Chapter 2
Charles followed Lily's gaze, and the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by his usual coldness. It was as if he had just remembered Sophia was there.
"Someone unimportant," he said.
His offhand remark hit Sophia like a sledgehammer, leaving her reeling inside.
Stifled giggles echoed around her.
Their stares felt like countless needles stabbing into her, leaving nowhere to hide.
To Charles, she was someone unimportant. Three years of devotion, three years of her youth, yet to him, she wasn't worth a name.
Sophia felt like she couldn't breathe. She wanted to run, right then and there. But her legs felt like they were made of lead.
Then, Charles walked over to her, pulling Lily along. He stood over her, his gaze full of warning. "Lily just got back, and she's exhausted from jet lag. Go get her some water."
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone around heard him clearly.
This was humiliation, pure and simple.
He was letting everyone know that Sophia wasn't even good enough to serve Lily.
Sophia's body trembled, and it felt like her blood had frozen solid. She lifted her head, staring daggers at Charles. The face she'd loved for three years suddenly looked so strange, so hideous to her.
Lily stood off to the side, putting on a helpless act as she tried to calm things down. "Charles, don't be like this. She didn't mean any harm."
Her words only made things worse.
'Didn't mean any harm?' Sophia thought. 'What did I do? Wear the same dress as her? Or just show up here and get in her way?'
His expression turned even colder. "Didn't you hear me? Go get the water."
Sophia stood up slowly, her movements deliberate. She kept her eyes away from Charles and Lily. Her gaze was fixed on the unfinished glass of champagne sitting on the table.
She took the glass in her hand. As everyone watched in disbelief, she walked right up to Charles.
"Charles," she called out. Her voice was so calm, it was almost scary.
Charles frowned. "What are you up to now?"
Sophia let out a smile. It was a smile both tragic and unwavering.
"I wanted to tell you," she said, pausing for a beat before raising her hand and throwing the rest of the champagne all over his handsome face.
The icy drink dripped down his hair and cheeks, leaving him soaked and utterly humiliated.
The whole room froze in silence.
Everyone was left speechless by the sudden turn of events.
Charles's expression darkened instantly.
"Have you lost your mind, Sophia?" He lunged forward, reaching out to grab her.
But Sophia was quicker, stepping back out of his reach. She stared at him, and all the love and humility that used to be in her eyes were gone. Now there was only icy contempt and ridicule.
She said, "That's right. I've lost my mind for three years. But now, I'm awake."
With those words, Sophia turned and strode toward the door, without a hint of regret.
Her white dress, under the glittering lights, shone like a pale, defiant ray cutting through the room.
Each step she took felt like she was stepping all over Charles's dignity.
Charles stood frozen, with champagne streaked across his face. As he watched Sophia walk away, rage boiled inside him, humiliation burning in his chest.
'How could she humiliate me like this in front of everyone?' he seethed.
"Stop right there!" he barked.
Sophia didn't pause for a second. She pushed open the heavy doors of the club and strode out, not even looking back.
The cold wind rushed in, hitting Charles in the face and jolting him back to his senses. Suddenly, a strange restlessness and panic gripped him out of nowhere.