Chapter 143

Noah Whitmore suddenly found courage from somewhere deep within. He spat out bitterly, "You...whether it's Liam Sterling, Alexander Kensington, Vincent Holloway, or Ethan Blackwood—you're all the same! Men!"

His voice dripped with disdain. "Isn't it pathetic? Bullying a defenseless woman who can't fight back? Especially you, Blackwood. Your own mother couldn’t even step foot into the Blackwood estate. She was just as powerless once. Have you no sympathy?"

Noah braced himself, fully expecting retaliation.

He’d never dared voice these thoughts before, but Ethan’s earlier provocation had pushed him past caution.

Nathan Carter watched Noah with an unreadable expression. "If you value your life, stay away from Liam. He’s no friend to you."

Noah laughed bitterly. "I wasn’t any better before. But after seeing how Liam treated Sophia, I started seeing her differently. I... I care about her."

Ethan’s gaze turned glacial. "Consider this your only warning. Leave. Now."

Noah blinked. "You’re... letting me go?"

"Get out of my sight."

With a shaky nod, Noah turned and fled.

Nathan watched him go before heading toward Sophia’s hospital room. Outside the door, he paused, catching the tail end of a heated exchange.

"First Vincent Holloway, then Liam Sterling, now Noah Whitmore." Ethan’s voice was icy. "Who’s next, Sophia? Should I just line up every man in Harborview City for you?"

Sophia’s response was weary. "Mr. Blackwood, do you powerful men have nothing better to do than harass an insignificant woman like me?"

A beat of silence.

"Victoria is gone. I have nothing left to hide." Sophia exhaled. "I don’t want you. I don’t want Liam. And I certainly don’t want some lecherous old man who could be my grandfather. As for Noah? I barely know him."

Her voice hardened. "You dragged me into this mess. You turned me into a pawn in your games. So tell me, what do you want now?"

"Fifty thousand dollars." Sophia’s jaw clenched. "I’ll walk away from the contract. I won’t take a cent of that blood money. Just give me enough to disappear from this city forever."

Ethan’s laugh was razor-sharp. "Make it a hundred thousand. And never let me see your face again."

Sophia forced a smile. "Deal."

Ethan stormed out, tearing at his tie like it was choking him. He nearly collided with Nathan in the hallway.

"Why are you standing here?" Ethan snapped.

"Sir, the bank confirmed the five million transfer from your private account—the funds for Miss Montgomery. They’re waiting for your instructions."

"Cancel it."

Nathan hesitated. "She... refused it?"

Ethan didn’t answer, striding toward the elevators. Nathan followed, biting back his thoughts.

Foolish girl. Five million. And she walked away.

In the car, Ethan’s phone rang. A cheerful voice chirped through the speaker. "Mr. Blackwood! We have new wedding gown arrivals at Étoile Bridal. Would you and your fiancée like to schedule a viewing?"

Ethan’s grip tightened on the phone. "No."

"But—"

"Bill me for whichever one she picks." He ended the call.

The air in the car turned suffocating.

"Cemetery," Ethan ordered.

As they drove, his mind replayed Sophia’s rejection.

Five million. And she threw it back in my face.

The irony burned. She’d chosen pride over survival—just like his mother had.

And that, more than anything, infuriated him.