Chapter 183

Sophia Lowell cowered in the corner, trembling uncontrollably.

Her nails dug deep into her palms as she stared at the approaching Sebastian Royston.

"Mr. Royston..." Her voice quivered. "It really was an accident..."

Sebastian let out a cold laugh, his polished shoes clicking ominously against the floor.

He seized her chin, forcing her to look up.

"Hiding from me?" His voice was icy. "Who gave you the audacity?"

Sophia's pupils constricted, a cold sweat breaking out down her back.

This man was a complete madman.

She regretted it now.

Regretted ever getting close to this monster for personal gain.

Sebastian roughly grabbed her wrist, his grip tight enough to crush bone.

"Move."

A single word, yet it sent Sophia plunging into an icy abyss.

She walked mechanically, her eyes hollow.

Suddenly, Nigel Winthrop's face flashed through her mind.

That faint glimmer of hope was instantly detected by Sebastian.

Thud!

She was slammed against the wall.

His fingers closed around her throat, his eyes burning with twisted possessiveness.

"Thinking of running?" He whispered in her ear, his voice terrifyingly soft. "I'll make you wish you were dead."

Sophia froze, her breath hitching in her chest.

The next afternoon, the investigation results were announced.

The stage collapse was ruled as deliberate sabotage.

The suspect claimed they only wanted to embarrass the school.

But Ethan Sullivan knew better.

"Someone is targeting you," he said, his gaze fixed on Evelyn Laurent.

Evelyn remained composed, her fingers lightly tapping the desk.

"Sophia Lowell." Her tone was decisive.

Though there was no evidence, the answer was obvious.

Ethan frowned. "She might have accomplices."

Evelyn smirked, a sharp glint in her eyes.

"Just petty troublemakers."

She had faced far worse malice.

Such feeble schemes couldn't touch her.

The near-disaster at the gala was proof enough.