Chapter 4

Sophia's POV

Two days later, Ethan returned.

But it was the Quinn family estate's butler who told me.

The butler spoke urgently, with rare panic.

"Please come to the estate quickly. Something's happened to him!"

I frowned.

"What happened?"

"You'll know when you get here. The old master is furious. No one can calm him down."

I was confused but still rushed to the Quinn estate.

The whole way, I'd imagined various possibilities, but I never expected to see this scene.

Lydia's long hair was disheveled, tears on her face, her whole body trembling.

And Ethan was tightly shielding her in his arms.

His entire back had numerous vicious bloody marks, skin split open, blood soaking through his white shirt.

"You disgusting creature! How dare you do such a shameful thing!"

Grandfather stood to the side leaning on his cane, chest heaving violently.

"Did you think that just because you weren't in San Diego, I wouldn't know what you two have been doing these past few days?"

Lydia shook her head crying.

"It's not like that, Grandfather..."

"If Grandfather must punish someone,"

Ethan said hoarsely,

"Then punish me. This is all my fault. It has nothing to do with Lydia."

"You bastard! How can you face your deceased brother? How can you face Sophia? How can you face the child in her belly!"

"Lydia and I truly loved each other from the start!"

Ethan suddenly raised his voice, eyes reddening.

"As for Sophia and the child in her belly, you forced me into that, grandfather."

The words fell, and the room went deathly silent.

Grandfather trembled with rage, nearly fainting from anger.

"I thought after three years of marriage to Sophia, you'd have some feelings for her. I never imagined you were still so bewitched by this woman that you've lost all reason!"

Just then, the butler hurried in from outside.

"She's here..."

Ethan's body stiffened. He slowly turned his head.

At the doorway, I stood quietly.

Our eyes met.

Ethan's eyes flashed with momentary panic and guilt. His lips moved as if wanting to say something, but ultimately he just looked away and said nothing.

Grandfather saw me too. His expression changed slightly as he urgently signaled to the butler.

"Quick, take her to the front hall to rest!"

The butler stepped forward respectfully.

"This way, please."

I pressed my lips together and had no choice but to follow the butler away.

Behind me came Grandfather's voice, suppressing fury with his command.

"Continue! Beat them severely!"

The sound of the rod striking flesh resumed. From the corner of my eye, I glimpsed that every strike the servant swung at Lydia landed heavily on Ethan's back instead.

He gritted his teeth, not making a sound, protecting Lydia in his arms completely.

And Lydia remained completely unharmed.

Late that night, a private doctor came to the villa to treat Ethan's wounds.

After nearly two hours of cleaning, medicating, and bandaging, the doctor finally left.

Ethan lay on his stomach on the bed, looking toward me. After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"Today at the estate... what did you hear?"

I raised my eyes to meet his.

"What should I have heard?"

I asked back.

Ethan studied me.

"Nothing. She angered Grandfather. He wanted to punish her, but she's too delicate to withstand it. With my brother gone, I have to protect her for him."

He reached out to hold my hand, his thumb gently rubbing the back of my hand, his habitual intimate gesture.

"Sophia, don't let it bother you."

I looked at his hand holding mine.

Long fingers, well-defined and strong.

Once, this hand had wiped my tears, stroked my hair, countless times gently held me, embraced me.

Now, I only felt disgusted.

"I know."

I calmly pulled my hand away.

"I understand."

I took out a document from the nightstand drawer and placed it in front of him.

"By the way, sign this for me."

"What is it?"

He asked casually.

"I saw a necklace I really like. It's quite expensive. I want you to buy it for me."

I was gambling.

Gambling that having just been punished for Lydia's sake and having lied to me, he wouldn't carefully read the document's contents at a time like this.

Sure enough, Ethan barely hesitated before taking the document and pen.

He signed his name smoothly on the signature line of the last page I'd turned to.

"What else do you want?"

He handed the document back to me with an indulgent smile.

"I'll buy it all for you."

"That's not necessary."

I smiled. "This one thing is enough."