Sophia refused to back down, holding him tightly, her hands wrapped around his neck before gradually sliding down to his waist. Her fingers slipped under the hem of his shirt, finding the burning heat of his firm skin, teasingly caressing him.
She could feel the change in his body, hard and pulsating with life. Even through the fabric, it seemed she could feel his heartbeat.
Her throat was dry, her body trembling. Inside, a voice screamed at her to stop, to pull away, but she continued, pushing herself to be bolder, to indulge in this reckless seduction.
Capone finally let go of her, both of them breathing heavily, completely disoriented. The defiant look in Sophia's eyes had returned, no longer filled with seductive allure—it had all been an act.
Apparently, her two days here had proven quite effective.
But Capone felt like the woman who had kissed him just now was a complete stranger—so fiery, so passionate, with no real emotion or hesitation. This was not the Sophia Díaz he knew.
"Come back with me!" he demanded, pulling her up.
"No! I'm not going back with you!" she shot back.
Capone turned to look at her. "What, you can't let go? To escape me, you'll be with Cronus, with Lucas? You'll sell yourself out?"
"That's right, and it's all thanks to you!" Her eyes welled with tears, and she seemed to return to that night in the glass chamber—small, helpless, like a lost animal that could never find its way home.
She had steeled her heart against him.
Capone remained silent for a long time before finally letting go of her hand. With a cold voice, he spat out two words: "You're cheap!" Then, without looking back, he walked away.
"Did he leave?"
When Sophia returned to the private room, Cronus was still there, and most of the wine on the table had been consumed.
"Yes!"
Sophia's legs were so weak they could barely support her weight, and she sank into the sofa, feeling exhausted.
"I told you he would come to pick you up. Are you sure you don't want to go back with him?"
Sophia shook her head, her voice hollow. "I don't want to live like this forever! If I go back with him now, and in a few days he gets bored again and decides to punish me, will he just do it all over again and throw me back here, leaving me at the mercy of anyone? I'd rather take the risk."
Cronus sat down beside her. "Lucas… isn't as simple as you think. I'm afraid you might end up in trouble!"
"You said… he has a fiancée? The daughter of the Donkin family, and her father is still alive, so she needs to show absolute loyalty! Oh."
Cronus smiled slightly. "You're inexperienced and don't know much about men or human nature."
Sophia lowered her gaze, her emotions hidden. Cronus wiped the smile from his face, patted her on the head, and said, "Get some rest. We'll all be there tomorrow, and we won't let Lucas bully you. Remember not to confront Penny face-to-face; if you can endure, then do. After tomorrow, you won't be staying here, and she won't be able to do anything to you!"
"She's Capone's woman, and she'd love to tear me to pieces!" She murmured, rubbing the tassels on her belt.
"It's all in the past now. She should know her limits. Don't dwell on it too much!"
"Mm!" Sophia lifted her head. "Thank you for helping me these past few days. Aren't you afraid of Capone…"
"Don't think about it too much. Take care of yourself! I have to go now. I have an early shift tomorrow!"
His eyes were soft, as if they might tear up, and his tall figure moved toward the door, blending into the dim light of the room.
"Dr. Cronus!" Sophia called out to him, her earlier pretense of intimacy gone.
He turned around. "Is there something else?"
"No… Can you tell me, who do you think I resemble?"
Cronus smiled, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. "I told you not to think too much about it. Does my helping you have to be because you resemble someone? I'm a normal man, and I can like beautiful and lovely girls. Why can't you believe that it's because I admire and like you that I'm helping you? If I were just an ordinary doctor, I would have taken you away a long time ago!"
Sophia's heart felt like it had been stung by a bee—numb at first, then slowly realizing the pain. Her palms were damp with sweat.
How could Cronus possibly like her?
How could he like her?
What about Diana? She had liked him for so many years and tried so hard to get close to him. Weren't they supposed to be together?
