CHAPTER FOUR
SOPHIE
“Hey, get up!”
The guard’s harsh voice startled me and made me jerk awake. My whole body ached badly from the hard mattress, and my mind hadn’t been at peace since Dominic left. It felt like I had made a big mistake and thrown away my chances of getting back at Ethan.
I sat up slowly and massaged my temples to ease my headache, “What is it?” I muttered.
The guard didn’t respond, he just pointed for me to follow him. I took a deep breath as I followed him out, and my heart raced, “Is anyone here to see me?” I asked expectantly, but he didn’t answer me.
He just kept walking and I had no choice but to follow him. When he reached the locker room, he unlocked a cabinet and took out all my old belongings and pushed it into my hands, “You’re free to go!”
I blinked, “What?!” I asked him to clarify because it felt like I hadn’t heard him properly.
“You heard me. You’re being released. Now take your stuff and get moving.” He said with a frown.
Before I could stop myself, I gasped out, both in shock and relief. My heart pounded as I stared at him in shock. “Are you serious?”
He just nodded.
My hands shook as I held my old clothes. This had to be a mistake. I still had some more years to go, how could I just be let go?
Was this Ethan’s doing? No, I shook my head. He would never. He was a terrible person.
Maybe they revisited the case and realized that I was innocent? Maybe, someone out there still believed in me? But deep down, I knew the truth. This was Dominic’s doing. He didn’t look like a man that’d give up easily.
I tried to brush off the thoughts of him and focus on the bright side as the guard led me out. I could her the murmurs from the inmates as they weren’t happy with my early release, but I ignored them.
And just as I stepped outside the prison’s gate, and took a deep breath of the fresh air, I spotted a sleek black car, parked nearby.
My heart dropped as I realized who it was. I tried to ignore him and walk in the opposite direction but a man alighted from the vehicle and rushed towards me. “Miss,” he called, and I fastened my pace.
“Miss!” He blocked my path.
“Leave me alone!” I warned him seriously, but he stubbornly shook his head.
“I’m sorry but I can’t.” He lowered his head, “The boss asked to see you.”
“Tell your boss that I don’t want to see him,” I lifted my chin in defiance but the man simply smiled like that was an impossible thing to do. It wasn’t like I didn’t want to see Dominic, I was just scared.
After a while of back and forth, I finally, but grudgingly agreed to see his boss. The plan was to shun him for good.
But when I got into the car, Dominic greeted me with a smile, “it’s good to see you out here. The prison doesn’t do you justice.”
“I know you’re the one who orchestrated my early release,” I said seriously.
“Oh, I see that you figured that out” His smile widened. “It’s unfortunate, I tried to be discreet.”
“Dominic,” I called his attention, and forced myself to sound more serious, “Why are you doing this?”
He sighed, “I’ve already told you. You need my help and I need yours.”
“What if I don’t want to do it?” I asked the question that had been on my mind, “will you send me back to jail, then?”
He smiled dangerously like he’d do that and more if I refused, but he ignored the question. “Let me show you something.” He took out his phone, placed it on my lap and pressed play.
“Ethan Koleman announces engagement to Stella Donovan.” The reporter's voice rang out in the quiet car. “He has finally moved on from his psychotic ex wife…”
Everything blurred as I stared at the phone. Four years later and Ethan was still parading me as a mentally unstable woman.
“Join hands with me and we’ll take him down together.” I heard Dominic’s quiet and persuasive voice beside me. “The world is a cruel place for ex-convicts. I’ll give you everything you need. A home, a job and a life.”
I barely heard him as all that I could think of was Ethan’s engagement. He sent me to jail to suffer for a crime that I didn’t commit, yet he had the audacity to crave for a happily ever life?
Dominic leaned in and whispered, “This is your chance to clear your name and make things right.” He said, and that was enough to make me change my mind.
This man was the devil. He knew how to play his games, and despite my promise to stay away from him, I found myself giving in.
I took a deep breath, “I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.” I said seriously.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Dominic’s smile widened, “I’m glad you’ve come back to your senses.”
