Chapter 73


    Chapter 73


    Sophia barely reacted in time. The neer mmed into her, shoving her back several steps


    until her spine met the stair railing with at painful jolt. Ignoring her gasp, he grabbed her arm and


    yanked her upright. “Sophia, listent I need your help. Ten million dors, or I’m


    toast!”


    Lucas, her good–for–nothing older brother, was a casino regr. He’d burned through their father


    Corey’s life savings and racked up a mountain of debt. If it wasn’t for Jason constantly bailing him


    out, Lucas would be six feet under.


    Sophia stared at him, a mix of surprise and pain trembling in her eyes. Ten million? That was life–


    changing money for most people. What right did he have to demand it? “Eric said Jason cleared


    your sixteen–million gambling debt five days ago. What happened to all that money?”


    Lucas squirmed under her gaze, mumbling incoherently for a long time. Frustration bubbled over.


    “Who cares about details? I’m in trouble now, sis! Don’t you have a responsibility to help family?”


    Sophia fought to break free, putting distance between them. She was done. They were like


    leeches, sucking her dry and still wanting more. Always iming to be “dying,” but somehow, she


    was the one hanging on by a thread. “I shouldn’t be your ATM anymore. You need to find another


    way out.”


    She turned away, gazing out the window at the snowy scene. The house was warm, but a bone–


    chilling cold seeped into her. She felt hollowed out, incapable of meeting their endless demands.


    Lucas wasn’t done yet. He lunged back at her, mping down on her wrist. His eyes burned with a


    desperate hunger. “The Taylors raised you for twenty years! Now you’re living high and mighty, isn’t


    it your duty to help your own? Ten million now, or I’ll make your life a living hell!”


    Sophia studied his handsome face, distorted with greed. Strangely, her anger dissipated, reced


    by a wave of pity and disgust. “Did you know Dad’s in jail?”


    Lucas blinked, surprised for a second. He had been too busy dodging loan sharks to worry about


    the old man. “Jail?”


    Sophia met his bewildered gaze with a bitter smile. ‘He doesn’t even know! How can he have such


    a ck heart?” she thought. ‘Mom’s coddling ruined him.”


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    “Go home, Lucas,” she said, “The Taylors need you now. You’re the eldest son, it’s your


    responsibility.”


    Lucas scoffed at the news


    of his father’s imprisonment. There wasn’t a hint of concern on his face. “Good riddance, saves me


    money on his meds. Enough for a few more bets. Maybe better if he stays locked up forever. Less


    dead weight to drag around.”


    “Get out!” Sophia’s hand shot out, connecting with a loud p across his face. How could he be so


    heartless? To save her father, she’d sacrificed everything, even her dignity. Lucas cursed his own


    father like that? Didn’the fear karma?


    Lucas, already fuming from the p, exploded. He swung his arm back, aiming a vicious blow at


    her face. Sophia instinctively tried to dodge, but the railing blocked her escape. Trapped, she could


    only watch as his hand, fueled by pure rage, came crashing down towards her. This time, he meant


    to hurt her bad.