Chapter 61

Chapter 61 The world spun as Sephia hit the floor. A metallic tang filled her mouth as blood trickled from her lip. Her body slid from the impact, upper body crashing into the cabinet corner. A white–hot pain bloomed across her back, stealing her breath. Claire stood a meter away, eyes blazing with a fury that seemed to consume Sophia whole.

“Ada spilled the beans,” Claire spat. “Apparently, you’ve been playing around, and Jason caught you red–handed.

Instead of being sorry, you’ve gotten worsel How could I raise such a shameless daughter, Sophia? You betray Jason, and your father takes the fall? Doesn’t that sting a little? Now he’s in jail, sick as a dog! Happy now?”

Sophia coughed, a metallic taste coating her throat. She pressed her lips together, fighting back the rising blood.

Claire wasn’t done. Her finger jabbed at Sophia’s nose. “If I knew you were this rotten, I’d have gotten rid of you years ago.

Wasted so much damn energy.” Each word was a barb, tearing into Sophia. Part of her wondered if this fierce woman was really her mother, the one who had carried her for nine months.

Slowly wiping away the blood, Sophia met Claire’s gaze, voice hoarse. “What did dad do? Why’d they lock him up?” It seemed pretty serious for such a quick arrest.

Claire’s jaw clenched tight. “Stole research secrets.”

Sophia’s eyes widened. Research secrets? And from three years ago? A chilling suspicion crept in. Her body began to tremble, a cold wave washing over her. Legs giving way, she slumped to the floor. “Three years ago... Wilson Group... thermal weapon source code... Did dad steal it?” If he did, jail was the least he deserved. Jason had shown incredible restraint.

Claire flickered momentarily, panic flashing in her eyes. “No! Your father’s innocent! This is all Jason’s doing! You betrayed him, sent him divorce papers, humiliated him, Revenge, that’s all this is You did this to your father!” Her voice rose to a scream, her face morphing into a mask of rage.

Sophia felt a cold dread creep in. The more hysterical Claire became, the guiltier she seemed, “Explain clearly,” Sophia rasped.

“if you don’t, I won’t go to Jason. Even if dad dies, I’ll pay him back with my life.”

Claire’s eyes widened. Rage contorted her perfectly maintained face. Before Sophia could react, Claire lunged, a flurry of punches and kicks raining down. “Ungrateful bitch! You won’t help your own father? You deserve everything coming to you, you’ll be damned!”

Sophia curled in, protecting her stomach as her mother went ballistic. “Mom,” she choked out, a voice laced with pain and despair, “you’re forcing me to crawl back to Jason, beg for his mercy to save Dad. You want me to know the truth.”

Claire’s attack petered out. She slumped to the floor, closing her eyes. Tears streamed down her face, a mask of sorrow replacing the rage. “He did steal the thermal weapon code,” she admitted, voice trembling. “But Jason caught him before anything happened. Sophia, my daughter, you can’t let him rot in jail. Beg Jason for mercy, save our family.”

Sophia stumbled out of the house, barely aware of her surroundings. In a daze, she bumped into someone...

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