Chapter 266
"Mr. Bennett, how do you explain Sophia's messy personal life? Was her image a lie? Is she truly promiscuous?"
"Why are you framing Odalys? Do you think this involves her?"
"Do you have a vendetta against Odalys? Why are you constantly targeting her? We need answers."
"Is this Sophia's first sexual encounter?"
"Why are you promoting her so much? Do you think she's a terrible person?"
Reporters crowded the Bennetts, sparking outrage. Caspian quickly ushered Hannah into the car.
Hannah, abandoning her carefully laid plans, glared bitterly at Odalys. She hadn't anticipated this. She never imagined Sophia would be involved with a man like this. Sophia had previously come straight home after work, and stayed home on days off. Hannah believed Sophia was a virgin, never suspecting…
"Mom…" Caspian said, noticing Hannah's eyes slowly closing.
"Take her to the hospital. Get her morning-after pills. Pregnancy will make things far worse," Hannah said wearily.
Sophia's future was ruined. She'd had haters before, but now, she was finished.
Atlas, gripping the steering wheel, sat silently. Sophia's image had shattered; he had to accept it.
"She must have been drugged," Atlas gritted his teeth.
Caspian, in the back, felt Atlas had lost control. He'd warned Atlas the previous night, but Atlas had interfered anyway. "Does she look drugged? She was perfectly lucid," Caspian retorted.
They froze. The live broadcast remained active. Henry, resolute, shoved the phone into a drawer, cutting the feed.
"Let's go home," Henry said wearily. He was speechless. He doubted himself. No matter what they did, something bad happened. He'd favored Sophia, but now questioned everything.
He'd suppressed Odalys to protect Sophia from bullying, but now Odalys seemed to be thriving. Henry felt disoriented. Nothing had changed, yet everything had.
Everything was different. He looked at Sophia, eyes swollen from crying, and felt an overwhelming urge to scream.
"Why are you even here?" Henry asked coldly.
Silence fell. Sophia, unable to cry further, met Henry's dark gaze, feeling like he would consume her. She quickly looked away, biting her lip.
"I—" Sophia panicked, having faked a faint and not expecting Henry to call her out. "Odalys invited me. I didn't think she'd set me up. Henry, Sophia tried to hurt me," she lied. As long as Henry didn't verify it, the lie would stand.
Henry let out a hoarse laugh, rubbing his brow. His usual calm shattered. "You're lying! Odalys invited you?" His voice was filled with pent-up frustration. "She was at the Bennett Villa last night only to slap you, then left. Do you know who picked her up? A Stewart family Cayenne. She was invited by them. Why would she invite you? Her company launch is packed, but you're here, having sex?"
Sophia was stunned silent.
"Henry, I…" Sophia looked at him in disbelief. He'd never yelled at her before. How could he yell at me and defend Odalys? I've been assaulted, and no one is defending me, she thought.
"Odalys is married into the Stewart family, and you all don't love me anymore? I'm the victim, but everyone doubts me?" Sophia's voice cracked.
Henry laughed bitterly. "Victim? Do you think I'm an idiot? You were enjoying it. Were you broadcasting it? Do you want me to replay the video? Do you think the Bennett family hasn't suffered enough because of you?"
Atlas, driving, trembled, unsure if from panic or anger.
"Enough," Hannah said, detached, neither angry nor upset. Even if Sophia had been assaulted, Hannah seemed unconcerned. Perhaps, after last night's decision to climb the Stewart family's ranks, she'd discarded Sophia.
"Hospital? Do you think they'll admit her?" Henry sneered.
Sophia wept. Henry had spoiled her most, and the Bennett family's resources flowed to her. Now, he was the only one who didn't believe her.
"The internet is full of shameful news about Sophia. How will the Bennett family recover? Mom, you said today would be a turning point. We've hit rock bottom," Henry continued.
Caspian remained silent, replaying the day's events. He'd glimpsed Sophia's partially exposed chest. He swallowed hard and asked, "Was he your first?"
"I…" Sophia hadn't expected that question. Her face flushed; childhood memories flooded back. Alden couldn't have been her first; it had been in a storage room at the Bennett Villa. She lowered her gaze and fell silent.
Atlas drove to the hospital. To his surprise, Sophia was admitted and examined quickly. There were signs of tearing.
"Was she a virgin?" Henry asked abruptly.
The nurse checked the report. "We found no evidence of a torn hymen, so it doesn't appear to be her first time."
"If you want to repair her hymen, I suggest she wait until she's recovered, then schedule surgery." The nurse handed him the report and left.
Henry held the report, the nurse's words echoing. He slapped his face. What kind of person have I been protecting? I thought she was pure, that she wasn't secretly seeing men. Even when she seduced me, I endured it, he thought. She wasn't even a virgin.
(AD)