C11 He deserved it

Sofia's POV

The room was thick with tension, Holmes's towering figure casting a shadow over Alex, who was slumped on the floor clutching his face. Blood trickled from his split lip where my father’s fist had connected, with his father's lashes.

"I had her marry you against her will," Holmes spat, his voice trembling with fury, "and I’ll be damned if you treat her like a slave you bought off the market."

Alex attempted to rise, his lips curling in defiance, but Holmes raised his hand again, making him freeze. "You’re a disgrace, Alex! Hitting a woman—your wife, no less! You’ve tarnished the Holmes name."

Holmes reached for the cane he rarely used, holding it like a lash. The hardwood made a sharp sound as it struck Alex’s shoulder, forcing him back down. "You think you’re invincible because you bear my name? Let me remind you who built this empire!"

"Father—" Alex tried, his voice hoarse.

"Silence!" Holmes roared, the walls of the house seeming to tremble with the force of his anger. He turned to his assistant, who stood silently in the corner, tablet in hand. "Have twenty percent of Alex’s shares in the company be split into two," The assistant raised an eyebrow but nodded, his fingers flying over the screen.

"Ten percent will go to his wife, Sofia, the one he doesn't seem to know how to respect," Holmes declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Alex’s head snapped up, his eyes blazing with disbelief. "You can’t—"

"Try me, Alex," Holmes growled, the words cutting through the air like a blade.

"And the other ten percent," Holmes continued, ignoring his son’s outburst, "will go to Zack. At least someone in this family knows how to act like a man."

Zack, who had been standing silently by the door, stiffened. "Dad, that’s not necessary—"

"It’s not up for discussion," Holmes cut him off, his gaze softening slightly.

Alex let out a bitter laugh, his voice dripping with venom. "This is ridiculous. You’re rewarding her? A woman who—"

Holmes struck him again with his cane, silencing him instantly. "Don’t make me regret allowing you to remain in this house, Alex. This is your final warning."

"And if any information else reaches me again, about you hitting or raising your hands against her, I promise you, you'll have yourself to blame,"

The assistant’s voice broke the heavy silence. "The changes will be finalized by tomorrow morning, sir." The assistant said, as he walked out of the room together with Holmes.

Alex's face turned pale, his hand curling into fists at his sides but he said nothing, the humiliation was clear in his eyes as he glared at the floor, powerless to argue.

The room was eeringly silent as Holmes walled out of the room.

"Miss Sofia, I think it'll be best for you to head to your room," Rae said, and I nodded staring at Alex's pitiful and bloodied figure on the floor.

He deserved it, there was nothing to pity him for, I muttered to myself as I walked away with Rae to my room.

"The broken door has been taken care of," Rae explained, walking me into an already cleared room.

"What'd you want to eat, I'm sure you must be starving by now," She asked.

"What is available?" "Everything you want Miss Sofia, the villa has a private chef amd whatever you're craving, I'm sure it's available,"

"Just anything light then, I'm too overwhelmed by the traumatic day events.

"I'll be back as soon as possible," She said, bowing before leaving the room.

The door clicked close, leaving me to my damning intrusive thoughts...of Zack.

The way he wrapped his hands around me, to shield me from his brother's murderous glare replayed repeatedly.

"This isn't supposed to be happening, however bad Alex might be, I am not going to have an affair with his brother," I muttered, shaking Zack's thought off my head.

I stood up, pacing around my room and stepped closer to the window pane. My eyes darted back and forth the overview of the whole mansion and just as I was about to turn back, my eyes caught Zack, stomping angrily with his bloodied shirt and body.

No one is dared to look up at him, the guard's all bowed as he walked away.

"Miss Sofia," Rae called, as she stepped into my room, pulling my attention away from the window.

"Your meal is here, I specifically asked the chef for his recommendation and told him that It was the mistress of the house who was going to eat it," She explained, and I nodded, as I walked back to the bed.

"I'll set the table for you," "No, you don't have to, I'll Just have the meals on the bed," I said, watching her face widen in surprise.

"In the mean time, I need you to have the chauffeur ready anytime soon, I'll take a bath and when I'm done, he's going to drive me to my father's house, I have some old things to pick up,"

"Um, Mrs Sofia, I don't think Mr Alex would like it if you leave the Mansion without his permission..."

"I need you to understand that I'm not tied to or obliged to follow his orders," I retorted.

"I was just looking out for you Miss Sofia, Mr Alex—I mean your husband seemed to like his ego fed and I just thought that for your safety, and to prevent situations that happened today from happening again, I think it's best to look

out for yourself, I'm so sorry if it annoys you," she said, bowing curtly.

"No it's fine, send a message to one of the men who go around with him, and ask him to inform Alex that I’ll be visiting my father. If he has any issues with it, he can discuss them with me directly."

"Yes Miss Sofia, and I'll also be apologizing beforehand but Mr Holmes has given strict orders that you be called by the family's last name," She said and I nodded wordlessly, as I continued munching on my food.