ISABELLA The moment I received Victor’s call, my heart nearly burst with joy. His voice, calm and endearing, delivered the words I had been longing to hear. He wanted me..truly, fully, and forever. My fingers trembled as I clutched my phone. Was this real? Was this really happening? I had dreamed of this moment for so long, imagined a thousand ways it could happen, and now it was here. A marriage proposal from the man I wanted. A fresh start, a perfect ending to all the pain Sophia had caused. I wasted no time. An hour later, I sat up in my hospital bed, no longer having a need to pretend. “Doctor, I want to be discharged,” I said firmly. He hesitated. “Are you sure? You complained that....” “I’m fine,” I cut him off, my voice light with excitement. “I feel so much better now. I have no reason to stay here anymore.” I called Victor back, practically bubbling with happiness. “Your proposal healed me,” I told him with a laugh. “I don’t need this hospital bed anymore.” He
ISABELLA Everything was finally falling into place. Everything I had ever wanted was now within my grasp. As I sat in my car, staring at my reflection in the mirror, I allowed myself a satisfied smile. I had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let anything slip through my fingers now. My mind drifted back to that fire, the smoke, the heat. The moment Victor had almost turned to save Sophia. I had seen the hesitation in his eyes, the way his body had tensed, the instinct to untie her. But I couldn’t let that happen. So I did what I had to do. I had collapsed, pretended to faint, made myself the helpless victim in desperate need of saving. And Victor...predictable, honorable Victor had chosen me. Just like I knew he would. In the hospital, I had played my part flawlessly. Hysterical sobbing, shaking hands, panic-stricken eyes. The doctors had taken one look at me and decided my condition was far too fragile. They had fussed over me, sedated me, kept me under close observ
SOPHIA I was burning. The flames roared around me, licking at my skin, suffocating me, swallowing me whole. I could hear my own screams, raw and desperate, but no one came. No one tried to save me. And then, darkness consumed me. I gasped awake, my body jerking violently as I panted for breath. My skin was damp with sweat, my heart racing like a wild drum inside my chest. For a moment, I was lost between reality and the nightmare, my fingers clawing at the sheets, my eyes darting around the dimly lit room. But the fire was gone. The pain, however, lingered. I swallowed, my throat dry, as I slowly turned to my right. My phone lay there, just where I had left it before I fell asleep. I had charged it earlier after Caleb had brought me a charger. Before that, I had surprisingly found it in my pocket, switched off. How had it even survived that fire? Had someone slipped it back into my pocket before leaving me to burn? I couldn't remember much about it but I was glad Caleb
SOPHIA Caleb watched me carefully, his eyes filled with understanding. He wasn’t pushing me. He wasn’t forcing me to do anything I wasn’t ready for. Instead, he simply nodded, his voice calm and reassuring. “It’s okay, Sophia. The decision is yours,” he said softly. “But listen to me...Victor and Isabella are rushing to get married because they think you are dead. They didn’t even hesitate.” I clenched my fists. They couldn’t wait. They had discarded me like trash and moved on without a second thought. Caleb continued. “That’s why there’s no need to wait three months before serving them divorce papers. It’s better if we do it as soon as possible. That way, they’ll know you’re alive before Victor tries to forge a death certificate for you.” I sighed. The thought of Victor, the man I once loved, legally declaring me dead just so he could erase me from his life, sent a shiver through me. But I had to be strong. I nodded. “Okay. Do it. Send the divorce papers.” Caleb hesi
ISABELLA I had never felt this powerful before. I walked through the boutique like I owned the world, ordering employees around, picking whatever caught my eye, and swiping Victor’s card like money had no meaning. Because to me, it didn’t. Not anymore. I was Isabella Sinclair now...the wife of Victor Sinclair. And that meant his wealth belonged to me. As I glanced at my reflection in one of the boutique mirrors, I smiled. A week ago, I had nothing. A week ago, I was just another woman chasing after a man’s affection. But now? I had everything. Everything I ever wanted. Over the past week, I had spent billions. Shoes, clothes, jewelry...there was nothing I couldn’t buy. My father’s company, which had once been struggling, was now flourishing, thanks to the money I had funneled into it. My mother was living like a queen, and I? I was in heaven. After paying for everything, I turned to my mother and handed her a thick envelope of cash. “Go home, Mom. Enjoy yourself,” I s
ISABELLA My phone buzzed just as I was finishing my little monologue to Victor’s lifeless body. I picked it up with a smirk, already knowing who it was. “Hey, baby! I miss you already too. Okay, I’ll be right there.” I ended the call and turned back to Victor, shaking my head with mock pity. “Unfortunately, I have to go,” I sighed. “I mean, I’d love to stay, but look at you. You can’t even move. You’re practically useless.” I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. “And a girl has needs, you know? So… goodbye, darling.” I blew him a kiss before leaving to my room. Walking to the mirror, I took my time to get dressed. A silky red dress, high heels, and just the right amount of perfume. I needed to look irresistible. By the time I walked out of the mansion, I was a vision of perfection, ready to spend the night in the arms of my lover. The hotel room was lavish, and the scent of expensive wine filling the air. The man waiting for me grinned as I stepped in, his hands im
