Chapter 17

Julian's eyes were dark as midnight, his face shadowed by fury. He slowly walked toward Sophie and seized her chin in a tight grip. He sneered, "You didn't do it? Then who's in these photos?" With a sharp motion, he threw the stack of evidence in her face. "Don't even try to tell me these are fake. I know the difference between truth and lies. Sophie, you really are a master at pretending, aren't you? Who gave you the right to torment Ivy like this? Do you realize this is a crime? Do you even care that Ivy nearly died because of you?" His hand slid from her chin to her throat, tightening with every word. The air in Sophie's lungs grew thin. Her face turned scarlet, and her vision swam with black spots. She clawed at his arm, desperate for air, but Julian's grip never wavered. He watched her struggle, as if only her pain could ease the guilt gnawing at him over what Ivy had suffered. How many times had Ivy tried to tell him Sophie was the one who hurt her? He had never believed her.