Chapter 88


    Chapter 88


    Rain slicked her hair to her face, the silence broken only by the soft thrum of raindrops. Crimson


    bloomed anew from her lips, a stark contrast to her pale skin. Kneeling in the downpour, her clothes


    were soaked through, a gruesome stain blossoming on her coat from earlier vomit. Her body had


    reached its breaking point, hands and feet numb, failing to respond as she tried to push herself up.


    Jason’s heart lurched at the sight of the blood–it seemed to sear his vision, a relentless torment. He


    took a hesitant step forward, only to be stopped cold by Cam’s outstretched hand.


    “Cruelly calcted, that’s Sophia Taylor,” Cam spat. “Poisoning Alison for her own gain. Now,


    with proof in hand, there’s no excuse. We gathered the elders as witnesses, so the Taylors can’t cry


    foul when she gets what’sing”


    The elders exchanged nervous nces. Cam had already strong–armed them before they even


    arrived, securing their “loyalty.” Though technically family leaders, their power was a joke. They


    nodded along as the head elder cleared his throat. “We heard about Alison’s ident. And now this


    poisoning… well, if there’s evidence, prison’s the answer. Let the Taylors scream all they wantter,


    we’ll have a just


    cause.”


    A smug smile yed on Cam’s lips as she turned to Jason. “The choice is yours, son,” she said,


    her voice cold. “Prison first, then we’ll figure out the marriage. Slow and steady wins the race.


    They’d drawn blood, and she knew more would follow.


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    Jason hadn’t taken his eyes off Sophia. There was an unsettling stillness about her, a chilling hint of


    death. Panic wed at him. He broke the silence by walking towards her, his expensive suit a stark


    contrast to the rain–soaked scene.


    Inside, away from the rain, Sophia’s limbs prickled with returning feeling. The bone–deep cold


    receded. She pushed herself up on her arms. meeting Jason’s gaze. The man she once knew was


    gone, reced by a stranger in a tailored suit. His handsome features were etched with coldness.


    She realized with a pang that the Jason who had captured her heart wasn’t this polished


    businessman, but the carefree boy who had swept her off her feet years ago. How she wished she


    could freeze time, seal him away in a perfect memory, a life without this crushing


    pain.


    Jason stopped in front of her, crouching slowly. He reached out, fingers hovering over her bloodied


    mouth. He couldn’t help but wonder, “How much force did my mother use in that p? It’s been


    almost an hour, why is she still bleeding? Did she hurt her tongue again?‘ He opened his mouth to


    speak, but Sophia flinched away, rejecting even his touch. It seemed even love was dead. Fine,


    then they’d y a different game. He could have her hate, as long as she was forever bound to him.


    He retracted his hand, his voice icy. “Did you visit the pharmacist a few days ago? Did you sneak a


    look at Alison’s prescription?”


    Sophia met his gaze, her voice slow and steady. “Yes, I did visit the pharmacist, but i didn’t look at


    the prescription. I just went to remind him to keep it safe.”


    “Don’t insult us!” Cam snapped. “You pushed Alison in the water! ying nice doesn’t erase that.


    Do you think we’re idiots, Sophia Taylor?”


    Silence. They’d already condemned her. No action, no exnation would change their minds, Ada,


    that maniptive witch, had spun a web too tight, using Sophia’s visit to the pharmacist as the bait.


    “Anything else?” Jason’s voice pierced her thoughts.


    “My conscience is clear.” The injustice stung, but what point was there in arguing? His heart held no


    room for her, so why plead her case?


    Jason saw the defiance in her eyes, his face hardening. He flung the report at her, his voice


    dripping with scorn. “Then exin this, if your conscience is so damn clean.”