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Chapter 6

last update Veröffentlichungsdatum: 17.06.2026 01:13:23

The Car

Sophia stood close to the upstairs window, arms wrapped tight around herself. The divorce papers lay scattered across the hallway floor behind her. Down in the driveway, Adrian sat motionless in his black car, forehead still pressed against the steering wheel. Forty-five minutes had crawled by. He hadn’t moved. She hadn’t moved either.

“Just leave,” she whispered against the glass. Her breath fogged a small circle. “Just go already.”

The car stayed parked. The engine silent.

Her phone buzzed on the floor. She walked over, picked it up, and read the screen.

Victoria: Heard the news congratulations on your freedom.

Sophia’s thumb hovered, Victoria never congratulated anyone. She typed back quickly.

Sophia: What news?

Victoria: The divorce. Adrian told the board this morning. He’s already moving on.

Sophia’s grip tightened until her knuckles turned white. She glanced back out the window. Adrian still hadn’t lifted his head.

Sophia: Moving on?

Victoria: He announced it at 8 AM. Said it was mutual. Said you both agreed it was time.

Sophia lowered the phone slowly. Her bare feet carried her downstairs and out the front door before she could talk herself out of it. The morning air bit cold through her robe. Gravel crunched under her feet as she walked to the driver’s side and knocked hard on the window.

Adrian’s head snapped up. His eyes were red-rimmed, face pale. He rolled the window down, one hand gripping the wheel tight.

“You told the board,” Sophia said, voice sharp. She crossed her arms, shoulders hunched against the chill.

He didn’t deny it. He just nodded once, jaw tight. “I had to.”

“You had to?” She leaned closer, eyes narrowing. “You signed our marriage away two hours ago and the first thing you did was call the board?”

Adrian rubbed a hand over his face, then pushed the door open and stepped out. He towered over her, but his shoulders stayed slumped. “The stock price—”

“The stock price?” Her voice rose. She jabbed a finger toward his chest but stopped short of touching him. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now? Not me? Not us? Not the papers you just signed like it was another contract?”

He shut the car door behind him with a solid thunk and faced her fully. “What did you want me to do, Sophia? Sit here and fall apart in the driveway?”

She let out a short, bitter laugh and took a half-step closer, chin lifted. “I wanted you to feel something. Anything. For once.”

Adrian’s hands clenched at his sides, then opened again. He stepped nearer until only inches separated them. “You want to know what I feel?” His voice dropped low and rough. “Right now?”

She held her ground, arms still crossed tight. “Enlighten me.”

He looked down at her, eyes searching her face. “I feel like I just signed away the only good thing I had left in my life And I deserve every bit of it. I feel like I want to burn this whole damn house down because every room reminds me of you, and tomorrow you won’t be in any of them.”

Sophia stared at him, breath catching. She uncrossed her arms, fingers flexing at her sides.

He kept going, voice cracking slightly. “And I feel like I don’t even get to say any of this because I’m the one who signed. So I’ll get back in the car. I’ll drive to the office And I’ll pretend none of this matters.”

“Because you’re so efficient,” she shot back, voice trembling now. She gestured sharply at the house behind her. “Just like always. Sign, announce, move on. Clean and quick.”

Adrian’s shoulders rose and fell with a heavy breath. He reached toward her face but dropped his hand before touching her. “Because it’s all I know how to do anymore, Sophia. You think I wanted this? Any of it?”

She shook her head, stepping back toward the steps. “I don’t know what you want. I stopped knowing a long time ago.”

He watched her for a long beat, then got back into the car and started the engine. The low rumble filled the driveway.

“Adrian,” she called out.

He looked over at her through the open window, eyes locked on hers.

She opened her mouth, closed it, then finally said, “Goodbye.”

He held her gaze for what felt like forever. Then he put the car in reverse and backed out slowly. Sophia stood on the front steps, arms wrapped around herself again, watching until his car disappeared around the corner.

The morning air felt colder now. She sank down onto the stone steps, head dropping into her hands, She was finally free.

So why did her chest feel like it was caving in?

Her phone buzzed again in her robe pocket. Not Victoria this time. Unknown number. She pulled it out and read the message.

Daniel Laurent: Sophia Collins? My name is Daniel Laurent. I’ve been waiting for the right time to introduce myself,I think today is that day

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