Her Divorce, His Downfall (Sophia and Damian) novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

fille

Liam gave a brief nodali at hin

a brief nod and left with the lawyer and the documents to start the application process.

After sel

settling everything, Damian finally felt a little more at ease.

When he looked at Isabelle again, the icy distance in his expression had melted into something much softer.

“Isabelle, I know you only pushed your sister because you were trying to protect me.

“She’s awake now. Other than a mild concussion, she’s fine. You don’t need to worry.

“I’ll talk to her and ask her to sign a statement of forgiveness. You’re her sister. She can’t just watch the Hall family press charges and leave you with a criminal record.”

A surge of bitterness rose in Isabelle’s chest, sharp as a thorn lodged deep in her heart.

She had aimed carefully and shoved Sophia with all her strength straight into the massive vase. There had been so much blood.

How was she still alive?

If Sophia had died, everything belonging to the Anderson

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family’s second branch would have become hers.

Why?

Why had her sister grown up surrounded by wealth and affection, spoiled and

HA

spent six miserable yo Ored by the whole family, while she had

crammed into a slum with her mother before finally being brought back to the Anderson family?

She would never forget kindergarten.

All the other children had their fathers picking them up.

Except her.

They laughed at her for being a fatherless bastard. They threw toys at her until she cried so hard she could barely breathe.

That day she ran home after school and sobbed, asking Rhea where her father was.

Rhea hugged her tightly.

She told Isabelle that another woman had stolen her father away. That woman had even given birth to a daughter for him -a girl who had taken everything that should have belonged to Isabelle.

Only then did she learn that her father had another family.

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That woman and her daughter had taken him from her.

The seed of hatred took root in her heart when she was still a

child.

They were both Michael’s daughters.

TALFIEL

So why did the Ando

family only ever see Sophia’s brilliance

while ignoring her completely?

She refused to accept it.

So she caused trouble again and again, desperate to prove that

Michael loved her too.

Michael already felt guilty toward her and her mother.

He knew Isabelle turning out this way was partly his fault.

No matter what she did, he tolerated it.

After all, he already had one outstanding daughter who could

the family name. If the other one was a little rebellious, so

be it.

carry

He had the power to clean up after her.

Isabelle understood that perfectly

And she used it to control him.

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Everything Sophia had–she would take it.

Her father’s love.

Her father’s love. Connor. Damian.

All of them had to belong to her.

ich the p

She wanted to watch the girl who had always stood above everyone finally come everyone finally come crashing down.

Only by crushing that self–righteous sister beneath her heel and watching Sophia suffer could Isabelle feel that the pain she and her mother had endured was worth it.

“Isabelle… Isabelle?”

Seeing the tense expression on her face, Damian waved a hand

in front of her.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick? I can call a doctor.”

“I’m fine, Damian. I’m just worried about your injuries.”

Isabelle quickly suppressed the hostility in her eyes. Tears welled up as she forced her voice into a trembling sob.

“Damian, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

“I was terrified you’d be hurt even worse. My sister was so

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ruthless to you–she beat you until you were covered in blood. I

ked and…”

e deliber

downplayed her own malice and instead

mentioned the whipping Sophia had given Damian.

Just as she expected, the moment Damian saw her fragile, pitiful expression, the small trace of guilt he had felt over Sophia’s injuries faded away.

What replaced it was a familiar urge to protect her.

He stepped closer and gently patted her back.

“I know you didn’t mean it. None of this is your fault. Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”

The faint scent of dark oud lingered on him. Isabelle couldn’t help leaning closer.

But after only a couple of steps, she noticed the bite mark on Damian’s neck,

Her eyes widened.

“Damian… what happened to your neck?”

The memory of Sophia’s stubborn bite flashed through Damian’s mind, along with the lingering intimacy of their past.

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A quiet chuckle escaped him. His fingers brushed the mark unconsciously, his tone carrying a softness he didn’t even notice.

“Your sister got mad and bit me. She looks cold and distant, but when she gets fierce, she’s like a little wildcat.”

The tenderness on Damian’s face was like a spark. It ignited the jealousy blazing in Isabelle’s eyes

She nearly ground her teeth to pieces, feeling as if her whole body was burning with envy.

She had schemed for so long. Tonight she had even hurt herself just to lure Damian here.

And Sophia didn’t have to do anything. Yet Damian still doted on her, still couldn’t forget her.

Here she was in this filthy holding cell–mosquitoes biting her, cockroaches crawling everywhere

Meanwhile Sophia was flirting with Damian.

The thought drove her nearly insane.

She wanted nothing more than to tear that self–righteous face to shreds.

Isabelle forced down the fury boiling inside her and dug her

nails into her palm.

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The pain brought tears to her eyes.

Pitifully, she tugged at Damian’s sleeve.

“Damian… my sister still cares about you. Otherwise she wouldn’t be this angry.”

“This is all my fault. I’ve been a troublemaker since I was little. No one ever liked me.”

“Now I’ve even hurt my sister. What if she refuses to forgive me? What if I can’t get out of here?”

“Don’t think like that. We all like you.”

Seeing how helpless she looked, Damian’s voice softened without him realizing it. He gently ruffled her hair.

“Silly girl. I told you I’ll take care of everything. You don’t need to worry. Get some rest tonight. In a few days, I’ll come take you out of here.”