The door burst open—and in that instant, Richard pulled Sophie into his arms. She’d been pinned against the desk, clothes half undone, but now she was shielded against him.

The intimate mood in the study shattered. Richard’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sharpening into ice‑cold daggers aimed straight at Nova.

He showed no panic at being caught. Calmly, he set down the calligraphy brush and rested a steadying hand behind a flustered Sophie.

Watching Sophie, emboldened by his touch, bravely meet her eyes, Nova felt like the villain intruding on a pair of lovebirds.

She raised an eyebrow, her voice cold and dripping with scorn.

“There aren’t any condoms in the study. Maybe pick a different spot next time? Try not to breed in my house.”

Sophie’s eyes reddened instantly. Richard’s expression darkened, every trace of gentleness toward Nova gone.

“That was uncalled for, Nova. Apologize to Sophie.”

*Uncalled for.* Again.

When Sophie had shattered the porcelain vase her father Harold loved most, and Nova had told her to get out—that was uncalled for.

When Sophie had poured coffee over her laptop, drowning three days and nights of unsaved work, and Nova had demanded she get it fixed—that, too, was uncalled for.

Sophie was all incompetence and calculated sweetness, but the moment her eyes welled up, everything became Nova’s fault.

She wouldn’t fuel their romance any longer. Nova shot Richard a frigid glance.

“I’m attending the partners’ dinner tonight.”

Their marriage had no affection in it. But if she proved valuable enough, even Henry would show her some regard.

Richard frowned, looking surprised. “I never bring women to business dinners—”

“Mr Richard, I’ve never seen how big negotiations work,” Sophie’s soft, fragile voice cut in.

Richard hesitated only a second before nodding. “Alright.”

Nova’s eyelashes fluttered. She fought back the sting of tears, turned, and left.

Of course. The moment Sophie spoke, every rule Richard set for Nova turned to dust.

It didn’t matter.

Once she uncovered the truth, she’d send them both straight to hell.

Night fell. Stepping from the villa, Nova saw Richard already seated in the car—with Sophie pressed intimately close beside him.

Without a word, Nova expressionlessly took the passenger seat.

Richard was taken aback. Before, she would have fought to sit next to him. If Sophie was there, she’d have thrown a fit to make her move.

What was different today?

Sophie’s soft hand slipped into his, interrupting his thoughts.

Throughout the drive, only their hushed conversation filled the car.

The car stopped at The Imperial Club. Nova had barely stepped out and found her footing when Sophie seized her right hand.

“Miss, are you upset because you’re remembering last time, when Mr Richard made you walk back in the rain? He didn’t mean it—he was just so worried because I was sick.”

“This is all my fault. If you need to blame someone, blame me. Punish me, if it helps.”

Nova shook her off instantly, wiping the spot Sophie had touched.

“You think you’re worthy of my punishment?”

Sophie swayed, collapsing into Richard’s arms, her head bowed to hide her expression.

Richard’s brow furrowed sharply, his gaze toward Nova turning colder by the second.

Nova had no patience for their melodrama. She strode directly into the private dining room.

Over the past decade, she had been steadily stripped of authority within the Nova Group. Before marrying into the Hunt family, she needed enough capital and projects to avoid being at a disadvantage.

The moment she entered, everyone offered polite, practiced smiles. The partners seated here were all shrewd operators.

But everyone knew who really held the reins at the Nova Group now. They offered Nova two rounds of toasts—and when Richard didn’t refuse on her behalf, his stance was clear.

So, round after round of strong liquor was forced into her hands.

The harsh spirits burned down to her stomach, bringing tears to her eyes with the first sip.

The partners edged closer. Their leering jokes, laced with foul breath, and the hands that ‘accidentally’ brushed her leg filled Nova with utter revulsion.

But she couldn’t even free a hand to push away the endless stream of alcohol, powerless to escape.

“Enough!”

Nova finally caught her breath, collapsing weakly to the floor.

When she lifted her gaze, what she saw struck her like a blow: Richard shielding Sophie, his expression torn between fury and concern.

“Who said you could force a drink on her!”

“It was just one sip. Even Miss Nova drank. What’s the harm in letting the secretary’s daughter have a taste?”

The business partner—who had always looked down on Richard for being merely a foster son—darkened visibly at the rebuke.

A sharp twist pierced Nova’s heart as she watched Richard protect Sophie so completely.

Nova herself had been forced to drink an entire bottle, groped and jeered at by the crowd—and Richard had turned a blind eye.

Yet when the partner offered Sophie a single sip, Richard had overturned the table without a second thought, the project be damned.

The tense standoff broke only when the partner’s phone rang. He answered, and his face went pale.

“My sincerest apologies, Miss Sophie. I had no idea you were Mr. Richard’s… ah, special friend. To make it up to you, we’ll concede an extra point of profit on this deal.”

He bowed his head, though his eyes darted toward Richard behind him.

As the partner bowed deeply before her, Sophie shot Nova a triumphant glance, then feigned helplessness.

“Miss Nova has worked so hard on this project. It should go to her. I don’t know the first thing about business—how could I possibly handle such a major venture?”

With the lead partner backing down, the assistants around them quickly chimed in.

“Miss Sophie, you’re truly blessed. Just enjoy the rewards—we’ll deliver the dividends straight to your residence.”

“Mr. Richard cares for you so much. Soon enough we’ll be calling you Mrs. Richard, I’m sure. No one would dare look down on you then.”

The adoration in Richard’s eyes was a poisoned barb.

