The maid gave a small nod and quietly walked away, her footsteps fading down the corridor, leaving Sophia and Arthur facing each other in heavy silence.
Sophia kept staring at him.
For a second, her eyes trembled as if she were happy to see him… but that softness disappeared almost instantly. Her lips pressed into a thin line. The warmth in her gaze froze.
She slowly unfolded her arms, her voice turning cold.
“What is it about?” she asked. “I’m not taking my complaint back. I won’t get your brothers out of jail. And don’t even ask me to forgive them.”
“I don’t want you to forgive them!” Arthur said immediately, almost stumbling over his words.
Sophia froze.
His face twisted with pain and anger. “Do you really think I would forgive them for trying to assault you? You are my daughter, Sophia. You are the one I love more than anyone in this world.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief, searching his face as if she was trying to see whether he truly meant it. Arthur had always stood with Joseph and Curtis. Especially after they started helping him with running the business.
Arthur looked at Sophia and took a step forward. His hand lifted, trembling, and gently cupped her cheek.
“Did you get hurt last night?” he asked hoarsely.
His voice shook. A lump rose in his throat as he stared at her.
All these years, he had only thought about what he would leave behind for her after his death.
Money. Property. Protection. Shares.
But he had never thought about what he could give her today.
The regret clawed at his heart, tearing him apart from the inside.
Surprise flashed across Sophia’s face. The arms she had kept folded tightly over her chest in defense slowly dropped to her sides. She blinked, trying to understand the fear and pain she saw in his eyes.
“I’m fine,” she answered quietly. “I didn’t get hurt. Magnus saved me.”
“Good…” Arthur swallowed hard. “That’s good.”
He turned his face away for a second and wiped his tears with the back of his hand, trying to pull himself together.
When he looked at her again, guilt was written all over him.
“I’m sorry, Sophia,” he choked out. “It’s my fault. I didn’t take good care of you. You kept telling me not to trust them, but they are my brothers… I trusted them blindly, and now…”
His voice collapsed.
His knees suddenly gave way. His body swayed forward, his hand shaking as he tried to steady himself.
“Dad!” Sophia rushed to him.
She caught him just in time, gripping his arms and holding him upright. Carefully, she helped him step back toward the couch and eased him down to sit.
“Are you okay?” she asked, panic filling her voice.
Up close, she could see it clearly.
In just one night, Arthur seemed to have aged. The strong, unshakable man she knew looked tired, fragile, and broken. His eyes were red, his face pale, the weight of guilt pressing heavily on his shoulders.
Sophia had never seen him like this.