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVENDOMINICI waited until she was sitting before I said a word. “Judy isn’t who you think she is, Sophie,” I said and watched her, waiting for a reaction.Sophie stared at me for a moment before she asked, “What are you talking about?”“This might be a lot to take in but it’s the truth,” I began.“You’re scaring me, Dominic,” she complained.“There’s nothing to be scared about, I just need you to know that Judy is working for someone,” I said.She straightened her back and from her posture, she appeared tense, “What do you mean?” She asked.“I did a background check on her and it—““You did a background check on her?!” She perked up, then glared at me like I had committed a grave offense. She paused, then asked, “Did you do a background check on me too?!”She eyed me waiting for my answer and I knew instantly that I had to lie, “I—, Of course, not! Why would I do that?!”I did run a background check on her but she didn’t need to know that. It wasn’t important.“Are
CHAPTER THIRTY SIXSOPHIEThe hospital security managed to calm the situation and send Francis home but Dominic wasn’t still satisfied. He didn’t trust Francis, neither did he trust the hospital.Perhaps it was his controlling nature but he insisted that Mira be discharged and he’ll have doctors come over to make sure she’s okay.I didn’t argue with him, I didn’t have the energy, and if I was being honest, it was a good idea.The drive back home was quiet. While Dominic drove, I sat with Mira at the back. I couldn’t leave her alone, especially as she was clinging to me like I was all she had, and she still hadn’t said a word. It got me worried but I trusted Dominic’s doctors.When we finally got home, I led her to my room and she sat on the bed. “H..home,” she stuttered in a very quiet voice.I released a deep sigh and sat on the bed beside her. “This is your new home now,” I gently said, “You’ll be staying here with me now,” “With you?” She asked, peering up at me with her wide eyes
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVESOPHIEWhy was everything happening at the same time? I was operating on three hours of sleep and a truck load of anxiety.Judy was in a life threatening accident?!I rushed to Dominic’s office, kicking the door open. When I asked him for his help with Judy, I didn’t expect him to make her get into an accident. It was far from what I wanted, why would he do that?“What did you do?” I said the moment I entered his office.He calmly looked up from the document he was reading, “Nothing that shouldn’t be done,” he simply said, and that infuriated me.“So getting Judy and my daughter involved in an accident is something that should be done?” I glared at him angrily, hands on my waist.His brows furrowed and he straightened his back, “Mira was in an accident?”“I don’t know!” I sighed in exasperation, sliding my hand down my face, “Francis called me that Judy was in an accident and he isn’t sure if she’ll make it,”“I didn’t do it.” “Dominic, please take me to the hospi
CHAPTER THIRTY FOURSOPHIEI rushed home as fast as I could, slamming the door behind me as I stormed into the living room and ran up the stairs, taking two at a time. I had to speak with Dominic and I knew exactly where to find him.I pushed open his office door and there he was, sitting behind his desk, with his phone on his ear. He looked at me, then back to the document on his table.“Dom…please, we need to talk,” I said, ignoring the fact that he was on a call.“Yeah, prepare everything and send it to my email,” he hung up, rested his arms on the desk and looked up at me. “What is it?” He asked calmly.“Uhm,” I swallowed hard, my heart racing,” I know you may be mad about what happened last night and—““I’m not mad,” he cut me off, staring right at me.“Oh,” I coughed awkwardly, “Okay, but I still want to apologize for not telling you earlier and keeping you in the dark. It was never my intention and like I said before, I was scared and—““Is this what you want to discuss with me
CHAPTER THIRTY THREESOPHIE “Is Mira your daughter, Sophie?”“I…I,” I swallowed hard, unable to get the words out of my mouth. He’d caught me, it was clear he’d found out about everything.When Judy told me he was on to her, I should have known. This was Dominic we were talking about after all, a powerful and calculative businessman.He turned to the door, ready to leave, but I stopped him before he could. “Yes,” I blurted out, “Yes, Dominic. She’s my daughter.” I swallowed hard to contain my emotions, running my fingers through my hair in frustration, “I had her in jail.”He paused and slowly turned to face me. I expected anger and unrestrained rage but he was calm, too calm for someone who just found out the truth, “Why didn’t you tell me?”“Because I was scared!” I yelled, not out of anger, but of frustration. I took a deep breath and wiped the tears that had spilled, trying to calm my racing heart, “I was scared, okay? And that was why I gave her to Judy.”“What are you scared o
CHAPTER THIRTY TWOSOPHIE“Once she’s stable, we’ll both be relocating.” Judy said seriously.“What? Why? W..What do you mean by relocating?” I was flabbergasted beyond words and I could barely make up a proper sentence.“You heard me right, Sophie. Don’t play deaf.” She scowled, then glanced left and right before she continued, “I discovered that Francis..” she paused, “My husband has been cheating on me, so I can no longer continue with the marriage.”It was weird that Judy was telling me this because we’d never been that close. I was sorry for her broken marriage but my daughter was of utmost importance.“And you’re just letting me know now?” I asked, almost dumbfounded.“I don’t answer to you, Sophie!” She declared.I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration, trying to find a way to convince her, “Must you go with her? You can leave Mira with me. You’re going to a new country, I can take care of her.” “Don’t try to play smart with me,” she said, “you can’t change my mind, th