Chapter 254

Adrian Valdemar ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

As the most spoiled young master of the Valdemar family, he had lived in luxury since childhood, never experiencing hardship.

Acting lessons?

What a joke.

He'd rather lounge on the couch scrolling through short videos all day.

Moreover, he suspected Sophia was deliberately making things difficult for him.

Physical training, facial expressions—every exercise left him miserable.

The worst part was that even when he pushed through, his hands still trembled before the camera.

Melanie Croft sighed as she watched Adrian sprawled on the sofa.

She dialed Sophia's number.

Thirty minutes later.

Sophia pushed open the studio door to find Adrian lounging with crossed legs, absorbed in his phone.

"Quite the leisurely life, young master Valdemar," she remarked coldly.

Adrian's head snapped up.

"You dare show your face?" He sprang to his feet. "You're just torturing me on purpose!"

His words died in his throat.

Sophia was casually twirling a black leather whip.

"You're absolutely right," she said, flicking the whip. "I came specifically to discipline you."

Adrian instinctively took two steps back.

"You—"

"What?" Sophia arched an eyebrow. "Planning to tattle?"

Adrian's face flushed crimson.

He wanted to threaten reporting her to his grandfather, but remembering the patriarch's favoritism toward Sophia, he swallowed his words.

"I'll tell my brother!" he blurted instead.

Images from yesterday's visit to the sanatorium flashed through his mind.

The sight of Alexander lying motionless in bed made his chest tighten.

"Tell him when he wakes up." Sophia carelessly cracked the whip. "For now, you answer to me."

The whip's sharp snap made Adrian flinch.

"Have you lost your mind?" His eyes widened. "What kind of socialite carries a whip?"

Sophia smiled.

"Effective, isn't it?"

Adrian bit his lip.

"Four hours..." he negotiated weakly. "That's my limit."

Sophia pulled a document from her bag.

"Your medical report says you're perfectly healthy."

She slapped the papers onto the table.

"Eight hours. No excuses."

Adrian stared at the report, his expression shifting between disbelief and dread.

This woman had even dug up his private health records.