THE BILLIONAIRE STILL WANTS HER!
Chapter 88: On the ground...

Chapter 88: On the ground...

Sophia sank onto the ground, her eyes shutting tight as warm tears traced silent paths down her skin.

Every choice she had made circled relentlessly in her mind, each one a weight she could no longer bear.

And yet, after everything, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her decisions—no matter how painful—had always been inevitable, the price she had to pay for the life she had led.

Her thoughts drifted to Angel, and more painfully, to Angel’s child.

If only she had been honest from the very beginning—if only Angel had known that she was Arthur’s hidden wife—perhaps none of this would have unraveled into such a tragic mess.

The memories of being Arthur’s wife came rushing back, bittersweet and suffocating.

Once, he had sworn she would never feel like a mere obligation, yet here she was, nothing more than a duty he had resigned himself to.

How had it come to this?

Why?

Sophia had once lived the perfect life, the cherished daughter of a thriving shopping retailer in the countryside.

Everything had always gone her way—until, suddenly, it didn’t.

Her father’s business took a devastating downturn, profits plummeted, and the security she had always known began to crumble before her eyes.

Arthur was one of her father’s business partners, a man who refused to walk away even as others abandoned ship.

Her father saw his loyalty as an opportunity, a lifeline in desperate times. And when Arthur made his request, her father, eager to solidify their partnership, did not hesitate to agree.

That request, as it turned out, was for Sophia’s hand in marriage.

At first, she recoiled at the idea.

The thought of being offered up as a bargaining chip made her stomach churn. But as she spent more time with Arthur, she discovered a side of him she hadn’t expected.

He was gentle, thoughtful, and had a rare ability to make her laugh. His charm was disarming, his presence intoxicating.

And so, against her better judgment, she let herself fall.

But in the end, it had all been a carefully laid trap.

Because of Arthur, she could no longer recognize herself.

She had become a shadow, a mere reflection of the person she once was. And in her vulnerability, Arthur had taken advantage of every weakness, stripping away the last remnants of her independence.

A sob shuddered through her as she lowered her gaze to her trembling hands.

The memories crashed over her like a tidal wave—memories of Arthur tying her down, whispering false promises, taking from her under the guise of love.

And she had let him.

At that moment, it was easier to admit the painful truth—she had truly lost herself.

A broken sob escaped her lips as the realization struck her like a tidal wave. All this time, she had diminished herself, reducing her worth to nothing more than a tool for his desires, his convenience.

He had used her—manipulated her for his benefit, for his pleasure—while standing idly by, watching as she degraded herself in front of others, never once stopping her.

Drowning in the suffocating weight of her thoughts, silent tears cascaded down her cheeks, her body trembling as she succumbed to the anguish.

But then—click.

The subtle yet distinct sound of the door unlocking jolted her from her despair.

Her breath hitched, and with everything within her, Sophia pushed herself up, hope igniting a desperate fire in her chest.

Her lips curved into a trembling smile, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Someone was here. Someone was going to save her from this wretched prison.

But the moment the door creaked open, her body went rigid, her breath stalling in her throat.

The smile that once graced her lips shattered like fragile glass as she stared in wide-eyed disbelief.

A towering figure stepped into the dimly lit room, his frame casting an imposing shadow against the cold walls.

Sophia’s heart plummeted.

"S-Sir?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, dread clawing at her insides.

Her gaze flickered downward, and that was when she noticed it—the firm grip he had on the handle of a paper bag.

Sophia stood frozen, her breath hitching in her throat. What was going on?

"Sir, listen. I’ve been trapped here—please, I need help. I think there might have been some mistake—"

"Mr. Arthur instructed that you stay here for a while," the man interrupted, his tone firm and unyielding.

Sophia’s expression darkened, a deep frown etching across her face. Her heart pounded as the weight of his words sank in.

Did this mean... the man standing before her was also in on this?

Unbelievable.

"No, no, listen," she insisted, shaking her head in growing desperation. "There has to be a mix-up. There’s no way Arthur would ask you to keep me here. Please, you have to believe me—Arthur can’t be behind this! I need to leave. Now."

Her voice trembled, but her resolve held strong. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her eyes locked onto the slightly ajar door. Freedom was just a few steps away.

But before she could make it past him, the man shifted, his imposing frame blocking her path with unsettling ease. Panic surged through her veins like ice.

And then—click.

The door shut.

A deafening silence followed, stretching unbearably as Sophia stood in shock. Her breathing grew erratic, her mind racing to process what had just happened.

And then, a chilling realization struck her like a blow to the chest.

It wasn’t just this man.

There were others outside the door.

She wasn’t just trapped.

She was surrounded.

Sophia couldn’t help but wonder—just how far was Arthur willing to go? How ruthless could he be to ensure his plans succeeded?

The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

"Listen to me, you have to understand—" she began, desperation lacing her voice.

But before she could finish, the man before her moved with unnerving calmness, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. Her words faltered, confusion knitting her brows as she watched him tap the screen.

And then, her breath caught in her throat.

A video played on the glowing display, the images flickering in front of her eyes. For a moment, she couldn’t process what she was seeing—until realization hit her like a thunderclap.

Her body stiffened, a cold wave of dread washing over her.

What... what was this?

Her pulse quickened, her fingers clenching at her sides as she tried to make sense of it. Whatever was on that screen—it was meant for her.

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