Free Web NovelChapter 74: Chapter 74
Aria’s POV
I watched a mischievous smile creep onto Sophia’s face as I waited to hear what her idea was. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"How about this?", she said, leaning forward. "Stand barefoot in the main lobby for two hours, and I’ll forgive you."
The words hit like claws sinking into my skin.
My eyes widened. "You... want me to what?"
Members of staff who had now gathered outside her office door murmured in disbelief. Even they sensed the cruelty dripping from her demand.
"Not up for it?" Sophia taunted softly. "I heard your precious Peter Clarke has been bending over backward for you; drinks, meetings, even selling off property...and you can’t do one tiny favor for him?"
Her laughter was like pressure around my throat, squeezing me
"Ms. Sophia Darvin—" someone tried to step in.
Sophia raised a hand sharply. "This was Nathan’s idea. Making this woman apologize to me. Do you really want to interfere?"
There was silence. The members of staff backed away a few steps, their heads ducked.
I lowered my head, letting my hair hide the fury twisting inside me. My fists trembled so violently my wolf snarled in warning.
The office fell still, the tension choking. My ragged breaths filled the quiet, while Sophia stood across from me, perfectly calm, like a predator savoring the moment her prey began to break.
"If you are not willing Aria, I won’t force you," Sophia said sweetly. Then, with a casual cruelty, she began to say "Peter..."
I didn’t let her finish.
"Fine."
My head lifted sharply, bitterness flooding my throat.
Numbness, that’s what I felt. A deep, heavy numbness settling like fog around my heart.
They wanted me to behave, to kneel and to be silent.
Hadn’t I done enough?
They threw me into prison. They dragged my name through the mud. Now they wouldn’t even let me exist without bleeding me dry.
Was my very breathing a crime?
I stared at Sophia, my gaze hollow and empty.
"If I do this, will you get Nathan to leave Peter alone?"
"Of course." Sophia folded her arms, smugness radiating off her like a toxin. "Even if you don’t trust me, surely you trust Nathan, right?"
She breathed out Nathan’s name in a soft, sultry lilt intimate tone meant to stab me right through the ribs. She studied the way I froze, drinking in my reaction with sick satisfaction.
I turned back at the sound of footstep approaching. It was Collins. He stepped in through the doorway.
His eyes immediately widened at the scene, a flicker of shock crossing his face. But under Sophia’s glare, he swallowed and nodded.
"Alpha Nathan did say that if Ms. Sophia Darvin lets the matter go, he won’t trouble Mr. Clarke. However—"
Sophia didn’t let him finish.
"Enough, Collins," She snapped.
Then she looked at me, her smile thin and gleaming with cruelty.
"It’s all up to you now, Aria. You wouldn’t let Peter lose everything, would you?"
My mind still reeled over what Collins had just said about Nathan being in support of this hand of humiliating Sophia dealt me. Those words sliced through me like a cold blade. I could imagine telling her to make sure I bow to her demands. I didn’t even flinch, I just felt something inside me dim, a hollow space swallowing whatever light was left. A bitter smirk tugged at my lips on its own. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Fine.
If this was what they wanted, I’d give it to them.
What was dignity? I’d lost it in prison, I had lost pride. Infact, I had lost everything. Compared to a year behind bars, this humiliation was nothing. It was just another bone to throw at the wolves hunting the people I cared for.
My fists curled tighter, my nails digging so deep into my palms I smelled my own blood. The sting shot through my hand, then echoed in my chest like a pulse of pain.
"Aria, my dear...."
Sophia who was now standing in front of me leaned in, her warm breath brushing my ear.
"You betrayed the company," she murmured. "That’s Nathan’s ultimate taboo. Do you really think he’d spare you even a drop of pity?"
My eyes burned with anger before I could stop them. My wolf snarled within me.
Sophia’s hand clamped on my shoulder. It was firm and possessive, pushing me down and pinning me like prey. My wolf bristled, baring her teeth within me.
Sophia’s laugh was low, mocking, dripping with triumph. "Even if you told him now that it wasn’t your doing, do you honestly think Nathan would believe a word you say?"
That hit harder than any slap.
She straightened, the air shifting as she rose over me. Normally, I was taller than her. But prison had taken its toll; I hadn’t worn heels since leaving prison. Meanwhile Sophia stood in her stilettos with her chin lifted like she was queen of this territory.
She looked down at me as though she’d finally won.
My heart dropped into an icy void. Regret dug its claws deep inside me. A bitter laugh flickered through my mind at myself. There was a time I had thought that someone would believe the truth. How naive I had been.
Of course no one would, no one ever did.
I swallowed the metallic tang in my mouth.
The last spark in my eyes flickered... then died.
I turned sharply and walked away.
Sophia followed with eager, satisfied steps.
The lobby spread out before us. It was vast, echoing and bustling with people coming and going. The moment I stepped into the center, I stopped, ridding my foot of my footwear. My body locked in place, obeying Sophia’s earlier command. I was doing this for Peter.
Collins stiffened beside me. I heard the hitch in his breath before he reached for his phone, making a call.
Footsteps from members of staff slowed. Heads turned in my direction. Curious eyes lingered on me, on the still, silent woman planted in the middle of Hemsworth Group.
The polished marble floor gleamed coldly, the icy air conditioning crawling through the thin fabric of my clothes, sinking into my bones. My wolf ruffled her fur against the chill, but even she felt cornered.
Whispers buzzed like flies.
"What’s she doing? Does she know where she is?"
"Is this some stunt? Drama incoming?"
"Wait—doesn’t she look like someone we know?—"
