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 Isabella lay crumpled on the floor, her face swollen, blood dripping from her lips, her body barely able to move. I stood over her, my chest rising and falling heavily, my fists aching from the force of my rage. But I felt no remorse. Not even an ounce of it. I had given her everything. And she had taken everything from me in return. I took a deep breath, my voice unforgiving. "You admitted it, Isabella," I said. "With your own mouth, you confessed." Her swollen eyes blinked open, barely able to focus on me. "You said it yourself," I continued. "You lured Sophia to that building. You trapped her there. You burned her alive. You killed my wife. You killed my child." Her lips trembled. "V-Victor, please…" I crouched down beside her, gripping her chin tightly, forcing her to look into my eyes. "I could kill you right now," I whispered. "And I wouldn’t feel a thing." Tears rolled down her bloodied cheeks. "But no," I continued, letting go of her face ro
SOPHIA Days turned into weeks, and before I knew it, an entire month had passed. I couldn’t say I wasn’t relieved. The doctor had ordered me to rest for the past few weeks, treating me like a fragile piece of glass. At first, I hated it...being confined to bed, constantly watched over, unable to do anything for myself or Caleb, the angel in my life. But I knew it was for the best. My body had been through a lot, and so had my mind. Still, when the one-month mark finally arrived, I was beyond happy to be free of that prison of blankets and pillows. Caleb took me to the hospital for my check-up, driving with the same calm confidence he always had. He never complained, never made me feel like I was a burden, even though I knew I had been, in more ways than one. At the hospital, the doctor ran his usual tests, checking my vitals and the baby’s growth. When he finally looked up, a small smile on his lips, I felt the tension in my chest ease. “You’re doing great,” he said. “You
SOPHIA The mall was bright and buzzing with life. Shoppers moved from one aisle to another, their carts filled with bags, clothes, and baby items. Caleb and I had already picked out a good amount of things, but we still lingered, walking past racks of tiny baby clothes and colorful toys. “You know it’s a girl, right?” Caleb said confidently, picking up a pink onesie with tiny bunny ears on the hood. I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “And how exactly are you so sure?” “I just know.” He smirked, tossing the onesie into our cart. “Father’s instinct.” I scoffed. “Well, I think it’s a boy.” Caleb chuckled. “Oh really? And how do you know?” I shrugged, placing a blue onesie in the cart. “Mother’s instinct.” His laughter was warm, deep. “Alright, since we clearly won’t agree, we’ll just buy things for both. That way, we’re covered either way.” I sighed, but a smile tugged at my lips. “Fine. But you do realize your mom has already gone overboard? She’s bought enough things to l
VICTOR My phone rang just as I was reviewing the latest reports in my office. I sighed, rubbing my temples. It had been a long day, and I wasn’t in the mood for interruptions. But when I saw my mother’s name flashing on the screen, I straightened. She rarely called me during business hours. I picked up. “Mom?” Her voice came through the line, breathless and urgent. “Victor, you need to come home. Now.” My stomach tightened. “What’s wrong?” “It’s an emergency. Just come home.” Her voice held a note of panic that I had never heard before. Without wasting a second, I grabbed my keys and strode out of my office, ignoring my secretary’s attempt to stop me. Whatever it was, it had to be serious. I drove home as fast as I could, my mind racing with possibilities. Had she fallen sick? Had something terrible happened at home? But when I arrived and stepped into the house, my mother stood in the living room, clutching a stack of papers in her hands. “What’s going on?” I ask
CALEB I hadn’t expected Sophia to say those words. When Victor had demanded to speak with her alone, I was willing to respect her choice...even if every part of me screamed to stay by her side. But then… She reached for my hand. And in that moment, everything else faded away. Sophia had just chosen me in front of Victor. Without hesitation. My heart leapt in my chest, but I kept my face unreadable. Victor’s expression darkened slightly, but he quickly masked it. He turned back to Sophia. “I know you have so much anger towards me,” he said carefully. “But I swear, I have no intention of harming you.” Sophia let out a soft scoff, shaking her head. “I haven’t even said a word, and yet you already know what’s in my mind?” Her tone was laced with disbelief. She tightened her grip on my hand before looking directly at him. “You’re right about one thing. Caleb has to stay...for my safety.” I felt my fingers twitch around hers. “He’s not leaving,” she added firmly. “S
SOPHIA I kept my head down, my arms wrapped tightly around Caleb as I sat in the car, feeling completely drained. My chest still ached from all the emotions I had bottled up during that disastrous meeting. I just wanted to leave everything behind...Victor, his mother, the past. But Victor wouldn’t let go. Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound of knuckles rapping against the car window made me stiffen. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. Victor stood by the door, knocking insistently. “Sophia, come out. Let’s talk.” I pulled away from Caleb but turned my head away, refusing to acknowledge Victor. Caleb remained silent, his hands gripping the steering wheel, his jaw clenched. The knocking continued. “Sophia, please. Just talk to me. I....” Caleb sighed and finally turned to me. “Do you want me to drive off?” he asked quietly. I nodded. Without hesitation, he started the engine. Victor called my name again, knocking harder. But Caleb pressed on the gas and drove off
SOPHIA The wind was soft against my skin as I stood beside Caleb, my mind still tangled in the whirlwind of emotions from earlier. Victor’s pleading, his desperation...it had been suffocating. But this… this was different. Caleb’s presence felt reassuring. He studied me for a long moment, his gaze intense yet unreadable. Then, in a quiet voice, he asked, “Is there something you want me to do? Anything. Just tell me.” I swallowed, shaking my head. “Caleb, you’re already doing so much for me.” His eyes remained on mine, searching. “No matter what,” I continued, “I’m going to proceed with the divorce.” Caleb exhaled, as if releasing a breath he’d been holding. “I’m relieved,” he admitted. That caught me off guard. “Why?” He hesitated for a second before looking me in the eye. “When Victor knelt before you… I saw the surprise on your face. I saw how your expression softened, how your eyes filled with tears.” I stiffened, remembering the moment. “A part of me…” He exhal
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