Chapter 5: The Night of Toxic Secrets

As the brilliant chandeliers of the royal Quebec palace glittered like thousands of diamonds in the vast ballroom, I felt as if I were heading to a slaughterhouse to offer myself as a sacrifice.

Standing before the mirror, I shuddered at my own reflection. For tonight, Lucas had chosen a deep navy blue silk slit dress—the fabric was so thin that every heartbeat and ragged breath was clearly visible from the outside.

The back was entirely exposed, and the expert cut below the waist revealed the dark bruises on my upper thighs with every step—marks Lucas himself had pressed into my skin the night before.

​"Beauties shouldn't cry, Sophia, especially when they are going out to hunt," Lucas’s ice-cold voice echoed behind me.

​He approached me with slow, deliberate steps. Dressed in a black tuxedo with his hair in a perfect, professional style—from a distance, there was no way to tell that this man could shatter a helpless girl’s world in a single night.

He placed his hand on my bare shoulder. At his touch, the hair on my arms stood up. He fastened a diamond necklace around my neck.

While the coldness of the diamonds pricked my skin, the demonic gaze in his eyes pierced me even deeper.

​"Remember, Sophia," he whispered near my ear, the scent of his oakwood perfume stifling my breath. "Tonight, Edward Smith will see you. He will want you back as his precious little girl.

You must earn his trust. Even when he embraces you, even when his filthy hands press against your body—you must smile.

Because that is when you will lift the set of keys from his inner coat pocket—the ones that open the locker in his private study."

​My breath hitched. "Do you realize what you’re asking me to do, Lucas? He is my father's murderer! I loathe his touch; I don't even want to step into his shadow!"

​Lucas spun me around with a sudden jerk. His strong fingers gripped my chin tightly. "Hatred doesn't get results, Sophia; deception does.

If you fail tonight, remember—Lucas Valentine never gives anyone a second chance. The proof of your father's murder will never see the light of day, and Edward will bury you alive."

​When we entered the ballroom, the eyes of hundreds of influential people fell upon us.

I gripped Lucas’s hand tightly as if he were my only protector, yet I knew he was the very one pushing me toward the fires of hell. The air was thick with the scent of expensive liquor and luxury perfumes.

Just then, the crowd parted, and the man stepped forward—Edward Smith. Seeing his fake smile and those cunning eyes made me feel physically ill.

​"Sophia! My sweet girl!" Edward stepped forward and embraced me. As the smell of heavy tobacco from his body hit my nose, I wanted to scream.

I felt his hand wandering over the exposed skin of my back. Lucas stood nearby, calmly sipping champagne, like a spectator thoroughly enjoying a play.

​"Father... I’ve missed you so much," I managed to say through clenched teeth, forcing out the ultimate lie. Edward pulled me slightly away from Lucas.

"Mr. Valentine is a dangerous man, Sophia. What are you doing with him? Come back to your own home."

​I glanced at Lucas from the corner of my eye. He signaled me with a look to begin the work. I leaned closer to Edward, skillfully moving my hand toward his coat pocket.

Every second felt like a venomous thorn. My body recoiled in disgust as Edward whispered his hideous plans into my ear.

​"Listen, Sophia, we desperately need Mr. Daniels' support for this project. If you spend a little time with him, all our problems will be solved."

​My blood boiled. He was pimping out his own stepdaughter! Right then, I felt the heavy set of keys in Edward’s pocket.

Very carefully, I slid my fingers in, lifted the keys, and slipped them into my clutch bag. It was done. But the danger had only just begun.

​The lights in the ballroom dimmed. A single spotlight fell on the dance floor. Lucas stepped forward and pulled my hand away from Edward with a firm tug.

"Sorry, Mr. Smith, but Sophia is contracted only to dance with me tonight."

​Lucas pulled me onto the dance floor. A mournful yet intense violin melody began to play. He grabbed my waist and pressed me forcefully against him. With every movement of the dance, he spun me as if I were a lifeless doll.

​"Did you get the keys?" he whispered in my ear mid-dance.

​"Yes," I panted. My entire body was shaking.

​"Good. Now the real game begins. Exactly five minutes after the dance ends, go to the library on the second floor.

Edward's locker is there. But be careful, Sophia; Daniels' bodyguards are everywhere. If you get caught, I don't know you."

​The dance ended. Avoiding the crowd, I hurried through the dark corridor toward the second-floor library. The surroundings were eerily silent.

I unlocked the door and entered the pitch-black room to search for the locker. Just then, the door behind me slammed shut.

​I turned around, startled. Out of the darkness stepped Mr. Daniels. There was a demonic lust in his eyes. Removing his jacket, he said, "Lucas was right; you are far more attractive in this dress, Sophia.

He sent you as my 'gift' for tonight."

​The ground slipped from beneath my feet. Lucas sent me as a gift? Had he betrayed me? Daniels covered my mouth and threw me onto the sofa. I thrashed and fought to escape, but his strength was too much.

​Just then, the secret door to the library opened. I thought Lucas had come to save me. But what I saw turned my blood to ice. Lucas did enter, but he didn't have a gun—he was setting up a professional camera on a stand.

​Ignoring my tears, he said with a smile, "Great scene, Daniels! But dominate Sophia a bit more; the light reflection will be better that way. Sophia, don't stop. The more real your helpless crying looks on video, the more valuable my blackmail file will be!"

​I couldn't believe my ears. Lucas hadn't come to save me; he was recording the scene of my humiliation just to use me for his own interests!