Chapter 4 – Finding another body

Sophia's POV

I looked at him, my eyes still glassy from the memories. "Why should I believe you'll help me? They're your family."

"They've hurt me too, deeper than you can ever imagine. And I want to pay them back for what they did to me." He said.

I stared at him, confused but too exhausted to ask questions.

"And I'm not helping you for free," he added calmly. "You'll have to get married to me, that way I can secure my position as the CEO from my adoptive parents."

A painful bitter laugh escaped my lips. For a moment, I foolishly believed he might be different from Mattoe, but he wasn't, none of them were. He saved me because he needed something, not because he truly pitied me.

I would never enter that same circle again. Not after everything Mattoe did to me. If I want to take revenge, I'll do it myself and in my own way.

"I don't need your help," I said with anger burning through my voice. "And I'm not interested in getting married to you."

The silence that followed my words was heavy enough to crush the air of the room.

When I looked at him, I saw something raw and painful in his eyes, but he didn't flinch, he didn't shout, he didn't even look offended the way Mattoe always did.

He just sat there staring at me with an unreadable expression, as if he had expected the refusal long before I said it.

He finally spoke in a low voice, "It's fine if you're not interested, I'm not forcing you.

My chest tightened as he said those words. He rose from the chair and walked towards the door. I'm supposed to hate him, but the confusion in my chest was louder than the hatred.

"Marcus," his name escaped my lips.

He paused at the door, his hand was holding the handle so tightly that I could see his knuckles turning red, but he didn't turn around.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice breaking. "For saving me, I really do,"

He nodded once, a small movement that somehow felt like goodbye, and then he's gone.

The door clicked shut behind him.

The sound echoed in the room, far louder than it should have been, and suddenly my mind went straight back to my father, how he threw me inside the river without a trace of remorse.

I was still drowning in the memory when the television suddenly flashed with breaking news.

Newscaster: "A body has been recovered from the east river this morning, and the Identity of the deceased is yet to be confirmed."

My eyes widened as the screen shifted to the blurred footage, and my breath hitched.

The body pulled out from the river, was wearing the exact same clothes I had on that night.

"What... what's going on?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

"How can they be another body in the river when I'm here?"

Alessia, the thought hit me, I had almost forgotten I had a sister.

Panic surged through me as I rushed out of the ward straight to the receptionist's desk.

"Good morning," I said, forcing the words past my dry throat.

"Good morning ma'am," she replied calmly. "How can I help you?"

"Can I use your phone please?" I asked with urgency in my voice.

She handed it to me without hesitation.

My finger shook, as I typed in Alessia's number. I dialled the number, it was not going through, I tried again, I was directed to voicemail.

I dragged my hand through my hair, frustration and fear tangling inside my chest.

She cannot show her face there, I need to let her know I'm alive. If she sees Mattoe she'll cause a scene, and he can't see her, not now.

I handed the phone back to the receptionist. "Thank you," I muttered.

As I turned away, a thought settled in my mind. No one is going to recognize me since my face is wrapped in bandages. I assured myself.

I swallowed hard, and walked out of the hospital. I know Alessia will be there. I waved down a cab with shaky hands.

"I don't have any money with me," I said the moment I opened the door. "But I need to get to the east river please."

The driver took one look at my bandanged face in the mirror and didn't ask another question.

"Get in," he said.

When we arrived, I stepped out of the car and thanked him.

The crowd was much when I got to the scene, but I forced my way through until my eyes landed on Mattoe.

He was on his knees shedding crocodile tears, with his mother and Vivienne beside him, pretending to console him.

"Why did you do this to me, Sophia?" He screamed. "How could you? You know I love you!"

People around pitied him. Suddenly I felt a rage rush through my veins as my blood boiled. I wanted to walk up to them and tear them apart piece by piece, but I forced myself to stay calm. They were not the reason why I came here.

My eyes scanned through the crowd searching for Alessia, but she was nowhere to be seen.

The body they believed was mine was taken and loaded into an ambulance. Mattoe and his family entered their own car and followed the ambulance.

That's when I saw Alessia from a distance. She was dressed in all black - hood pulled over her head, with a face cap hiding most of her features. Her eyes were red and swollen.

I tried pushing through the crowd towards her, but it was too late, she had already stepped into a cab and followed Mattoe.

I also waved down a cab, praying earnestly that Alessia wouldn't do anything before I got there.

The cab stopped at the hospital, just as I was about to step down, the driver asked for his money.

"I don't have any money with me," I pleaded, with urgency in my voice, before quickly stepping out of the cab.

I searched frantically for Alessia, but I couldn't see her anywhere.

As I got closer to the hospital entrance, reporters were everywhere, already firing questions at Mattoe and his family.

"What happened to your wife sir?"

"Why did she commit suicide?"

"Have you been mistreating her?"

Questions flew at him from every direction.

Then Mattoe finally spoke, tears streaming down his face.

"I loved my wife so much," he cried. "I've never mistreated her."

He paused and wiped his face. "I wasn't supposed to say this to the whole world, but three days ago, I found out my wife had been cheating on me ever since we got married.

Gasps erupted from the crowd. People covered their mouths in shock, some even cursed me, calling me heartless, cruel and ungrateful.

"I begged her," he went on sobbing harder. "I apologized and asked her to stop. But little did I know, she was already planning to steal my money and elope with her lover."

My knee almost gave out.

"Her lover killed her and threw her into the river. I have proof of everything." He said.

Anyone watching will believe him, absolutely anyone.

Suddenly, Alessia burst out of the crowd, she rushed at Mattoe and stabbed him in his chest. "You bloody liar," she screamed.

She tried to stab him again, but people grabbed her, dragging her back.

"You killed my sister! Alessia screamed, her voice breaking. "I saw you with my own eyes! You and your family killed my sister!"

Shock flashed across Mattoe, Vivienne and Magaret's face, as blood dripped out of Mattoe's his chest.

Alessia broke free and stabbed him again, this time she stabbed him deeper. Police officers rushed in immediately and restrained her, dragging her away as she screamed my name.

I rushed forward, desperate to stop them from taking her–but a firm hand grabbed me, freezing me in tracks.

"I wouldn't do this if I were you," the deep warm voice whispered.