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436 Chapter 436
436.Chapter 436
Sophie let out a startled scream, grabbing Matthew’s arm in panic before throwing herself into his embrace
“Matthew, Diana’s going to hit me again! I’m scared she cried, her face streaked with tears, looking so pitiful it could tug at anyone’s heartstrings
Matthew, feeling protective, quickly wrapped his arms around her “Don’t worry, Sophie I’m here Diana won’t lay a hand on
you again.”
Sophie had only said that to stir up trouble, but hearing Matthew’s comforting words made her twitch the corner of her mouth involuntarily,
She thought furiously. Are you blind? Didn’t you just see her whip me right in front of you?
And you still have the nerve to say she won’t hit me again?
Sophie clenched her teeth in silent rage
She thought. Useless fool! If you weren’t even a little useful, do you think I’d bother keeping you around?
Terrified that Diana might strike again, Sophie clung tightly to Matthew, burying herself in his arms and positioning him as a shield
Sophie assumed Diana still had feelings for Matthew. She figured that while Diana might dare to whip her in front of him, if she used Matthew’s body as a shield, Diana would hesitate, worried about accidentally hitting him.
But Sophie hadn’t anticipated what happened next. The whip cracked through the air with a sharp snap, cutting straight toward them.
Diana lashed out again, the whip striking Sophie mercilessly and catching Matthew in its path.
The blow tore into Matthew’s back, leaving it raw and bleeding.
Sophie, unable to dodge, took another hit on her shoulder, adding a fresh wound to her collection
Sophie cried out in agony.
This time, her tears were genuine.
Diana’s whip brought unbearable pain, far worse than anything Sophie had endured before.
It made the punishments she’d faced at the Duke’s estate feel like mere scratches.
Sophie had been subjected to the family’s disciplinary whip twice before.
Once by Benedict, and another time by Gabriel.
Benedict had been the gentler of the two.
Gabriel, however, had been furious, and his strikes were far heavier.
Yet even those paled in comparison to the force Diana wielded today.
Diana’s blows were calculated, each one meant to break her rather than just teach a lesson.
By the second lash, Sophie was completely overwhelmed, unable to endure any longer.
She sobbed uncontrollably, her facade completely shattered.
“Keep pretending! Go on, keep it up! I am going to beat you to death today!” Diana’s voice was sharp and filled with fury as she glared at Sophie.
To say she felt nothing for Matthew would be a lie. After all, she had truly cared for him once.
Otherwise, she would not have gone to him, even after the Empress Dowager had already sent word to the Baker family/
She had thought, if Matthew had chosen her back then, maybe she hadn’t misjudged him.
After all, she already knew the truth deep down. What she cared about was Matthew’s heart.
The answer left her bitterly disappointed and heartbroken.
So when Eliza offered to handle the annulment, she didn’t stop her.
That day, Eliza returned to the Duke’s estate on her behalf. Diana knew exactly what Eliza intended to do, and in truth, that was the last chance she gave Matthew.
Unfortunately, all she received in return was a cold, formal letter of annulment.
When she saw that letter, she couldn’t even tell what she felt.
They were now strangers walking separate paths
She said, “Matthew, if you’ve got any sense, step aside. For the sake of our friendship since childhood, I might let you off
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436 Chapter 430
easy. But if you don’t, don’t blame me for what happens next”
A
D
