Chapter 447

Sophia's face loomed larger in Orson's field of vision as she approached, sending a cold chill down his spine.

"Who the hell did I offend?" Orson shouted, his voice laced with shock and disbelief. His hands trembled on the steering wheel. Before he could think, his foot slammed on the gas. The Bentley surged forward, crashing into the woman who had just reached his car.

A sickening thud followed, and Sophia cried out in agony. She had been standing beside the car when the luxury vehicle struck her from the side, knocking her off balance. She staggered, trying to regain her footing, but Orson didn't flinch. He sped away, leaving her stunned and sprawled on the ground.

Her simmering frustration boiled over. Moments ago, she'd been released from police custody, only to find no one there to pick her up. The anger and humiliation welled up inside her. Released from the station, she was alone in the dead of night.

Walking down the street, she spotted a luxury car parked on a corner. The license plate caught her eye—the Lark family's car. Peering closer, she saw Orson.

Sophia's heart raced. She'd been trying to track him down, and now, by sheer coincidence, she'd found him. Was this fate? Was she about to hit the jackpot? Getting close to him might let her marry into wealth. That would solve everything—no more scheming with Finnian, no more struggles.

But to her surprise, the moment she approached, Orson didn't hesitate. He slammed the car into her, knocking her aside, and sped off without checking on her. Sophia lay stunned and humiliated, her hopes dashed.

"Orson, you actually hit me? Why? What did I do to deserve this? Why is everyone targeting me?" she whispered bitterly, tears welling up.

For a moment, she felt utterly lost and abandoned. Someone had bailed her out after her arrest, but who? The Bennett family certainly hadn't cared; it was as if they'd discarded her.

She no longer wanted to return to the Bennett Group, but without them, she had nowhere to go. The thought of Hannah's cold, hateful gaze made her teeth grind.

"I can't give up. The Bennett family raised me. How could I just leave? They owe me?" Sophia muttered, determination growing.

Despite the pain, she refused to be defeated. She pushed herself to her feet.

As she rose, a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking her path.

"Who?" Sophia gasped, eyes wide, instinctively stepping back.

Finnian stood before her, a menacing grin twisting his face, his eyes gleaming with malice. Sophia shivered, remembering the hospital—Finnian and Windsor's presence, the tense encounter that had shaken her.

"Finnian?" she asked, her voice trembling. A chill ran down her spine. Finnian's expression was inhuman; he looked like a predator. Before she could react, he lunged, grabbing her hair and dragging her closer.

He slapped her across the face, sending her sprawling. Her hair was pulled, and she scrambled to grab onto anything.

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Chapter 417 (continued from above)

Mud and dirt caked her hands and clothes, the jagged soil tearing at her nails. Her once flawless face was smeared with dirt. Sophia's mind spun; her despair deepened as she realized the street's emptiness. No people, no cars—just the cold, dark night.

"Help! Someone, please! I'm being attacked! Help!" she screamed, her voice hoarse and desperate. But in her heart, she knew Finnian wouldn't let her go. He was too angry, too vengeful.

Her mind flashed back to using the Love Spell on him, sabotaging him on the variety show, watching his popularity plummet. He would never forgive that.

"Shut up!" Finnian barked, kicking her in the ribs.

Sophia's face was pressed into the dirt, her skin scraping against the ground. She moaned in pain, unable to hold back tears.

"You think I'm just going to let you scream?" Finnian snarled, his foot digging into her side. "You think you can escape this? After everything you did to me?"

"Why, Finnian? I didn't do anything to you. Why are you doing this?" she gasped, panic rising.

"Shut up!" Finnian growled, his face twisted in anger. He stood over her, staring at her battered face with twisted satisfaction. He seemed to enjoy her suffering; it gave him power, control.

"How does it feel? Painful, huh?" Finnian said, his voice low and dark. "But it's nothing compared to the pain you caused me. You took everything from me. You ruined my life. You used me, tricked me with that damn Love Spell, and now look where I am. I've got nothing left. You've destroyed me."

Sophia's body trembled; her eyes were wide with terror. The man before her wasn't the Finnian she knew—this was a monster seeking revenge.

"I didn't… I didn't do it. It wasn't me. It was Odalys," she gasped, trying to deflect blame. "She's the one who cursed us. She's the one who did all of this. If you kill her, everything will go back to normal. We'll both be free, I promise."

Finnian's expression darkened. He knew better than to trust her. He'd seen Odalys's power firsthand.

"Should I pop your eye out, Sophia?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "If I blind you, do you think the Bennett family will ever take you back? Do you think your fans will still love a blind star?"

He grabbed a toothpick from his pocket, holding it to her eye.

"No, please, don't. I'll do anything. Just don't hurt me!" she begged, trembling with terror.

Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded for her life. She'd always looked down on Finnian, never imagining she'd run into him like this right after the police station. What were the odds?

Sophia suspected he'd been following her, or that he'd bailed her out. Could it be? If she had something he wanted, maybe she could use him to escape again. But one thing was certain—she would never compromise with someone like him.

"I could let you go, but you have to tell me where I can buy the Love Spell," Finnian gritted.

Odalys's words echoed in his mind. His only chance for survival was to find the Love Spell and regain his luck. If Sophia kept draining it, he would die. He had nothing left to lose.

"What Love Spell? I don't know anything," she lied, though a familiar feeling unsettled her deeply.

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