003

SOPHIE

This man? I don't want him anymore. He was tainted.

And I was going to make this divorce happen.

After a little while, my vision became clearer and while pain shot throughout my body, I stood up anyway.

I walked to my room after gathering the documents, my purse, and my phone, also grabbing the first aid kit to treat my wound.

I was just wiping off the blood when my phone suddenly started ringing. Staring at the caller ID, I realized it was Francesca, my best friend.

“Hey, love.” I said immediately the line went through.

“Oh my pretty princess. How are you doing? How was the doctor's appointment?” Her voice sounded… flowery, like always, and I couldn't help but smile at that.

“All good.”

It wasn't good. Not at all.

My life was hanging on a thread and it could snap off at any moment but… she didn't need to know that. At least not over the phone.

“Apparently, I need to get treatment. Specialized. The kind the best doctors here couldn't even handle.” I dropped the information like a bombshell and there was silence on the line for a while.

“Does your husband know about it? Like, does he agree for you to leave the country? He's not worth the…”

That sounded personal.

That sounded like she knew something.

“What do you mean, Cesca?” I asked and she cleared her throat, picking her words carefully.

“I mean, you know men are not to be trusted. You can't bet your life on him, he—”

“I know he's cheating on me, Cesca. Out with it already.” She heaved a sigh and I imagined her leaning closer if we were together.

“Wait, really? Then thank goodness, you're going to give up on him, right? I know you love him, but cheating is a stretch. And I heard the girl—what was her name again? I don't care, but I heard she's a fashion star and daughter to one of his business partners. She's like a literal buzz. Big time.”

I nodded.

So that's who he cheated on me with. Someone with affluence and power, while I was the gentle and understanding wife, like I hadn't given up my life and dreams for him too.

Even though our marriage had to be kept a secret because I wasn't of his status, I did my role well. I managed the house effectively.

I tried to read up on his world—the quarterly reports, the jargon, the people. Not to impress him…but to make sure when he looked at me, he didn't see someone from the low city.

He saw someone who belonged, in her own way.

“I'm divorcing him. And I'm getting treatment,” I informed her and I heard something fall from her end.

It better not be her phone.

“Are you serious? Like for real? You're not messing with me? You love Hayes. And now you just made this decision. I need to be sure you're not—”

“Cheating is a deal-breaker for me, Cesca. You know that. Besides, my dad would kill me if he knew I stayed with a cheater. I'm not that dependent on him.”

“That's true. Oh wait, hold on. I'll call you back, something came up here. Just a minute,” Cesca yelled and the line went dead immediately.

I sighed as I walked out to go get a glass of water, stopping for a few minutes just outside my son's door.

This boy was a hassle to give birth to—complete six hours of labor and contractions before he graced the world with his presence.

Even after he was born, he was always frail and sick with loads of allergies and pickiness. But he was my boy and I promised to protect him.

But… he preferred being family with his father's mistress. Tears ran down my eyes, my heart felt like it had been stabbed in a million places.

I pushed the door open to see him playing with some toys.

“Noah, mommy will be leaving the house for just a little while. Dad said he'll pick you up later to go to the company with him, I’ll—”

“Okay.” He simply answered, his entire attention back on whatever he was doing.

Just okay. He hadn't even let me finish. I swallowed hard and nodded, using the back of my palm to wipe off the tears when Francesca's message popped up.

“You know what would help lighten your mood? Shopping! Bills on me. I still need to spoil you if your husband won't.”

I smiled.

One thing I had learned: you can't argue with Cesca, so I just agreed.

Treatment.

If only recovery was assured.

I am going to die anyway.

I blinked back the tears that were threatening to well up.

I might just be walking into my death.

Every moment now was a luxury. I could stop breathing at any time and honestly, it didn't even scare me.

We got to the shopping mall and began browsing the jewelry section.

“Wow, that looks perfect on you. We'll take—” Cesca trailed off, her eyes glued on something behind me.

“Ces? What's going on? Ces?” I snapped my fingers in front of her face and she blinked. As I was about to turn my head, she grabbed my shoulders and took a deep breath.

“I need you to be calm, Sophie. Calm. No matter what you see…”

I turned immediately.

My husband. With a lady. Olivia, I guess?

He was buying jewelry for her, his hands wrapped around her waist.

I blinked repeatedly as Dad's words before I got married flooded into my head:

“And if he ever cheats on you, he has no respect for you anymore. It is up to you to hold on to the respect you have for yourself and leave.”

I swallowed hard, hot liquid streaking down my cheeks while Cesca planted herself in front of me.

“It's okay, it's okay, baby girl. You should confront him.”

I used the back of my palm to wipe my tears as my fingers dug deep into my palm.

“Interesting.”

The word wasn't loud, but I could recognize that voice anywhere.

I looked up immediately.

Slowly, my husband turned, irritation already forming on his face, until it wasn't.

Until it changed into something else.

Something cautious, respectful, almost… tense.

“It seems,” he continued, disgust visible in his face as his eyes glued onto Olivia, “you've forgotten who your wife is.”

Hayes's elder brother, Dominic. It was him.

I had only ever seen him twice in five years of marriage. At the wedding and at the family gathering that turned into literal chaos three years ago.

“Or perhaps your taste has simply gotten worse.”

Was he speaking up for me?

Olivia stiffened, her smile faltering while Hayes's hands slipped from her waist.

“Dominic,” Hayes began, his voice tight, like the name itself was difficult to swallow. “I… I didn't expect to see you here.”

“And yet, you've given me quite the spectacle. Cheating on your wife, Hayes?”

“No. No. Dom, this isn't what it looks like.”

For a second, I almost laughed. Almost, as I took a few steps closer while Cesca's hands remained on my shoulders.

Because wasn't that always the line?

Dominic tilted his head slightly, like he was examining something mildly disappointing.

“Then by all means,” he said calmly, “enlighten me.”

Olivia stepped forward, clearly trying to salvage whatever dignity she had left.

“I think this is being blown out of proportion. We were just—”

“It would be wise,” Dominic cut in, his voice still low but firm, “for you to remain silent. You're speaking out of place.”

She froze.

Actually froze. Even I froze. The two times I had seen him, I would have sworn that this statement could never escape his mouth.

Hayes exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

One rule in Hayes's family? Everyone feared their elder brother.

So when I saw the CEO I married begin playing with his fingers and rubbing his palms together out of anxiety, I wasn't shocked.

“It's okay. He can do what he wants. We're getting a divorce.” The words slipped out before I could stop them and they all turned in my direction abruptly.

“Good,” Dominic said slowly.

“Then don't hesitate. Make sure you follow through.” Hayes opened his mouth to say something but shut it when Dominic turned, shooting him a hard glare before walking away.

“Sophie, what the hell are you—” Hayes was saying when Dominic suddenly stopped in his tracks, his voice abruptly cutting Hayes off.

“And Miss Sophie? Don't forget to send me your reports.”

“What reports?” I and Hayes asked in unison and he lifted a brow.

“Your hospital reports.” I blinked, confusion setting in as he continued walking.

“What is he talking about? What hospital reports?” Hayes asked immediately and I felt saliva dry in my tongue.