Deep Love, Lost in the End

"You still haven’t learned what you should and shouldn’t do?"

"Mm?"

With Sophie James was a group of business partners for this event, all of them standing a few steps away, none daring to come closer. They all watched as Sophie gripped my neck, speaking each word slowly.

"Apologize to Ethan King, beg for his forgiveness."

Her lips curled into a slight smile, the same as when she threw a plane ticket in my face five years ago.

"I won’t hold your sudden return against you."

My blood ran cold.

The baton clattered to the ground as she casually tossed it, the sound as clear as five years ago.

I vividly remembered the day I caught Sophie cheating, red-eyed, demanding an explanation. She had simply held Ethan in her arms and warned me.

"Ethan is different from you."

"He’s timid, don’t scare him."

"Liam, we’ve been together for so long, long enough that I can’t find passion with you anymore. As long as you behave, the position of my husband is always yours. If you ever harm Ethan, I will take your life."

Back then, I didn’t understand.

I thought Sophie loved me. I was certain of the bond we had through all those years of struggle, building everything from scratch together. I hired a private detective, got the compromising photos, and blasted them all over the internet. No matter how much they spent to suppress the trending topics, it couldn’t beat the price I was willing to pay to make Sophie and Ethan pay.

As I expected, Ethan was expelled from school, thoroughly disgraced.

But it also came at a great cost to me.

I still remember the day Sophie forced me to sign the divorce settlement, her voice as cold as ice.

"Your brother’s life is in your hands."

"Liam."

"How will you choose?"

Now,

"Sophie James."

"Five years gone," I met Sophie’s mocking face, smiling a smile worse than hers. "So, this is your way of catching up with an old lover?"

"If that’s the case, I’ve got a big gift for you."

I stabbed a knife into Sophie’s abdomen, watching her stunned face as I twisted the knife, feeling the blood stick to my hand. My smile grew wider.

"Sophie James."

"Do you like it?"

"If you do," I pulled the knife out, stabbing it again as Sophie grabbed the blade, cutting her palm. She seemed unaware of the pain, gripping the blade tightly, smiling back at me.

"Liam Carter, five years gone, and you’re still—"

"Good job."

Sophie kicked me in the chest, snatched the knife from my hand, and looked down at me.

"So eager to take my life."

"Sophie James," she stepped in front of me, pressing her foot into my wrist. The old scars on my wrist burned, making me wince. But I heard her say, "It’s a pity, I rule Seaside City."

"If you want my life," Sophie bent down and threw the knife at my feet, "You’re not qualified."

Ethan King rushed at us, crying like a madman, his tears flooding as he yelled at me.

"Liam Carter!"

"Five years ago, you designed those compromising photos to ruin my future, and now you want to harm me and Sophie? Sophie’s kind-heartedness let you off, just sending you away. How could you be so malicious? So malicious that you still want Sophie’s life!"

Ethan sobbed, blocking Sophie’s body, like a rooster protecting its chick, not caring about his image as he screamed.

"If I’d known, I would have never let you hurt Sophie when I softened my heart!"

"I swear I’ll—"