CHAPTER 137: SURRENDER TO HER

Sophia lied without missing a beat, and Samuel blinked in surprise.

"So... you’re a pitiful soul too," he said.

Sophia wiped away her tears with a casual hand, then snapped right back into her original calmness. "I don’t like relying on others, but I never expected to run into you today. Fine — you’ve shown me Andrew’s true colors. In his heart, I really can’t compete with his other daughter."

Samuel frowned. "My situation is nothing like yours, but there are similarities between us..."

"Don’t you feel you owe Riley something?" Sophia abruptly changed the subject and spoke in a low voice.

She’d started to see him in a different light — maybe he wasn’t evil to the core. When he’d hurt Riley, perhaps he’d been panicked, and the harm had come from that chaos.

"When I get the money, I’ll give half to her — as compensation. Then I’ll disappear. I won’t interfere with her life again."

He actually planned to hand Riley half the ransom. That was unexpected.

But... would that kind of compensation mean anything to Riley? A respected music talent like her probably didn’t need money.

"Half an hour’s already passed," Sophia said. "They still haven’t shown up. The time you demanded doesn’t give them enough time to prepare that kind of cash."

She’d already wasted too much time here; she didn’t have patience to wait any longer.

"What do you mean?" Samuel snapped.

Sophia sighed and then lowered her voice. "I thought you were smarter, but I guess I overrated you. Do you remember the last man who kidnapped me?"

A cold feeling ran through Samuel’s chest.

"If I’m standing here in front of you, it means the last kidnapping failed. Do you really think that makes you successful?"

Samuel jumped to his feet. "You lied to me!" he barked.

His knife slashed toward her waist.

Sophia threw her body back, narrowly avoiding the blade. With a powerful kick she shoved him away.

She rolled to the ground and sprang up in a single, graceful motion.

"You—"

"I thought I’d humor you, see if you could find your way back," she said. "But I was foolish to even think that. I’ve got no time to play — company matters pile up and I have to get back. If you still want to hurt me, fine. I’ll give you some more time to try."

She beckoned him with a sly curl of her finger, daring him to come on.

She’d always favored surprise attacks, but she’d never invited someone to a fair fight before. Sophia had trained in karate and held a respectable rank; her opponent relied on raw strength alone. The outcome was never in doubt.

Samuel charged, convinced the woman before him couldn’t beat him. The first move he threw, she twisted his wrist cleanly — then executed a shoulder throw that slammed him hard into the ground.

Five minutes later—

Ten Maybachs screeched to a stop right in front of Sophia.

Lucas jumped out of the lead car, completely stunned by the scene before him. Sophia had Samuel pinned to the ground, her heel grinding into his shoulder. Every time he struggled, she pressed down harder until he couldn’t move, standing over him like a conqueror.

Lucas froze. He always knew his wife was strong, but this... this was beyond anything he’d imagined.

Even Alex and the bodyguards who’d arrived behind him stood rooted in place, staring wide-eyed. Their faces stayed cold, but their eyes betrayed a flicker of awe.

Sophia brushed her loose hair back behind her ear and flashed them a bright smile. "Oh, you made it."

"Sophia, are you hurt?"

Lucas rushed forward and pulled her into his arms, scanning her up and down.

"Do I look hurt to you?" she teased. "The one who’s in trouble is him."

She tilted her chin toward the beaten man being dragged to his feet.

"What do we do with him?" Lucas asked.

"I’m not one to meddle, but I think he should at least face Riley," she said coolly. "After that, hand him over to the police."

He’d done wrong; he needed to face the consequences. No one got to just walk away.

Still smiling, Sophia bent down, snatched the car key from Samuel’s pocket, and strolled past them.

Alex instinctively took a step back.

"Alex, what’s wrong? You scared?" Sophia teased.

He wasn’t scared — not exactly. It was just... he’d never seen her like this before. Fierce. Effortless. Like this was who she was meant to be all along.

"Boss lady, you’re incredible," he blurted out. "I think I’m in love with you!"

Lucas’s face darkened. "What did you just say?"

"Boss! No, that’s not what I meant!" Alex backpedaled frantically. "I mean I admire her. Deeply! I just really admire how smart, gorgeous, and lethal she is. Come on — she’s beautiful, brilliant, perfect figure, gave birth to six kids, can run a boardroom, cook dinner, fight wolves, and catch sheep—she’s flawless!"

Sophia laughed lightly. "Alex, I didn’t realize your love for me ran so deep. Maybe you should talk it over with your boss?"

"Talk—?" Alex’s head whipped around. Lucas was glaring at him like he could kill him with his eyes. If looks could, Alex would’ve died a thousand times already.

He forced a grin at Sophia. "I would never steal another man’s love. I wish you both eternal happiness and everlasting passion!"

Then, grinning awkwardly, Alex stepped back to let Sophia climb into the car.

Lucas followed right after her.

"Didn’t you drive here?" she asked.

"I like the passenger seat," he said.

Sophia’s lips curved into a faint smile.

...

Hospital.

Riley’s emotions had stabilized a lot. She could eat again and wasn’t snapping at everyone anymore.

When Sophia and Lucas arrived, Riley was sitting by the window, staring out at the city.

"Riley."

She turned immediately at the sound of that voice. "Sophia?"

"I found someone," Sophia said softly. "After thinking it over, I decided you should see him."

"Who?"

Before she could finish the word, Samuel stepped out from behind them. His face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition — Sophia hadn’t held back.

Every time she remembered Riley’s bruises, the blood in her hair, or little Charles trembling at night too scared to sleep, she couldn’t help but hit harder.

"Samuel! You—!"

Riley, sitting in her wheelchair, tried to rise, her hands shaking with fury.

Then suddenly—

Bang!

Everyone froze.

Samuel had dropped to his knees.