Chapter 172
Chapter 172:
Adrian’s expression hardened the moment he saw Sophie’s messy hair and rumpled clothes. His gaze cut like steel as it locked on Edgar.
Recognition flickered. He worked at Pinnacle Jewelry—but Adrian didn’t care about his name or title. What consumed him was the gall of this man daring to touch Sophie.
The weight of Adrian’s stare was colder than death itself. “Explain p>
Edgar trembled beneath that look, his shirt dampening with sweat almost instantly. Telling the truth was out of the question, so he twisted his mouth into a forced grin.
“It’s Sophie, sir. She’s been off since morning. She kept muttering nonsense even before we got here, and later she started shouting that someone was after her. I worried it might be serious, so I thought I’d drag her to the hospital before she collapsed p>
He leaned heavily into the role of the concerned colleague. “I was only trying to help, but she went wild, tore away from me, and now she’s saying I grabbed her and tried to hurt her p>
A dangerous spark glimmered in Edgar’s stare at Sophie, his eyes promising retribution with no hint of restraint.
Rage coursed through Sophie as she said, “I’m not insane p>
Her voice cut through the air, sharp and unwavering. “Mr. Knight, don’t fall for his lies! Edgar lured me into a hidden spot, then ordered his niece, Lila, to drug me until I blacked out. After that, he had this man haul me into the restroom. They planned to strip me and take nude photos just to spread them online. Their goal was to destroy me p>
Cold fury bled from Adrian’s gaze, each second making the air around them drop until the atmosphere itself seemed to freeze.
𝘘𝗎𝖺li𝘁𝗒 𝗍𝗋а𝘯s𝘭𝘢𝘁𝗶𝘰𝗇𝘀 𝘰𝗇
Murderous impulses churned inside Edgar, his hands twitching with the urge to silence Sophie on the spot. Paleness swept over his face before he lunged forward, desperate to shut her mouth.
“Mr. Knight, she’s lost her mind! Don’t believe a single thing she says. I’ll take her to the hospital myself. Apologies for interrupting your lunch—my fault entirely. I’ll get her out right now p>
Before his hand could reach Sophie, the screech of chair legs tore across the room, rooting him to the spot.
A tremor ran through Edgar as Adrian advanced, every step pounding against him like a hammer to the chest. Without hesitation, Adrian stopped beside Sophie and slid off his suit jacket, laying it gently across her shoulders.
“Sit down over there and stay put.” His voice was calm, yet the authority in it left no room for argument.
From behind Adrian’s frame, Sophie could see nothing but the breadth of his back—a shield that brought her an unexpected wave of relief. The jacket itself carried a trace of cedar, hauntingly close to Adrian’s scent.
The suspicion she had buried deep clawed its way back into her mind.
Adrian’s treatment of her told Edgar everything he needed to know. Any chance of spinning a cover vanished, and the fire in his gaze turned cruel.
He lashed out with a swift kick behind Lila’s leg, dropping her flat on the floor.
“Mr. Knight! She is to blame! From the very beginning, it was her!” Edgar thrust a finger at Lila’s crumpled figure, his voice cracking with false outrage. “She swore she used to be close to Sophie. She begged me for a private reunion, and like a fool, I gave her the chance because she’s family. How could I have known she’d sink this low? She played me p>
He struck his own chest in mock grief, forcing loud sobs into the air.