Sophia hesitated.

"What are you hesitating about?"

​​

"Can you really save him?"

"I probably can't. But Sean can."

Anyway, Catherine couldn't leave Sophia here with Sean.

Sophia didn't care about what happened to Tom. Ever since she knew he lost her to Harlan, she was let down. She didn't want to clean up his mess.

She would not come here if her mother didn't come to her and knelt to beg her.

This was the last thing she would do if there was another alternative.

"Fine. I'll come with you."

Catherine was willing to fight against Harlan and came here for her. Sophia thought she could not let Catherine down.

"Harlan, Sophia is leaving with us."

Harlan smiled and said, "Okay."

Catherine was on alert because his smile was too spooky.

"Take Tom out."

"We're not interested in Tom. Sophia, let's go."

"What's the hurry? Stay and watch the show."

Catherine looked at Sean.

"Come over."

Catherine and Sophia came to him.

"Sean, what should we do now?"

Although Harlan promised to release Sophia, he didn't say that he would let her leave the casino or not take her again.

Sophia wouldn't be safe until she left here.

There were dozens of men in the casino, and there were only three of them. They were no match.

"Don't worry. Let's see what tricks he has up his sleeves."

Sean came here fully prepared.

"Will Andrew come over with backup?"

"Yes. Don't worry."

Good. Then at least there would be more of them.

There must be 20 or 30 bodyguards back at the mansion. If they were any good at fighting, they actually had a good chance of winning.

Tom was taken to the main room soon.

Tom was uglier. It was like he aged considerably in only two days. He was in his mid-40s but looked like in his 60s or 70s.

Tom was a handsome man in his youth. But the time wasn't kind to him. After he and Linda had got married, he got fat and bald fast. Then he had gray hair and wrinkles on the face.

Catherine could not understand Linda's obsession. She was either incredibly in love or stupid not to give up on Tom.

Tom wore the same outfit as days before and looked messy. He was covered in either blood or sweat and looked dreary. It seemed he had suffered a great deal.

"Sophia, help dad. Help me."

Tom came to life as he saw Sophia through his milky eyes. He got excited and tried to come to her because she was his only hope.

"You're not my father. From now on, I have nothing to do with you."

"Sophia, you can't do this. I'm your father. You have to help me."

"Have you thought of I'm your daughter when you bet on me?"

"It's for your own good."

"Bullshit!"

Catherine snapped out and said, "You're the only one that is proud of being shameless. I've never seen a man that grosses me out like you. You're so cheeky that I'm impressed."

Catherine's sarcasm had no impact on Tom since he had no sense of dignity at all.

"I can't afford to pay for your college tuition, but I want to find you a nice man who will look after you. And that man has to be rich to give you a good life. He can take care of you and pay for your college tuition. So your future will not be ruined."

Catherine was shocked that Tom would justify how he sold his daughter out.

Sophia said, "I've told you what I can, and I've helped you in any way possible. From now on, I don't care what will happen to you."

Harlan said with an amusing tone, "Is that all?"

Sophia said, "I have nothing to say to him."

"Fine. Then I'll take over the talking."

Harlan took out a knife and rubbed it against Tom's face. He said with a disgusted look, "I don't think the knife could penetrate such old skin. What I'm gonna do might be difficult. Guys, try harder when you do it later. After all, you're not against a young man."

Catherine would laugh out if she wasn't on such a serious occasion.

Tom did have old skin. And precisely, he had weather-torn flesh.

"What are you gonna do?"

"Paying back the debt is common sense. But since Tom can't afford it, I have to cut his flesh off. Still, I lost a great deal of money. His flesh was too hard and tough that dogs wouldn't eat it. I lost 20 million for nothing!"

"Cut off the flesh?"

"Yeah, why not? I'm gonna do it in front of your daughter, and she can enjoy it. At least before you die, you can have a family reunion."

"No! I don't want to die!"

"You don't have a choice!"

Tom looked at Sophia with hope, "Sophia, pay the man the 20 million. Just collect the money however you can. I don't want to die. Help me."

Sophia didn't get soft because Tom was begging and crying. She stood there with a numb look.

"Sophia, honey, you have to help me."

Harlan sneered, "I can let you live, but you have to convince your daughter to become my girlfriend. Then I will let you go and drop 20 million."

That was Harlan's true intentions.

Catherine frowned. Harlan held Tom hostage to threaten Sophia because he assumed that she would be compassionate. There was not a daughter in the world that would let her father die in front of her. It was far too heartless and cruel.

No one would do it unless her heart was made of stones.

Women were prone to have a soft spot, especially young girls like Sophia. She was suggestible and was easy to fall into the bluff.

"Sophia, don't fall for it. It's a trap."

Harlan was forcing her to make a decision.

Sophia clenched her fists and looked away.

Tom couldn't stop wimping hearing what Harlan said, "Sophia, it's my fault. I'm sorry for what you had to go through all these years. I'm sorry that I've let you and your mom down. I'm an animal and wouldn't have died nicely. But I would like to atone and protect you for the rest of my life. I promise you I'll reform and stop gambling."

That was the best lie Sophia ever heard.

"Sean, we can't stay here any longer."

Catherine was worried that Sophia would go soft because Harlan's tricks were so dirty.

"Okay."

Sean called Andrew.

Andrea got the order and charged in with his men.

"Boss."

For some reason, instead of addressing Sean Mr. Blair, he called him boss. Perhaps it was because they were at the casino and "boss" sounded more fitting.

"Start the rescue!"

"Yes, Sir."

"Sean, you want to do this the hard way?"

"I would like to try."

Harlan said, "Do it!"

His men surrounded Tom and put the knife into his shoulder.