Chapter 4 Relationships #2
Sophia’s hand flew to her lips, fingers pressing hard as if she could block the scene from entering her eyes.
The reporter’s voice continued over the clip.
‘This is only one of the videos that has surfaced. Several photographs and recordings of Miss Violet King in indecent situations, in public places with different men, have now been leaked—completely exposing her and tearing apart the carefully built image she presented to the world. Miss King has always been a popular figure among the elite, so seeing her like this certainly wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card this year. ’
Sophia gasped.
Her eyes widened in horror as she shot upright.
“There’s no way…” she whispered. “Uncle Joseph would never let something like this come out…”
But the broadcast did not stop.
‘And this is not the only video. There are many more that have now spread across the internet.’
The screen shifted to a compilation of several videos.
Different angles. Different locations.
In every clip, Violet’s face—sometimes fully visible, sometimes only half—appeared clear enough to recognize.
There was no room left for misunderstanding.
Then her gaze flickered toward the door where Magnus had disappeared.
Her heart began to pound harder and harder as she stared at the empty doorway, a strange heat spreading through her chest, chasing away the cold shock.
Her lips parted.
“Did he… do it to avenge me?” she muttered under her breath.
Another memory from last night suddenly crashed into her mind without warning.
The bathtub.
The steam.
Magnus.
Her toes curled at the recollection. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and her pulse jumped wildly in her throat.
She remembered her own helpless sounds, the way she had clung to him, fingers gripping his shoulders as she breathed hard, unable to control herself while her body pressed and moved against his.
He had held her tightly. One of his hands had slid to the back of her head, his fingers threading into her hair as he gently lifted her face.
She could still see the way he had looked into her troubled eyes.
And then he had leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I will take good care of you, Sophia,” he had whispered, his voice painfully sweet.
That familiar warmth filled her chest again now, wrapping around her like a blanket she didn’t know how to hold onto.
“Why do you act like this…?” she whispered, her lips trembling. “I can’t figure you out at all.”
Why would he protect her…and hurt her at the same time?
Her eyes stayed on the doorway long after he was gone, unfocused, lost.
The silence in the room stretched.
She was still trapped in that thought when the sudden sharp ring of the mansion’s doorbell tore through the quiet air.
Sophia flinched hard.
Her shoulders jumped, her hand flying to her chest.
Downstairs, footsteps hurried out of the kitchen. One of the maids quickly wiped her wet hands on her apron while rushing toward the entrance.
The moment the door swung open, the maid stopped abruptly, eyes widening.
“Mr. King?”
Arthur blinked, clearly surprised. “You know me?” he asked.
The maid straightened immediately, offering a polite smile. “Yes, sir. Mr. Graves gave us photographs of all of Mrs. Graves’s family so that whenever anyone comes, we can welcome them properly and make them comfortable.”
Arthur stood still for a second.
The realization hit him without warning, and warmth rushed into his chest. Magnus cared about Sophia far more than he had imagined.
A quiet happiness spread through Arthur, mixed with a relief he hadn’t even known he had been carrying.
“I see…” he murmured, his voice softer.
“Please come in, Mr. King,” the maid said, stepping aside respectfully. “I will inform Mrs. Graves that you’re here.”
“Thank you.”
Arthur walked inside.
His steps were slow, almost careful, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.
His eyes moved across the living room, taking in the grand staircase, the polished floors, the expensive decorations, the quiet luxury in every corner.
It was elegant. Impressive.
This was Sophia’s home now. Not his.
And only now did the truth truly land in his heart.
His daughter was married.
The same little girl he used to carry in his arms, the child who would run across the house with tiny steps, calling for him the moment he came back from work…
She lived here now.
A lump of emotion rose in his throat as he tried to blink the tears away.
But it was useless.
Memories of Sophia’s childhood and his wife rushed into his vision one after another, piling up until they crushed the last of his control. Feelings he had buried for years broke free, surging up so fiercely that he could hardly endure them.
Sophia had been such a happy child.
She was always smiling, always waiting at the door for him and her mother to come home. The second they stepped inside, she would run forward on her little legs and throw herself into their arms, laughing brightly.
He could almost hear her voice.
