Chapter 231
Throughout Betty’s tirade, Henty remained completely silent, accepting her verbal assault with surprising composure. Knowing his volatile tempérament worried that my friend might push him too far.
‘Betty,‘ I said quickly, placing Billy’s hand in hers, ‘could you take Billy upstairs? It’s freezing out here.”
Betty clearly wanted to continue defending me, but seeing the pleading look in my eyes, she reluctantly agreed. After she and Billy disappeared inside, 1 turned back to Henry, who still hadn’t uttered a word in his defense.
“Henry, I said wearily, please stop showing up in my life. Can you just do that for me?”
Despite Betty’s barrage of insults, Henry’s expression remained remarkably calm. He even maintained a slight smile. Taking a few steps toward me, his eyes burning with an intensity I hadn’t seen before, he spoke softly but clearly🙂
“Sophia, my perception of you has completely changed. I understand now how much you’ve suffered in this marriage. Can you give me a chance to make it up to you?
Ever since discovering Isabella’s true nature, Henry had found his feelings for her completely evaporated. Thinking about all the pain Sophia had endured made him desperate to be near her, to say something–anything.
But he wasn’t good at expressing emotions or comforting others, so all he could do was keep showing up, trying to maintain a presence in her life.
His words put me instantly on guard. I stared at him with undisguised contempt.
“What do you mean your perception of me has changed? I never needed to know how you see me, and I don’t want to now either. My voice was cold and steady.
‘I don’t want to see you. Please stay out of my life from now on. As for whatever hardships I faced–that’s all in the past. People need to move forward, not dwell on what’s already happened.”
I stood in the biting winter wind, facing the man I had once loved so desperately. There was no emotional flicker in my eyes as I looked at him.
Years ago, I’d been blinded by his handsome face, foolishly believing that my devotion would eventually warm his cold heart.
Now I was completely awake, harboring no hope whatsoever for this man.
‘Henry, let’s end this cleanly,” I said. “Is it really so difficult to sign the divorce papers?”
Henry clenched his fists, visibly trying to maintain his composure.
“Sophia! I don’t want a divorce because I care about you!” He was done with subtleties, opting instead to express his feelings directly.
Hearing those words, a flash of horror crossed my face. I stepped back immediately, instinctively recoiling from his declaration.
“Have you completely lost your mind?” I stared at him in disbelief. “I’ve told you I want a divorce. Are you incapable of understanding simple English? Now you show up claiming you care about me? Do you honestly think I’d believe that?”
My voice rose with each word. “You’re only saying this because Isabella rejected you, and your ego can’t handle it. You think you’re so special that you need to prove you’re still desirable. Henry, this behavior doesn’t make me want you back–it makes me sick. It shows just how rotten your character truly is.”
Despite my verbal onslaught, Henry didn’t appear angry. If anything, a faint smile played on his lips.
“Finished with your tirade? Are you cold?” Without waiting for my answer, he reached into his car and pulled out a coat, intending to drape it over my
shoulders.
Benjamin had warned him repeatedly: “When you approach Sophia, if she yells at you, don’t fight back. Women respond to gentleness, not force. If you argue with her, your relationship is definitively over.”
I stared at him in shock, thoroughly confused by this new behavior.
1/2
Chapter 231
“Henry, do you have some kind of brain damage?”
Though it was clearly an insult, Henry smiled even more broadly.
“I knew you still loved me,” he said softly. “See how you’re concerned about my health? Sophia, stop pretending. Your concern proves I’m still in your heart Let’s forget about this divorce nonsense and come home with me.”
As he spoke, he reached for my hand.
Thoroughly alarmed, I turned and fled toward the building entrance.
He’s lost his mind, I thought frantically.
Henry has absolutely lost his mind.
Henry remained standing outside the apartment building, watching my slender figure hurriedly disappear inside. His lips curved upward in satisfaction. Once back in his car, his smile widened. He immediately called Benjamin.
“I did well today, didn’t I?” he asked his friend.
Benjamin was otherwise occupied, with a beautiful woman on each arm and cherries in his mouth. “You did great, man. Keep it up for a while. After some time passes, I’ll teach you the next step in handling her. I’m busy right now–gotta go.”
Henry was about to call him back when his phone rang. It was James.
“Mr. Harding, have you seen today’s news? There’s a major situation!” James’s voice was urgent.
The smile vanished from Henry’s face, his expression turning sharp. “What happened?”
James exhaled nervously before continuing, “It’s about Billy’s parentage. Remember at Billy’s birthday party when Mrs. Harding said Billy wasn’t your biological son? Someone edited that video clip, put it on loop, and it’s gone viral–over ten million views already.”
James held his breath after delivering this news, listening carefully for Henry’s reaction, afraid he might explode with anger.
After hearing James’s report, Henry’s brow furrowed deeply. He ended the call and immediately opened a news site to check today’s headlines. Sure enough, Sophia’s statement had been edited and posted online, playing on endless repeat.
Internet users were savagely attacking Sophia, their comments vicious and unrelenting.
“Can’t believe this gold–digging whore trapped Harding for SIX YEARS with another man’s kid! How pathetic!”
“Rich men beware–this is how these sluts operate. Get pregnant by some random guy, then find a millionaire to pay the bills!”
“No wonder Harding never loved her. He probably knew all along she was just a lying tramp who slept her way into his family!”
Chapter Comments
LIKE
