Chapter 11

The surface of the pool broke with a violent splash.

Air rushed into my lungs, cold and sharp, as Taylor hauled me out of the deep end and onto the slippery patio tiles. I collapsed against her chest, my body trembling violently from the freezing water and sheer exhaustion. Her arms wrapped around me with a possessive, iron grip, pulling me flush against her warm body.

"Sophia... Sophia, look at me. Are you okay?" Taylor’s voice trembled… a sound so raw and genuinely panicked that it caught me completely off guard. For the first time in my life, someone was concerned about me like I was the most precious thing in the world.

I began coughing uncontrollably, choking up the swallowed pool water as my chest heaved. "I'm... I'm fine," I managed to rasp out between ragged breaths, leaning heavily into her chest.

Taylor held me tighter for a fleeting second before her posture shifted. The frantic warmth in her body instantly vanished, replaced by an aura so frigid and lethal that the surrounding air seemed to drop ten degrees.

She slowly turned her head, her dark eyes locking onto Kate.

"Who gave you the fucking guts to bully my wife?" Taylor’s voice sliced through the silence of the courtyard, dripping with absolute hatred.

Kate shrank back instantly, her face turning pale as paper. She knew better than anyone in Los Angeles what Taylor Nicole was capable of doing to her enemies.

"I... I didn't!" Kate stammered out, her voice trembling as she frantically looked over at Andrew for help. "She... she fell by accident!"

"Accident, Kate?!" Taylor sneered, her voice ringing across the silent ballroom patio. "Don't you dare stand there and lie to my face! You deliberately spilt wine over yourself, had the audacity to try and force her onto her knees to clean your shoes, and when she refused your humiliation, you shoved her into the pool!"

I kept my eyes half-closed against Taylor’s shoulder, stunned. How did she know everything so clearly? Did she see the entire thing from the start?

"Your little pathetic act is completely transparent," Taylor continued coldly, her sharp gaze sweeping over to Andrew. "And you, Andrew…this is your final warning. Stop enabling her. Every single thing you have right now your status, your money, your lifestyle exists solely because I allow it."

A wave of shocked mutters broke out among the high-society guests gathered around the patio.

"Ms... Ms Taylor?"

My mother, Eleanor, stepped forward for the first time since I had been pulled from the water. Her face was twisted in utter bewilderment. "What... what did you just say? Did you just say Sophia is your wife?" She spun around to face Andrew, her voice shrill. "Andrew, what is she talking about?!"

"You should ask Kate and Andrew," Taylor said dismissively.

Without giving them another second, Taylor slid her arms underneath my knees and back, effortlessly scooping my wet, shivering body up into her arms. She turned toward the exit of the party before the banquet had even officially begun.

"Sophia was exhausted from last night," Taylor announced over her shoulder, her tone smooth, arrogant, and ruthless. "She needs her rest. But tomorrow morning, your entire family will come to my estate to apologise to my wife in person."

"Taylor! What on earth are you saying?!" Andrew roared, breaking away from Kate and lunging forward to block the path to the parking lot. His face was flushed with embarrassment and growing rage. "What the hell do you mean she was exhausted last night?!"

Hearing his pathetic, hypocritical voice made something snap inside me. For five years, I had quietly endured his neglect and his lies. Now, wrapped safely in the arms of the woman protecting me, I felt a surge of defiant power I had never known before.

I opened my eyes, looking up at Andrew’s furious, desperate face.

"I'll show you exactly what she means," I said softly, speaking aloud for the first time.

Before Andrew could process my words, I reached up, cupped the back of Taylor’s neck, and pulled her face down to mine. I pressed my lips firmly onto hers, kissing her deeply right in front of the entire crowd.

Taylor didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. She wrapped her arms tighter around me and kissed me back with breathless, intoxicating passion, claiming my mouth completely while gasps of sheer shock echoed across the courtyard. I didn't care who was watching. I didn't give a damn about any of them anymore.

"Impossible! That can't be real!" Andrew shrieked, his voice cracking as he stepped in frantically, grabbing Taylor's arm to break us apart.

Taylor pulled back slightly, her dark eyes glittering with dangerous satisfaction as I rested my head back against her shoulder, glaring down at Andrew with pure contempt.

"Sophia!" Andrew yelled, his chest heaving as he stared at me.

Hearing him speak my name made my stomach turn. For a long time now, I had utterly loathed the sound of my name on his tongue.

"You can't go with her!" he demanded, reaching out for me.

"And by what right do you have to stop me, Andrew?" I countered coldly, my voice dripping with disdain, daring him to utter his own pathetic lie aloud.

I turned my head to Taylor. "Let's go."

Taylor gave a low, cruel smirk and stepped past him, heading straight toward the private valet area.

Behind us, Andrew completely lost his mind. His arrogance, his pride, and his possessiveness shattered all at once.