Chapter 219

Chapter 219

"No." William, weak and frail, sat on the ground, clutching Sophia's hand tightly. He watched as she pried his fingers open one by one, his eyes bloodshot with desperation. "Why? How could you deceive me?"

Betrayed. Deceived.

William's heart felt like it was being squeezed, the pain making it hard to breathe as he watched Sophia's determined expression.

His voice, hoarse and trembling, echoed in the room.

Sophia paused, looking up to meet William's bloodshot eyes. Her heart ached with a thousand tiny stabs.

Her lips moved, but no words came out. She turned resolutely and walked away.

"No."

William's sharp voice cut through the air.

With the last of his strength, he lunged and grabbed Sophia's ankle.

William's body hit the ground hard.

Sophia turned, looking at the hand gripping her ankle, then at William's bloodshot eyes. She knelt and pried his fingers open one by one.

William resisted with all his might, veins bulging on his forehead, but his fingers were still pried apart.

Lying on the ground, William could only watch helplessly as Sophia slipped away from his grasp.

Sophia wanted to run. To disappear from his world forever.

Panic surged through William, tears welling in his eyes. "Don't go. I'll do anything you want, just don't leave."

Ignoring the pain in his deformed fingers, William screamed, "Don't go!"

Sophia hung her head. "I'm sorry."

Freed, she turned and walked away without looking back.

Just as she reached the door, William's hysterical scream echoed behind her.

"Don't go! I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"

His voice, choked with sobs, was filled with heart-wrenching pain.

Sophia wanted to run, but her legs wouldn't move.

Slowly, she turned around, seeing the pitiful, crazed look in William's eyes, and felt lost.

William struggled to get up, tears at the corners of his eyes. His fingers were twisted, but he ignored the pain and crawled towards her.

It was only a few steps.

Each movement seemed to take all his strength.

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with despair and panic. "I know I was wrong. I promise, as long as you don't leave, I'll do anything you want. I'll give you everything. Did you want the family heirlooms? I'll buy them all back and give them to you."

William's pleading voice was choked with sobs.

Despite his broken hand, he kept crawling forward.

Sophia's eyes filled with tears as she looked at the once proud William, now reduced to this desperate state. She bit her lip hard, the taste of blood filling her mouth.

"You shouldn't be like this."

As the heir to the family, William should be confident and commanding, the most dazzling presence wherever he went.

Not like this—humble, twisted, and without dignity.

Sophia prided herself on having a clear conscience with everyone.

But now, her heart trembled, tears falling from her eyes. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn't have done this."

Seeing the genuine emotion in William's eyes, Sophia didn't know how to make amends.

Her body trembled, and she took two steps back.

William saw this, his eyes filled with madness. "Don't. Don't leave."

"I'm sorry," Sophia said, her face full of regret. "Remember, no one in this world is more important than yourself. You have to love yourself."Her voice was soft, and she took one last deep look at William before turning to leave without hesitation.

"No."

William's desperate scream echoed in the empty bathroom.

Sophia's legs stopped involuntarily. She turned slowly and saw William lying in a pool of blood.

He was banging his head against the wall, blood streaming down his face.

The usually ruthless William now looked like a madman, his eyes filled with madness and desperation. "Don't leave. I'm begging you."

Her heart ached.

Sophia opened her mouth, but her throat felt constricted, and she couldn't say a word.

She regretted it.

Facing the cold, ruthless William, she could leave without hesitation.

But now...

Sophia clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face. "I..."

"Don't go. I'll learn how to love you, how to protect you, how to understand everything about you. You won't have to worry about me anymore."

"Please give me time. I'll become the person you want me to be."

Every word William said felt like a knife to her heart.

Sophia's heart ached as she looked at the utterly desperate William, regret washing over her like a tide.

It was too much.

What had she done?

Tears fell from Sophia's eyes. "I'm sorry."

Some relationships are destined to be mistakes and should end sooner rather than later.

William's screams continued behind her, but Sophia didn't dare stop. She ran towards the back door.

"Mr. Johnson."

A shocked voice called out behind her.

Sophia ran faster, wiping her tears hurriedly, and soon reached the back door.

The door opened, and she finally ran towards freedom.

A car was waiting outside. Sophia changed clothes in the dark, got in the car, and sped off into the night.

She kept changing cars and clothes along the way.

Finally, wearing a wig and sunglasses, and dressed in a suit, she got into a business car.

"There's enough here for you to live on for the rest of your life," Aiden said, handing her a prepared envelope, his attitude arrogant.

Sophia glanced at it. "Thank you. But will my leaving affect anyone else?"

Especially Ava and Yara.

"Don't worry. I've arranged everything," Aiden said, his tone warning. "You need to leave the country immediately. No matter what happens, don't come back."

"I refuse."

Yara was in poor health and couldn't leave the country.

Sophia had other plans.

"What did you say? Where do you plan to go? If you stay in the country, William will find you. Do you want to come back?"

Aiden looked puzzled, and distrustful. "You only get one chance. If you're found, I won't show mercy."

"I have my own plans."

Aiden was never a soft-hearted person.

Neither was she.

Sophia checked the contents of the envelope and got out of the car.

Aiden hesitated, then asked, "Did you ever love William?"

Sophia didn't stop, walking away without a word.

Aiden sneered. "The cruelest hearts are women's. Often, women are more ruthless than men. My foolish son fell right into it."

He had seen how much William cared for Sophia.

That's why he insisted she leave.

A family heir can't be indecisive, especially not swayed by a woman.

Aiden took a deep drag on his cigarette. "Clean up the mess."