VICTOR Shock. Disappointment. Anger. Even those words weren’t enough to describe what I felt. Every muscle in my body tensed as I listened to Isabella’s words, her laughter, her arrogance. This was the woman I had trusted? The woman I had defended? I had risked everything for her. And now, she was planning my downfall. For the past week, I had been playing dead... pretending to be in a coma, letting Isabella believe I was too far gone to hear or understand anything. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. The long, suffocating hours of lying motionless, unable to react, unable to fight back, pretending to leave my fate to the people around me. Lucas had smuggled food to me every night, helping me stay strong while I remained in my act. I had done this to prove to Lucas and my mother that I had chosen the right woman. That Isabella was the best choice for me. But I had been a fool. A blind, naïve fool. Lucas had been right all along. Isabella wasn't just ba
VICTOR Isabella had no idea that I heard everything. Every single poisonous word that came out of her mouth. I had already accepted that she was nothing more than a greedy, manipulative woman. But hearing her actually confess to murdering Sophia? Hearing her say that she lured her own half-sister into a building and burned her to death? It took everything in me not to react. This woman. This woman I had once loved, defended, and given everything to… she was a murderer. And I had been her fool. She sat beside me, running her fingers along my arm as she spoke, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Did you hear what Lucas said, Victor?” she murmured. “He thinks you’re going to wake up and kick me out. Can you believe that?” She sighed. “I mean, I married you even though it was obvious you were dying. And now your dear brother thinks he can just take everything from me?” I lay motionless, my heart pounding with fury. She chuckled softly. “Lucas… poor Lucas.
VICTOR Sophia was finally here. Standing in my house, right in front of me. I told myself that now that she had come back, I couldn’t...I wouldn’t...let her go. But then, I saw the look in her eyes. Cold. Unyielding. She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t flinch. I barely recognized her. She was no longer the wife who once looked at me with love. She looked at me as if I were a stranger. A monster. My stomach twisted, my eyes darting to the door. She said there were police officers outside. But when I arrived… I hadn’t seen anyone. I clenched my jaw. She was bluffing. She had to be. Taking a deep breath, I did the only thing I could think of. I blocked her path. And then, I dropped to my knees. “Sophia, please.” Her eyes barely flickered. “Give me a second chance,” I begged, my voice cracking. “I love you. I swear I do. You’re all I think about.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Every night, when I close my eyes, I see your face. I see our child.”
SOPHIA I walked out of Caleb’s company with a plan in mind. Stopping by the police station, I squared my shoulders and walked up to the officer at the front desk. My heart pounded, but my face remained calm. Controlled. “I want to file a report,” I said. The officer raised an eyebrow. “What kind of report?” I took a deep breath. “I’m separated from my husband. He was physically abusive, and I need to retrieve my belongings from his house, but I’m afraid he might attack me if I go there.” The officer studied me for a moment, then his eyes widened in recognition. “Aren’t you the woman everyone’s talking about? The one who’s gone viral for living with another man while still pregnant with her husband’s child?” A bitter laugh threatened to escape my lips, but I held it back. Instead, I pulled out my phone, scrolling until I found a video. I turned the screen toward him—the clip of Victor and Isabella harassing me at the restaurant. “Watch this,” I said. The officer f
SOPHIA I stepped out of the elevator and walked straight toward Caleb’s office, my heart pounding with determination. After leaving the lawyer’s office, I knew exactly what I had to do. I dialed Caleb’s number. "I'm outside your building," I told him. “Come in,” he said immediately. Within seconds, a security guard was escorting me inside, and before I knew it, I was stepping into his office. Caleb stood from his chair the moment he saw me. “Hey,” he said, gesturing to the seat in front of his desk. “Sit down. You seem troubled. What is it?” I didn’t bother sitting. I looked him straight in the eyes. “I’ve made up my mind about my divorce from Victor.” A flicker of concern passed through his gaze. “Don’t tell me you want to retract the divorce.” “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “That’s not it. But I refuse to let you pay a single dime to that man. I would rather die than let you give Victor a divorce settlement.” Caleb’s brows furrowed. “Sophia....” “I mean i
