She Chose Him, I Chose Revenge

I ignored Joshua Payne. My eyes were locked on the red mark on Sophie Spark's chest.

It felt like a hole had been torn open in my chest, cold air rushing in.

My lips parted, my voice hoarse.

"Sophie… What is that?"

She froze for a moment, then followed my gaze downward. Her expression shifted instantly.

Almost instinctively, she stepped toward me, about to explain.

"I did that."

Joshua's voice cut in, laced with a hint of mock complaint.

"The last time Sophie was in a meeting, she was too busy chatting with others and completely ignored me. So, I left a little mark just to teach her a lesson."

Sophie let out a soft laugh, her tone helpless, but her eyes were full of indulgence.

"You still have the nerve to say that? You embarrassed me in front of the entire board."

The office fell into a strange, heavy silence.

It felt like the blood in my body had frozen, thick and unmoving.

Sophie was always gentle with me, always accommodating. However, there was one thing she would never compromise on.

Work.

She was almost ruthless about it. No interruptions allowed.

Back then, when I got into a car accident and was rushed into intensive care, I begged to see her.

She had only said, coldly, "Anthony Miller, I told you I'm busy. Don't bother me if it's nothing serious."

Then, she broke her own rules just to amuse another man.

A bitter ache rose from my chest, climbing up my throat.

Before I could speak, faint whispers drifted in from outside the door.

"They said Ms. Spark's husband is inside. I really want to see what he looks like."

"I heard that for their wedding, she spent nine hundred and ninety-nine million dollars to build him a private estate."

A few young women reached the doorway, surprised to find it slightly open.

They looked up and saw my face.

My once clean, composed features were probably ruined by those humiliating words.

The chatter stopped abruptly. Their eyes froze for a second before they hurried away.

The room became unbearably quiet.

Then, Joshua suddenly let out a laugh.

Sophie instinctively stepped in front of him.

"Joshua. Apologize."

Joshua curled his lips, clearly unwilling, and tossed out a careless line.

"Fine. Sorry."

He rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Old men are such a hassle. Can't even take a joke."

Sophie patted him lightly, as if soothing him, before turning back to me.

"He's already apologized. Don't make a big deal out of it. He's only twenty and simple-minded. He just says whatever comes to mind."

Then, she could not help but laugh. "Besides… You are a bit of an old bachelor anyway."

My breathing stalled. My fingers clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white.

The skin where the tattooed words were still stung, but it was nothing compared to the pain tearing through my chest.