Chapter 3 "Reassured?" Chapter 3 288 Vouchers Olivia let out a cold laugh. "Not at all. That's why I'll force you out before the wedding begins." Before Sophie could react, Olivia spun around and plunged into the sea. The loud splash instantly drew everyone's attention. "Olivia!" Alexander's voice rang from the cabin as he rushed out. He jumped into the water without hesitation. Sophie stood frozen, limbs numb as if nailed to the deck. Alexander hauled Olivia back aboard, and performed CPR until she coughed up seawater. Her eyes fluttered open, misty and fragile. "Alexander," she whispered weakly, "I thought Sophie had accepted me these past days... but she pushed me when I wasn't looking. Please don't blame her-" She fainted before finishing. Alexander's gaze snapped up with restrained fury. "Unrepentant! Sophie, when will you abandon these vile schemes?" Sophie shook her head frantically. "It wasn't me, Uncle Alexander! I've moved on, and I didn't push her." "Do you ever speak truth?" Alexander cut her off, scooping Olivia into his arms. "You'll answer for this!" He stormed toward the hospital. Sophic stood on the deck alone, and felt her heart hollowed out. Watching his retreating figure, she murmured the words she'd repeated ten thousand times: "Alexander... I truly don't love you anymore.' At midnight, Sophie was waiting silently on the sofa. She knew Alexander's "answer for this" meant punishment. Years at Reformatory taught her: fleeing or begging only worsened the pain. So she waited obediently. The door burst open after what felt like eternity. 0.0 % 12:37 Chapter 3 Alexander swept in with the storm's fury. "Kneel!" Sophie dropped wordlessly to the floor, head bowed. 1288 Vouchers He paused, seemingly startled by her compliance. He retrieved a whip from the wall, and stepped forward. "Finally obedient? Too late! Sophie, did my indulgence make you think our family discipline was decoration?" Crack! The lash struck her back. Sophie shuddered violently but made no sound, as if the whip struck another. "Speak!" Alexander's voice cracked like thunder. "Do you admit your guilt?" "I do." "You do?" He raised the whip again. "Then why repeat your crimes?" Crack! "Why push Olivia? She nearly died!" Crack! "Why cling to me? I'm ten years your senior!" Crack! "Why are you so shameless? Don't you know I've raised you since childhood?" The fifty-second lash. "Sophie, why must you be so absurd? So absurd that you make me..." Alexander's mind burned with rage. After countless lashes, words nearly escaped his lips when suddenly-a maid threw herself at him, weeping. "Mr. Reed, please stop! Miss Sophie grew up pampered-she can't endure this!" "Look, I beg you! The floor's already a river of blood!" Only then did Alexander halt his whip, glancing down at Sophie. Her back ran crimson, blood pooling beneath her and even reaching his leather shoes. 43.8 % 12:37 Chapter 3 But what stunned him: Sophie remained bowed throughout, shedding no tears, offering no plea for mercy. He yanked her upright-only to find her eyes hollow and numb. "Sophic, won't you cry out in pain? You always knew how to whimper and fuss before." Sophie lifted her head, voice eerily calm: "Because it doesn't hurt." The suffering endured at Reformatory-the beatings there-hurt far worse than this. Her voice turned hoarse, face ghostly pale: "Finished? May I leave now... Uncle Alexander?" Alexander finally sensed something amiss. "Impossible! How could it not hurt? Fifty-two lashes-how?" He tore open her blouse-the maid gasped behind them- His pupils contracted violently, breath catching in his throat! 79.9 % 12:37 288 (Vouchers