Chapter 3: Don't Keep Me Waiting!

“I have sent you some pictures, it's not much, but they clearly show them entering hotel rooms,” Maya replied calmly.

Sophia checked her phone and saw the photos. She thought she would react to them, but her heart was calmer. Maybe the phone call from Lila gave her the last blow.

She stuffed her phone back in her bag, stood up, and said, “Thank you for this information; I'll know what to do with it.”

Maya nodded as Sophia turned to leave.

Sophia checked the phone, it was almost the time they agreed to meet with Marcus.

She headed towards the Cafe opposite the hospital, her decision now clear. It's time to end this once and for all.

When she arrived at the cafe, she found Marcus sitting at the corner scrolling his phone and a cup of coffee on the table. It seems he had been waiting for a while.

When he saw her, he stood up like a gentleman pulling a chair for her, “Sophia, here you are.”

Sophia looked at him with doubt. This behavior of his was way back before they got married.

What is he up to? She shook her head ignoring his warm welcome.

“How's your mom, I'll help with the surgery later today. You can schedule it for tomorrow.” He said looking at her.

There was warmth in his eyes and it got Sophia off guard. She paused, before composing herself.

“Is that what you wanted to talk about?” Sophia asked coldly, not allowing her emotions to show.

If it was the day before, she would be very happy, perhaps even hug him and call her mother to share the good news. But now she felt nothing, not even her mother's surgery could make her go back to that cage or warm up to this man again.

Marcus was surprised, “isn't it the reason you left yesterday? Look, Sophia, I know I have been distant ever since we got married, but now I want to make things right. Let's start over again okay?” He said almost pleading.

Sophia felt her heartthrob in her chest. She had waited to hear this from him for a long time. But now hearing it, it felt like a joke to her.

She laughed coldly repeating his last words, “Start over again?”

“That's right, Grandpa is even urging us to give him a grandchild,” Marcus said without noticing the sarcasm in her tone.

“Marcus, I want a divorce!” Sophia stated coldly as a matter of fact.

Marcus was shocked, his demeanor changing.

“what did you just say?” He asked coldly.

“You heard me, I want a divorce. The earlier the better.” Sophia said without backing down.

“That will never happen, Sophia, you know how a divorce could affect my family. Just forget about it. I'm willing to change for you and be the man you want or do anything else but divorce is out of the question here.” He said firmly leaving no room for discussion.

“I'm not asking for your consent, I'm telling you I want a divorce. I don't care about your family reputation.” Sophia met his cold eyes with a burning fire Marcus had never seen before.

Marcus stood up and held her chin tightly as if wanting to crush it, his anger boiling.

“This is the last time you talk about divorce with me, you hear me?”

He threw her head back.

She hit the back of her chair but she was dumb to any pain. She came prepared and knew he wouldn't take it well.

She straightened her back, her rage boiling too, “Yes this is the last time I'll talk about divorce because it's happening and the sooner the better, or else…” She said taking out her phone and sending the photos Maya gave her to his phone.

“Those photos will go viral by tomorrow.” She threatened.

Marcus tensed and took out his phone to check.

When he saw the photos, his face changed, shock and fear. But he quickly composed himself and smiled as if the photos wouldn't do much damage.

Before his smile could reach his eyes, Sophia played an audio on her phone, it was the recording from Lila's phone call last night.

Yes, although it broke her down, she managed to hit the record button and now she came prepared.

“Now let's see between a divorce and what I have with me, what would affect your family's reputation the most,” she said, her voice threatening.

Marcus panicked, he reached out to grab her phone but she was prepared, Sophia hid it at her back and warned him.

“Don't bother with my phone, I already gave copies to someone else. If we're not divorced by tomorrow evening, the person will release them.

Marcus clenched his fists, white veins appearing on his forehead staring daggers at her.

He was trying to figure out if she meant it. Sophia stared back and smiled at him. Her smile didn't reach her eyes but he could read the message. She meant business.

After a brief silence, he said, "Alright I agree. But don't expect to get a single penny from me.”

‘What choice do I have? I couldn't let that audio and pictures go viral, it will destroy my family.’ he thought.

Sophia stood up to leave, “I wouldn't take anything even if you offered”, she said coldly.

“See you tomorrow at 8 A.M at the civil affairs office. Don't keep me waiting. You know the consequences.”

She left without looking back leaving him seated clenching his teeth.

When she got out of the coffee shop, she exhaled, an air she didn't know she was holding.

As she was heading to her car, her phone buzzed, it was a text from her brother Ethan.

He's a working student and has been trying to gather some money for their mother's surgery but he only managed to gather a small amount, not nearly enough for the operation.

Sophia felt the burden pressing on her despite being free from her taunting marriage.

The reality of the situation hit her like a wave, there was no one left to turn to.

The world was closing in on her, suffocating her with every passing second.

***

The next day, at the civil affairs office.

The office was bustling with people, some eager to get married while a few lined up for divorce.

The couples wore grim expressions but Marcus sat there nonchalantly as if it was an everyday business deal.

The office was cold with its walls dull gray as if mirroring Sophia's emptiness inside.

She sat across watching her soon-to-be ex husband as he signed the divorce papers coldly as if it didn't affect him at all.

His indifference stung her more than anything but she hid her disappointment and signed it with the same energy.

Now three years of marriage has amounted to nothing but pain.

The wedding day that had filled her with so much happiness, and endless promises felt like a far bitter memory.

She had entered this marriage with hope and dreams of love, a partnership that would lead to a happy family but she was met with neglect and betrayal.

Immediately after the documents were finalized, Marcus walked out without sparing her a glance.

It hurt but she knew it was exactly what she wanted. Her freedom.

She remained seated for a while as she processed everything. Her fingers slowly tapped on the edges of the divorce decree.

She had imagined this moment, she thought she would break, drained by the end of her marriage, but surprisingly, not a single drop of fear came out.

Instead, she felt some odd sense of relief.

The three years of being under Hawthorne's control, trying to please them and working hard to fit in their status are over.

She was now free to build her future.

Sophia stood up, exiting the office. The sun was rising behind the city skyline, casting long shadows on the streets. She felt small, useless and insignificant.

A woman without a marriage, a divorcee with no career. All she had was mounting responsibilities.

Her mother was still counting on her to get money from Marcus for her surgery. Little did she know that her daughter was a divorcee with no means to raise the money.

Her phone buzzed, halting her steps to check. It was a text from her brother Ethan.

‘Hi Soph, how are things there? Mom is still hoping Marcus will help’.

Unlike their mother, Ethan knew the challenges her sister was facing with the Hawthorne family. He sympathized with her but there was nothing he could do for now.

Sophia hated herself for not being able to help her family. She replied, ‘Marcus won't help us Ethan, but don't tell mom right now. We will find a way. I'm on my way, let me think of something.'

She sighed, slipping her phone back into her bag and turning towards the street.

But before she could take two steps, she overheard some voices.

Two men were standing near the entrance of the civil affairs office.

They seemed to be in a heated conversation. The taller one dressed in a tailored black suit with sharp jaws was in charge.

The other man, a bit younger, wore a look of panic as he anxiously explained.

“Sir, I'm afraid the woman didn't show up. We had agreed to meet at 8:30 sharp and now it's past 9 am”. The man who looked like an assistant, reported.