Chapter 18
Though Victor had covered for Sophie regarding the plagiarism, his attitude toward her grew colder after returning.
Sophie seethed with resentment, convinced Victor still couldn’t forget Lily.
That woman had slunk away like a stray dog, yet she was still haunting them.
Grabbing her phone, Sophie texted Victor: “Victor, I think I’m sick. Could you come see me?”
As his longtime crush, Victor went despite his reservations.
When he arrived, Sophie lay on the sofa in a camisole, her complexion perfectly healthy.
Victor instantly understood her ploy, irritation flickering in his eyes.
He turned to leave, but Sophie caught his hand.
“I’m sorry, Victor.
You’ve been so distant lately… I panicked and lied.”
Her agony softened his expression.
Seizing the moment, Sophie pressed, “Stay for dinner?”
Victor relented, taking a seat at the table.
Sophie poured two glasses from the decanter, offering one to him.
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He accepted reluctantly. After two sips, a strange heat crept through his veins.
Tugging his tie loose, he shifted uncomfortably.
Sophie straddled his lap, fingers working at his shirt buttons.
Realization dawned–this was her trap.
Gritting his teeth, Victor shoved her off his thighs.
Sophie crashed to the floor, stunned.
As Victor staggered toward the door, she lunged, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
“Don’t go…” she pleaded, voice trembling.
Victor slammed her against the wall, eyes blazing.
“All these years, I believed you were gentle and principled. Even your missteps seemed born of devotion. But drugging me? Unthinkable.”
Repeatedly rejected and now manhandled, Sophie’s facade shattered.
“You’re rejecting me because you still want Lily, aren’t you?”
“What does Lily have to do with this?”
Sophie’s laughter turned shrill, almost unhinged.
“You claim Lily harassed you, that you despised her! Yet you basked in her attention–you never stopped caring!”
“Get a grip,” Victor snapped, staring at her distorted expression.
He pushed past her and left.
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Back home, Victor dealt with his physical discomfort before collapsing onto his bed. Sophie’s accusation echoed:
You basked in her attention. You never stopped caring.
He murmured the words, then retrieved the torn photo fragment from the amusement park.
Fingering the tiny piece, memories flooded him–seven years of Lily pursuing him, trailing his every step.
Only then did Victor have to admit Sophie was right–he’d indeed gotten used to having Lily around him without even realizing it.
The next day, Victor went to find Emma.
“Where’s that room footage you wanted me to see earlier?”
Emma was caught off guard by his sudden question. “What footage?”
“The video from when Sophie and Lily were in the room during the fire.”
Emma looked at him mockingly..
“Didn’t you say you trusted Sophie?
You promised to watch it that night, but Sophie just had to call and you believed her again. Why come asking for it now?
Regretting things? Trying to win Lily back?”
Victor couldn’t argue against Emma’s sarcasm.
Seeing Victor’s silence, Emma continued.
“Too late. Lily messaged me days ago saying she has a boyfriend now.
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Benjamin, I think.”
“A boyfriend?!”
Emma flinched at Victor’s sudden shout, taking a moment to respond.
“Lily’s with Benjamin now.”
Victor refused to believe it, yet Emma didn’t seem to be lying.
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“Impossible. She must be using Benjamin to get to me,” Victor muttered distractedly.
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Chapter 19
