Chapter 29

The next day, Sophia learned about Damien's arrangements and realized he had changed his way of doing things just to consider her feelings. Warmth flooded her heart.

She wore a velvet dress with a simple, comfortable cut that showed off her slender waist and straight legs.

There were still marks from last night's lovemaking on her neck. When Damien saw them, his eyes darkened.

Sophia noticed his gaze and felt a bit shy, but she didn't try to hide them.

When Damien was home, there were hardly any outsiders in the villa, so she wasn't worried about anyone seeing them.

Last night's soup had gotten bad, so Sophia spent the whole morning making a fresh bowl and personally brought it to Damien.

Damien took a sip, then leaned in close. "Was I not good enough last night? You still need soup?"

Sophia's face turned red instantly. She shot Damien a playfully annoyed look.

"Stop talking nonsense, Faye's right here."

They both looked over at Faye, who was battling with a lobster. Hearing her name, she looked up confused, with sauce still on her lips.

"It's okay, continue eating," Damien said with a smile.

"This soup is to thank you—for everything you've done for Faye and me, and for caring about my feelings."

Sophia looked straight at him, her eyes clear and full of affection.

Damien couldn't help but pull her into his arms and said softly, "You never have to thank me."

"Why does Mommy have to thank Daddy?"

Faye held up a piece of lobster meat and asked curiously.

Sophia pulled out a napkin to wipe the sauce from her mouth and answered with a smile.

"Because Daddy taught a lesson to everyone who bullied Mommy."

"That mean lady!" Faye still remembered Thea.

"Daddy's so amazing, helping Mommy and me punish the bad people."

She dropped her fork, slid down from her chair, and ran back to her room.

Sophia was confused, then saw Faye quickly run back holding something.

"Daddy, here's a little red flower for you," Faye held up a little red flower sticker to put on Damien.

"This is your reward for beating up the bad guys."

Damien didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he rolled up his sleeve and let her stick the little red flower on his arm.

Faye carefully pressed the sticker on.

Looking at that simple, cheap little red flower, Damien felt it was worth more than all the honors he'd ever received.

"Daddy, I wish you'd come back sooner. Then you could've gone to my old school. I wanted them to see you and tell them I'm not a kid without a daddy."

Faye said in her sweet little voice, blinking her big eyes.

"It's Daddy's fault for letting you and Mommy suffer."

"It's okay, as long as Daddy doesn't go away for so long again."

Faye broke into a big smile that instantly lit up both their hearts.

Meanwhile, Panther, following orders to handle the Ellis family matter, personally went to meet the Ellis family patriarch, Soren Ellis.

Leaning on his cane, Soren looked Panther up and down with eyes that were cloudy yet shrewd.

"My Ellis family members aren't people who can be bullied by just anyone. Your words are too arrogant."

Soren didn't know how this person got into the Ellis family, but the moment she opened her mouth, she demanded his granddaughter kneel and apologize to Sophia. How ridiculous?

"The only reason I'm standing here talking to you is because you have some ability. Don't be too full of yourself and forget who you are. In New York, no one can touch my Ellis family."

No matter how powerful Panther's backers were, they'd have to be careful in New York.

At that moment, Thea was planning to teach Sophia and Elodie a lesson the next time they went out, and had even called in some people from the family.

Panther looked at him coldly and pulled out a black iron token.

The token had sharp, cold lines with just one simple inscription—Shadow Sect.

Soren stared at the token in disbelief, his gray beard was trembling violently. His legs shook, and he actually knelt down, trembling.

"I didn't know my place. I never imagined a special envoy from Shadow Sect would come here."

He couldn't stop shaking and kowtowed twice in apology.

"Please forgive me. I'll have that disobedient girl brought back right away and personally tie her up and send her to Ms. Brown to vent her anger!"

Soren cursed inwardly—how did Thea manage to provoke Shadow Sect?

Shadow Sect had first severely damaged Celestial Temple and then overthrown the assassin organization alliance. Now everyone knew Damien's reputation.

Those small families that had sided with Celestial Temple and the assassin organizations—Shadow Sect wiped them out with a wave of the hand. Knowing Damien was coming to New York, all the major families were on guard. What was his Ellis family compared to that?

Panther sneered and put the token away.

"Good that the Ellis family knows what's good for them. Our king is still waiting."

She smiled, but Soren seemed to see a bloodthirsty mouth opening wide and felt a chill run up his spine.

"Yes, yes, I'll do it right away, immediately!"

He gripped his clothes tightly, sweat pouring down his forehead like rain.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he dared to lift his head. The room was already empty. The butler kneeling beside him swallowed hard and went to help him up.

Soren collapsed on the floor, powerless, hands trembling, "Go, bring Thea back! Hurry!"

The butler didn't dare delay and scrambled out.

When Thea was brought back, she looked confused, "Grandpa, what are you doing? I still have things to do!"

She'd always been favored and wasn't really afraid of Soren.

"Kneel down! You almost got the whole Ellis family killed, and you still have things to do! Do you know what Shadow Sect is? How dare you provoke their people!"

Soren was breathing heavily, his eyes fierce.

"Now, immediately, you go and apologise to that Sophia right now. Whatever she says, you do it."

As long as he could save the Ellis family, what did sacrificing one granddaughter matter? He had plenty of grandchildren—he wasn't short one.

Thea refused, "I don't care about any Shadow Sect. I won't let Sophia off. If you want me to apologize to her, not in this lifetime!"

"Fine, you're tough. Bring out the family punishment!"

Thea looked at Soren in disbelief, not understanding how things had turned out this way. In the past, when she threw tantrums, she'd only been grounded.

Even as she was dragged away, she still hadn't processed what was happening.

"Grandpa!"

"Beat her! Beat her hard!"

The Ellis family's punishment tool was a smooth, shiny cane with great flexibility. One strike would split the skin, causing searing pain.

Thea screamed, "Grandpa, I was wrong! I won't dare again, I really won't!"

No matter how much she begged, she still received twenty lashes, her clothes torn to shreds.

But that wasn't the end. Just like that, in her tattered clothes, covered in blood, she was sent to apologize to Sophia.