Chapter 7 1288 (Vouchers Chapter 7 Alexander's body went rigid, his gaze fixed on Sophie, eyes clouded with hesitation and conflict. His fingers trembled slightly, heart clenched by an invisible force, stealing his breath with pain. He parted his lips as if to speak, yet swallowed the words unspoken. The doctor urged urgently, "Mr. Reed, Miss Lee has fainted from pain. Every second delayed increases scarring risks. Decide now." Alexander's face paled instantly, cornered like prey. Drawing a ragged breath, he finally whispered, "Sophie, I taught you since childhood-you must face consequences for your mistakes." The words struck Sophie like shattering glass in her chest. Her lips moved soundlessly, no protest emerging. She realized with dull surprise-she longed to weep, yet no tears came. Perhaps Reformatory had drained them all. Numbly, she was wheeled into surgery-like a soulless husk. The moment the doors shut, Olivia sat up grinning, no trace of burns on her skin. Smiling sweetly at the doctor, her voice turned icy: "Begin. Remember-no anesthesia. Peel her skin layer by layer." Medical staff exchanged uneasy glances but obeyed. Nurses pinned Sophie's limbs to the operating table. She lay motionless, vacant eyes fixed on the ceiling. As the blade cut her skin, agony seared through every nerve. Sophie's body jerked instinctively, but she bit back cries. Steel sliced inch by inch, blood soaking the surgical drapes crimson. Her knuckles whitened against the bedframe, nails digging into flesh-still silent. Olivia watched raptly, eyes gleaming with mockery. "Quite the monster, aren't you?" she cooed. "Enduring this without a whimper." 0.0 % 12:38 Chapter 7 Sophie remained wordless, jaw locked against the torment. Skin peeled away in strips. Sophie's vision blurred into darkness. Only the heart monitor's beep and Olivia's laughter echoed. "Toss the scraps to the dogs later." Darkness swallowed Sophie whole. She awoke in a hospital bed, bandages encasing her forearm-searing pain at slightest touch. The ward held only mechanical beeps and hushed nurses: "Mr. Reed dotes on Miss Lee-visits daily, feeds her meals himself." "Yeah, I heard they're getting married tomorrow, what a perfect match." "That Sophie, I heard she was the little girl Alexander used to raise, spoiled rotten, why is he ignoring her now? How pitiful." Sophie remained silent from start to finish, she listened quietly, then counted the days until she could leave. 67.4 % 12:38 288 Vouchers