Chapter 3 My Hand Slipped

As the guests cheered playfully, Sophie felt Adrian's breath near her.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively closed her eyes. Her lashes trembled, betraying just how nervous she was.

A moment later, a warm, brief touch brushed her forehead.

She opened her eyes, caught off guard.

Before she could process it, the ceremony was over.

Later, at the wedding reception at the hotel, a man holding a wine glass approached the newlyweds.

"You're lucky to marry such a beauty, Adrian," he teased playfully.

He looked decent enough but had noticeable dark circles under his eyes.

Sophie instinctively recoiled, and Adrian moved quickly to place himself in front of her.

The man grinned. "No need to be nervous. I'm Rory Knight, your husband's half-brother. Feeling a bit sorry for you, actually. Did you know he got into a bad car accident as a kid? He won't even take off that mask for the wedding. I guess he's probably afraid you'd run away."

Sophie's brow furrowed at the jab.

She glanced at Adrian, expecting some reaction, but he stayed completely still, like it didn't even bother him.

No wonder people said Adrian was overlooked by his family. His own half-brother was openly mocking him on his wedding day.

But Adrian was her husband now. If he wasn't going to stand up for himself, she would.

Pushing past his protective arm, Sophie faced Rory with a stern look. "I don't pick a husband for his face. I pick him for his character. Looks don't matter if you can't even treat your own brother decently. That's the real ugliness."

Adrian's eyebrow lifted in surprise at his new wife's boldness.

Rory's face darkened for a second, but he quickly plastered on a fake smile. "Wow, you've got quite the tongue."

He lifted his wine glass. "Alright, fine. I apologize for my mistake earlier. Consider this an apology drink."

Sophie hesitated, unsure, then reached for it. But before she could touch the rim, Rory tilted the glass and sent red wine splashing across her chest.

The liquid soaked her dress, running in sticky streaks down her curves. He stared at her with that unapologetic, leering look.

"Ah!" Sophie gasped, pressing her hands to her drenched dress.

Rory clicked his tongue, slightly disappointed as she had covered herself so quickly.

"Whoops," he said, feigning innocence. "My hand slipped. Sorry about that."

He smirked toward Adrian, as if daring him to step in.

Adrian didn't waste a word. Calmly, he removed his jacket and draped it over Sophie's shoulders.

Rory scoffed and started to walk away, muttering, "Oops! How did my hand slip like that?"

However, a calm voice cut through the air behind him.

"If you can't even hold a glass, maybe you don't need that hand at all."

Before Rory could spin around, a sharp, bone-snapping crack rang out.

Pain shot up his arm as Adrian twisted his wrist with lethal precision. Cold sweat beaded on Rory's forehead, and his face went white.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he hissed.

But Adrian didn't pause for an answer.

In one smooth motion, he drove a kick into Rory's knee, and he collapsed with a groan, hitting the floor hard.

Adrian then snatched a nearby glass of wine and yanked Rory's head back by his hair.

"This one's from my wife," he said, tipping the wine over Rory's face. The red wine soaked his hair, ran down his clothes, and left him utterly humiliated.

The whole scene happened in an instant, leaving the banquet hall frozen in shocked silence.

Just at that moment, Mike, Adrian's father, stormed forward. "You idiot! What do you think you're doing to your brother?"

Adrian calmly adjusted his cuff, his movements unnervingly deliberate. "If he won't learn manners, then I'll teach him myself."

Before anyone could intervene, another swift kick landed on Rory's face. A tooth flew across the carpet, and Rory groaned, helpless.

"You've gone too far! Apologize right now, or I swear I'll kick you out of this family!" Mike bellowed, shaking with anger.

Adrian's eyes were icy, but a faint smirk curved his lips. "As you wish."

He grabbed Sophie's wrist and led her out, never once glancing back.

Mike's furious shouts echoed after them. "Cancel all his accounts! Reclaim every property in his name! When he hits rock bottom, he'll be crawling back begging!"

The hall fell silent again, and then murmurs spread among the shocked guests.

In the corner, Alice couldn't help but laugh.

Any jealousy she had felt toward Sophie evaporated instantly.

Adrian wasn't some untouchable figure after all. He was just a pampered rich kid who had lost it all and turned into a penniless, scarred wreck.

The idea of Sophie being tied to such a man thrilled Alice.

She took a slow sip of champagne and smirked. In her eyes, Sophie's suffering had only just begun.