But Capone had brought her here deliberately, intending to humiliate her and leave her isolated and helpless, turning her into the kind of woman who is simply a commodity to be exchanged and disposed of!
Sophia turned to open the door. No matter what, she couldn't stay here! She might not be a wealthy heiress, but she didn't want to become a prostitute!
Capone didn't stop her, just stood with his arms crossed, watching her.
As soon as Sophia opened the door, she saw two women standing outside. One was Penny, who looked slightly surprised to see her, and the other was a slightly older woman with fair, delicate beauty whom she didn't recognize.
"Here already?" Capone stepped forward and pulled Sophia back. She tried to struggle, but Capone pressed on a pressure point in her arm, instantly rendering it powerless.
"Capone, is there something urgent that you need to discuss today?" The unfamiliar woman spoke first.
"Yeah, this woman is to be given to you. Discipline her for a few days, teach her how to be the kind of woman men like! I have important guests coming in a couple of days, so make sure she doesn't embarrass me when she's presented!" Capone said.
Zoey glanced at Sophia, who was being held by Capone, glaring at them with a mix of wariness and anger. Her eyes were dark and bright, like a cat that had been mistreated.
"Alright, no problem!" Zoey smiled at both Capone and Sophia. Her smile was beautiful, with a gentle curve to her eyes that seemed soft and uncharacteristic of someone who worked in the brothels.
"Penny, you help out too. I trust both of you!" Capone added.
Penny concealed the emotions that shouldn't be there, nodded, and then approached Capone with concern. "The guest coming in a few days—it's Lucas, isn't it?"
Capone narrowed his eyes but didn't answer.
"You need to be careful. Lucas is ruthless and cunning. He's definitely coming prepared this time, and I'm afraid he might harm you…"
"Penny!" Zoey quickly grabbed her, aware that Capone didn't like women interfering in his matters. Penny was openly crossing boundaries, not noticing that he was already on the edge of anger.
She still held onto unrealistic hopes, didn't she? Zoey shook her head inwardly.
Capone looked at Zoey with approval and, satisfied, pushed the little cat towards her. "Shadow, I'm counting on you!" He always trusted her work.
"No! Let go of me! I don't want to stay here! Capone, stop! Don't leave me! You all… let go of me!" Sophia tried to stop Capone but couldn't even touch his clothing before Penny grabbed her arm. The grip was so strong that her arm shot with sharp pain, but she couldn't focus on it.
Capone was about to leave without even glancing at her, as if she were truly just an abandoned pet. But his departure was like pushing her into a pit of fire. Behind this opulent brothel were predatory dealings, and she had no idea what kind of torment she would endure during her three days here!
"Capone, you bastard! You'll get what's coming to you! I will never forgive you!"
Through tear-filled eyes, she saw Capone's steps falter slightly, but he still left without looking back.
"Let go of me! Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Sophia, in despair and anger, tried to break free from Penny but was slapped hard across the face.
Caught off guard, Sophia's head was jerked to the side by the blow, and her shoulder-length curly hair covered half of her face. She covered the pain and stood there stunned.
Sophia was caught off guard, and the slap made her head turn to the side. Her shoulder-length curls covered most of her face, and she covered the pain, stunned.
"Don't be ungrateful. You'll start learning the rules from now on to avoid embarrassing Capone and ROYAL when his guests arrive in three days!"
Penny adopted a superior stance, not seeing anything wrong with the slap she had delivered.
Sophia came to her senses, feeling both shame and anger. How could these people be like this, resorting to violence without a second thought?
Throughout her life, her parents had never taken out their frustrations on her. They had never used a cane or slapped her, let alone struck her across the face.
But these people... they completely disregarded her dignity, ignored that she was a person who could cry and feel pain. They hit her whenever they were displeased, which was intolerable!
Furious, Sophia turned and swung her hand at Penny.
Tears brimmed in her eyes and her mind was a bit blank, but her instinct told her not to let herself be bullied!
However, her hand was intercepted midway. Zoey stood calmly, holding the hand that Sophia had been unable to swing.
Sophia looked at her emotionless expression, her calm demeanor like a machine, and her tears fell uncontrollably.
