Chapter 60 A Lifetime of Resentment

Sophia returned to her bedroom to change clothes when her cell phone began to buzz in her pocket.

It was Kimberly calling to say that her mother was back and asking if Sophia wanted to visit Campbell's house to have Katherine treat her headache.

Sophia hadn't suffered from headaches in the last few days, but staying at The Golden Palms was boring, so she agreed.

She changed into fresh clothes and applied a light touch of makeup before preparing to head out.

"Bang—"

She was just about to go downstairs after leaving her bedroom when a sharp sound suddenly came from Raymond's study as if something had shattered.

Almost instinctively, Sophia walked towards the study, curious to see what had happened.

"Raymond..."

To her surprise, just as she reached the door, a woman's moan emanated from the partially closed study.

In an instant, Sophia's body stiffened, frozen in place.

This was not the first time—it had happened a few days earlier in the open-doored office and now even more brazenly within her own home.

Was Raymond really treating her this way?

Her eyes flared with anger in a split second.

She wanted to walk away, leave it all behind.

But then she thought, letting this cheating couple off so easily was unforgivable.

So, in the next moment, she pulled out her phone, activated the video function, and placed it against the gap of the open door, aiming inside the study, and pressed record.

She had thought she could remain calm, but as she glimpsed the intertwined pair on the cell phone screen, unable to tear their lips apart, she couldn't control the tremble in her body.

"Snap!"

"Who's there?"

Perhaps due to the shaking, the phone slipped from her grip, landing heavily on the floor. Immediately, the entangled couple inside paused, their clouded senses partially returning and the man's blurry gaze sharpening as he turned to scan the doorway.

"Raymond..." Freya, who was beneath him, quickly cupped his face, turned his head back to her, and sealed his lips with another kiss.

Outside the door, Sophia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Then she bent down, picked up her cell phone, and, in the next second, forcefully pushed the door open.

"Bang!"

The loud noise jarred Raymond's mind partially back into focus. He abruptly pushed the woman off his chest and looked around.

When his gaze met Sophia's icy, piercing stare, a shiver ran down his spine, snapping him back to semi-consciousness.

Glancing back at Freya, her clothes disheveled, inhaling her intoxicating scent, Raymond put the pieces together.

"Raymond, she's got it on video!"

Freya lunged at him once more, clinging tightly to Raymond, and pointed at Sophia with a soft and delicate urgency.

Damn it!

The scent coming from Freya was unmistakably that of an aphrodisiac.

Just as Raymond's mind was about to fade again, he summoned his strength and pushed Freya away. Then he strode forward, grabbed Sophia's hand, and pulled her swiftly out of the room.

"Ah!" "Bang!"

Raymond pushed Freya forcefully, and she stumbled back until she crashed into the corner of a bookshelf, falling to the ground with a thud.

"Raymond, Raymond..."

By the time she looked up, Raymond had already left with Sophia.

Sophia had thought Raymond was pulling her away to settle the score, given that she had not only ruined his affair but had also recorded him cheating on his spouse.

So, she didn't resist, letting him lead her away.

To her surprise, he dragged her all the way back to their bedroom, slammed the door shut with a loud "bang," then pressed her against the door and leaned in to kiss her...

Sophia dodged in shock.

But Raymond gave her no chance. In the next instant, his large hand gripped the back of her head, his face descending once again with swift determination.

Terrified, Sophia struggled desperately, clenching her teeth, refusing to yield.

Under the control of the aphrodisiac, Raymond was almost completely irrational, disregarding Sophia's resistance as he lifted her and threw her onto the bed, then pounced like a ruthless beast, forcefully taking what he wanted.

Sophia used all her strength to fight back, but how could she possibly match the might of a crazed beast?

Before long, she was completely overpowered, devoured entirely.

Staring at the man gone wild on top of her, Sophia fell into utter despair. She grabbed the lamp from the bedside table and, with all the strength she could muster, smashed it down fiercely onto his forehead...

"Bang!"

A heavy crash echoed as the ceramic lamp, aimed upwards, shattered in an instant, spattering a man's forehead with bright liquid that sprang forth.

The man's dark eyes, emitting a greenish glow, slowly regained clarity as the pain in his head intensified.

But the arrow had already been shot, racing towards its target, unstoppable until it reached its end.

"Raymond, if you don't stop, I swear I'll kill myself!"

Clutching a shard of broken ceramic to her neck's vital artery, Sophia screamed hysterically, tears streaming down her face, soaking much of the pillow, her eyes filled with a lifetime's worth of despair and loathing.

Raymond saw her and swiftly slapped the ceramic piece from her grasp. Then he pressed his head down to capture her red lips once again, murmuring in a low, muffled voice, "Sophia, I'm sorry, so sorry..."

"Bastard..." Sophia, utterly despairing, mustered her last ounce of strength but could not budge the man in the slightest. "I hate you, Raymond. I'll hate you forever..."

The blood from the man's forehead mixed with Sophia's tears, smearing her face.

Amidst the man's roaring, everything finally halted.

Everything came to a standstill, and in that moment, both seemed as if they had perished.

Sophia closed her eyes; her world plunged into darkness.

Raymond lifted his head, using the last of his will to gaze upon the woman mere inches away before his head dropped heavily once again...

...

Raymond was rushed to the hospital. Sophia packed up all her belongings and moved out of The Golden Palms completely.

When Raymond awoke in the hospital room in the evening, the first thing he saw was Fiona and Leonardo's anxious faces.

Seeing him awake, Fiona rushed over, her face etched with worry. "Raymond, how are you feeling? Does anywhere hurt?"

"Sophia, where is she?" Raymond propped himself up, looking around.

"That bitch, Sophia..."

Fiona couldn't hide her anger whenever Sophia's name came up.

They had already questioned The Golden Palms' staff. At the time of the incident, only Sophia and Raymond were in the room; Raymond had been knocked unconscious, while Sophia appeared unharmed, packing up all her things and leaving The Golden Palms.

...