Chapter 3

Her phone suddenly rang, temporarily rescuing Sophia from her overwhelming embarrassment.

The screen showed dozens of missed calls—from Echo, her parents, the office, and Robert.

Of course, Robert had only called once.

He was always too proud around Sophia to call anyone repeatedly.

The office calls were no doubt to question her unexcused absence. Her parents' calls were probably about Margaret. So Sophia chose to contact Echo first.

"Sophia, if I couldn't reach you, I was about to call the police! Where the hell did you go?"

Echo's voice was full of anxiety. Sophia responded, confused. "Aren't I at your place...?"

She looked around and realized the décor was completely unfamiliar.

This wasn't Echo's place at all. It looked more like a suite in a high-end hotel.

How did this happen?

After comparing notes with Echo about last night, Sophia realized with shock that she'd walked into the wrong private room and mistaken complete strangers for Echo's group!

Recalling all her drunken behavior, Sophia was so mortified she wanted to disappear on the spot.

Echo, however, had developed a keen interest in the man Sophia had called 'the most handsome.'

"Any guy who gets that kind of praise from you must be pretty amazing! If you ask me, you should dump that awful Robert and throw yourself into this hottie's arms!"

Sophia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Stop joking. I don't even know who he is. Looking back now, I just feel humiliated."

Echo said eagerly, "I'll help you contact him."

Before Sophia could respond, Echo hung up.

Sophia had a feeling something wasn't quite right, but her hungover brain was sluggish and dull. She could only take a quick shower first, then rush to the office.

Three years ago, after being forced to drop out of school, Sophia joined Robert's company as his personal assistant.

It was just another one of Robert's methods to control and humiliate her.

"Could you slow down a bit, please? I'm feeling nauseous." Sophia spoke softly to the driver.

She didn't know if it was from drinking too much last night, but even though she never got carsick, she felt waves of nausea now.

The driver slowed down and opened the window for her. A rush of cool air poured in, easing her discomfort slightly.

Sophia began thinking about what path to take next.

Just as Margaret had said, with their parents and Robert protecting her, Sophia had no way to strike back at the sister who'd ruined her life.

Confront her parents for an explanation? That would probably be a waste of effort too.

Perhaps the only good news was that she finally had a chance to end this twisted, shameful relationship with Robert.

After getting out of the car, Sophia hurried into the company building.

She planned to write a resignation letter and submit it directly to HR.

But as soon as she entered the office, Sophia was stopped by her colleague Samantha Shaw.

Without any courtesy, Samantha dumped a huge pile of complicated work on her. "Where were you this morning? Hurry up and organize these files and send them to me. You have two hours."

Everyone else in the office was used to scenes like this.

Sophia was highly capable, but everyone knew she was just Mr. Howard's plaything. In every sense, she had zero chance of advancement.

And she'd always been meek and submissive. Every impossible task no one else could finish got dumped on her, and she'd always complete it.

But this time, Sophia pushed the files back.

Samantha froze. Her tone instantly turned hostile. "Ms. Windsor, what's the meaning of this?"

Sophia's expression was blank. "The meaning is, do your own work."

As soon as those words left her mouth, everyone looked up, staring at Sophia in disbelief.

Was the sun rising in the west today?

Samantha was furious. "What did you say? Say that again!"

Her tone dripped with threat.

But Sophia's expression didn't change. "Do your own work. If you can't finish it, then quit."

Gasps echoed around the room.

Samantha already had a short temper. She exploded on the spot. "Sophia, do you not understand your position here? 'Quit'? Do you think you're Mr. Howard's wife or something? Don't forget—you're just a plaything!"

With that, she slammed the files onto Sophia's desk again.

Sophia swept all the files onto the floor.

Samantha took a deep breath and spoke each word with force. "Sophia. Pick. Them. Up. Apologize to me. Or I'm reporting this to Mr. Howard!"

Even when Sophia was in the right, Robert would never take her side.

This was an unspoken rule everyone in the company knew.

Sophia gestured toward the door, her voice icy. "Be my guest."

Samantha froze instantly.

If she actually went to report it, she didn't dare.

What was Sophia trying to do?

Just then, the door to the secretarial department opened. Robert's figure appeared in the doorway.

Everyone immediately snapped out of spectator mode and stood respectfully. "Good afternoon, Mr. Howard."

Robert glanced at the files on the floor and spoke casually. "Sophia. Apologize."

That simple sentence made Sophia's heart clench violently.

He didn't even ask what had happened. He just demanded she bow her head and admit fault.

Then again, in Robert's eyes, she'd always been worthless—someone who could be bullied at will.

But that was all in the past.

With that thought, Sophia met Samantha's smug expression and spoke clearly. "Ms. Shaw, you were in the wrong. I won't apologize to you. Even if Mr. Howard orders it, I won't."

Samantha's smile froze on her face. Everyone else's eyes went wide with shock.

Robert's brow furrowed. "Sophia!"

His tone was full of warning and threat.

But Sophia met his gaze calmly.

Robert finally lost his patience. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her into his office.

He threw her to the floor without mercy and demanded coldly, "You dare disobey my orders?"

Fortunately, the CEO's office was carpeted with imported rugs, so Sophia didn't feel any pain.

She slowly stood up and looked directly into Robert's cold eyes. "Yes. From now on, I won't listen to you anymore."

As she spoke those words, Sophia felt relief, satisfaction, and a trace of barely perceptible pain in her heart.

In Robert's eyes, only the fury of having his authority challenged remained.

He slowly closed in on Sophia and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

"Won't listen to me? Sophia, someone who killed her own sister—what gives you the right?"

Sophia laughed, her smile full of mockery. "You're right. Someone who killed her own sister has no right."

But Margaret wasn't dead at all!

Robert's grip suddenly tightened.

He didn't quite understand the implication behind Sophia's words, but he sensed a hint of danger in them. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Sophia clenched her fists and met his gaze. "Robert, I'm telling you seriously—I, Sophia, will never be your plaything again."

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