Chapter 4 That Man
1189 Words
Sophie showed no fear and said calmly, “I’ve already told you, if the Everly family learns that I killed Lydia, they won’t spare me or the Sterling family. If you’re willing to die with me, then fine. I’ll go to Everly Manor right now and tell Lydia’s father that Lydia died at Sterling Manor.”
After speaking, Sophie stood up, preparing to leave.
Seraphina fixed her gaze on Sophie and, seeing her about to leave, immediately shouted, “Ethan, stop Sophie! Don’t let her leave, and don’t let her reveal the news to the Everly family!”
Ethan leapt to his feet, hurried to Sophie, pulled out a sharp dagger, and held it against her neck.
Sophie glanced at Ethan, her tone icy. “I forgot to mention one thing. If I die, news that Lydia died at Sterling Manor will reach Lord Everly’s ears immediately.”
Upon hearing this, Seraphina’s face turned extremely grim.
Augustus stared at Sophie and sneered, “What makes you think you can get that information out?”
Sophie let out a light laugh, “Because I set a timed message. If I die, Lord Everly will receive the news at once, and you can’t stop it. If you don’t believe me, give it a try.”
After hearing this, Augustus’s expression changed slightly.
This information must not reach the Everly family. Otherwise, the Sterling family’s future would be utterly ruined.
Augustus glared coldly at Sophie, his eyes filled with a murderous chill. He shouted harshly, “Ethan, lock Sophie in the basement. No food, no letting her out. And while you’re at it, inform Damien Winter that the marriage alliance between our Sterling family and the Winter family is to be with Isabelle, not Sophie.”
Hearing Isabelle’s name, Sophie’s heart burned with rage that nearly erupted.
Ethan quickly nodded, “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll personally lock Sophie in the basement and never let her out.”
Augustus smirked coldly at Sophie, “You’ve harmed the interests of the Sterling family. From now on, you’ll spend the rest of your life in that basement!”
Sophie’s smile grew even colder, “Do you think that by locking me up, Lord Everly won’t find out about this?”
Just then, Lina knocked on the door and entered, “Lord Sterling, Lord Everly is here. He’s furious, saying that our Sterling family caused his daughter’s death and demanding that we pay the price for her death!”
“What?” Augustus shot to his feet and glared fiercely at Sophie. “When did you send out the news?”
The Everly and Sterling families were both prominent in Freedomland, but the Sterling family’s status was far lower than that of the Everly family. If the Everly family decided to retaliate, the Sterlings might not be able to withstand it.
Thinking of this, Augustus gave Sophie a vicious glare.
What a foolish woman!
Sophie met his gaze fearlessly. “I’ve already sent a message to Lord Everly, but I didn’t say Lydia died at Sterling Manor. As long as you don’t harm me and keep this matter hidden, Lord Everly won’t know the truth. But if I die, Lord Everly will definitely learn how Lydia really died.”
Augustus’s fingertips trembled with rage, and his face was filled with anger. “Are you trying to destroy the Sterling family?”
Sophie pushed aside the dagger in Ethan’s hand and spread her hands. “I’m not trying to destroy the Sterling family. I just want to get back what belongs to me.”
Augustus gritted his teeth, “What do you want?”
Sophie gave a slight smile, “I have a bracelet said to be given to me by Grandmother. Not long ago, I gave that bracelet to Isabelle. Now, have Isabelle return that bracelet to me immediately.”
That bracelet was something Sophie had worn since childhood. When she first returned to the Sterling family, Isabelle expressed a particular fondness for it, so Sophie gave the bracelet to Isabelle.
Ethan glared at Sophie, his tone icy, “That was Grandmother’s bracelet, and now it belongs to Isabelle. What right do you have to fight Isabelle for it? I’m warning you, don’t covet Isabelle’s belongings again, or I’ll kill you!”
Sophie looked coldly at Ethan. “Then go ahead and kill me. If I die, all of you will certainly die as well.”
Augustus took a deep breath. “When Isabelle returns, I’ll have her give the bracelet back to you. Stop causing trouble.”
Augustus stood up. “Don’t keep them waiting outside. Let’s go out first and then talk.”
Seraphina shot Sophie a frosty glance, “I heard you hit Ethan? Apologize to him right now!”
Sophie raised her eyes slightly and glanced at Ethan, her face full of contempt. “Apologize? To him?”
“You’ve reminded me of something. Ethan yelled at me multiple times today and scared me. He should apologize to me.”
Ethan was astonished. “You hit me and now you want me to apologize? You must be dreaming!”
Ethan’s suspicion grew. “What’s going on with Sophie today? She really has changed; she’s no longer that timid Sophie.”
What on earth provoked her?
Sophie sneered, “If you don’t apologize, I’ll make Lydia’s death at Sterling Manor public. I’ll say it was all orchestrated by you.”
“You—” Augustus was almost exploding with rage. “How could I have such a daughter? You’re nothing but a scoundrel!”
Sophie looked up, meeting Augustus’s eyes directly.
Augustus had no choice. He feared Sophie would really expose the matter and ruin the Sterling family, so he ordered Ethan, “Ethan, apologize to her!”
Ethan clenched his fists and glared at Sophie, gritting his teeth, “I’m sorry.”
Sophie smiled faintly, “Good. From now on, you had better not interfere with my actions. Otherwise, I’ll make this incident public.”
Sophie snatched the dagger from Ethan’s hand, tapped his face with it, and said, “Especially you. Don’t ever raise your voice at me again.”
“Sophie, don’t push it,” Ethan said, face filled with humiliation. “You were never like this before.”
Sophie chuckled, “Before, I treated all of you like family. And how did you treat me? Now, you are nothing to me! You’re not even as good as dogs!”
Augustus, Seraphina, and Ethan’s expressions changed. They stared at Sophie in shock, unable to believe she dared say such a thing.
Sophie said coldly, “I’ll still be living at Sterling Manor in the future. I trust you know how to behave.”
Augustus, Seraphina, and Ethan were furious to the point of madness but had no choice but to nod in agreement.
They then headed out.
Sophie followed them to the reception hall.
As Sophie entered, she saw Julian Hawke, and her heart stirred in an instant.
It was him!
The man who had saved Sophie from those two thugs and even held a wedding ceremony with her corpse!
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