Chapter 2: The Betrayal Runs Deep

Sophia's POV

The moment the elevator doors slide shut, the weight I had been holding crashes down on me like a tidal wave. My chest tightens, my breath hitching as I lean against the cold steel wall. The image of Nathan and Chloe tangled together is burned into my mind, replaying in vicious loops. My fingers curl into my palms, nails biting into my skin, but it does nothing to stop the storm inside me. The doors open, and I step out into the empty parking garage, the sound of my heels echoing like the hollow ache in my chest. I make it to my car before the first tear falls.

I grip the steering wheel, my vision blurring as silent sobs wrack my body. Six years. Six years of laughter, of whispered dreams, of standing beside him through every success and failure. Had it all been a lie? The late nights at the office, the unexplained business trips, the growing distance I had convinced myself was just stress—was it always her? My own sister? The betrayal cuts deeper than I thought possible, a searing pain that spreads through every inch of me. I want to scream, to shatter something as thoroughly as Nathan has shattered me. But instead, I wipe my tears and take a steadying breath. I won’t let them destroy me.

The drive home is a blur, the city lights streaking past as my mind races. By the time I step into my penthouse, the silence is suffocating. Everything in this space holds a memory—our wedding photos on the mantel, the scent of his cologne still lingering in the air, the plush throw blanket we used to curl under on movie nights. I can’t stand it. I grab the nearest frame, the one from our honeymoon in Santorini, and hurl it across the room. The glass shatters, pieces scattering across the floor like fragments of my heart.

My phone buzzes, pulling me from the wreckage of my emotions. I glance at the screen, my stomach twisting. Chloe.

For a second, I consider ignoring it, but rage propels me forward. I swipe to answer, pressing the phone to my ear.

“Well, that was dramatic,” Chloe’s voice drips with amusement. “Did you really think he’d stay loyal to you forever?”

My grip tightens around the phone. “What do you want?” I keep my voice steady, refusing to let her hear how much she’s broken me.

Chloe laughs, the sound light and taunting. “I just thought I’d call to clear the air. You should’ve seen this coming, Sophia. Nathan never loved you. Not the way he loves me.”

A bitter laugh escapes my lips. “Love? Is that what you call sneaking around behind my back? Sleeping with your sister’s husband?”

“Oh, come on. You were always so perfect—the successful wife, the power couple, the woman who had it all.” She sighs, feigning sympathy. “But deep down, you knew he was never satisfied. And now, he doesn’t have to pretend anymore.”

Her words are knives, each one twisting deeper, but I refuse to let her win. “You think you’ve won, Chloe?” My voice is deadly calm. “You think taking my husband makes you better than me?”

She hums, amusement laced in every syllable. “I don’t think, Sophia. I know.”

A cold fury settles inside me, stronger than the pain, stronger than the heartbreak. “Enjoy it while it lasts,” I whisper. “Because I promise you, you’ll regret this.”

I hang up before she can respond, my hands shaking with the force of my anger. I refuse to let them see me as the broken wife, the woman scorned. If they think they’ve destroyed me, they have no idea who they’re dealing with.

That night, I don’t cry anymore. Instead, I make a decision. I pour myself a glass of wine, sit at my desk, and pull out my laptop. It’s time to take control—financially, emotionally, and legally.

I dial the number of the best divorce attorney in the city.

"Ms. Mitchell," the voice on the other end greets me. "What can I do for you?"

"I need to start the divorce process immediately," I say, my voice firm. "And I want everything I’m entitled to."

He clears his throat. "That can certainly be arranged. Do you have any prenuptial agreements in place?"

"No," I say, a small, victorious smile forming. Nathan had been so in love when we got married that he refused to sign one. "And I want to make sure he doesn’t walk away from this unscathed."

The lawyer chuckles. "I like your style, Ms. Mitchell. Let’s set up a meeting tomorrow to go over the details."

After I hang up, a new sense of purpose settles over me. I won’t let Nathan and Chloe reduce me to a woman scorned. I’ll rise from this, stronger and more powerful than before.

But tonight, I need an escape.

I grab my coat and leave the penthouse, the walls closing in on me with memories I no longer want to relive. I find myself at a dimly lit bar downtown, a place I’ve never been before but exactly what I need. It’s quiet, the kind of place where people come to disappear for a while. I slide onto a barstool, ordering a whiskey neat. The burn of the alcohol is a welcome distraction, numbing the edges of my pain.

As I take another sip, a deep voice breaks through my thoughts.

"Rough night?"

I glance to my side, my gaze meeting a pair of intense, dark eyes. The man beside me is striking—tall, broad-shouldered, with a sharp jawline and an air of mystery that makes my pulse stutter. He studies me, a knowing smirk playing at his lips.

"You could say that," I murmur, swirling the amber liquid in my glass.

He signals the bartender, ordering another round. "Let me guess. Love troubles?"

I let out a dry laugh. "More like love lies."

His smirk deepens, as if he understands all too well. "Then let’s drink to that."

I raise my glass, meeting his in a silent toast. As I take another sip, I realize something. For the first time all night, I’m not thinking about Nathan or Chloe.

And that, in itself, feels like the first step toward reclaiming myself.

To be continued...