The Ex–Wife’s Redemption: A Love Reborn
Chapter 117
William sat in his private hospital room, repeatedly glancing at the clock on the wall. It was already past four in the afternoon, and neither Sophia nor Billy had made their usual dally visit. As the minutes ticked by, a sense of unease grew Alt his chest.
“Mark,” he called to his longtime personal butler who stood faithfully near the window. “Have you received any news from Maple Grove? Sophia and Billy should have been here hours ago
Mark Martin hesitated, his weathered face betraying concern. No sir, I haven’t received any word. Would you like me to make some inquiries?”
William nodded, his brow furrowing with worry. “Please do. It’s not like Sophia to miss a visit without calling.”
As Mark stepped onto the balcony to make a discreet phone call William stared out the window at the late afternoon sky. Something felt wrong. His instincts, honed over decades in the cutthroat world of finance, rarely failed him–especially when it came to family matters.
Several minutes later, Mark returned, his expression carefully maintained in neutrality. William knew this couldn’t be good
news.
“Well?” William demanded. “What’s happening at Maple Grove?
“Sir,” Mark began cautiously, “I spoke with Martha, the head housekeeper. It seems there’s been… a situation at the mansion.”
William’s fingers gripped the armrests of his chair. “What kind of situation?”
“Mr. Henry has apparently locked Mrs. Harding in their bedroom. Martha reports hearing raised voices, though she couldn’t make out what was being said.”
William’s face darkened with alarm. “And Billy? Where is my great–grandson?”
“The child is in the garden with his nanny, sir. He appears to be unharmed but upset.”
The old man didn’t hesitate. “Prepare the car immediately. We’re going to Maple Grove.”
“Sir, the doctors advised against—”
“Damn the doctors!” William snapped, already pushing himself to his feet with surprising strength for a man his age. “My family needs me.”
The sleek black sedan pulled through the gates of Maple Grove with unusual haste. William hardly waited for the vehicle to stop before he was out the door, moving as quickly as his aged body allowed toward the southern wing where Henry an Sophia’s residence–Maple Grove–was located.
As he approached the mansion, a woman’s agonized scream cut through the air, sending a chill down William’s spine. He recognized Sophia’s voice immediately.
“Get the master key!” he commanded the staff who had rushed to greet him. “Open that door no..
Two security guards exchanged uncertain glances before one produced a key. William snatched it from his hand and
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Chapter 117.
hurried up the stairs, abandoning his usual dignified pace in his urgency.
The lock clicked open, and William burst into the bedroom. The room was empty, but Sophia’s screams continued from behind the closed bathroom door. Water splashed, and the souties of a violent struggle echoed in the marbled chamber.
“Henry! William bellowed, his voice carrying the authority of decades as the Harding patriarch. ‘Get out here this instant! What have you done to Sophia?”
No response came, only the continued sounds of struggle from the bathroom.
“Henry Harding!” William shouted again, fury building in his voice. “I said get out here now!”
He hesitated before the bathroom door, uncertain of what he might find. Despite his rage, he was still conscious of propriety–what if this was merely some private moment between husband and wife?
But another pained cry from Sophia dissolved such a notion.
Inside the bathroom, Sophia had managed to break free from Henry’s grip just enough to deliver a powerful kick directly to his groin. Henry doubled over, cursing violently as pain radiated through his body.
Sophia seized the moment, scrambling away from him toward the door.
“Henry Harding,” she spat, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance, “I’ll tell you one more time–when loved you, you were the treasure I held in my palm. Now that I don’t, you’re nothing to me. Nothing!”
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