Chapter 3

Sophie instantly panicked, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Leonard's arm, crying her heart out. "Leonard, please help me. I didn't mean to do it. I just lost my head for a moment. I don't want to go to the jail..."

Leonard frowned, unable to push her away. He turned to the officer. "Officer, can we settle this privately? We're willing to pay for any damages and won't make a fuss about it. No need to go through all the paperwork."

"Let it go?" I cut him off. "Leonard, who do you think you are? I'm the one who got hurt. Who are you to decide whether to let it go?"

I looked at the officer, my tone firm. “Officer, I won't settle privately. Follow the law and I'll cooperate fully.”

"Sophie!" My Dad snapped at me. "Have you made enough of a scene? If Rose ends up at the police station, what will people think of us? We're all family. Can't you just let it go?"

"Family?" I laughed, tears almost spilling. "When she tried to ruin my reputation, did she ever think we were family? When you all pointed fingers at me and made me kneel and apologize to her, did you ever think I was your own daughter, your own sister?"

I glanced coldly at the family. “Now that you have proof, you won't even defend me. You just want me to drop it?

With that, I turned and headed upstairs.

James immediately chased after me. "Sophie, where are you going?"

"Packing my stuff and getting the hell out of here," I said without looking back. "I don't want to stick around and get in the way of your precious heiress. Who knows what kind of trouble she'll try to pin on me next? I can't afford that."

I went to my room, threw a few clothes in a suitcase, grabbed my ID, phone, wallet and was gone in five minutes flat.

When I walked out, the whole Lane family was standing at the top of the stairs, just staring at me. No one said a word.

Rose was still crying, but there was a hint of smugness in her eyes. She probably thought that with me gone, she'd finally won.

I ignored them and dragged my suitcase toward the door.

Richard finally spoke up, his voice stiff. "If you walk out that door, don't come crawling back."

I smiled over my shoulder. “Don't worry. I'll never beg to come back. You'll be the ones begging for me.”

With that, I pulled open the front door, dragged my suitcase out, and slammed it shut behind me, cutting off all the noise from inside.

The evening breeze hit me, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Screw the plot, screw this unfair family, and screw this blind CEO.

From today on, I'm making money, living for me, and no one else.

I was dragging my suitcase toward the gate when a voice colder than ice suddenly hit me from the side.

"Sophie."

I looked up and my brows instantly knitted together.

Leonard was standing under a streetlight not far away, leaning against his Maybach, his gaze sharp and predatory as he locked eyes with me, making sure I couldn't go anywhere.

I gave him the biggest eye roll under the streetlight, let go of my suitcase, and it landed with a heavy thud.

Fantastic. Just ditched my freakshow family, and now here comes another clueless idiot.

Leonard straightened up and strode over, looking all polished and smug in his custom suit, wearing that punchable arrogant expression,like he expects every woman to love him with their heartes and souls.

"Done with your drama yet?" He stopped right in front of me, towering over me with that smug, condescending look,like he was doing me a favor just by talking. "Isn't this whole runaway act just to get me to notice you?"

I nearly snorted.

Who gets this? Is this supposed to be the legendary CEO? His ego is literally through the roof,way more delusional than my old boss.

I crossed my arms. “Leonard, are you really that delusional?”

Leonard's face froze.He clearly never saw that coming from me.

After all, before this, the old Sophie wouldn't even dare to speak up around him, let alone roast him to his face.

He frowned, his face darkening. "Sophie, don't take my patience for granted. Just standing here waiting for you is me giving you more respect than you deserve."

"Respect?" I snorted. "How much is your so-called respect worth? Is it gonna put food on my table, or help me pay my rent?"

"Whatever you want, I can give it to you," he said, stepping in even closer with that smug, self-important tone. "Designer bags, couture dresses, fancy cars, mansions—just come back with me, say sorry to Rose, and I'll act like none of this ever happened."

I could barely believe what I was hearing.

Is he serious?

I'd just busted out of that ridiculously biased family, and now he expected me to go back and apologize to that fake innocent who tried to ruin me? And he thought he could just wave his cash around and buy me off?

“Leonard,” I said coldly. “You have two choices: leave me alone, or I call the police for harassment.”

Leonard was completely dumbfounded, staring at me like I was a total stranger.