Chapter 583

After agreeing with Henry, she had expected him to follow Sophia, but everything unraveled. Now, he was the one being auctioned off.

Caspian’s eyes darkened with a cold, calculating look. He turned sharply, fixing his gaze on Sophia.

“Caspian, why are you looking at me like that?” Sophia asked, feigning innocence.

Like a frightened bird, she took a few quick steps back, hiding behind Atlas. Grabbing his sleeve, her voice trembled as she said, “Atlas, why is Caspian looking at me like that!”

Startled by her sudden movement, Atlas froze. He thought, After everything that happened, Sophia now seems like a devil to me.

“Did you do this!” Caspian’s voice was icy, dripping with anger.

Sophia flinched at his harsh tone, and tears began to flow freely down her cheeks as she bit her lip. She tilted her head back to gaze at the crystal chandelier, her face a mask of despair.

“Why do you keep accusing me! What did I do wrong?” Sophia asked, her voice shaky. She spun around, clearly about to lash out, but before she moved, a figure blocked her way.

Sophia looked up to meet Windsor’s cold, emotionless eyes. A shiver ran down her spine, and she instinctively stepped back.

“Windsor, why are you here too?” she stammered.

Caspian and Atlas exchanged surprised glances as they saw Windsor standing there.

“Ah—” Sophia was about to speak when she suddenly saw Windsor reach for her throat. With surprising strength, he gripped her neck, lifting her off the ground. Sophia’s feet dangled as she struggled, but Windsor’s hold was relentless, tightening with each passing second. She frantically battered at his arm, gasping for breath.

“Let… let go of me! Help!” Sophia choked out, her eyes widening in panic. As her vision blurred from lack of air, she realized with a sinking feeling that Windsor wasn’t joking. He wants to kill me.

Sophia had once thought Windsor might still care for her, that he wouldn’t go so far. After all, he had even agreed to divorce her. But now, as he tried to kill her in front of everyone, that illusion shattered.

The nightclub was crowded, yet everyone remained silent, watching the scene unfold without intervening. People died here all the time—some overdosed, others succumbed to abuse. No one saw anything unusual.

“Atlas, help me.” Sophia’s eyes were wide with panic. In the past, her tears had always been an act, but now they poured freely as the suffocating pressure on her throat made her realize Windsor was genuinely trying to kill her.

She thought, Why? Why does he want me dead all of a sudden?

“Who would dare help her? After everything she’s done—dragging Henry, selling him off to this nightclub—what kind of twisted plan was this?” Windsor’s voice rang out, cold and biting.

The room went still. Atlas and Caspian were dumbstruck. A familiar sense washed over them: Windsor was exactly like the father they knew three years ago. Before this moment, they had questioned why Windsor seemed so different since his return from abroad. But now it was clear—he hadn’t changed.

“No! I didn’t! I didn’t!” Sophia screamed. Her throat burned, and her wide eyes darted upward, meeting Odalys’s calm gaze. Odalys stood on the second-floor balcony with Percival, watching with faint amusement. Their eyes locked, and anger and bitterness briefly swirled in Sophia’s chest. Sophia thought, Why is Odalys standing beside Percival, protected and loved, when the Bennett family cast her out?

“Aaght!” Sophia let out a cry of pain as Windsor’s grip tightened. With a sharp thud, Windsor flung her to the ground. Her head hit a nearby table, and blood began seeping from the wound.

Windsor stepped forward, dragging Henry from the stage. He swept his gaze over the onlookers, who were enjoying the show.

“I’m sorry,” he said firmly. “They say family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly, but my foster daughter brought chaos to the Bennett family. She’s ruthless; she even tried to destroy Henry.”

“Henry was drugged, which left him in this state. I’m sorry you had to witness this embarrassment. I’ll take him away now, and I’ll formally apologize another day,” Windsor announced calmly and authoritatively.

Sophia’s face turned ghostly pale. She never expected Windsor to disown her so openly or reveal the truth in front of everyone. Disapproving glances came from every direction, accompanied by whispers. Someone chuckled and said, “Did you see the video of her getting cozy with that magician! Her figure’s pretty decent.” “Maybe we should ask her how much it costs. We could give it a try ourselves.” Their laughter was loud and deliberate, clearly meant to humiliate her.

Sophia glared at Windsor, clutching her injured forehead, resentment burning in her eyes. With bitterness lacing her voice, she snapped, “What are you trying to say, Windsor! Do you have any evidence that I was the one who drugged him!”

“You just tried to kill me—everyone here saw it. Anyone here can testify that someone from the Bennett family tried to take my life.”

“I’m just one woman. How could I possibly drug a grown man? Your family is too clever for its own good, twisting the story and blaming me for saving face.” She took a step back, her voice rising with each word.

“If you never wanted me, why did you even adopt me? I’ve done nothing wrong, yet I’m always at fault. It’s your family’s mess, but you’re pinning it all on me!” Sophia shouted, backing away. Caspian and Atlas stepped in, positioning themselves behind her as if anticipating she might try to flee.

“What’s going on, Mr. Bennett?” someone in the crowd called out. “Are you trying to drive your foster daughter to her grave, or is she the one framing your family?”

The onlookers, wealthy nightclub patrons, leaned in eagerly. They thrived on drama, and the public unraveling of the Bennett family was irresistible.

“Yeah, if you’re going to take Henry away, at least give us an explanation,” another chimed in. “We all came here to see him tonight. After all, it’s not every day a young heir ends up on stage. It’s been quite the spectacle.”

Their voices carried, and others quickly joined the chorus, demanding answers.

Windsor scanned their faces, his expression unreadable. “Caspian, hold Henry.” He pushed Henry forward, and Caspian steadied him while Atlas grabbed Sophia’s arm, preventing her from fleeing. Windsor strode forward, his gaze fixed on Sophia. She tilted her head back, meeting his eyes directly—only to be caught off guard when he suddenly raised his hand and struck her.

“What—” her voice was cut off by the sharp pain in her neck. Before she could react, her vision blurred, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

“This is a family matter,” Windsor declared with chilling calm. “Once I’ve dealt with it, I’ll explain.” His voice was steady, showing no hint of losing control despite the uproar around him.