SOPHIA Light seeped through the curtains as I sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. Caleb had decided to stay home with me today, sensing that his mother and Melody weren’t done trying to interfere in my life. After yesterday’s fiasco, he was worried they’d find another way to pressure me into leaving. I appreciated his concern, but in truth, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep dealing with this. The stress, the drama... Victor just wouldn’t let me go. Caleb sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I need to figure out how to put an end to all this,” he muttered. Before I could respond, his phone started ringing. Again. It had been happening all morning...... one call after another. At first, he ignored them, but eventually, he picked up, and I listened as his voice hardened. “Victor cannot destroy me,” Caleb said firmly into the phone. “He doesn’t have the capability to do so.” That made me sit up straight. My stomach twisted uneasily as I watched him pace back
VICTOR "I'm done playing nice," I muttered under my breath, gripping the steering wheel tightly. My patience had worn thin. I had watched Sophia step out of that house, watched as my chance to get her back slipped right through my fingers. And why? Because Caleb had ruined everything. Again. Caleb’s sister, Melody, had assured me that the plan was foolproof. She and her mother were supposed to convince Sophia to leave. I had done my part... I had been right there, waiting, just like she told me. But the moment Sophia walked outside, Caleb was already there, hovering over her like some damn guardian angel, dragging her back inside before I could do a damn thing. I clenched my jaw as I drove my mother home, my mind replaying everything over and over. The second I got home, I called Melody. "It didn't work," I snapped as soon as she picked up. "Yeah… we were so close," she said, sounding just as frustrated. "Caleb ruined it. Again," I bit out. Melody sighed. "Honestly,
SOPHIA I felt Victor’s hand on my back, guiding me toward the car, his other hand gripping my luggage as if I was returning to him. Fool. I could still hear Evelyn’s words ringing in my ears. "We will do everything to make things right." Make things right? The same person who had watched Victor tear me apart was now preaching about second chances. If Caleb hadn’t saved me that night, would they be standing here, acting like they cared? I looked ahead, toward the road. Fortunately, I still had the card Caleb had given me which contained a lot of money. I was going to walk to the road, take a cab and book a hotel room for the time being.It was for the best. Just as I got close to Victor's car, he hurriedly opened the door for me to get in and I scoffed. I reached for my bag, wanting to snatch it back from him. Then, a sudden screech of tires broke through the air. Caleb. My heart lurched as his car came to a sharp stop right in front of us. The door flung open, and
SOPHIA Tears blurred my vision as I watched a video on my phone. My hands trembled, my chest tightening with every hateful comment flooding the internet. Caleb’s project was in ruins, and all because of Victor. I clutched my phone, feeling suffocated by guilt. I don’t want Caleb to be hurt. Maybe I should leave. I paced across the room, my mind spiraling. Would leaving make things easier for him? Would my absence stop Victor from going after him? Wiping my tears, I remembered the day Caleb told me about his past...about losing his first love. I could still hear his voice when he confessed that he couldn’t father a child. 'What if this is his only chance to be a father?' A painful lump formed in my throat. If I left, I wouldn’t just be walking away from Caleb.... I’d be taking away his chance at a family. But staying meant putting him in danger. Before I could decide, a sharp knock on the door made me freeze. My heart pounded as I approached, hesitating before opening
CALEB The next morning, I barely had time for breakfast. I greeted Sophia briefly, exchanging only a few words before heading out. My mind was already set on work. At the office, I made several calls to finalize arrangements with my partners. Everything was in place, and by ten, I left for the meeting. The venue was a high-end conference hall, and I arrived to find four influential businessmen already waiting. These were men who controlled vast industries, and today’s deal was one of the biggest of my career. If all went well, this collaboration would take my company to number one in the country. We sat down, and discussions began smoothly. Everything was proceeding as planned... until the door suddenly burst open. The room fell silent. Victor Sinclair strode in, an arrogant smirk plastered on his face. And behind him? Reporters. Dozens of them. Cameras flashed, microphones extended, and the murmur of media personnel filled the air. “There he is,” Victor declared, his vo
CALEB After leaving work for the day, my mind kept drifting to Sophia. No matter how much I tried to focus on other things, she remained at the forefront of my thoughts. I wanted to do something for her, something simple yet meaningful. On my way home, I stopped by a flower shop. It wasn’t a difficult choice...I remembered the way she had admired a bouquet of red roses when we went shopping together once. She hadn't bought them, but her expression had lingered in my mind. That look of quiet admiration, as if something so simple could hold so much beauty. So, I bought her a bouquet of fresh red roses. When I got home, I headed straight to her room. I knocked lightly before stepping inside. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing in particular. The distant look in her eyes made something tighten in my chest. The moment she saw me, her lips curved into a small smile, and she stood up. "You don’t have to stand," I told her. "Relax." She hesitated before