She knew that compared to them, she wasn't ruthless enough, sharp enough, or fast enough.
"Take her to the tenth floor. Bath, measurements, and a change of clothes. Penny, you'll teach her the basics. If there are any issues, come to me. Most importantly, don't let her wander around. Keep a close eye on her!"
Zoey issued the orders succinctly. Penny smirked and began shoving Sophia out of the office. Capone had long since disappeared, but Joey was still at the corner. Seeing Zoey come out, he approached her. "Are you really going to leave that girl here?"
"What else can we do? Who can change Capone's mind? Don't worry, she'll be safe with me!"
"I know! But it's hard on you, having to watch over her while you're so busy. I'll go talk to the boss…"
"Don't bother!" Zoey locked the door and looked at him. His youthful, handsome features and bright eyes were so close, yet she felt her own age and fatigue. "Lucas and Capone's matters are not for us to interfere with! My affairs are not your concern either!"
When Capone returned to the villa, Cronus and Diana were already there and quickly gathered around him and Joey.
"I heard you sent that girl to ROYAL. Is that true?" Cronus asked directly, without beating around the bush.
"It's true. Shadow and Penny are keeping an eye on her and will train her properly," Capone replied, lighting a cigarette casually.
"What kind of international joke are you playing? What on earth are you thinking, really sending her to Lucas? Do you not know what kind of person Lucas is? Do you think she'll come back alive?" Cronus's voice rose sharply, and the atmosphere became tense.
"Capone, it's only natural for Sophia to want to go home. We all share responsibility for her escape. Don't punish her like this just because you're upset. ROYAL... she's not suited for it, and things could go horribly wrong!" Diana also grew anxious, trying to persuade him gently. Capone usually responded better to softer approaches.
Capone exhaled a puff of smoke and glanced at Cronus, "What, are you feeling sorry for her?"
Cronus's usual nonchalance was gone. He pressed his lips together and met Capone's gaze, "Whether I feel sorry or not doesn't matter. We both know what kind of place that is. A decent girl pushed into it will carry that label for life! Just make sure you don't end up regretting it like some people do!"
"What are you saying!" Joey, who had been silent, suddenly exploded like a cat with its tail stepped on. He pushed Cronus hard and raised his chin, as if preparing to throw a punch.
"What are you doing? Stop the arguing!"
Diana and Mandy each grabbed one of them, and Capone, having extinguished his cigarette, went upstairs without a word, leaving everyone behind.
The weather had turned cold, and night fell early. Standing on the room's balcony, Capone could see the scattered fishing lights on the sea and the neon lights from the port area on the opposite shore. This should be the busiest time for ROYAL, with Penny and Shadow likely swamped with social events and work. He wondered if they could find the time to deal with that girl.
Was she so stubborn that she refused to change clothes, put on makeup, or even comb her hair? Was she perhaps hungry or locked away, unable to move a step?
Capone was more aware than anyone of the methods used at ROYAL. Yet, without such measures, who could guarantee that she wouldn't try to escape again in the next few days?
Or even run into Lucas or him personally?
He didn't dwell on other details. This woman needed to learn a lesson and understand what it meant to obey.
He told himself not to care, but the more he tried not to, the more he speculated about her current situation. Cronus and Diana's words kept echoing in his mind.
Capone decided to close the door and draw the curtains, lying down on the bed to sleep.
The bed still carried her scent. Although they used the same shampoo and body wash, he could still detect her unique aroma.
The sweet, creamy fragrance lingered in the bed, stubbornly refusing to dissipate.
He wasn't sure how long he had slept when he suddenly woke up, sitting up in bed. In his dreams, Sophia had been crying out his name, begging him not to leave her and pleading not to let her stay there.
In the chilly autumn night, he was sweating.
He grabbed his phone, noting it was 10 PM. He could still make it to ROYAL to see her.
He changed into new clothes, stood up, and looked at the beige shag carpet. The scene of their intimacy from the previous day vividly replayed in his mind.
He gritted his teeth, threw the phone back onto the bed, and sat down, rubbing his face.