hapter 157
Henry’s grip on my chin was so tight that pain swept across my entire face. I could feel tears gathering in my eyes from the Immense pressure–it felt like my jawbone might shatter at any moment. Despite the unbearable pain, I still refused to hack down. Years of suppressed anger and resentment finally erupted.
“You bastard!” I shouted, trying to wrench my face from his grip. “Let go of me! I’ll file for divorce whenever I want! Your beloved Isabella is back, isn’t she? You think about her constantly. Doesn’t it torture you that you can’t be with her every moment? Look at her–she waits pathetically for you every night, unable to fully possess you. How pitiful!”
With a violent jerk backward, I finally broke free from his control, my eyes flashing with determination. “What are you waiting for? Until you’re both seventy or eighty to finally get married?” Now, there was only one thought in my mind–divorce! No matter the cost, even if I had to break every bone in my body, today I would end this marriage!
Henry stared at me, clearly stunned by my outburst. He could see the tears glistening in my eyes, yet I remained defiant. His breathing became rapid and labored, his hand unconsciously pressing against his chest as if experiencing pain.
“Sophia, shut up!” he growled, his voice dangerously low.
I gave a bitter laugh. “Who do you think you are? The ruler of the world? You think everyone must obey your commands? You might be able to control my body, my movements, but you’ll never control my spirit. I don’t like you, Henry. I’ve never loved you. Why would you want to maintain a marriage like this?”
My thoughts drifted back to the final days of Sam’s life. His face was so similar to Henry’s, but the soul behind those eyes was completely different. I remembered his words clearly, as if he had spoken them just yesterday.
“Sophia, you’re still young,” he had said, his voice weakened by illness. “Don’t waste your youth on me. Find a man you like, who also likes you, and live the rest of your life well.”
At the time, I had jokingly responded, trying to mask my grief with humor. “Isn’t it enough if I like him? I can’t control whether he likes me or not.
Sam shook his head, his eyes filled with wisdom beyond his years. “You’re making life too simple. Life is long, Sophia. Based on average life expectancy, people live to about eighty nowadays. Take away the first twenty years when we’re too ignorant to understand anything, and you still have sixty years left. Sixty years is a very long time to spend alone.”
His expression grew serious. “Just thinking about it, you can feel how lonely life can be. Whatever happens, you need to find someone who truly likes you. Do you understand?”
Back then, I stubbornly believed that love was about one person’s determined pursuit. But then I met Henry–a man who looked almost identical to Sam- and I became greedy. Perhaps from the very beginning, I should have stayed away from him, rather than trying to use him as a substitute for Sam.
One person’s obsession only leads to tragedy in love. True love requires two people’s shared happiness. This marriage was a mistake from beginning to end.
As my accusations grew more intense, I became so emotional I could barely speak. Henry signaled to his security team, who immediately seized me.
“Take her to the basement,” he ordered coldly, not giving me any chance to continue speaking.
As the bodyguards dragged me away, Henry turned to face Catherine and Grace, his expression dangerously dark.
“I know you orchestrated everything today,” his voice cut through the silence in the room. “This is between Sophia and me–outsiders have no right to interfere! If you dare use such underhanded tactics again, I won’t give you a penny!”
The weight of this threat was unmistakable to the mother and daughter. Their luxurious lifestyle in the Harding family was primarily funded by Henry. Cutting off their financial support would be devastating.
However, Catherine wasn’t ready to give up yet.
‘Henry,‘ she urged, a hint of desperation in her voice, ‘don’t you want to see the results of Billy’s paternity test?”
She had secretly collected hair samples while cleaning Billy’s room and had also obtained Henry’s DNA. The samples had already been sent to a testing center. Unfortunately, even with a rush order, the results wouldn’t be available for three days–too late for today’s confrontation. Still, she was determined to make one last attempt.
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Chapter 157
If Henry publicly declared that Billy wasn’t his child, Sophia would be permanently labeled as a loose woman–her reputation would to forget
Henry, you can’t be confused about this!” Catherine continued to add fuel to the fire. “For the future of the Harding family, for your future with brak you can’t protect this scheming woman!”
Grace chimed in: “Brother, what time is it now? Are you still protecting that slut? Billy is obviously not your son!
Meanwhile, Isabella watched everything with growing curiosity. They had exposed Sophia’s secret, and Sophia had publicly expressed her desire for distre Why was Henry still refusing to let her go?
Isabella hesitated. Fully siding with Catherine and Grace now would make her intentions too obvious, ruining the image of the understanding woman the had carefully cultivated. Could there be something deeper to this situation? Perhaps Henry had known all along that Billy wasn’t his biological child.
She dared not think further, deciding to remain silent.
Henry coldly removed Catherine’s hand from his sleeve, looking at her with detached eyes. “Mother, I am an adult. I can handle my own affairs, including my marriage. You have no right to interfere.”
Catherine hadn’t expected to hear such a distant tone from her son. She stared at him in shock. When had that helpless infant grown up, strengthened his wings, and become a man beyond her control? She stepped back slightly, her smile bitter.
‘Yes, you’re grown up now. You no longer need your nanny. All my planning and consideration for you has ultimately been wasted.” She sighed deeply, her body seeming to sway unsteadily.
Grace quickly moved forward to support her mother. She couldn’t understand what had happened. They had been so close–just one step away from removing Sophia from her position as Mrs. Harding. How had they failed at the final moment? Even more surprising was that her brother was now openly defying their mother.
Henry stood still, observing the three women across from him with an inscrutable expression. Today’s trap had been specifically designed to target Sophia, orchestrated by these three women who were supposed to be closest to him. Only now did he realize that the conflict between his mother, sister, and wife was fundamentally irreconcilable.
He instructed his security team to escort Isabella back to her hospital room. Isabella tried to use her usual tactics of acting pitiful and clingy, but they were ineffective now. Henry’s orders were non–negotiable.
“Clear the room!” Henry shouted, his voice echoing through the banquet hall. The guests were quickly ushered out, leaving only Henry, Catherine, and Grace. The security team also exited the room, closing the door behind them and standing guard outside to prevent any disturbances.
They knew what was coming next–the boss was about to settle scores.
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