Chapter 0004

CHAPTER FOUR

SOPHIE

“Hey, get up!” 

The guard’s harsh voice startled me and made me jerk awake. My whole body ached badly from the hard mattress, and my mind hadn’t been at peace since Dominic left. It felt like I had made a big mistake and thrown away my chances of getting back at Ethan.

I sat up slowly and massaged my temples to ease my headache, “What is it?” I muttered.

The guard didn’t respond, he just pointed for me to follow him. I took a deep breath as I followed him out, and my heart raced, “Is anyone here to see me?” I asked expectantly, but he didn’t answer me. 

He just kept walking and I had no choice but to follow him. When he reached the locker room, he unlocked a cabinet and took out all my old belongings and pushed it into my hands, “You’re free to go!”

I blinked, “What?!” I asked him to clarify because it felt like I hadn’t heard him properly.

“You heard me. You’re being released. Now take your stuff and get moving.” He said with a frown.

Before I could stop myself, I gasped out, both in shock and relief. My heart pounded as I stared at him in shock. “Are you serious?”

He just nodded.

My hands shook as I held my old clothes. This had to be a mistake. I still had some more years to go, how could I just be let go?

Was this Ethan’s doing? No, I shook my head. He would never. He was a terrible person.

Maybe they revisited the case and realized that I was innocent? Maybe, someone out there still believed in me? But deep down, I knew the truth. This was Dominic’s doing. He didn’t look like a man that’d give up easily.

I tried to brush off the thoughts of him and focus on the bright side as the guard led me out. I could her the murmurs from the inmates as they weren’t happy with my early release, but I ignored them.

And just as I stepped outside the prison’s gate, and took a deep breath of the fresh air, I spotted a sleek black car, parked nearby.

My heart dropped as I realized who it was. I tried to ignore him and walk in the opposite direction but a man alighted from the vehicle and rushed towards me. “Miss,” he called, and I fastened my pace.

“Miss!” He blocked my path. 

“Leave me alone!” I warned him seriously, but he stubbornly shook his head.

“I’m sorry but I can’t.” He lowered his head, “The boss asked to see you.”

“Tell your boss that I don’t want to see him,” I lifted my chin in defiance but the man simply smiled like that was an impossible thing to do. It wasn’t like I didn’t want to see Dominic, I was just scared.

After a while of back and forth, I finally, but grudgingly agreed to see his boss. The plan was to shun him for good.

But when I got into the car, Dominic greeted me with a smile, “it’s good to see you out here. The prison doesn’t do you justice.”

“I know you’re the one who orchestrated my early release,” I said seriously.

“Oh, I see that you figured that out” His smile widened. “It’s unfortunate, I tried to be discreet.”

“Dominic,” I called his attention, and forced myself to sound more serious, “Why are you doing this?”

He sighed, “I’ve already told you. You need my help and I need yours.”

“What if I don’t want to do it?” I asked the question that had been on my mind, “will you send me back to jail, then?”

He smiled dangerously like he’d do that and more if I refused, but he ignored the question. “Let me show you something.” He took out his phone, placed it on my lap and pressed play.

“Ethan Koleman announces engagement to Stella Donovan.” The reporter's voice rang out in the quiet car. “He has finally moved on from his psychotic ex wife…”

Everything blurred as I stared at the phone. Four years later and Ethan was still parading me as a mentally unstable woman.

“Join hands with me and we’ll take him down together.” I heard Dominic’s quiet and persuasive voice beside me. “The world is a cruel place for ex-convicts. I’ll give you everything you need. A home, a job and a life.”

I barely heard him as all that I could think of was Ethan’s engagement. He sent me to jail to suffer for a crime that I didn’t commit, yet he had the audacity to crave for a happily ever life?

Dominic leaned in and whispered, “This is your chance to clear your name and make things right.” He said, and that was enough to make me change my mind.

This man was the devil. He knew how to play his games, and despite my promise to stay away from him, I found myself giving in.

I took a deep breath, “I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.” I said seriously.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Dominic’s smile widened, “I’m glad you’ve come back to your senses.”