Chapter 78

Sophia clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She should have known.

Yet hearing Ethan Roscente admit it still felt like a dull knife slicing through her heart.

"Miss Lowell."

A servant's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

She turned abruptly, meeting Ethan's icy gaze.

The teacup hit the stone table with a sharp clink.

Mr. Roscente Sr. narrowed his eyes. "Does your back still hurt?"

Ethan's knuckles turned white. "It's nothing."

"You're protective as ever." The old man scoffed. "Taking lashes for some girl. Pathetic."

Ethan's throat moved. "With Fourth Brother gone, someone has to look after her."

He paused. "Increase Fourth Sister-in-law's monthly allowance by a hundred thousand."

The old man waved a dismissive hand, his eyes lingering on Ethan's finger. "That ring..."

The plain band gleamed coldly under the sunlight.

"It's comfortable." Ethan twisted it absently.

"Ridiculous!" Mr. Roscente slammed the table. "With your wedding approaching, how dare you wear that!"

Ethan stood, his shadow swallowing half the table. "I have business at the company."

As his tall figure disappeared, the old man stared into his tea, lost in thought.

"Are you worried about the Ninth Young Master?" the butler asked, pouring more tea.

"The wolf cub has grown." The teacup reflected his clouded eyes. "I can't read him anymore."

The butler chuckled. "As long as he can steer the Roscente family, that's enough."

Sophia burst into the annex to find Emily Laurent frowning at her tablet.

"Where's the Marriage Pledge your uncle gave you?" Emily suddenly asked.

"Upstairs, probably." Sophia popped a cherry into her mouth. "I threw it away ages ago."

A servant soon returned with the gilded document.

Emily's fingertip hovered over a line—then her pupils constricted.

"So this is why Daniel Clementson died."

Sophia knocked over the fruit bowl with a crash.

"What?!"