Chapter 2

I didn't deserve it? I looked down at my own roughened hands, calloused from countless jobs, and bit my teeth hard.

Just because I'm poor and ordinary, they think they can stomp all over my dignity and feelings like it's nothing?

Seeing me shake all over, Olivia let out a self-satisfied, mocking laugh.

She strolled back to Edward's side, nestling into his arms. "Edward was fretting about how to tidy up this mess, but now that you've seen everything, it saves him trouble," she added.

Tilting her head up, she gazed at Edward.

Edward's eyes flickered, and he tightened his hold around Olivia.

Olivia's lips curled into a smirk. "Let me guess, did Edward swear you'd be the only woman he'd ever marry?" she asked.

A flood of sweet memories with Edward surged through me, each one scraping painfully at my heart like a blunt knife.

I couldn't stand Olivia's showy, arrogant face any longer. I was just about to step forward and warn her to shut up.

Edward caught my sudden reaction. Quick as lightning, he yanked Olivia behind him, shielding her.

That decisive, protective gesture was exactly like the day he pushed me away from danger.

He was still that hero. Only now, the one he protected was no longer me.

Edward narrowed his eyes at me. I could see his guard was up.

Olivia, meanwhile, was thrilled. She scoffed, "Actually, I taught all those tricks to him.

"I looked into your background ages ago. Born and raised in an orphanage with no parents and no roots, you were a stray dog nobody wanted.

"So I told him to pretend he was an orphan, too. I knew you'd fall for it, feeling all sorry and connected to him."

What a graceful, stunning heiress Olivia was, yet she was capable of being so cruel.

Olivia sneered, "I knew you were exactly what I expected, Sophia.

"You're another desperate nobody from the bottom of the heap. You would fall for every trick, scrambling to sleep with Edward."

The cold, harsh truth thundered in my head, leaving me stunned.

It felt like the world I knew was shattering right before my eyes.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as my sanity snapped for good. "Enjoy putting on that fake limp, do you?" I spat.

I snatched up the mop and went right for Edward's good leg, whacking it with all the strength I had.

I spat, "Got tired of playing the fancy young heir? So now you're screwing with me for kicks?

"Does Olivia have any idea how you served me in bed? Want me to spill every last detail for her?"

Those bitter words were my last shot at saving face. I knew how much Edward loved Olivia.

Even if everything he'd said was a lie, when he cried over Olivia, I truly felt his pain.

I hurt for him, seeing him chase his dream girl and fail. It hurt even more to know he missed his chance at the airport because of his messed-up leg.

"Olivia, you sure are generous. You still scramble to snatch up someone who has hooked up with a nobody like me," I sneered.

Fueled by pure rage, I lunged at Edward with reckless abandon, knocking his towering frame to the ground.

The steel mop smashed down again and again, each brutal clang against his shin ringing through the room.

Edward's face was tight with restraint, refusing to make a sound while he endured every wave of my fury in silence.

Seeing him struggle to speak but holding back, I grew even more furious, my eyes burning red as I lashed out harder.

Olivia let out a shrill scream. She rushed at me, desperate to stop me, but I yanked her by the hair before she could do anything.

"Edward! Can you believe she did that to me? I'm calling the police," Olivia screeched.

Olivia was so terrified that she broke down crying, thrashing and trying to wrench herself free. Edward didn't flinch when I sent him crashing to the floor, and he didn't make a sound, not even when I struck him.

But as soon as he saw me about to lay a hand on Olivia, Edward scrambled up in a panic and blocked my way, clutching her protectively once more in his arms.

"Don't call the cops, Olivia. If anyone is at fault, it's me," Edward said.

Even as he tried to stop Olivia from dialing the police, Edward kept her shielded tightly in his arms, putting as much distance between us as he could.

Blinded by fury, I lost all sense and threw myself at Olivia, reckless and unhinged.

Edward clenched his jaw and, with no hesitation, drove his leg straight into my stomach.

There was no time to react. The brutal kick sent me crashing backward, out of control.

The back of my head slammed against the ground, leaving me dazed in sharp pain.

Through my tear-filled eyes, I watched Olivia snuggle deeper into Edward's arms, putting on her sweetest act to beg for a comforting kiss.

Edward placed a hurried kiss on her hair, barely lingering, then immediately turned to check on me.

When Edward saw me lying there, letting out muffled groans and unable to get myself off the floor, guilt washed over his face. He released Olivia and hurried over to pull me up. "Sophia, I'm sorry," he said.