Reborn to Burn Them All novel Chapter 115

Jerome halted, eyeing her suspiciously. “Since when did you become so generous?”

Sophia looked at him in disbelief. “Of course not. You must have the wrong idea about me. Haven’t you heard? There’s no such thing as a free lunch

“I’m just here for the drama. You know me—the kind who thrives on chaos and would totally be the one on the sidelines, egging people on.”

Jerome was speechless, thinking, ‘What a psycho!‘

Sophia smirked maliciously. “You stole someone else’s credit as Maelis’s savior. Your family has been milking this for years. Let’s be real–you’re nothing but a stand–in, and a pathetic kept man at that.

“Fine, be a kept man if you must, but you just have to act all high and mighty. Now your secret as a stand–in is exposed. Normally, people might feel sorry for someone like you, but you just make everyone’s skin crawl. Serves you right.”

Sophia’s gloating expression made Jerome clench his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

Facing his murderous glare, Sophia taunted, “What? Wanna hit me? Go ahead, take your best shot. If you don’t, you’re not man enough.”

Jerome hesitated.

Sophia’d successfully gotten under his skin.

“Sophia, I’m not Howard,” Jerome said through gritted teeth. He wasn’t that stupid. But he was indeed furious.

Sophia gave him a look of utter contempt. “What an idiot–you don’t even know who you are. Maybe you should ask your mom. After all, your so–called ‘dad‘ might not be your real father, but your mom? Oh, she’s definitely your mom.”

Jerome’s face darkened, his features contorted with barely contained rage. Drawing a deep breath, he refused to engage further and stormed off.

Sophia scoffed disdainfully as she watched his retreating figure. Just then, her phone buzzed. Maelis had sent her a message along with an e–invitation. [Sophia, we’re throwing a party the day after tomorrow. You better come.]

Since Sophia had nothing better to do, she agreed. What really puzzled her, though, was that Maelis hadn’t asked about her savior at all. Sophia texted, [Aren’t you even gonna ask about your savior?]

Maelis responded, [Nah, I’m done asking. Let it be.] Then she sent a happy spinning cat GIF.

Sophia couldn’t help but find that GIF suspicious. Logically speaking, if Maelis had just gone through a breakup, she should at least look a little upset- not this cheerful, like she’d just escaped a living hell without ever being sad in the first place.

Sophia pocketed her phone and, with an air of indifference, left the hospital. Standing in the shade as she waited for her ride, she saw a bald man- Benedict–tussling with another man, who turned out to be Corey.

Sophia thought to herself, ‘Well, I didn’t even have to go looking for drama–it just served itself up.‘

Benedict clutched Corey’s arm in a death grip, his eyes burning with obsession as he stared stubbornly. “You look so much like Ava. What on earth is your relationship with her? If you don’t tell me, I’m not letting you leave.”

Corey remained eerily calm. “Let go, or I’m calling for help,” he warned. Benedict stayed silent but refused to release his grip, leaving them locked in a tense standoff.

Sophia rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Seriously, are you two putting on a public tug–of–war show?”

Benedict’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Sophia. He blurted out, “Sophia! You know where Ava is, don’t you? This guy looks just like her—”

Sophia cut him off with a look of disgust. “Weren’t you supposed to start a celibate life to atone for your unborn child? Yet here you are, wrestling with a

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Chapter 115

man in public. Some devotion–you clearly don’t mean it.”

Benedict’s face flushed awkwardly as he let go of Corey. “I… I just want to know where Ava went, that’s all,” he stammered.

Sophia said offhandedly, “She’s dead.”

Corey’s heart raced when he saw Sophia–he’d been terrified she might expose his identity.

Benedict’s face paled. “What? Ava’s dead? How?” His voice cracked, eyes reddening. “Was it a terminal illness? Is that why she had to leave me?” Agony twisted his features as he spoke.

Corey was dumbfounded, his mind racing.

Sophia hadn’t expected him to be this imaginative, so she played along and said coolly, “That’s right. Your precious Ava is dead. Her ashes were scattered. She’s gone for good.”

Benedict couldn’t handle the devastating news. Covering his face with trembling hands, he broke down into heart–wrenching sobs.

Tears streaming down his face, Benedict choked out between sobs, “I knew it. She must’ve had no choice but to leave me. Why didn’t she tell me? I loved her so much, and yet, I never got to say goodbye.”

Sophia gave the petrified Corey a long, meaningful look, her face deadpan. “Sorry for your loss,” she said dryly.

Then there was silence.

Corey’s eyelid twitched–this was both awkward and absurd. He thought wryly, ‘If I weren’t the one involved, I might have bought it myself?

Sophia left Benedict to drown in his grief over losing his lover. After giving Corey a meaningful glance, she turned on her heel and walked away.