Chapter 5

Sophia POV

On the third day of my confinement, an uninvited guest came to the villa.

Vivian wore a haute couture suit and arrogant high heels, walking into my room flanked by guards.

The room was dark and damp. I was curled up on the corner sofa, hair disheveled, face pale as paper.

Seeing my wretched state, Vivian let out a triumphant laugh.

"Well, well, if it isn't our high-and-mighty genius perfumer Sophia. How come you're hiding here like a stray dog now?"

I didn't even lift my eyelids, treating her like thin air.

This disregard completely enraged Vivian.

She grabbed my hair and yanked my head up.

"Don't act so high and mighty! You think you're still the Sterling heiress? Let me tell you something. Adrian already transferred every share of Sterling Enterprises to my name. You're nothing now!"

My scalp screamed, but I just stared at her. "Sleep well at night, knowing you took what's not yours?"

"Not mine?" Vivian cackled. "Sophia Sterling, don't you get it yet? Adrian was never after you. He came for your family's formula patents. He's never loved you. The only woman he's ever loved is me."

She let go, wiped her hands, and walked to the cabinet. Inside sat my mother's only set of vintage perfumes. The last things she left before she died.

"These broken bottles you worship like treasures? Just garbage."

I saw a flash of malice in Vivian's eyes. She suddenly swept her hand across the display, sending all the perfume bottles crashing to the floor.

Expensive glass shattered everywhere, rich fragrance instantly filling the entire room. This was my mother's life's work, my last connection to her in this world.

"Vivian!" My eyes blazed with fury as I lunged forward, trying to stop her.

But Vivian was prepared. Not only didn't she dodge, she rushed toward me.

Blood immediately gushed out.

"Help! Sophia's trying to kill me!" Vivian collapsed on the floor, screaming shrilly.

The door was kicked open violently.

Adrian burst in. Seeing Vivian lying in a pool of blood, his eyes filled with rage. He strode forward and kicked me flying.

I slammed hard into the wall. It felt like all my internal organs had shifted. My throat sweetened as I coughed up blood.

"Adrian, it hurts so much... Sophia's gone crazy, she tried to kill me..." Vivian hid in Adrian's arms, crying pitifully.

Adrian tenderly lifted Vivian, then turned to look at me like I was already dead.

"Sophia Sterling, you're evil to the core! Vivian came to check on you out of kindness, and you tried to kill her!"

I leaned against the wall, looking at this vicious pair, and suddenly burst into laughter. I laughed until tears came, laughed until my heart was torn apart.

"Adrian, are you blind? She clearly cut herself!"

"Enough!" Adrian roared, cutting me off. "You lunatic, nothing but lies! Since you love hurting people so much, those hands are useless anyway!"

He set Vivian down, walked toward me step by step, and without mercy raised his leather shoe, stomping hard on my right hand. The hand I used for perfume creation.

Crack.

The sound of breaking bones rang clearly through the room.

The pain shot from my fingers to my heart. My whole body convulsed, but I bit my lip hard and didn't let out a single scream.

I stared at Adrian, carving his twisted face deep into my bones.

Adrian, that stomp severed the last thread of feeling between us.