6. A GLIMMER OF HOPE

SOPHIA

I remained on the ground, my cheek stinging and my heart shattered. Too weak to move, too drained to cry, I stared at the cold, polished floor. What had I done to deserve this? Why was my life a constant spiral of humiliation and pain?

One by one, they all left....Victor, Evelyn, Isabella....all of them. I was alone, except for Lucas. I hated him, even though he had saved me. He was the root of my problems, the reason my marriage felt like a prison.

He crouched beside me and extended his hand. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of guilt. “I regret what I did to you. Victor isn’t a bad man, he’s just being misled. Please, don’t give up on him. He needs someone like you in his life.”

His words hung in the air, pulling at the fragile threads of my heart. I hated myself for still loving Victor. Three years of my life had been wasted in this house, and I had nothing to show for it....not a job, not even a penny to my name. Yet Lucas’s words reminded me of the hope I had clung to, the hope that if Victor knew the truth, things could change.

That hope sparked an idea.

I stood and brushed myself off, my resolve hardening. If I could get Lucas and Isabella to admit their lies, I could show Victor the truth. He would have no choice but to see me for who I really was.

With that thought, I went to my room, changed my clothes and picked up my phone before heading to Lucas’s room. I hesitated at his door, then knocked, switching on the recording mode on my phone.

Lucas opened the door, surprised to see me. “Sophia?”

I stepped inside, my expression cold. “Why are you lying to Victor and your mother?” I asked, wasting no time. “Why won’t you tell them the truth....that I never seduced you? It was the other way around.”

He blinked, caught off guard, and then sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I was young and stupid,” he admitted. “Three years ago, I was arrogant, naive… and cheap. I made a mistake. I tried to seduce you, and you slapped me. You were right to do it. I’ve regretted it ever since.”

“Then why won’t you come clean?” I demanded.

“I will,” he promised. “But I need time. My relationship with Victor was strained before his accident. Now that he’s awake, I want to rebuild that bond. Once I’ve done that, I’ll tell him the truth.”

I studied him, searching for sincerity in his words. Finally, I nodded. “I’ll hold you to that.”

As I left his room, I muttered to myself, “Don’t blame me for this, Lucas. You all forced my hand.”

I found Isabella outside, pacing as she spoke on the phone. I approached her, interrupting her conversation. “Isabella, I have a question.”

She glanced at me, annoyed, and put her call on hold. “What do you want, Sophia? Get lost.”

I ignored her hostility. “If you loved Victor so much, why didn’t you marry him? You weren’t sick. You did my makeup on my wedding day. So why did you let another woman marry him, and why are you lying to him now?”

She laughed, the sound cruel and mocking. “You really are stupid, aren’t you? I chose you to marry Victor because I knew it would be easy to take him back from a country bumpkin like you. Why would I marry a comatose man? I’m too sophisticated for that. Being tied down to a sick husband? That’s your specialty.”

Her words stung, but I forced myself to stay calm. “What if Victor never woke up? Your plan would have failed.”

She smirked. “Then I’d have moved on. But he’s awake now, and I’m taking back what’s mine. You should leave while you still can.”

I smiled faintly. “Thank you for your cooperation.” Her confusion was palpable as I walked away.

I headed straight to Victor’s room. The luxurious space felt like another world, the plush carpet underfoot, the massive king-sized bed with its ornate headboard, and the crystal chandelier that cast a soft glow over the room. But I had no time to admire it.

Victor stepped out of the bathroom, steam trailing behind him. A towel hung loosely around his waist, water glistening on his toned chest. His expression darkened when he saw me.

“What the hell are you doing in my room?” he snapped.

“I have evidence,” I said, clutching my phone. “I can prove my innocence.”

“Innocence?” His voice was laced with sarcasm.

I stepped closer, meeting his cold gaze. “I have recordings that show I never seduced your brother and that everything Isabella has told you is a lie.”

Before I could press play, Victor stormed toward me and snatched the phone from my hand. Without hesitation, he threw it to the floor, the screen shattering on impact.

“I have no interest in your so-called evidence,” he growled. “So, let me get this straight. My mother is lying, Isabella is lying, and even Lucas is lying? And you, the cheap girl who’s been sold to various men for money, expect me to trust you?”

“I’m not a cheap girl,” I retorted, my voice trembling with anger. “I may be from the countryside, but I know my limits. And yes, everyone is lying to you except me. What are you so afraid of? Why won’t you listen to the evidence?”

“Get out,” he said, his tone icy. “And don’t ever step foot in here again.”

He disappeared into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. I knelt, gathering the broken pieces of my phone. My hands shook, but I steadied myself. “No matter what happens, Victor,” I whispered, “I’ll show you the evidence and clear my name.”

As I stepped into the hallway, I saw Isabella standing outside, her face contorted with anger. I ignored her and rushed to my room. Digging through my belongings, I found one of the expensive necklaces the Quinns had given me during their brief facade of kindness. I slipped out of the house unnoticed and pawned it at a nearby shop.

With the money, I had my phone repaired. By the time it was fixed, the sun had set. I sighed in relief when I checked the recordings. The audios were intact.

“Whether you like it or not, Victor,” I murmured, “you’re going to hear the truth.”

Just as I was about to head home, my phone buzzed. A text message appeared from an unknown number.

“This is your husband, Victor Sinclair. After thinking about what you said, I’ve decided to hear you out. Meet me at Sinclair Luxury Hotel, Room 302. I will only give you this opportunity once.”

My heart raced as I read the message. “Is Victor Sinclair really giving me a chance to prove my innocence?”