Chapter 200 THE WRONG PLAYERS

Chapter 200 THE WRONG PLAYERS
SOPHIA HERNANDEZ’S POV

The silence in the car is almost… peaceful as I calmly go back to the Family–My Family house.

I lean my head back slightly against the seat, staring out at the blur of passing lights as the city stretches ahead of me.

Italy.

My new home.

A small smile touches my lips as I recall what happened in the States and how things didn't go as planned.

Noah using his pity party story managed to buy the public sympathy but no matter, I still managed to get something.

The whole world now knows his weakness and when I'm ready and prepared, I'll strike back when harder.

My fingers tap lightly against my thigh, thinking.

“Next time,” I murmured under my breath with a small smile.
“I’ll do better.”

Because there will be a next time, there's time for it.

The guards nod as we pass through with the gates sliding open without hesitation as the car comes to a stop.

I step out and smooth down my outfit as I walk toward the entrance of the main house.

The doors open and almost immediately, I feel something.

The house feels… wrong.

I pause slightly as my eyes scan through the foyer.

It's not only quiet, it's empty.
Too empty.

Where are the guards?

Where are the staff? There’s always someone here.

The air feels… still.

My brows furrow as I take a step forward with my heels echoing against the silent marble floors.

“Hello?” I call out but there's no response.

This isn’t normal.

“What the hell…” I mutter as my steps start quickening.

Something is off.

Something is very–

A hand clamps around my arm hard as another grips my shoulder and yanks me back.

Hard.

“What–?!”

Before I can react, a sharp sting pierce the side of my neck as alarm floods through me.

“What did you–?!”

I struggle instantly with my hands and legs thrash against the grip but it's useless, they're too strong.

My limbs feel heavy and I realize it's a fast acting drug.

“No–no–!” I choke out with my voice breaking in panic.

My vision blurs slightly but I force myself up to see who would dare do this.

And when I do–

Everything inside me snaps with terror.

“No…” I whisper as disbelief starts flooding my voice. “No–”

She stands there looking at me with composure and pity.

Emily Moreau.

The matriarch and the woman that brought me in.

“What is the meaning of this?” I demand, my voice shaking as anger surges through my fear. “Why would you–?!”

She watches me quietly and that's when I finally notice the guards that had been missing before.

All of them.

My heart drops as the cold realization sinks in.
I've been isolated and cut off by the Family.

Emily exhales softly as if this is nothing more than a tedious task for her

“Unfortunately,” she says calmly, “while I do owe you a debt… that debt has been paid.”

My breath catches.

“What–?”

“I allowed you entry into the family,” she continues. “That was our agreement.”

Her gaze sharpens slightly.

“And I honored it.”

My hands tremble as I try to push myself up, but my strength is slipping fast from me.

Fast.

“No,” I shake my head weakly. “No, that’s not–this isn’t–”

“My daughter on the other hand,” she cuts in smoothly, “is furious with me and you.”

My stomach twists.

“Lily,” she adds.

“She demands action against you.”

My lips part but no words come out from it.
Sadly, I understand why now.

“You can’t do this,” I force out as my voice is now hoarse. “I’m part of this family–”

Emily’s expression doesn’t change but her voice?
It hardens after my statement.

“You misunderstand your position my dear Sophi.”

My chest tightens.

“You’ve been accepted,” she says. “Yes.”

A pause.

“But you are not a core member that's protected.”
“You become that,” she continues, “after marriage.”

My breath stutters.

“Elena,” she adds quietly.

And just like that, everything crashes down on me.
“You’re merely a subsidiary,” Emily finishes. “Nothing more.”

Rage explodes through me at her words.

“You can’t–!” I choke out as panic starts clawing at my throat and my throat starts closing up.

“You can’t do this to me! Do you know who I am?! Do you know what I’ve done to get here?!”

My body gives out as I drop to my knees but I barely feel it.

“I built this!” I scream as tears start burning my eyes.
“I made the moves! I created the openings! You will need me Emily!”

Emily watches me unmoved.

“If I were younger maybe,” she says slowly, “I might have been tempted.”

My breath hitches as her gaze softens.

“But I am not.”

The hope I was nurturing disappeared.

“I need stability.”

“And in this family,” she continues, “stability does not come from chaos like you.”

My vision swims as the drug is spreading quickly.

“I have already endured one fracture,” she says quietly. “With Martin and Matteo.”

Her eyes darken.

“I will not endure another.”

My chest tightens painfully.

“No…” I whisper, shaking my head weakly. “No, you can’t, you need me–I can still–!”

“You played well,” Emily says really gently.

And that, that hurts me more than anything.

“You were patient,” she continues. “Strategic and wise.”

My breathing turns shallow and rapid.

“You understood the long game.”

A faint smile touches her lips.

“But you chose the wrong board.”

My body sags as strength starts to slip from me.

“And you played with the wrong players baby girl.”

My throat tightens as something thick fills it, I choke and cough out clots of thick blood.

“No…” I try again, but it comes out broken. “Please…”

The word tastes foreign and disgusting but I beg without Shane.
I do not want to die, not here, not now.

“I can fix it,” I whisper desperately. “I can fix everything, I can–”

My voice cuts off as another wave hits and another bout of blood regurgitates in my mouth.

Emily steps closer and kneels slightly with her hand on my cheek.

“Rest,” she murmurs as tears spill out of my eyes

Tears spilled down my face without any control as my body trembled.

My last thought isn’t of Noah or of revenge or power.

It's of regret and how in the bad it's not worth–

And just like that, Sophia Hernandez dies.