Sophia's mind was a mess, tangled up in confusion. But she didn't have the energy to worry about others. Tomorrow, she had to deal with not only Capone but also Lucas.
What kind of man was this legendary, complex, and ruthless figure? Would Capone really hand her over to him completely? How would he treat her… It was all unknown.
She should be scared, but all she felt was pain. The kiss from earlier, his harsh words, had burned her like a branding iron…
Sophia woke up very early. She had hardly slept peacefully at ROYAL, always wishing for the day to pass quickly while dreading the arrival of a new one.
Outside the window, there was only a faint light. She took some time to dress and apply light makeup before heading to the Jade Hall on the second floor. Penny, in a dark professional outfit, stood at the door, her night-time charm replaced by a demeanor of efficiency and coldness.
"The pianist fell ill suddenly today. Since you play the piano, could you step in temporarily?"
She led Sophia into the lavish, palace-like small hall. The marble floor was so polished it was reflective, and a white piano stood in the center. It was breakfast time, and the guests at the hotel were dining here. ROYAL's cuisine was highly refined, and the brunch buffet was renowned at the port. The place was bustling, but the standards remained high, with live music played by a pianist.
Sophia wasn't sure how much Penny knew about her. She could indeed play the piano. The Diaz family mansion still had a classical piano, and she had studied piano for ten years. It seemed to be a compulsory accomplishment for wealthy young ladies, but her preference for cake and food ultimately kept her away from the world of art.
She remembered Cronus's words from last night and did not confront Penny, nor did she ask any more questions. She sat on the piano bench and began playing a Bandari piece with a wooden demeanor.
The piano reminded her of her home miles away. Even though the audience had changed, she didn't mind.
She felt the cold gaze on her but didn't turn to look.
"Is it her?" The man in the corner sipped his black coffee and asked lightly.
"Yes, it's her!" Penny in her black and white attire answered respectfully.
"Indeed, she has skilled hands, making cakes and playing the piano. I wonder if she excels in anything else!" The man chuckled lightly, with a hint of frivolity. "So Capone likes this delicate, pampered lady? It's interesting. How could he bear to share her with others?"
"She doesn't understand propriety, spoiled and used to her way, not caring for a man's dignity or preferences! Capone might have been intrigued at first, but his patience wore thin quickly. She still put on airs, and Capone gave up entirely!"
Penny spoke with certainty. What kind of man was Capone? He had personally come to ROYAL to find Sophia Diaz last night but left quickly, his cold and furious expression confirming that he had completely given up on her.
For someone he didn't care about, he would not be merciful. There was no need to be polite with Sophia Diaz.
The man sitting on the sofa seemed to have sensed Penny's thoughts. He smiled slightly, stood up, and walked toward the piano, sitting down naturally on the bench to join the performance.
Sophia was surprised and turned her face to look at him. He didn't look up, lost in his own world as he played.
Sophia knew that the people coming here must have some background. With Penny nowhere to be seen, she couldn't afford to offend the guests, so she continued playing.
The man's technique was more proficient than hers, and he was more focused. By the end of the piece, she found herself struggling to keep up with his pace, making several mistakes.
"It's been a while since I last came. I thought ROYAL was continuously improving, but I didn't expect such a beautiful pianist to be all show and no substance!"
Sophia was taken aback. "No, I'm not…"
"Wrong. You deserve punishment, don't you think?"
The man's dark eyes were like a bottomless well, his imposing presence leaving no room for disagreement. Sophia didn't have time to explain before he ordered, "Have your manager bring you to my room. She knows what to do."
Sophia was brought to the hotel's presidential suite by Penny, who seemed to think it was only natural. When the heavy wooden door was pushed open, Sophia saw the man from earlier standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, smoking. A chill slowly crept up her spine.
"Apologize to Lucas!" Penny's voice carried a note of reproach.
Sophia's mind was buzzing.
This person… is Lucas, Lucas?