She used to recognize him just from the sound of his footsteps.
Even on nights when they came home late and she had already fallen asleep, she would somehow wake up the moment she heard the door.
Half asleep, hair messy, eyes barely open, she would stumble toward him, wrap her tiny arms around his waist, and refuse to let go, insisting on sleeping in his embrace.
Sophia had been closest to him. Even more than to her mother.
But then tragedy struck.
Cancer took his wife away, and Arthur buried himself in work. He threw himself into business, day and night for Sophia—so she would have security, so she would never suffer.
Somewhere along the way…
He lost her.
He hadn’t even noticed when she stopped waiting for him to come back home.
His sight blurred, and a tear finally slid down despite all his effort.
Now the realization pressed so heavily on his chest that every breath felt painful, as if something inside him were collapsing.
Arthur slowly lowered himself onto the couch. His elbows rested on his thighs, his hands clasped so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He bent forward, head lowered, shoulders tense, trying to calm the storm raging in his heart.
Minutes passed.
Then came the faint sound of footsteps from the stairs.
Arthur’s head lifted instantly.
Sophia appeared.
She walked down slowly, wearing simple trousers and a T-shirt. Her face looked calm, almost indifferent, but in her eyes there was confusion… and a distant coldness he had never truly noticed before.
It pierced straight through him.
Every step she took toward him felt like an invisible rope tightening around his heart, squeezing harder and harder.
Arthur stood up at once, almost nervous. His fingers twitched at his sides, and he straightened unconsciously, as if afraid she might disappear if he moved wrong.
When she finally reached him, she stopped a short distance away.
Not too far.
But not close either.
The gap between them suddenly felt impossible to cross.
The maid stepped forward politely and bowed her head.
“I will bring some refreshments for you, Mr. King.”
“There is no need,” Arthur said at once, glancing toward the maid. “Please leave us alone.”
The maid gave a small nod and quietly walked away, her footsteps fading down the corridor, leaving Sophia and Arthur facing each other in heavy silence.
Sophia kept staring at him.
For a second, her eyes trembled as if she were happy to see him… but that softness disappeared almost instantly. Her lips pressed into a thin line. The warmth in her gaze froze.
She slowly unfolded her arms, her voice turning cold.
“What is it about?” she asked. “I’m not taking my complaint back. I won’t get your brothers out of jail. And don’t even ask me to forgive them.”
“I don’t want you to forgive them!” Arthur said immediately, almost stumbling over his words.
Sophia froze.
His face twisted with pain and anger. “Do you really think I would forgive them for trying to assault you? You are my daughter, Sophia. You are the one I love more than anyone in this world.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief, searching his face as if she was trying to see whether he truly meant it. Arthur had always stood with Joseph and Curtis. Especially after they started helping him with running the business.
Arthur looked at Sophia and took a step forward. His hand lifted, trembling, and gently cupped her cheek.
“Did you get hurt last night?” he asked hoarsely.
His voice shook. A lump rose in his throat as he stared at her.
All these years, he had only thought about what he would leave behind for her after his death.
Money. Property. Protection. Shares.
But he had never thought about what he could give her today.
The regret clawed at his heart, tearing him apart from the inside.
Surprise flashed across Sophia’s face. The arms she had kept folded tightly over her chest in defense slowly dropped to her sides. She blinked, trying to understand the fear and pain she saw in his eyes.
“I’m fine,” she answered quietly. “I didn’t get hurt. Magnus saved me.”
“Good…” Arthur swallowed hard. “That’s good.”
He turned his face away for a second and wiped his tears with the back of his hand, trying to pull himself together.
When he looked at her again, guilt was written all over him.
“I’m sorry, Sophia,” he choked out. “It’s my fault. I didn’t take good care of you. You kept telling me not to trust them, but they are my brothers… I trusted them blindly, and now…”
His voice collapsed.
His knees suddenly gave way. His body swayed forward, his hand shaking as he tried to steady himself.
“Dad!” Sophia rushed to him.
She caught him just in time, gripping his arms and holding him upright. Carefully, she helped him step back toward the couch and eased him down to sit.
“Are you okay?” she asked, panic filling her voice.
Up close, she could see it clearly.