turned out to be a fraud.
Years of raising me made it impossible for them to let me go entirely.
But their hatred for their daughter’s death left them unsure how to face me.
After a long hesitation…
They left me an 800‑million‑dollar dowry and entrusted me to Lucas.
They were actually kinder than I deserved.
They just never expected Lucas to be so ruthless.
He took that 800 million—her dowry, the money meant to save my life.
He invested it in his new project.
With that, he became the richest man in Newport’s social circle, with a limitless future.
He let me be tortured until I was barely hanging on.
That day, I cried every tear I’d ever had.
I looked up, and Lucas was already standing before me.
He stood against the light.
I couldn’t see his expression, but I saw the necklace around his neck—matching Sophia’s.
He lowered his head and said,
“Sophie, I won’t abandon you because of your wretchedness.”
“But remember this—you have no family to return to.”
“If you want to marry me, if you want to become Mrs. Lawrence, you have to learn to be obedient.”
Everyone said this was Lucas softening, showing goodwill.
He knew I was spoiled, knew my unbearable past.