Chapter 1: Shattered Illusions

Sophia's POV

The golden light of dusk spills through my bedroom window, casting long shadows over the sleek, modern furniture. I adjust the diamond studs in my ears, my reflection in the mirror poised yet exhausted. The red silk dress clings to my body, hugging every curve in a way I know Nathan used to love. Tonight is supposed to be special—our anniversary, a chance to remind him of the woman he fell in love with. Lately, things have been distant between us, but I refuse to believe our marriage has lost its fire.

I glance at the elegantly wrapped gift on my vanity and smile to myself. It’s a personalized watch, engraved with Forever, S & N. A small token, a reminder of our promises. Maybe this will rekindle something in him, remind him of the nights we spent laughing over cheap wine and takeout before success consumed us. I smooth down my dress, grab my purse, and head out, heart fluttering with anticipation.

The drive to Carter Enterprises is smooth, the city lights twinkling like scattered stars against the inky sky. I don’t call ahead—I want this to be a surprise. A spontaneous gesture to remind Nathan that I still believe in us. As I step into the towering glass building, the receptionist barely meets my gaze. My heels click against the marble floor, the air heavy with something I can’t quite place.

Something feels... wrong.

Shaking off the uneasy feeling, I take the private elevator up to Nathan’s office. The doors slide open, and the moment I step into the dimly lit corridor, I hear it. A soft moan. Then another. My breath catches, my stomach twisting into knots.

No.

Maybe I misheard. Maybe it’s a late-night movie playing on someone’s laptop.

But as I take a slow step forward, the sounds become clearer—gasps, whispered names, the unmistakable rhythm of betrayal. My heartbeat pounds so loudly I can hear it in my ears. My fingers tremble as I push open the heavy oak door.

The sight before me shatters everything.

Nathan is half-dressed, his tie hanging loose around his neck. His body is tangled with someone else’s, his hands gripping her the way he used to grip me. But it’s not just someone else.

It’s Chloe.

My sister.

A sharp, suffocating silence fills the room.

Chloe smirks, stretching like a satisfied cat, completely unbothered by my presence. She grabs Nathan’s shirt from the chair and slips it on, buttoning it slowly, deliberately. "Well," she drawls, amusement flickering in her dark eyes, "looks like the surprise is on you."

I can’t move. I can’t breathe. Every fiber of my being screams at me to react—to scream, to cry, to demand an explanation. But I refuse to give them that satisfaction.

Nathan exhales, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He doesn’t look guilty. He doesn’t even look sorry. "You should have seen this coming, Sophia," he says flatly. "We haven’t been happy for a long time."

My nails dig into my palms, the sting grounding me. "And this," I whisper, my voice eerily calm, "was your solution?"

Chloe shrugs, unbothered. "You were always too busy playing the perfect wife," she says, tilting her head like she’s pitying me. "Nathan needed more. I was just giving him what he wanted."

Something inside me snaps, but not in the way they expect.

I didn't cry nor scream.

Instead, I step forward, the sound of my heels slicing through the silence. With deliberate precision, I place the neatly wrapped anniversary gift on Nathan’s desk, right next to his discarded tie. Then, I reach for my left hand, sliding off my wedding ring.

The diamond catches the light one last time before I drop it onto the desk with a soft clink.

Nathan shifts uncomfortably. "Sophia—"

I cut him off with a sharp look. My voice is quiet, but it carries the weight of a storm.

"I’ll see you in court."

I turn on my heel and walk out, my head held high. Each step feels like shedding a weight I never realized I was carrying.

As the elevator doors close behind me, my breath hitches.

But still, I did not cry.

Not yet.

But when I do, it won’t be because I lost Nathan.

It will be because I wasted so much time believing he was worth loving.