Chapter 183

"Throw rotten tomatoes at her!"

"A shameless gold-digger!"

"Mr. Blackwood, don't show mercy! A woman like her is nothing but bad luck!"

The crowd gathered outside the wedding venue shouted at William Blackwood.

William glared at Sophia with fury, while Sophia turned her desperate gaze toward Ethan. His voice was eerily calm. "Sophia, you've gone too far."

Yet, the chilling menace beneath his words sent shivers down everyone's spines.

"I only marry once in my life, and you dare ruin it?" Ethan continued, his tone icy. "We had a contract. I paid you generously. You claimed you cared for my mother out of genuine friendship, not for money. And now? You show up to sabotage my wedding?"

Sophia's lips trembled. "Ethan..."

"Get out!" Ethan roared.

His voice was so thunderous that the cameraman standing twenty meters away fumbled, nearly dropping his equipment. The man scrambled to pick it up before fleeing in panic.

Tears welled in Sophia's eyes as she stared at Ethan, heartbroken.

"Leave," Ethan repeated coldly.

"You don’t believe me?" Sophia whispered.

For the third time, Ethan spoke, his voice dripping with venom. "If I ever see you again, I’ll make sure you experience what it means to be the lowest, filthiest, most humiliated woman alive. My cruelty isn’t reserved just for men. The only reason I’m sparing you today is because you took care of my mother. Now—get out of my sight!"

Sophia shuddered. She knew Ethan never made empty threats. She had witnessed firsthand how he dealt with his enemies.

Ethan turned away, addressing his four bodyguards. "If she steps foot here again, don’t bother coming back. Slit your own throats."

"Yes, sir!"

The guards seized Sophia without hesitation, dragging her away.

William stopped them. "Wait."

The guards paused. "Sir?"

"Take her trash with her," William sneered, kicking Sophia’s worn-out duffel bags. The zippers burst open, spilling cheap clothes, detergent bars, and a few crumpled dollar bills onto the ground.

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Look at that—a beggar trying to play Cinderella!"

"Women like her have no shame. They’ll do anything for attention."

Humiliated, Sophia was thrown onto the main road a kilometer from the venue. Before she could stand, a massive truck barreled toward her.

"Move!" A figure lunged, shoving her aside.

The truck roared past as Sophia tumbled toward the steep roadside slope. Her heart plummeted—she was going to lose her baby. She might even die.

But instead of pain, she felt strong arms around her. A man had shielded her, taking the brunt of the fall. They rolled together until he grabbed a jagged rock, stopping their descent.

Gasping, Sophia looked up in shock. "Noah? What are you doing here?"

Noah’s face was drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged. "Sophia... I heard from Alexander on my way here. Is it true? You’re carrying Ethan’s child?"

Tears spilled over. "He doesn’t want it. I told him everything, and he refused to believe me. He threatened his guards—if I returned, they’d slit their own throats. He said he’d make me suffer like no woman ever has."

Noah’s expression darkened. "Sophia, you’ve only been out of prison for three months. You don’t know how ruthless Ethan is. Four months ago, he took control of Blackwood Enterprises. His half-brother, Richard, was supposed to inherit everything. But Ethan turned the tables overnight. He destroyed everyone who ever crossed him—none of them survived."

Sophia nodded shakily. "I understand. But Noah... why are you sweating so much in winter? Are you hurt?"

Her eyes dropped to his hand, still gripping the rock. Blood dripped from his palm.

"You’re bleeding! Let go!" she cried.

Noah gave a strained smile. "If I do, you’ll fall. The baby won’t survive. I know this child is all you have left."

Tears streamed down Sophia’s face as she watched his blood stain the ground.

Ten minutes later, Alexander arrived, helping them up. A black car idled nearby—Noah’s.

"Ethan’s furious. He won’t let you live," Noah said urgently, ignoring his injury. "That truck wasn’t an accident. We need to leave Harborview now."

Alexander nodded. "Go."

Sophia stared at Noah’s bleeding hand. "But you—"

"Tear a strip from your clothes to stop the bleeding. We’ll deal with it once we’re safe." Noah started the engine, his jaw set. "We can’t stay here another second."

The car sped away, leaving the city behind.