The crowd gasped collectively, stunned by her sudden declaration.
"Shane Collens is an abuser," Sophie said, her voice shaking slightly as her eyes scanned the sea of cameras and shocked faces. "He abused and tortured me—physically, sexually, emotionally, and even mentally."
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
One of the reporters, leaning forward with barely restrained urgency, raised his microphone.
"Madam, please—can you shed more light on what you're saying?"
Sophie shook her head slowly, timidly, but after a brief moment, she continued.
"Shane Collens married me when the Adams family went bankrupt," she said, her tone steadying. "He coerced and threatened me into that marriage. He promised to help restore my family name, to bring back our lost legacy—if I agreed to marry him."
She paused then, deliberately. The silence stretched, giving her words time to sink in.
