Chapter 6
“What are you ladies gossiping about now?” A familiar hand encircled Sophia’s waist as Ethan’s voice sounded in
her ear.
Their friends exchanged knowing smiles. “Look at that–he can’t bear to be away from you for even a moment!”
Ethan smiled, about to speak when the banquet hall doors suddenly flew open.]]
A figure spotted Ethan and rushed toward him like a hurricane.]
Ethan’s body was tightly embraced by her.[]
“Ethan, I thought I’d never see you again!” the woman cried.[]
Ethan stood frozen, but when he saw that Veronica was barefoot, her face showing signs of injury, the smile in his eyes vanished completely as his arms instinctively tightened around her.[]
“Who is that?”
“I don’t know. What’s her relationship with Ethan?“]
Whispers suddenly filled the air.]
Ethan’s eyes immediately darted to Sophia.[]
The moment Veronica appeared, Sophia’s fingers had curled into tight fists.]
Today was her birthday. She had only wanted to see her friends one last time before leaving for good.]
Yet even this moment had to be ruined by Veronica.]
All her dignity crumbled in an instant.
Ethan watched as Sophia swayed slightly, his eyes flashing with urgency. But before he could say anything, Veronica buried her tear–streaked face against his chest.]
Ethan’s gaze swept over the red marks on Veronica’s neck and the scattered red spots, instantly inflaming his anger as he demanded:
“Who did this?”
Hearing his question, Veronica trembled and looked up at him, answering in a voice only the three of them could hear, “It’s… it’s my uncle! He said you were just playing with me, and he wanted to-“]
“He’s dead!” Ethan snarled.]
Chapter 6
Ethan quickly removed his jacket to cover Veronica’s body, then picked her up.[]
Sophia instinctively grabbed the arm of the enraged Ethan.[]
Ethan had recently been taken to the police station for assault, and she had worked hard to suppress the news. He couldn’t be reckless again.[]
Just as Sophia was about to speak, Ethan’s piercing eyes silenced her.[]
“Sophia, I’ll make up your birthday celebration later. You’re a woman too–can’t you empathize?“[]
Sophia’s words caught in her throat. After a moment, she laughed bitterly. “So this is how you see me?“[]
Ethan’s face tensed, and Veronica clutched his shirt tightly.[]
He immediately hardened his tone.[]
“Isn’t it obvious?“]|
Ethan pushed past Sophia and strode out of the banquet hall.]
As they left, the room erupted with gossip.
“See that? All that ‘love‘ was just for show!“]
“What good is pretending to be loving? Beauty fades, and fresh young buds arrive one after another. Can Sophia cut them all down?”
Their words fell on Sophia’s ears like boiling water.
She mechanically maintained her smile as she saw off one group of guests after another.]]
Under her friends‘ concerned gazes, she preserved her last shred of dignity. This slap that Ethan had delivered to her face–she would cover and conceal it herself.
When the crowds dispersed, leaving only the fragrance of flowers.]
She collapsed to the floor like a kite with cut strings, crumbling after being caught in a violent storm. All her grievances erupted at this moment as she lay on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.[]
The man who had promised to protect her for life had deceived her entire existence![]
