Chapter 75
I shouted at Aunt Sophie's back, "Aunt Sophie, I'm here!"
Hearing my voice, Sophie immediately turned around.
The moment she saw me, confusion flashed in her eyes, as if she hadn't recognized who I was yet.
I stood in front of her, holding the gift and breathing heavily.
I pointed at my nose and said with anticipation in my voice, "It's me, I'm Sonya."
The instant Aunt Sophie heard that name, surprise filled her eyes.
She walked around me in delight and said, "Oh my goodness, dear Sonya, you've changed so much. I thought you would have been treated badly."
I knew Aunt Sophie had always worried that I would be abused by Luca.
When I first left the community, Aunt Sophie would still come by from time to time with things she'd grown to help me and my mother get through our hard times.
But Aunt Sophie also knew that most of what she brought would be taken by Luca.
Over time, she stopped coming, only occasionally writing me letters, encouraging me to fight against fate and find my true self.
I choked up and nodded at Aunt Sophie, "Yes, Aunt Sophie, I'm married now. I'm sorry I couldn't invite you to my wedding."
Sophie didn't care about that at all. She shook her head, and her wrinkled hand touched my face, gentle and warm, just like my mother's hand used to be.
Seeing my reddened eyes, Sophie also got a bit choked up, "You're married? Then he must treat you very well, right? That's why you've become such a beautiful Sonya now."
I nodded, not denying Kane's care and concern for me.
I just hesitated a bit about whether to tell Sophie who I married.
Just then, other people from the community arrived.
They couldn't recognize me when they saw me, and even asked Sophie which relative of hers I was.
Sophie pulled me into her arms and said proudly, "Look, none of you recognized that this is Sonya."
Everyone's eyes showed shock.
"Oh my, she's Sonya? What a huge change!"
"Didn't I hear that her stepfather treated her badly? She seems to be doing pretty well now."
Everyone gathered around me, chattering away.
I could tell they meant no harm, so I just smiled and said, "I got married."
Everyone suddenly understood.
They knew that everything I had now was given to me by my husband.
I wanted to give the gift in my hand to Sophie, but everyone surrounded me, leaving me no chance.
Sophie smiled and nodded at me, then turned to continue preparing for today's gathering.
Suddenly, a familiar and frightening voice rang out behind me.
"Isn't this Sonya? I heard you're living a fancy life now."
I turned around and saw that disgusting face.
He looked the same as when we were kids, his face covered with fat, even with pus-filled pimples and old acne scars.
Eric was still the same as before, fat like a small mountain, his eyes full of barely hidden malice.
But I wasn't afraid of him anymore.
I nodded at him lightly and said calmly, "Long time no see, Eric. I remember when I left, your mother was pushing you to lose weight."
My words made Eric a bit embarrassed.
He waved his fist at me, "Don't think just because you're married now, I won't dare hit you."
I looked at him with a smile. Without me having to do anything, others came forward to intervene.
"Sonya finally came back for a visit. What are you doing? Be careful, or her husband will come after you."
Eric, like Luca, was a bully who picked on the weak, so I knew he wouldn't really dare to touch me.
I blinked at him with a smile, turned around, and put my gift on a nearby table, then went to help Sophie continue setting up the party.
Just as I was busy arranging plates, a cry of surprise came from the crowd.
"Oh my, this rabbit must be expensive, it costs tens of thousands of dollars. I've seen it on TV!"
My heart jumped, and I immediately realized what was happening.
I quickly turned around.
I saw that Eric had opened my gift.
He looked at the gift I gave Sophie with a face full of jealousy.
I was shaking with anger. I put down the plate in my hand, walked over quickly, and snatched the rabbit doll from his hands.
I held the rabbit doll protectively in my arms, staring at Eric and saying, "Why are you still so rude? Don't you know not to touch other people's things?"
Eric sneered.
His small, evil-filled eyes looked at me, "How can you afford this? Did you marry some seventy or eighty-year-old rich guy..."
As he spoke, he laughed with malice.
I pressed my lips together and defended Kane. "My husband is very handsome, not someone like you could compare to!"
My words finally completely enraged Eric.
He reached out and pushed me hard, pointing at my nose and saying viciously, "Who do you think you are? You just used your body to climb into some rich man's bed! Today I'm going to ruin that face of yours, then I don't believe anyone will still like you!"
With that, he somehow pulled out a small knife and was about to slash it across my face.
Just as the gleaming silver blade was about to touch my face, a gunshot suddenly rang out.
I saw Eric's eyes widen in disbelief as he looked down at his chest.
A large hole had already been shot through it by a bullet.
I instinctively thought of something and quickly turned around.
I saw Kane, wearing a casual suit, slowly walking toward me.
He pulled me, still in shock, into his arms, the gun in his hand still not lowered.
He stared at Eric, his voice as cold as Satan crawling out of hell, saying, "Who gave you the nerve to bully my wife?"
Hearing Kane say this, everyone realized he was my rich husband.
What Eric had just said about me marrying an old man for money was now proven false.
I gently tugged at Kane's clothes and asked in a low voice, "How did you get here?"
Hearing my voice, Kane's eyes instantly became much gentler.
He lowered his gaze and gently stroked my hair, saying, "I didn't have much to do today, so I had Athena drive you here. Then she sent me the address, and I'm glad I rushed over, otherwise who knows what that crazy Eric would have done to you."
I patted my chest with lingering fear.
Kane gently released me and walked over to Eric.
Eric was now lying on the ground, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Kane stared at him like he was looking at something filthy, his tone cold and hostile. "I didn't hit your heart. If you get help in time, you can survive. This is a warning. If I ever find out you've disrespected my wife again, I guarantee this hole will appear in your forehead."