Chapter 22 Victor suddenly dodged , causing Sophie to stumble forward from the momentum , nearly crashing to the floor . Sophie gazed at Victor pleadingly , " Victor , I truly know I was wrong . Didn't you care for me most before ? " Hearing this only fueled Victor's anger further . " How dare you bring up the past ? I treated you so well , yet you exploited me time and again ?! " Seeing Victor still refused to look at her directly , Sophie stopped caring . " You think I've no right to mention the past ? Then how dare you bring it up in front of Lily ? How are you any better than me ? " " You followed me ? " Sophie scoffed coldly : " Yes . Otherwise I'd have missed this spectacular show . " Fresh from Lily's repeated rejections , Victor now faced Sophie's mockery . He clamped his hand around her throat . As Victor's grip tightened , Sophie's breathing grew labored , her face flushing crimson . Unable to break free , she dropped her hands and laughed hoarsely : " What's the point ? You're the one who hurt Lily repeatedly - not me ! " Chapter 22 Sophie's face flushed to pale , nearing unconsciousness . Victor released her , shoving her aside . Gasping for air , Sophie clutched her throat where she'd collapsed . Victor watched her coldly : " I'll expose every truth about how you used me . " Only this , he thought , might offer a sliver of hope to win Lily back . Panic seized Sophie . She scrambled to rise , but terror had sapped her limbs of strength . 208 Wischers Crawling toward Victor , she grasped his pant leg : " Please , Victor ! I spoke recklessly - I was wrong ! " Victor glared at her clutching hand with distaste : " Let go ! " Sophie knew exposure meant ruin . She clung desperately , hoping for mercy . When she refused to release him , Victor kicked her hand away and strode off . Collapsed on the floor , Sophie watched Victor leave , thoughts spiraling wildly : Why does Lily get adored by two men while I'm treated like this ? Blinded by hatred , she whispered : " If Lily dies ... will Victor return to me ? " Lily had stayed home for two days , fearing Victor's harassment . Benjamin worried she'd suffocate indoors and suggested a date . Lily eyed the unhealed cut on Benjamin's lip , recalling Victor's shamelessness . She shook her head . 114 Chapter 22 " What if he bothers us again ? " 1288 Vouchers Benjamin pulled her close , leaning down to kiss her cheek : " Don't worry . I'll protect you . " After a hesitant pause , Lily agreed . Hand in hand , they approached the nearby mall - only to find Victor lingering like a ghost at the entrance . The two saw Victor trying to turn away , but he darted toward them and tried to grab Lily . Just then , a car suddenly veered toward Lily's direction .