Chapter 24

"How dare you stoop this low?" Sophia Bennett raised her hand to strike, but Adrian Castillo anticipated the movement and caught her wrist mid-air.

Adrian smirked despite his simmering rage. "Be a good girl and marry me, Sophia. Don't force my hand. You wouldn't like what happens when I'm pushed too far."

"Dream on! I'd rather die than marry scum like you!" Sophia's eyes burned with fury, her disgust for Adrian now undeniable. If only she could wipe that smug look off his face with her fists.

But his grip was ironclad, leaving her trapped and helpless.

Adrian's leer turned predatory. "What if those private photos of yours end up online? Imagine the scandal—"

A sharp crack echoed through the hallway as Evelyn Whitmore's fist connected with Adrian's jaw, sending him crashing into a decorative vase display.

"Disgusting pig," Evelyn muttered, shaking out her hand.

Sophia gaped.

Adrian blinked stars from his vision before focusing on the petite bridesmaid who'd decked him. "You little—"

"Let me guess," Evelyn cut in, tilting her head. "You're the type who 'accidentally' brushes against women during handshakes? And now you're blackmailing your girlfriend of three years with revenge porn? Classy."

"Stay out of this, bitch!" Adrian swung wildly, but Evelyn caught his arm mid-motion and twisted—hard.

The sickening pop of his shoulder dislocating was followed by his scream.

Sophia snapped out of her shock and delivered a vicious kick to Adrian's ribs. "That's for wasting three years of my life, you parasite!"

Evelyn yawned, maintaining her hold so Sophia could use Adrian as her personal punching bag.

Across the hall, Nathaniel Grayson observed with detached interest, hands in his tailored trousers. Dominic Prescott whistled low beside him. "Damn, your wife's got skills. Starting to worry about your safety, man."

Nathaniel shot him a withering glare.

"Enough," Nathaniel commanded, his voice cutting through Sophia's rage.

Sophia froze, tears streaking her mascara. "Uncle! He cheated and threatened to—"

Evelyn decided they'd made their point and released Adrian, stretching her back. The man's face was a canvas of bruises and scratches.

Then chaos erupted.

Adrian lunged for a hallway vase and hurled it at Evelyn with a roar. "Meddling whore!"

Nathaniel moved like lightning. One moment he was across the corridor—the next, he'd yanked Evelyn behind him and delivered a brutal kick to Adrian's chest.

Italian leather met ribcage with a sickening thud. Nathaniel looked down at the wheezing man with icy disdain. "Seeking an early grave?"

Adrian paled. "Mr. Grayson, I—"

Dominic strolled over, shaking his head. "Trying to bankrupt your family? Bold move, attacking Nathaniel's woman."

Adrian's blood ran cold. 'His woman?'

He'd known better than to lay hands on Sophia—Nathaniel's niece—but this random bridesmaid? "I-I just love Sophia too much to let her go!"

Nathaniel's gaze turned arctic. "Love? Is that what you call blackmail?"

Dominic snorted. "Or is it about losing access to the Bennett trust fund?"

Adrian's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Sophia collapsed into her uncle's arms, sobbing. The truth was undeniable—she'd been nothing but a stepping stone to Adrian.