Chapter 2 First Day of marriage #2
The bidders muttered among themselves, consulting over calls. Sophia’s composure never faltered. “We are at eight million. The bid is still open. Please feel free to raise your hand for a higher price. Currently, eight million is held by Miss Gina.”
She scanned the room. “Eight million—going once… going twice…”
A hand lifted in the back, a small wave signaling a pause. One of the bidders was still conferring quietly with their representative before confirming the next increment.
Sophia nodded politely. “We are holding at eight million. Miss Gina is reviewing her bid—there’s still time for anyone else to participate.”
Gina raised her finger.
Sophia pointed her palm at her. “Nine million and fifty thousand dollars with Miss Gina. Going once… twice… Sold.”
She allowed a brief pause as the crowd absorbed the result, then continued, her voice ringing clearly across the hall. “The item now belongs to Miss Gina. Let’s turn our attention to the next item—the only painting from the lost series by Caravaggio.”
Hours passed, the auction progressing smoothly. Sophia’s voice remained strong, poised, and commanding, drawing the eyes of everyone in the hall.
Finally, as the last item was sold, Sophia stepped down from the stage quietly. She headed toward the exit, her expression still graceful.
Just as Sophia stepped out of the hall, her steps slowed.
Her brows furrowed in surprise as she saw Joseph and Curtis walking aggressively in her direction—Arthur leading them, his expression dark and rigid.
“Dad?” she whispered, confusion flashing across her face.
Arthur stopped right in front of her, blocking her path. His eyes burned as he looked down at her.
“You still haven’t transferred the shares to my name,” he said sharply. “Are you really serious about not giving them up?”
Sophia’s gaze shifted—first to Joseph, then to Curtis. Both stood behind Arthur with crossed arms, their expressions arrogant, their stares openly challenging. She narrowed her eyes, unafraid.
“I’ve already told you,” Sophia replied calmly. “Those shares were left to me by Grandma. I’m not giving them up. They’re mine.”
Arthur’s face twisted in anger. “What do you mean yours? How did you become so selfish, Sophia?” he snapped. “Everything I have will eventually be yours anyway. You’re my only daughter! Why are you acting like this over a few shares?”
He gestured toward his brothers. “The company needs them! Don’t you understand?
Curtis has been scrambling everywhere, trying to gather funds.
Joseph has been working late every night.
We lost a partnership opportunity just yesterday because we couldn’t secure enough capital to expand our manufacturing unit. Do you know how humiliating that was?”
Sophia’s eyes hardened as she looked past Arthur at Joseph and Curtis.
This wasn’t new. It had been happening for years.
Ever since the two brothers joined the company, bit by bit, they had eaten away at everything, draining funds quietly, skillfully. Arthur didn’t even realize that a large portion of his money was already disappearing into pockets he didn’t know existed.
Joseph’s pocket.
Curtis’s pocket.
Arthur remained blind to it, blinded by brotherly affection.
Sophia didn’t.
And that difference had been tearing their relationship apart for years.
She inhaled slowly, then said evenly, “I’m not giving up what Grandma left to me. If she wanted you to have it, she would’ve left it to you—not me.”
Her voice cooled further. “Now leave. This is my workplace. I don’t want a scene here.”
She turned and walked back toward the hall.
Arthur froze, disbelief and fury twisting his features. Then, in a sudden fit of drama, he collapsed to the ground, shouting, “How can you be my daughter and refuse to help me? How could I raise such an ungrateful daughter?”
People around them began to whisper and stare.
“I’ll kill myself if you don’t agree!” Arthur growled furiously, pulling a pen from his pocket, ripping off the cap, and pressing the tip against his neck threateningly. “I swear I’ll do it!”
People around them began to look over, their eyes shifting toward the scene.
Sophia halted mid-step and turned around, only to see Arthur sitting on the ground as he cried, “You’re my daughter! How can you humiliate me like this? Isn’t it just some shares? Are you really going to destroy our relationship over money?”
“Yes, I am,” Sophia said coldly.
Without another glance, she turned around again and headed back inside.
