บท 7: Flashback 2.
She would never forget him, had fallen in love with him until he proved to her that she had no future to offer any man, that no man would want her once he knew the truth about her.
'I remember him,' she admitted.
'Such a nice young man.' Darius Mcklerin had given her a cold stare. 'He's now married with three small children, you know.'
She had become tense. 'Really?'
'Mm,' he said, nodding. 'He showed me a photo of his wife and children.'
'How nice,' she mumbled.
'I don't think you've seen your ex-fiancée in a long time, have you?' Darius had suggested it.
'I'm sure you know I haven't seen him since the night he called off our wedding!' she exclaimed, her eyes darkly flashing as he tormented her.
'That's right,' Darius said softly. 'Would you like me to put him in touch with Raphael?'
'That won't be necessary,' she had said, biting her lower lip. 'I'll see to it that Raphael accepts my refusal to marry him.'
Darius Mcklerin shook his head. 'I'm afraid that won't suffice.'
She had made a frown. 'Is there anything else you want from me?'
'I want you completely out of my son's life.' 'I recognize Raphael,' he sighed. 'As you mentioned, he can be quite stubborn. If he thinks there's even a remote chance you'll change your mind, he'll just keep asking.'
'And I'll continue to say no.' 'Please, Mr Mcklerin, don't make me lose him until I have to,' she had sat forward. Her velvet brown eyes had been filled with tears.
'I'm afraid it's the only way,' he had said remorselessly. 'And to ensure that there is no future reconciliation, I intend to give you 50,000 pounds—'
'I don't want your money!' she'd exclaimed.
'I know,' he had reassured. 'But Raphael wouldn't believe what a little mercenary you are without it.'
Sophia had struggled to keep her tears at bay.
'Are you sure you don't want to show him the file?' He'd given a shrug. 'Would you like me to?' 'No!'
'Then take the money,' Darius Mcklerin advised. 'That way, he'll never know the truth about you, does he?'
He'd beaten her, and he'd known it. She couldn't bear the thought of Raphael finding out the truth about her; she didn't want to see the shock in his eyes quickly followed by pity, and she didn't want to see the love he had for her slowly die. It was better to make a clean break, because his hatred for something he suspected she was guilty of would be an honest emotion.
'You won't let me live with him any longer?' She had tried one more time to appeal to his father, knowing in her heart that it was futile.
He'd shook his head. 'I can't take the chance that one day he'll be able to persuade you to change your mind.' You might just forget to mention what's in this file.'
'I'd never do that to Raphael!'
'No.' His gaze had swept over her pale face. 'I don't think you would. Keep singing, Sophia.' He'd taken his checkbook from his pocket and started writing. 'And steer clear of men like Raphael.'
As she stared numbly at the cheque in her hand, she felt as if her heart was being ripped out of her. But it would have been impossible to tell Raphael the truth. 'And when you see my son, make sure you give a convincing performance,' Darius Mcklerin had said as he stood up to re-lock the file in the wall-safe. I don't want him to have any doubts that it's all over between the two of you. 'Do you get it?' He'd bitten out.
Sophia's brown eyes were pained as she looked up at him. 'Why are you doing this to me?' she had asked, frowning. 'What have I ever done to cause you pain?'
'You aspired to be a member of this family, my dear,' he'd said harshly. 'And that is something I could not—and will not—allow.'
She'd never wanted to be a part of this man's family, and she'd always known she and Raphael couldn't get married. But, given enough time, she could have persuaded Raphael of this on her own, so Darius Mcklerin didn't have to make Raphael despise her completely. But she had suspected as soon as Raphael walked into the study that he was going to do just that.
'Remember, a convincing performance,' he had said softly to her before turning to face Raphael. 'Did you have a good time on your ride?' As he spoke to his son, his voice had softened.
'Yes,' Raphael had replied dismissively before showering and changing after his ride. 'You two appear to be very cozy.' His pupils had dilated inquisitively.
Sophia could understand his surprise at finding her alone with his father, knowing that she had always avoided such encounters in the past.
'Sophia and I were just conducting a small—business transaction,' Darius Mcklerin mumbled.
'Oh?' As Sophia stiffened, Raphael's eyes narrowed even more. 'What kind of business could you have with Sophia?' He appeared perplexed.
His father had risen. 'I just gave her 50,000 pounds to help further her career,' he had told his son cheerfully. 'She's decided that's far more appealing than staying with you.' Before leaving them alone together, he had placed a comforting hand on Raphael's shoulder.
The silence in the room after he left was deafening. It would have been easy to inform Raphael that his father was blackmailing her; he might even have known the combination to his father's safe, allowing her to show him the file Darius had on her. But in order to do all of that, she would have had to tell Raphael the truth about herself, which she hadn't been able to do.
'Sophia?' he'd asked harshly, disbelief written across his hard face.
She had taken a deep breath and stood up, her smile bright as she turned to face him, only her eyes betraying the desolation she had tried so hard to conceal from him. Oh, how she adored him! 'Raphael,' she had mockingly taunted.
'It's not true, is it?' he demanded angrily. 'My father was making some sick joke!'
It had been sick, but it had not been a joke! 'What part don't you believe, Raphael?' she had snidely asked. 'The bit about the money or getting out of your life?'
'Both!' he exclaimed angrily.
She had shrugged as she held up the check. 'I couldn't have one without the other,' she says.
Raphael appeared to have had all of his breath punched out of him. 'You accepted 50,000 pounds to get out of my life?' he had asked, his voice controlled.
'Yes,' she had simply replied, her gaze never averting as he staggered as if from a blow.
'Sophia, I can't believe this,' he said flatly. 'You can't be serious.' He'd been exhaling heavily.
'I can do a lot with 50,000 pounds, Raphael.'
He had laughed in disbelief. 'Is this what you meant last night when you said you needed to be free?' he had scorned. Did you plan this all along, get me to fall hopelessly in love with you, to propose, and then blackmail my father into giving you money not to accept?' he had rasped.
She could see that that was how it must appear in his eyes, and perhaps it was best to let him believe it. 'You have to admit it worked,' she sneered.
'I could have given you so much more as my wife!' he exclaimed.
'But this way I get the money without having to marry you,' she sneered.
He'd gone completely still, all the light from his eyes gone, sophieicism etched on his face. 'Get out of here,' he said coldly. 'Go back to London, pack your belongings, and leave my house before I return.' I'll never see your treacherous face again!'
Sophia had left, her heart broken. Never to let herself be loved again.
ของขวัญ
-- ได้รับของขวัญแล้ว สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง