Chapter 8 1† 288 (Vouchers Chapter 8 The day Sophie was discharged from the hospital, Alexander came to pick her and Olivia up. Olivia linked arms with Sophie, saying with feigned concern, "Sophie, Mr. Alexander and I are getting married to- morrow. Setting that fire was reckless, but I won't dwell on it. Let's just forget the past, alright?" Sophie stayed silent, head bowed, her eyes vacant. Alexander frowned, his voice edged with irritation, "Are you ignoring us?" Still, Sophie remained wordless, as if all strength to respond had left her. Alexander's anger simmered, thickening the car's suffocating atmosphere. Halfway to their destination, a hotel staffer called, voice deferential: "Mr. Reed, there's an issue with the wedding set- up. Could you please come?" Fearing Sophie might disrupt the ceremony like when she pushed Olivia into the sea, they'd moved the venue to a ho- tel. Alexander frowned, turning the car around toward the hotel. Upon arrival, he stepped out and demanded, "What's wrong?" The staffer bowed slightly. "Please follow me, Mr. Reed." Alexander nodded, turning to Olivia and Sophie. "Wait in the suite. I'll join you shortly." Olivia smiled, pulling Sophie into the hotel room. Inside, Olivia settled on the sofa, tone dripping with scorn. "Sophie, I admire your nerve. Our wedding's tomorrow, yet you're still here?" Sophie murmured, "I'll leave." Olivia scoffed. "You'll leave? Do you think I believe that? If you meant to go, you'd have gone ages ago. You cling to this fantasy that Alexander might love your mother-well, forget it!" "He's my fiancé now! He loves me! 0.0% 12:38 Chapter 8 1288 Vouchers To him, you're nothing but dead weight!" "Since you refuse kindness, don't blame me for what comes next." She clapped her hands. The door flew open, and a crowd of beggars swarmed in. Olivia ripped open her own dress, mussed her hair, and flung the door wide, shrieking: "Help! Alexander, help!" Alexander, having just finished downstairs, heard the screams and burst into the room. Olivia flung herself against him, trembling like a storm-tossed blossom. "Alexander! Sophie sent these men to assault me! She hates me-she wants to ruin me!" Alexander stared at Sophie, disbelief igniting into a fury that threatened to consume the room. "Sophie, you're beyond redemption!" Sophie opened her mouth to explain, but Alexander wouldn't listen. His voice turned arctic. "If you enjoy humiliation so much, savor it here all night!" Scooping Olivia into his arms, he left without a backward glance. Sophie's pupils contracted. Her blood seemed to freeze. Memories of Reformatory's torment flooded her mind- dark confinement rooms, icy whips, leering men's faces. Her body trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. "Uncle Alexander! Save me! Please, don't leave me here!" Sophie lunged forward, trying to grab Alexander's sleeve, but the moment her fingers brushed his clothes, he coldly shook her off. She knelt on the floor, frantically knocking her head against the ground with dull thuds. "I was wrong! I'm truly wrong! Please, don't abandon me here! 45.3 % 12:38 Chapter 8 1288 (Vouchers Uncle Alexander, save me..." "I can't be alone with these men, I'll go mad, I swear I'll go mad!" Her agonized, desperate screams echoed as tears mixed with blood streamed down her forehead, staining the floor crimson. This was the first time since bringing her back from the Reformatory that he'd witnessed such utter devastation on her face. Alexander paused briefly mid-step, yet ultimately walked away without looking back. 87.6 % 12:38