"So what if there are?"
Sophia Sullivan tilted her chin up, her gaze locking defiantly with his.
"That man had an incredible body and knew exactly what he was doing. Of course I enjoyed myself enough to leave marks."
Liam Winston's chest heaved violently, his eyes burning red at her careless demeanor.
"Best of all, he was worth every penny. Probably the most satisfying I've ever had."
She even tilted her head thoughtfully, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched his face darken. "You're not upset, are you, Mr. Winston? The divorce papers are already signed. We're done."
His knuckles turned white, fury boiling inside him with nowhere to go.
It was true—he had brought Chloe Evans home first. He had forced Sophia to sign the divorce. Now they were nothing to each other. He had no right to question her. Yet the irrational anger consumed him.
"Sophia, I underestimated you."
The words scraped out between clenched teeth. "Three years playing the obedient wife, and all along you were this shameless. Even fooled me."
The injustice of it gnawed at him.
"At least I didn't parade another man into our home while still married. Unlike you."
Sophia nearly laughed at his hypocrisy. He had cheated without remorse, yet dared to judge her for enjoying herself after their divorce.
But she was never one to be bullied.
"Though with your lackluster skills, I doubt anyone would take you even if you paid them. All talk, no action. Must be exhausting."
"You—" Liam tasted blood, his vision swimming.
Since when had she become so vicious?
Chloe stroked his back soothingly, her voice dripping with false concern.
"Don't be angry, Liam. She's just desperate. With her parents gone and now divorced, she has no one. Of course she needs to cling to some man for survival. How else would she—"
SLAP.
Sophia's palm connected with Chloe's cheek with full force.
Chloe staggered, crashing to the floor. Her left cheek swelled instantly, a trickle of blood seeping from her lip. She clutched her face, stunned that Sophia would dare strike her in front of Liam.
"If you had half a brain, you'd know when to shut up. But I suppose that's too much to ask." Sophia looked down at her coldly, pulling out her phone. The camera shutter clicked. "Keep playing the victim, and I'll make sure everyone knows how you seduced a married man right after returning home."
She turned the screen toward Chloe—the freshly taken photo glaring back.
"Imagine the headlines: Mistress Slapped by Ex-Wife Outside Civil Affairs Bureau. Quite the scandal."
Chloe shrieked, covering her face.
Only when Sophia flipped the phone around did she realize it was just the lock screen.
"Relax. I wouldn't dirty my phone with your face." Sophia smirked. "But the surveillance footage is very clear. Easy enough to copy."
Chloe's composure shattered.
"That's a lie! Liam and I never—"
She wanted to claw Sophia's eyes out but forced herself to blink back tears, turning pitifully to Liam. "Even if I made mistakes, she can't ruin my reputation like this! Hitting me is one thing, but blackmail—"
Liam's heart softened at her tearful expression.
"Take your anger out on me," he snapped at Sophia. "Bullying Chloe just proves what a vicious shrew you are. I don't know what Grandfather ever saw in you. All that fake gentleness—"
SLAP.
The second blow sent him stumbling, his right cheek flaming red. Now they matched—one mark each.
He stared at her, dumbfounded. "You dare—"
"That settles our debts." Sophia calmly wiped her hands with a tissue. "May you two cheaters rot together."
Liam trembled with rage. "Sophia! Have you lost your mind?"