Addicted After Marriage: Marrying My Abstinent Boss-Chapter 206: Let Him Hurt to Death!

Sophia had no idea how she got through the entire day.

The people in the manor were extra cautious in their speech and actions.

Sophia couldn’t be bothered to pay attention; she locked herself in her room and didn’t step outside except for meals.

After nine in the evening, Zoe Walsh knocked on the door and brought her favorite lotus seed soup.

Sophia sat in the living room, eating without tasting the food.

"Child..." Zoe came over, probably wanting to say something to her.

"Mom," Sophia interrupted her, "It’s getting late, have an early rest."

Zoe had no intention of leaving; she reached out and held Sophia’s hand, speaking sincerely, "I know you’re feeling wronged, and I can’t make it better for you. Before you got together with Zane, we were like sisters, and now we are mother and daughter-in-law. I really like you."

"Even if Zane did something he shouldn’t have done, you and the child are innocent. I want to tell you, don’t be stubborn. If he isn’t the right one for you, I’ll find you someone better."

"The Sterling Family is not ungrateful and will not allow such things to happen. That woman will never enter our family!"

Sophia’s tears fell into the bowl.

Introduce her to someone better?

This mother-in-law is really something.

Zoe said a lot more, and Sophia listened quietly without expressing any opinion.

She really didn’t know what to do herself.

After a long time, she washed her swollen face and lay back on the bed.

The night was still very long.

Zane didn’t come back.

He was kneeling in the Sterling Family’s ancestral hall, shirtless, with bloody whip marks all over his back.

He kept repeating one sentence, "I didn’t do anything to betray Sophia."

Eugene Sterling held the small but heavy whip. He knew he couldn’t continue to beat him; it would break his heart.

After all, he was his own son. Although frustrated with him for failing to meet expectations, he wished to drive away those bad influences from him, but beating him to death wasn’t a good solution.

Leave some strength for Sophia to beat him with.

"How is the matter over there being handled?" Grandpa Sterling asked.

"Still, no result yet."

Zane replied with a choked voice, gritting his teeth against the burning pain in his back.

The weather was hot. Although the air-conditioning was on in the ancestral hall, the restraint he exercised during the beating left him sweating profusely.

Sweat soaked into the wounds, like salt sprinkled on them, it was agony beyond words.

"You really didn’t sleep with that woman?" Grandpa Sterling asked with a stern face.

Zane laughed, "Minus the time for undressing, it was less than half an hour. Your grandson’s prowess is inherited from you. That short time isn’t even enough to fill the gap between my teeth."

Eugene smacked his lips but said nothing; it seemed that might be true.

Grandpa Sterling sneered, "Who knows, maybe the good traits weren’t inherited."

"..." Eugene glanced at Grandpa Sterling.

Who’s he criticizing?

"Now that the matter is laid out, it can’t just pass like this. Don’t think that getting beaten tonight will settle it. I’m telling you, if Sophia remains upset about this, you won’t have an easy time!" He paused, "She’s carrying a child of the Sterling Family. If you don’t shape up, I can find someone else to care for."

Zane didn’t speak.

Even if Grandpa Sterling hadn’t said it, he knew what he needed to do himself.

Sophia is his woman; how could he let her be upset?

She’s carrying his child; how could he not care!

He clenched his fists and nodded, "Grandson understands."

"I’ve already sent someone to intervene abroad. Let Ethan Sinclair handle the contact," Eugene’s voice softened.

Looking at his son’s back covered with wounds, he couldn’t bear to look directly.

Well, let this be a lesson!

Shortly afterward, only Zane was left in the ancestral hall.

He propped himself up with his hands on the ground, slowly getting up. His knees were stiff and sore, making it hard to stand up straight. Adding to the injuries on his back, he hunched over, barely supporting himself with a nearby chair to stand.

He gingerly sat on the chair.

After a long while, he finally caught his breath.

"Young Master." The butler knocked on the open door.

Zane’s darkened eyes looked at him.

"The old master asked me to bring a shirt for you," the butler didn’t dare to step in.

"Come in," Zane said.

The butler brought in a black shirt, quietly saying, "I wanted to bring you some ointment, but the old master said let you hurt to death. However, he’s afraid you’ll scare the young madam, so you must wear clothes and not take them off."

Zane took the black shirt from the butler.

Truly a family bond!

However, upon taking the shirt, the butler discreetly passed a small bottle into his hand.

Zane smirked.

"Let it hurt to death."

The butler tugged at his lips, seeing this robust man’s back was a mass of flesh and wounds, his brow knitted tightly.

Such viciousness!

The thick muscles seemed about to rip apart.

Whip marks crisscrossed his back. How painful must that be!

The butler had stood by the entrance; aside from speech, he hadn’t heard even a groan from Zane.

One daring to hit! One daring to endure! And one daring to watch!

Each lash was a bloody opening scene.

"Young Master, shall I help you treat it?" The butler couldn’t bear watching.

Zane’s gaze deepened, "No need."

With that, he handed the small bottle back to the butler.

"This..." The butler was puzzled.

In such weather, with these wounds, leaving it untreated would likely lead to infection.

"I deserve to be beaten."

He picked up the shirt, enduring the severe pain, carefully putting it on.

No matter how soft the shirt, rubbing against his wounds still hurt, not much better than the first lash.

The butler said nothing, took the bottle, and went downstairs.

Zane didn’t make a fuss, put on his shirt, and prepared to return to his wife.

*

"Did that brat really say that?"

Grandpa Sterling looked at the bottle in his hand, brow furrowed.

"The young master really said so," the butler reported truthfully.

"Hmph, at least he has the guts! I was thinking of letting him have it easier, but it seems it really is hurt to death! Let me see how long he can endure!"

"You didn’t hold back and had me hit him! Why didn’t you hit him yourself?" Eugene sat sipping tea.

"I told you to hit him, not to beat him to death!" Grandpa Sterling snatched the tea cup from his hand, "Drink, drink, drink! All you know is drinking!"

Eugene clicked his tongue and poured another cup of tea.

Grandpa Sterling put the cup on the table, contemplating something, and then picked up the phone to make a call.

*

When Zane returned to the room, Sophia had already fallen asleep.

Unlike usual, today she wasn’t holding anything. In the past, it was either a pillow, a quilt, or him. Today, she curled up on the bed like a caterpillar about to emerge from its cocoon.

Lonely and helpless.

She hadn’t even locked the door.

He walked over carefully, laid the air conditioner quilt over her, and sat beside her, watching her intently.

It was uncertain whether she slept deeply or had poor sleep in the past few days, but today, lying there she seemed especially peaceful.

Zane lay on his side, gently hugging her from behind. The face he hadn’t groomed in a long time slowly neared her hair, inhaling her scent.

He reached out, gently slipping his hand under her clothing, finally resting on her flat belly, silently reveling in the beauty of the moment.

"Baby, I’m sorry for upsetting your mom. You be good, and Daddy will make it up to her."

"Good night, my love. Good night, baby. Daddy loves you both."

He kissed her hair.