sophia to her seat. With a snap of his fingers, a staff member appeared beside Emily, holding a violin.
She turned back slowly, locking eyes with Alex across the room. Her grip tightened around the instrument.
R
ReelShort
The violin had once been her greatest passion. She’d dreamed of joining a symphony, of performing on world stages.
But Alex had stolen that too–telling her that her music belonged to him and him alone.
Now, one Sophia was all it took to rewrite the nales.
A bitter smile ghosted across her lips.
She lifted the violin and began t
to play Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor -a haunting, sorrowful melody that spilled into the air like a quiet goodbye.
Every note cut deeper than words. This wasn’t just a performance–it was her eulogy to their love.
She was done.
Alex’s brows furrowed as the mournful music filled the room. Something about the raw grief in her playing unsettled him.
It scraped at something he didn’t recognize something that felt too much like regret.
“Enough,” Sophia snapped, her voice slicing through the air. “This is way too gloomy. She’s ruining the mood.”
She turned to Emily, eyes narrowed. “You chose to leave Alex on your own. I didn’t force you. Stop playing the pitiful v
Her tone was honeyed, but every
ery word dripped venom
Emily met her gaze but said nothing, her eyes lowered in quiet defiance,
Sophia, irritated by the silence, turned to Alex with a scowl.
victim.”
“Why did you even bring her here, Alex? Just to mess with me?” she snapped, her voice sharp in the stunned hush of the ballroom. The room went dead quiet, everyone waiting to see if So
Sophia had pushed Alex too far.
