If she pushed Sophia now, Derek would do exactly as Sophia threatened—he'd make her and Sean pay for it. For Sean's sake, Elena had no choice but to endure.
Sophia took one look at Elena's strained composure and burst into laughter.
"What's wrong? Weren't you all fire and brimstone a few days ago, threatening to kill me? And now look at you—meek as a quail, not daring to make a sound."
"Oh, Elena, my dear sister… is this really all you're capable of?"
Elena's fists clenched tight at her sides. She locked her eyes on Sophia, forcing her anger down. "Don't worry. I won't be here long enough to get in your way. I only need to see Father, then I'll leave."
"Oh, so you want to see Father? That makes it even easier for me to stop you. He's busy, you know. No time for you. And besides—he's furious with you right now."
"Sophia, what do you want?"
"What do I want?" Sophia feigned innocence, lowering her eyes and brushing her cheek as if wounded. "I just can't quite understand why you hit me out of nowhere the other day… You don't even know how hard you struck me. My face still hurts."
Elena drew in a deep breath. "Fine. If slapping me a few times will make you feel better, if it'll let me see Father, then do it. I won't fight back."
What were a few slaps compared to Sean's life? She'd give her very life for him—so what was a little humiliation?
Sophia's lips curved into a venomous smile. "Oh no, I couldn't possibly lay a hand on my sister. What would people think of me if they heard? Besides… my hand might hurt."
Smack!
A sharp crack split the air.
Elena's palm had landed hard against her own cheek. "Will this do?"
"One isn't enough," Sophia sneered.
Teeth gritted, Elena struck herself again. The blow made her head spin, stars bursting behind her eyes. Her ears rang, and the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth.
Still, she kept slapping herself, harder and harder. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips, but she didn't stop.
Sophia's body thrummed with savage delight. Every fiber of her being screamed with satisfaction. Elena, seeing you like this—it's glorious. You used to be the proud Sung heiress, looking down on me and my mother. But now? Your pride, your dignity—they're beneath my feet.
And yet… something still felt lacking. Elena's back remained too straight, her expression too stubborn, and Sophia's triumph felt incomplete. "Wait. Why aren't you crying? Elena, I've never seen you cry. I want to. Cry for me, won't you?"
Blood stained Elena's lips as she spoke, voice icy and flat. "Cry? I don't know how."
It wasn't that she couldn't cry—she simply refused to. Not in the Sung house. Never in front of Sophia.
"Tch, how unsatisfying."
Sophia's face twisted with hatred. "Then keep hitting yourself. Keep going until you cry. If you cry, I'll let you see Father. If not… I'll make sure you never do."
"I told you—I won't."
"Big Sister…"
Suddenly Elena's wrist was caught. Her pupils widened as Sophia's tear-brimmed eyes gazed up at her, a pitiful voice choking out, "Why are you hurting yourself?"
And then Elena understood.
She turned her head just as Derek entered the living room, his face thunderous. "What's going on here?"
Elena yanked her hand free and rushed toward him. "Dad, please, I need you to—"
"Daddy!"
Sophia cut her off, flinging herself into Derek's arms, tears streaming down her face. "You're finally back! I was so scared…"
"Just now, the moment Elena saw me, she went crazy—she started hitting herself over and over. I didn't know what to do, the servants were all asleep, I was terrified, Daddy. Do you think she's sick?"
"Dad, that's not what—" Elena tried to explain.
But Derek's eyes had already softened with pity for Sophia. When he turned to Elena—her face swollen and bleeding—his gaze hardened with disgust.
"Have you caused enough trouble?" he barked, cutting her off.
"You expect me to believe your sister did this to you? That Mingzhu struck you?" His frown deepened. "Using such despicable tricks in this house—Elena, you're just as hateful as your mother."
The mention of her mother hit Elena like a whip. She staggered back a step, eyes blazing with hatred. "You have no right to say her name. You're nothing but a filthy disgrace."
"Elena!" Derek raised his hand high.
She lifted her chin, defiant. "Go ahead. Hit me. Kill me. Then you and those shameless women can enjoy your happy little life forever!"
"Daddy, no!" Sophia clung to his arm, sobbing prettily. "Please don't hit her. She's just been upset lately."
But her eyes glittered with triumph. Pure, mocking triumph.
"I told you before," Derek snapped, glaring at Sophia, "never defend this wretch again!"
Elena's chest burned with rage so fierce she could hardly breathe. She wanted to tear Derek apart, to shred Sophia into pieces.
But then she thought of Sean.
Her eyes slid shut, forcing the fire down. When she opened them again, her expression was cool, detached—yet something inside her had shifted.
She met Derek's furious stare without flinching. Her voice came calm, steady, and cold.
"Dad, I didn't come back to fight. I came for the banquet invitation."
The sudden change in subject caught him off guard. "What did you say?"
"I want the invitation," Elena repeated flatly.
Sophia blinked innocently. "Sister, why do you need that? It's just a banquet… though I did hear the eldest son of the Sterling family will be there. Father's been hoping to work with them for ages. If you take the invitation away…"