449.Chapter 449
Sophie cried as if the world had dealt her the greatest injustice.
She thought her usual tactics would work.
But this time, she was wrong. The first person to strike her wasn’t her brothers, it was her father.
Gabriel’s hand landed hard on Sophie’s uninjured cheek.
Her already bloodied and torn face swelled even more, the pain sharp and unbearable.
“Father?” Sophie stammered, her voice trembling as she turned to look at him.
But Gabriel didn’t meet her gaze. His back was turned, his voice cold and cutting. “I never thought you could stoop so low as to desecrate your mother’s grave.”
Gabriel admitted, his tone heavy with regret. “Benedict, this is my fault. I was too quick to believe Sophie’s words before. Now that the truth is clear, I will give you all a proper explanation.”
Sophie couldn’t see the look on Benedict’s face, but Gabriel could. Benedict’s expression was a mix of profound disappointment and seething hatred.
The fragile relationship between them had already been on the verge of collapse. Seeing Benedict’s face now, Gabríel made
his decision in an instant.
This time, he couldn’t let Sophie off so easily.
Benedict’s eyes burned with suppressed fury as he asked coldly, “And how does Father plan to deal with her?”
Gabriel’s cold gaze swept over Sophie, who was crumpled on the ground. A chill ran down her spine.
A strong sense of foreboding surged through her. Panicked, she quickly pleaded, “Father, Benedict, I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong…”
She reached out to grab Gabriel’s robes, her earlier defiance replaced by desperate apologies and begging.
But it was too late.
Benedict said, “Sophie, your actions are beyond forgiveness, desecrating your foster mother’s grave, stealing her remains, and attempting to whip her corpse in anger. From this day forward, you are no longer Lady Sophie of the Duke’s estate.”
Sophie felt as if she’d been plunged into an icy abyss.
She looked up at Gabriel in disbelief. “Father, what did you just say?”
She thought, ‘If I am not Lady Sophie anymore, then who would I be?‘
Gabriel’s response was cold and merciless, “Your mother drugged me and secretly gave birth to you. You’re nothing more than an illegitimate child.”
Her mind went blank, as if struck by a thunderclap.
By now, everyone in Hasen City already knew she was illegitimate.
But when she first entered the Duke’s estate, it was under the guise of being an adopted daughter.
She had been registered under the Duke and Duchess’s names, not a legitimate daughter, but still far better than the disgraceful label of a bastard.
After all, bastards ranked even lower than children born to commoners. They were always looked down upon, and even marriage proposals were met with disdain.
If she was no longer Lady Sophie of the Duke’s estate, then probably no men in all of Hasen City would be willing to marry her.
If she couldn’t be a wife, then she would be nothing more than a concubine.
Being branded an illegitimate daughter was already shameful enough,becoming someone’s concubine would be utterly
unbearable.
Sophie couldn’t keep up the facade any longer. She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. “Father! How could you treat me like this? I’m your own flesh and blood! Are you trying to drive me to my death?”
Even Matthew couldn’t help but gasp in shock. “Father…”