Arthur scrambled to his feet, lunging forward, his hand shooting out as he tried to grab her arm.
Before he could reach her, a woman stepped in between them, cutting off his path effortlessly.
She was very beautiful—striking in a way that made people pause without realizing why. Her face was small and softly rounded, yet undeniably pretty, her delicate features carrying a quiet charm. Waist-length hair flowed down her back, framing big, piercing eyes that shimmered with calm intensity.
She looked young, likely in her mid-twenties, but there was nothing fragile about her. An air of composure and authority surrounded her as she lifted her gaze and met Arthur’s head-on, her eyes locking onto his without the slightest flicker of hesitation. “Mr. King, you're causing a disturbance.”
Arthur bristled. “Emma, this is a family matter.”
Emma didn’t move. “This is a professional venue. If you refuse to leave, I’ll have security escort you out.”
Joseph and Curtis immediately strode forward, their faces dark with anger as they glared at her.
“Who are you to interfere between my brother and Sophia?” Curtis snapped. “Get out of the way. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Yes,” Arthur added quickly, stepping forward to back his brothers. “I’m talking to my daughter! Stop interfering!”
Emma stared at him calmly.
She then turned toward the security guards stationed outside the building. “Please escort them out. We don’t want our guests disturbed.”
“Yes, Ms. Creed,” the guards replied in unison.
They moved swiftly, each grabbing one of the men firmly by the arms. Despite their struggles and protests, the guards’ grips were tight, and they hauled the three men down the steps and out of the premises.
Sophia’s eyes followed every step as the three men struggled, their protests fading as they were firmly dragged away. Her chest heaved with restrained fury, and without a word, she spun on her heel and stormed back into the Centurion Hall.
Emma’s usual coldness melted into concern as she watched her.
She fell into step behind Sophia, taking in the tension etched across her face.
Pulling a glass of water from a nearby tray, she extended it toward her.
“Here,” she said softly, handing it over as she continued to shadow Sophia’s brisk pace.
Startled, Sophia finally looked up.
“Emma…” she breathed, her voice breaking slightly as relief washed over her. Her shoulders sagged.
She took the glass and drank deeply before glancing back at her best friend. “What a fortune I have,” Sophia snickered weakly, “to make the only daughter of the Creeds bring me water like a waiter.”
“If you marry me, I’ll bring you breakfast in bed, lunch in bed, and dinner in bed too, my love,” Emma said smoothly, winking.
Sophia chuckled.
She placed the glass on a nearby table and stepped forward, wrapping Emma in a tight hug.
Pulling back, Sophia looked into her eyes, guilt flickering across her face. “I’m sorry this happened today—especially when it was such an important auction for your family.”
Emma waved it off dismissively. “This auction isn’t that important. Do you really think I care about such little money? I’m rich, don’t you know?” she said smugly. “Even if you ruined ten auctions like this, it wouldn’t move a single coin in my pocket.”
Sophia grinned, shaking her head.
Emma studied her for a moment, then her expression softened. “So… what happened with your dad this time? What’s the new drama?”
Sophia took Emma’s hand and led her toward the private office. “Come. I’ll tell you everything.”
Once inside, Sophia reached up to her ears, delicately unfastening her earrings one by one. “Those shares that Grandma left me? Dad wants me to transfer it to him so that Joseph and Curtis can expand the business.”
“As if!” Emma snapped instantly. “What have they done in the last ten years that they’ll suddenly do differently now? They’ve dragged the company to the brink of collapse multiple times. And they think your thirty percent will magically save it?”
“Apparently,” Sophia sighed. “And my dad keeps saying that since Joseph and Curtis think it’s necessary, I should just agree.”
“I really don’t understand how your dad doesn’t see they’re leeching off him,” Emma said bitterly. “He works himself to exhaustion every day, yet he’s always short on money because it all goes straight into your uncles’ pockets.”
“Whatever,” Sophia muttered as she set the earrings carefully on the nearby table.
Placing her hands on her waist, she turned fully toward Emma.
