Chapter 01: The Beginning Of a Perfect Life.

SOPHIA”

My life with Liam had always felt like a dream. I never knew our friendly relationship may end up in a perfect Marriage, although we met in college we were too ambitious in achieving our plans and dreams together.

Liam's smile and looks swept my feet, his charms and attention were something too hard to resist. This led to our feelings for each other.

His proposal came on a warm summer night, under a sky full of stars, and I knew then that my life was destined for happiness.

We finally got married. Here I’m today, dedicated to a billionaire. Everything seemed perfect.

Our shared ambition, laughter and love were proof that nothing could tear us apart but I never knew I was wrong.

As I think back of those days we had spent, our memories made me smile. One evening I sat with Liam on the balcony of our luxurious penthouse.

“Do you remember our first apartment?". He asked.

"Of course”, I replied, smiling at the thought. “Our apartment back then was tiny and barely big enough for the two of us but we made it work, it was our little piece of this world”.

Liam chuckled with crinkling eyes in the corner. “We were so broke but we were happy, I remember how you used to make those cheap pasta dinners and we will sit on the floor because we don't have a table yet”.

“Yeah, those pasta dinners were delicious, thank you very much”. I teased, nudging at him playfully. “But you're right we didn't need much back then, we had each other and that was enough”.

Liam reached over and took my hands to his thumbs, gazing at me with a smile, his thumbs brushing lightly over my knuckles”.

“It's still enough Sophia, you're all I need”.

I strongly believe him but most times doubt always crept into my heart due to his current strange behavior. No matter how hard I tried to push it away my heart kept kicking against it.

“Are you sure Liam? Sometimes……sometimes it feels like we are losing each other”.

"We are not, and we will never be apart, let's be positive dear”.

"But you're not acting like the Liam I used to know, you barely give me attention whenever I remember how we started. I felt happy but looking at our current state kept me doubting”.

"You know I'm a businessman and these days have been really busy. That's why I’m here to make things right. I'm here for you Sophia”.

“Are you sure? Or is there something you are not telling me?". I solemnly asked.

His grip on my hand tightened slightly as if he was afraid I might slip away.

“No Sophia, you know I can't hide anything from you and besides we are just going through a rough patch. Every couple does. We’ll get through this”.

I nodded, wanting so desperately to believe that things would get better. But deep down I could see the distance growing between us.

It was like a shadow that loomed over us no matter how bright the sun shone.

A few weeks later everything changed, it was a Saturday afternoon, Liam was in his room running his business plan.

I was curled up on the couch with a book when his phone buzzed on the coffee table.

I reached for it thinking it was a message from his close friend instead I saw a name that sent a chill down my spine.

AVA

My hands trembled as I opened the message.

“We need to talk, it's about you and the baby”.

I was nervous after reading through, wondering if Liam was cheating on me,

“Who is Ava? and what baby is she talking about?”. I mumbled beneath my breath

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to accept the reality in front of me, maybe it could be a set up.

When Liam came out from his room I tried to act normal

But I kept reflecting on the messages, as the words kept flashing on my head.

The moment he walked in, I could tell he knew something was wrong.

“Sophia?" he asked his voice concern. " What's wrong?”.

"We need to talk”?.

Liam became frozen at the seriousness in my voice, his eyes searching mine trying to gauge the storm beneath the surface.

He looked at me slowly scanning in my direction and observing my mood.

“Okay" He said cautiously, taking a seat across from me. "What's this about?”.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. “Who is Ava?".

Liam's face drained of color, His eyes widened in shock, but it wasn't the shock of denial but it was the shock of exposure.

He tried to speak but his mouth opened and closed as words began to fail him.

“Oh Ava, she's just my ex, I knew her before I met you, wait a minute how do you know Ava, because I never told you about her?”.

"I saw her messages on your phone, requesting to see you concerning her child”.

"Her child?” He paused, staring at me in shock. "What happened to her child? I had nothing to do with that".

"She says you're the father of her child".

"That can't be possible, why now?”. He stammered.

“So it's true?".

“Sophia I can explain is not what you think".

I felt a mixture of hurt, anger and disbelief within me. I scanned through his phone and showed him a picture of himself, Ava and their child.

Liam leaned forward burying his face in his hands. “Sophia…I’m sorry I didn't know I swear I didn't know”.

“Didn't know?”. I repeated my voice breaking. “How could you, Liam. How could you keep something like this from me?”.

He looked up at me with desperation in his eyes. “I didn't know she was pregnant. I didn't even know she had a child until just now, I…I never could have kept this from you if I had known”.

"So the picture you took together with your Child was never known to you?".

Liam's voice was thick with regret. "This could be a setup I didn't imagine would happen".

I turned to face him, tears brimming in my eyes. “And now it has happened, what are we supposed to do now? Our life together and everything we've built, what does it mean to us?”.

“Sophia I love you, you're my everything this doesn't change anything”.

I shook my head, the weight of his words pressing down on me. “I need time to figure this out, I need time to think this is too much to bear".

He nodded his expression filled with sorrow. “Take all the time you need. just……just remember that I love you”.

With that I gently pulled my hands from his grasps and turned away, walking to the bedroom.

As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, my heart aching with the weight of what had just happened.