The deeper it sank, the faster the venom spread—and tearing it out would take flesh with it.

Every effort Nova had made, every humiliation she’d endured, now felt like a cruel, elaborate joke.

The main project was handed to Sophie, practically begging for her to accept. The remaining smaller deals were bundled together and tossed to Nova like free souvenirs.

*Mr. Richard?*

*Richard, you really know how to love someone.*

Nova forced her alcohol-heavy limbs to move, pushing herself up to leave the VIP lounge.

But Sophie stepped out from the crowd and called after her.

“Miss Nova, even though Mr. Richard doesn’t want me sharing the main project with outsiders… since you want it so badly, how about I let you have the smaller ones?”

Her tone dripped with condescension, eyes gleaming, smile radiant.

Nova’s head throbbed violently. She had no energy left for this charade. “Contracts won by clinging to a man? I find them disgusting.”

Sophie’s eyes welled up as she turned to Richard. “Is that true, Mr. Richard? Do you think I’m disgusting too?”

Richard shot Nova a venomous look before lowering his head, his voice softening into a tenderness she’d never heard.

“You’re innocent and lovely. How could anyone dislike you? I adore you.”

“Besides…”

The moment his burning gaze left Sophie, it frosted over. A mocking smile touched his lips.

“The truly low ones are those who sell themselves for a project, drinking with other men. Isn’t that right?”

*He was the one who let them touch me!*

Nova bit down hard on the inside of her cheek until the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth. A bitter laugh escaped her.

She’d loved the wrong man. Richard was a block of ice no amount of warmth could melt.

As Nova pushed the door open, a wave of scorching heat slammed into her.

“Fire! Get out! Now!”

Panicked shouts erupted. Thick black smoke billowed upward; the room descended into chaos as everyone scrambled for the exit.

Nova barely dodged a burning beam crashing down. Dense smoke stung her eyes, blinding her.

When she finally spotted the exit, searing pain exploded across her back.

Richard shoved her aside without a glance, sweeping Sophie into his arms as he bolted outside.

“Richard…”

Flames consumed his retreating figure. In the heart of the inferno, she saw him again—the day her father brought him home, holding her tightly:

“No matter what happens, I’ll always protect Nova! She’s the most important person to me!”

Timbers crackled, turned to ash, and snapped. The Royal Palace Restaurant gave way entirely.

With a deafening roar, in the heart of the blazing furnace, Nova plunged into darkness.

A sharp, stabbing pain dragged Nova from the darkness.

The acrid sting of disinfectant filled her nose. She had barely twitched her right leg when a nurse’s voice snapped out, “Don’t move! The donor skin graft just finished. Your wound isn’t healed yet!”

“…What?!”

But before the nurse could explain, another call bell rang, pulling her away. Alone in the sterile room, Nova was left with shock and agony twisting inside her.

The door stood ajar. From the hallway, hushed, gossiping whispers slithered in.

“The man in the next room is so tall and handsome! He’s been doting on his girlfriend all night—so attentive.”

“Right? His girlfriend just burned the soles of her feet a little, and he gave her the most delicate skin from his own sister’s inner thigh. Now that’s true love!”

Nova wished she could black out again. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Just then, the door swung open. Richard walked in. Seeing the cold sweat of pain on her forehead, a flicker of something rare—guilt, perhaps—crossed his face.

“There was a fire yesterday,” he said, his voice flat. “You and Sophie were both burned. Your leg was severe. Hers was just her foot.”

He paused, then added coolly, “You’ll have scars anyway. What’s one more? So I had a little taken for Sophie.”

Nova stared, disbelief freezing her in place. She couldn’t fathom the sheer audacity.

“Richard. How dare you take my skin for someone else without even asking me?”

“I know you’re kind,” Richard said, his tone softening into placation. “You’re the Nova heiress. You have access to countless private doctors and medicines worth millions. You can afford the best care. Sophie… she doesn’t have any of that—”

“What does that have to do with me?!”

The vase on the bedside table flew past Richard, smashing against the wall behind him. The IV needle tore from the back of her hand, ballooning the skin and welling with blood.

Richard froze. He looked at the tears she refused to let fall, and a strange discomfort twisted in his gut.

“Stop this,” he said, his voice tight. “Haven’t you always complained I never have time for you? I’ll take care of you properly while you recover.”

A cold, bitter laugh escaped Nova. A tear finally fell, splashing onto the thick bandages wrapping her thigh.

“Isn’t this just because you know I loved you?” Her voice was low, venomous. “Know your place, Richard.”

She sat upright in the bed, sunlight outlining her rigid silhouette. “You’re just a stray my father picked up to look after me. What right do you have to say such things?”

For years, she had been the one forbidding anyone from looking down on him. This was the first time she had ripped open their bloody past and used her status to crush him.

“You let them force-feed me drinks and grope me. You left me alone to burn in that fire. And now you take my skin without my consent.”

Her gaze hardened. “Richard. By family law, how many strikes do you deserve?”

Richard stared, stunned. His fists clenched, knuckles cracking with a sickening sound.

He took one step back. Then, with spine-straight precision, he knelt on the floor before her.

“…Three.”

His kneeling was decisive, yet it felt like a physical weight crashing onto Nova’s chest, stealing her breath.

Richard was so much more than just a foster son.

The formidable Mr Richard, for Sophie’s sake, was willing to kneel—to sacrifice his dignity and accept punishment.

All her misplaced love and festering hate condensed into her bleeding right hand. Nova raised it and brought it down in a vicious slap—

“Ah!”