“I don’t care anymore. I’m done trying to be a good daughter.
I’ve tried to make him understand for years.
Grandma’s gone now. I don’t have any reason to stay entangled with them. ”
“Yes, let’s not talk about it anymore,” Emma said firmly. “It’s such a headache.”
Then she suddenly stepped closer, her lips curling into a mischievous grin as she leaned in.
“So,” she teased, “how was your first night with your new husband?”
Sophia rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. “I told you—it’s nothing like that. We’re just a contract couple. There’s nothing between us.”
She shrugged. “We just… slept.”
Emma’s mouth dropped in shock. “What? He’s not at all attracted to your beauty? What is he? Gay?”
Sophia snickered, walking toward the clothing rack to grab a set of casual clothes. “Emma, I’m not that beautiful, and not every man on this planet is going to fall for my so-called beauty.”
Emma immediately followed her, flaring. “Anyone who says you’re not beautiful is blind! You are the most beautiful woman on this planet!”
Sophia laughed, shoulders shaking, as Emma continued, growing more animated.
“Literally, men would die to sleep with someone like you!” Emma waved her hands for emphasis. “And once they get to know you… it’s over for them! They’d never be able to have a relationship with any other woman!”
She leaned in, eyes wide, voice rising. “You’re smart, drop-dead gorgeous, with long hair, pretty eyes, a voice like a goddamn angel—and confidence to match! And that walk—those six-inch heels? You strut like a Victoria’s Secret model!”
Emma spun around dramatically, pointing toward the hall. “People literally gasp when you enter a room—or step up on stage during these auctions! Even women! What kind of lunatic wouldn’t want a woman like you?!”
Sophia had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing at Emma’s dramatic rant.
She picked up her clothes and turned toward Emma. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but this is what happened: we slept in the same bed, but he was on the other side. Although, apart from being kind of arrogant, Magnus seems… like a good man.”
“To hell with the ‘goodness’ of that man!” Emma rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up. “What’s the use of being a good man when he’s that handsome—and there’s a woman like you right in front of him—and he doesn’t even take his shot?!”
She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “I swear, half the men out there don’t dare approach you, just because you’re way too stunning for them to even imagine being with you!”
Sophia took a deep breath. Then she placed both hands on Emma’s shoulders and met her gaze. “Emma… tell me one thing, truthfully.”
Emma arched her brows in question.
“You’re in love with me, aren’t you?” Sophia asked.
Emma tilted her head at once and grinned. “Yes.”
Before Sophia could react, Emma lunged at her playfully, wrapping an arm around her waist and yanking her close. “Let’s have sex right now!”
Sophia burst out laughing, twisting free from her grip, nearly doubling over as Emma laughed right along with her.
***
The night air was cool and biting as Sophia drove through the city streets. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, and her hair whipped around her face in the wind. The red Chevrolet stood out vividly among the sea of grey, black, and white cars.
As she glanced in the rearview mirror, her stomach tightened.
A black car she had seen at the auction house was following her, keeping pace no matter how fast she drove. Confusion and doubt flickered across her face as she slowed slightly—but the car behind her also slowed, continuing to tail her relentlessly.
Sophia’s face went blank, her fingers tightening around the wheel. “I knew it,” she muttered, letting out a snicker. “How could my uncles fail to meet my expectations when money is involved?”
Taking a deep breath, she shifted gears, slammed the accelerator, and pushed the car to its limits.
The vehicle behind her responded instantly, speeding up to keep pace.
Traffic was sparse on the wide avenue, giving Sophia room to maneuver. A white Mercedes appeared ahead, but before it could become an obstacle, the Chevrolet shot past, slicing through the streets.
Inside the Mercedes, Magnus’s gaze locked onto the red vehicle. Beside him sat his cousin, Harold—young, sharp-featured, barely in his early twenties. His neatly styled hair and tailored jacket couldn’t hide the restless energy in his posture, long legs braced, shoulders tense as he leaned forward.
“Holy shit,” Harold muttered, eyes glued to the red car as a black vehicle surged after it. “This is about to get messy.”