Chapter 8

Sophie kept frantically dialing Benjamin's number again and again.

The receiver always delivered the same cold, mechanical female voice. "The number you have dialed is currently switched off."

He had taken her children and then disappeared.

What the hell was he trying to do?

Sophie's nails dug deep into her palm, as intense hatred and panic intertwined, leaving her barely able to breathe.

No, she couldn't panic now.

Sophie immediately dialed her friend, Juniper Davis's number.

"Juniper, I need a favor." Her voice was hoarse from holding herself back. "Please help me find out where Benjamin is right now. Please!"

Juniper paused momentarily on the other end of the line, but quicklygrasped the urgency. "What happened?"

"He took Tommy and Tim away!"

"What?" Juniper's voiceturned cold at once. "How dare he! Stay there, I'll find out immediately!"

Juniper worked with remarkable efficiency. In less than ten minutes, she called back with information.

"He's at the Skyline Club penthouse, apparently discussing some important partnership."

The Skyline Club.

Luminous City's most exclusive private club, with tight security and a strict members-only policy.

Sophie hung up and slammed her foot on the accelerator. The black SUV shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, racing toward her destination.

Sure enough, as soon as she reached the club entrance, two security guards in black suits stopped her.

"I'm sorry, miss. This is a private club. Please show your membership card." The guard's attitude was firm, his tone unwavering.

"I'm looking for Benjamin !" Sophie's eyes were bloodshot, her voice raw.

"Do you have an appointment? Without one, we cannot allow you entry."

Just as Sophie was about to lose control and force her way in, a figure emerged from the revolving door.

It was Nathan.

He paused when he saw Sophie being blocked by security, her expression nearly frantic.

"Ms. Scott?"

Nathan signaled the guards to step back and quickly approached Sophie, lowering his voice. "Are you here for Benjamin?"

Sophie had no patience to deal with him. Without saying a word, she rushed straight toward the elevator.

Nathan hesitated briefly before following her, worried that things might spiral out of control.

The elevator doors closed, and the atmosphere in the small space was suffocatingly tense.

Sophie kept her eyes on the rising floor numbers.

Nathan didn't know much about their past—only that they had once loved each other deeply before their relationship endedin disaster.

Hecautiously broke the silence. "Actually, that day was a misunderstanding. I truly wanted to collaborate with you on the photography project..."

"Which private room is he in?" Sophie spoke again, her voice cold as ice.

"Sky Suite One... wait, I didn't say anything!" Nathan quickly covered his mouth, not wanting toget into trouble with Benjamin for this.

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.

Sophie stepped out and forcefully pushed open the heavy doors of the private room.

The previously noisy music and laughter insidefell silent abruptly at her intrusion.

Everyone froze.

A room full of well-dressed, wealthy, and influential men turned their heads in unison toward the unexpected visitor. Some faces showed clear displeasure, others'looked eagerfor drama, while most exchanged quick glances, silently speculating about the identity of the striking yet furious woman might be.

Benjamin wasn't in the main seat.

Sophie's quickly scanned the lavish space, her gaze finally settling on the closed floor-to-ceiling window leading to the balcony.

A tall figure stood with his back to herat the balcony railing, holding a glass of whiskey.

It was him!

The club manager rushed over immediately, wearing a professional apologetic smile: "Miss, this is a private gathering. It seems you have the wrong room. Let me escort you out."

He reached out, trying to guide Sophie away.

Sophie sidestepped him and walked straight towardthe balcony.

The manager's expression changed, and he was about to call security when a man near the main seat stopped him with a glance.The man shook his head slightly, signaling him not to interfere.

The manager immediately understood and bowed away, though cold sweat had already formed on his forehead.

Everyone present wasperceptive enough to realize that this was Benjamin's personal matter.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Sophie pulled open the glass door and stepped onto the balcony. calling out, “Benjamin!”

The night wind, carrying the scent of alcohol, rushed in, tossingher long hair into disarray and reddening her eyes.

Benjamin stiffened at the sound of her voice, paused, then slowly turned around. "What are you doing here?"

"Where are my children?" Sophie got straight to the point. "Benjamin, where have you hidden them? Give them back to me!"

Hearing the words "my children," Benjamin appeared to react. He let out a low, cold laugh filled with mockery.

He stepped closer to Sophie, the strong smell of alcohol mixing with his distinctive clean scent, surrounding her like ansuffocating net.

"Your children?"

He leaned down, his warm breath brushing her ear as hespoke each word clearly. "Sophie, they are also my sons."

"Thomas and Timothy are our children."

"No!" Sophie recoiled as if stung by a scorpion, pushing him away forcefully. "They are my children alone! They have nothing to do with you, Benjamin!"

Benjamin's temperflared.

He grabbed Sophie's wrist. "You carried my children and hid for five years, and now you tell me they have nothing to do with me? Sophie, why are you so cold-hearted?

Sophie found this to be the most ridiculous joke she'd ever heard.

She laughed bitterly. "Benjamin, you call me heartless?"

"Five years ago, you sent me to prison for Olivia's sake without a second thought. Tell me, wasn’t that heartless?"

"When I lay in a pool of blood, begging you to save our children, what did you do?"

"A manonce drove their mother to her death, nearly causing them to die in the womb—what right do you have to stand here now, claiming they are your children?"

She stared at him, her gaze filled with hatred anddetermination.

"Are you of that?"

With each word she spoke, Benjamin's face grew paler, and his grip on her wrist gradually loosened.

Sophie seized the opportunity to break free, stepping backto put distance between them, her gaze cold and unforgiving.

"I'll ask you one last time."

"My children—will you return them or not?"