“When you mess up, you have to pay for it. That’s just how it works. Nikolai and Drake are people too. You’re a lawyer, Sophie. You know everyone deserves the same rights. And Wiona… now that she’s married to Conrad, she’s family to me. I get it. You still can’t let Conrad go. That’s okay. Hearts don’t heal overnight. But Wiona shouldn’t have to pay for your pain. Love doesn’t work by who shows up first, and just wanting something badly doesn’t mean you’ll get it. You have to face the truth, Sophie. Conrad’s never going to love you. I know it hurts. I really do. Just hold on, okay? This is the best way I could think of to help you. Maybe, just maybe, Conrad will let you go after this. You won’t get arrested, and you won’t have a record. I promise, I’m doing this for you… don’t hate me for it.”
Annette’s heart ached. She’d loved Sophie like her own daughter since she was little. Even after Annette moved out of Hawthorne Hall, Sophie often visited, filling the empty spaces in her life. Annette always thought of her as her own. But this time, Sophie had really let her down.
She had no choice but to give Sophie the medicine herself—the same one Sophie forced on Nikolai and Drake. Annette was keeping her promise to Wiona that Sophie would pay the price, but maybe, just maybe, it would make Conrad and Wiona show a little mercy if Sophie was hurt badly enough.
“I’ll speak up for you,” Annette said softly. “Just hang in there a little longer. They’ll be here any minute… When they see you like this, maybe they’ll calm down.”
Before Annette could finish, Sophie coughed up another mouthful of blood, this time as dark as ink. The sight left Annette frozen, her face white as a sheet.
“Sophie! Sophie!”
Sophie was barely conscious, pain dragging her under. Through the haze, she saw Conrad finally walk into view. He wasn’t alone. He had another woman at his side—Wiona, pregnant with his children.
The sight tore Sophie apart. She let out a strangled cry and fell into darkness.
Annette’s voice cracked with despair. “Sophie!”
The Simpsons weren’t about to let anyone die right there in the house. Without even asking Conrad, they rushed to help. Tristan stormed in, calling back the house disciples who had been standing guard. He tore into them, voice shaking with anger.
“What were you thinking? Why’d you bring out that medicine again? Do you even know how dangerous it is? You just hand it out to anyone who asks? Are you all brainless or what?”
Tristan hadn’t been this angry in ages, and for a second he wondered if taking on so many disciples had been a mistake. The disciples just stood there, looking miserable.

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