He stopped at the door, hand hovering over the handle.

His shoulders tensed before he turned back slightly.

“Sir, Miss Reed has been asking for you. She hopes you might visit…”

Silence stretched thin between them.

Ethan’s reply was cold and clipped.

“Leave.”

Benjamin didn’t need to be told twice.

He hurried out, relieved to escape the suffocating tension of the office.

“Beep… Beep… Beep…”

Sophia threw her phone across the room in frustration.

It landed soundlessly on the plush sofa cushions.

“Idiots! All of you!” Her voice trembled with rage.

The phone rang again.

She snatched it up, her anger flaring when she saw the caller ID.

Vincent Crowe.

“How dare you call me after what happened?”

A rough, annoyed voice answered.

“Miss Reed, that’s unfair. I risked everything for that job. You still owe me for the attempt. Don’t you think?”

“Owe you? What exactly are you implying?”

“Two million. Consider it a fee for my troubles.”

“Two million? You’re insane!” she snapped. “You failed! And you have the nerve to demand payment?”

“Pay up, Miss Reed. Or you might regret it.” His tone turned threatening. “Remember what I’m capable of.”

Sophia went still.

She drew a sharp breath, forcing her temper down.

She knew exactly what Vincent was capable of.

He was a criminal. A dangerous man.

If she refused, he might expose her.

He knew she’d tried to have someone killed.

“Fine. You’ll get your two million. But stay out of sight.”

“Deal.” The line went dead.

Sophia collapsed onto the sofa.

Her eyes were empty as she stared at the ceiling.

First, ten million gone.

Now another two million.

It was a significant amount.

Since Victoria had been moved to the estate outside the city, Sophia had lost her regular allowance.

Money was getting tight.

She needed to figure out her next move quickly.

She ran her hands through her hair agitatedly.

Pacing to the window, she stared out at the glittering city lights.

A deep sense of defeat washed over her.

“Why won’t Ethan even look at me? What does Isabella have that I don’t?” she whispered.

The thought of Isabella sent a fresh wave of bitterness through her.

She would never let Isabella win.

The next day, Sophia finished her discharge paperwork.

She picked up her bag and walked unsteadily from the hospital.

The sunlight was harsh.

She raised a hand to shield her eyes, but the darkness inside her remained.

“Miss Reed?” A crisp voice cut through her thoughts.

Lowering her hand, Sophia saw Zoe Tremblay standing there.

Impeccably dressed in a business suit.

A wrist brace was visible on her arm.

“Miss Tremblay?” Sophia feigned surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“A check-up,” Zoe explained, gesturing to her wrist. “An old injury. It acts up sometimes. Especially after long hours of drawing.”