“Shut the hell up!” Khalid’s voice cracked like thunder, cutting her off instantly.

But Sophia only laughed, full of mockery. “Ha! So there are things you’re afraid of.” Her gaze locked onto his, filled with sarcasm. Everyone saw Khalid as a refined gentleman, but she knew the truth. When he was ruthless, he was nothing short of a devil. And yet, even he had abandoned her.

Sophia’s eyes turned cold, her heart a mix of resentment and something dangerously close to despair.

In one swift movement, Khalid grabbed the fruit knife from the table. The next second, the blade was at Sophia’s throat. A single push and it would break through her delicate skin.

“You should know what to say and what not to say.” It wasn’t a warning. It was a threat.

But Sophia didn’t flinch. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, as if intrigued. “Can you really bring yourself to kill me?”

Ignoring the knife, she lifted a hand and lightly traced her fingers along Khalid’s wrist. The gesture was seductive.

But Khalid pressed the knife in. A thin red line appeared on Sophia’s neck, and warm blood trickled down. “Try me.” His voice was low, menacing.

Sophia wasn’t surprised that he had actually drawn blood. Yet, some foolish part of her still held onto hope. Somewhere deep inside, she still believed Khalid loved her.

But time and time again, he had proven otherwise—that whatever they once had was gone. There was nothing between them.

Was it all because of Ashlyn? That weak, sheltered girl who always had Katelyn protecting her? That was the woman Khalid loved? How laughable.

€$? ￠?€?$ glov?l?o

A bitter chuckle escaped Sophia’s lips. She pushed the knife away, reached up, and gently wiped the blood from her neck with her fingertip. The color was rich. Vivid.

She pulled a tissue from the table and dabbed at the wound, her expression unreadable. “How boring.”

Then, slowly, she stood up. Leaning in close, her lips curled into a smirk. “You better keep it hidden forever, Khalid. Otherwise…”

She trailed off, as if savoring a delicious thought. “Wouldn’t it be funny if, in the end, Ashlyn was the one who dumped you?” And with that, she burst into laughter. Not once looking back, she turned and walked away.

The sound of her laughter echoed in the air, sharp and mocking. Khalid stood frozen. His hands clenched into tight fists. A suffocating aura radiated from him—cold, dangerous, utterly devoid of warmth. Upstairs, Ashlyn had heard nearly every word. Her heartbreak had turned into something else entirely—she was now confused.

Everything about their conversation felt off. What were they hiding? Her mind raced in circles, trying to piece it together. But the more she thought about it, the more lost she became.

Just then, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed nearby.

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