Chapter 360

"It's like my pet cat. When it's hungry, it rubs against me and acts cute—I know it's time to feed it."

Sophia Laurent's voice turned icy. "But if that cat dares to raise its claws to scratch me, do you still think it's a good cat?"

Dominic Alpinus's face paled instantly. "Sophia, you've got it all wrong... It was Victor who—"

"What he said doesn't matter." A cold smirk played on her lips. "What matters is you used me to get close to Mr. Merovingian, didn't you? Or was that also something Victor taught you? What an excellent manager he is."

"That's not true!" Dominic protested desperately. "I was just nervous about the event and wanted you there with me—"

"Nervous?" She arched a brow. "You seemed perfectly at ease at the dinner table, clinking glasses with those investors. Not a trace of nerves in sight."

He fell silent.

"Enough." Sophia turned to leave. "From now on, we're strangers."

Suddenly—

"Trying to dump me?" A man's voice, cold as steel, cut through the air. "Do you really think it's that easy?"

Sophia turned back to see the face that once radiated sunshine now twisted with malice, his eyes brimming with naked greed.

"Three million. Plus the lead role in that blockbuster film. Then I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

Sophia chuckled softly, stepping closer until she stood right before him. "Blackmailing me?"

"Call it whatever you want."

"Do you even deserve that much?" Her gaze was pure disdain.

"What about our private videos? Are those enough to qualify?"

Instead of panicking, Sophia's smile only widened. "Go ahead and leak them. I couldn't care less."

"You—" Dominic's eyes bulged.

"Is there anything about my face or body to be ashamed of? But you—" She leaned in, her breath brushing his ear. "Once those videos go public, how long do you think your sugar daddies' dirty secrets will stay hidden?"

"I'm not in the entertainment industry. But you? How badly do you want your career to survive?"

Each word struck like a blade.

His expression shifted rapidly before morphing back into that pitiful, puppy-eyed look. "Sophia, I was wrong. Please forgive me..."

She reached up and patted his cheek, her eyes glacial. "When I liked you, I gave you resources, connections, affection. Now that I don't, you're nothing but trash."

"Know your place. Don't overestimate your worth."

"To put it nicely, you were my little boyfriend. To put it bluntly? Just a pet cat I kept around."

"And if a cat dares to scratch its owner—" She enunciated each syllable slowly. "Do you know what happens next?"

"Broken. Claws. Pulled. Teeth."

With every word, his face grew paler.

By the end, he was trembling violently, his shirt soaked with sweat.

So this was how heiresses of wealthy families operated—not a single one could be fooled.

Sophia watched his reaction with satisfaction.

As she turned to leave, her stilettos clicked sharply against the floor.

In the shadows, a cigarette burned down to its filter.

Julian Roscente crushed the ember underfoot, his gaze following that slender, retreating figure.

Tsk. Ruthless.

Even more decisive than he was when dumping women.

And yet—

Damnably alluring.