Weeks passed, and Julian's company continued to spiral downward. The media devoured every scandal like wolves—Julian and his mistress, all smiles at glamorous events, paraded shamelessly on every channel. Each time Sophia saw their faces, her stomach churned, not with pain anymore, but with a growing satisfaction. Watching them fall felt like poetic justice. Another stormy evening arrived. Rain hammered against the mansion's tall windows, thunder growling in the distance. Sophia wrapped her arms around herself, lost in thought by the fireplace when a sharp knock at the door broke her reverie. She frowned, not expecting anyone. Servants had already retired for the evening. The knocking grew louder, desperate, relentless. “Who on earth…” she muttered under her breath as she strode to the door. The heavy door creaked open, and there he stood—soaked to the bone, his once-pristine suit clinging to his body like a second skin. Julian. Sophia’s lips parted in disbelief before twistin
“You’re joking.” “Do I look like I’m joking, Sophia?” “You can’t be serious, Dad!” She leaned forward, her hands gripping the edge of the table. “Why would I save that man? After everything he’s done to me?” Her father sighed. “Because it’s the smart thing to do.” “Smart?” Sophia almost laughed “This isn’t business strategy; it’s personal. He humiliated me, betrayed me, and now you want me to swoop in like some savior?” “I’m not asking you to save him,” her father replied, his tone measured. “I’m asking you to save yourself.” She froze, her breath catching. “What are you talking about?” “If his company collapses,” her father began, “There will be a ripple effect. Debts unpaid, assets tied to this estate… and, inevitably, your name dragged into the fallout. Like it or not, you’re still connected to him, he's your ex-husband.” “So this isn’t about helping Julian,” she said slowly. “It’s about a way for you to show your power.” “Sophia, this is your chance,” her f
“Julian, this plan is ridiculous.” Vanessa’s sharp tone cut through the thick silence of the office. Her fiery red nails drummed rhythmically on his desk, a warning of her rising impatience. “Do you honestly think she is just going to fall in line because you ask nicely?” Julian smirked, leaning back in his chair. His tailored suit was as sharp as his confidence. “Sophia isn’t exactly a saint. She’ll help if it benefits her.” “And what if she doesn’t?” Vanessa leaned closer, her voice dropping. “What if she decides to let you drown? You know how women like her work now.” He waved a dismissive hand, unwilling to show any sign of doubt. “I know her better than you do, Vanessa. She’s soft—always has been. She won’t stand by and watch me fail.” Vanessa raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “That’s a dangerous assumption, Julian.” Before Julian could respond, there was a knock at the door. Both of them froze, their argument momentarily forgotten. “Come in
You sold her the shares?” Vanessa’s voice trembled, there's a mix of disbelief and anger. She stood in the middle of Julian’s office, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her eyes burned as they met his. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Julian leaned back in his chair, his expression calm, it was almost smug. “I didn’t sell them. I allowed her to buy them,” he corrected, lacing his fingers together. “There’s a difference.” Vanessa scoffed, as she kept on pacing the room. “Allowed her? Julian, she’s your ex-wife! The woman who wants to get her revenge for sure. And now you’ve handed her the reins to your company on a silver platter?” “She doesn’t have the reins,” Julian replied, his tone annoyingly even. “She owns a majority share, yes. But Sophia has no clue how to run a business like this. It’s only a matter of time before she realizes she’s in over her head.” Vanessa stopped mid-step, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. “That’s your brilliant plan?
Vanessa turned away, staring out the massive office window at the city skyline below. “Do you even know what this feels like?” she said softly, her voice breaking through the tense silence. “To stand here and watch you make decisions that could ruin us both? Decisions that could bring her back into our lives in ways we can’t control?” Julian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “Vanessa, you need to trust me.” She whipped around, her eyes blazing. “Trust you? How can I trust you when you keep making decisions without even telling me? Without thinking about how this will affect me? Or us?” “This isn’t about us,” Julian said, his voice firm. “It’s about the company. About survival. You think I like this? You think I wanted to let her back in?” “She didn’t just walk back in, Julian,” Vanessa countered. “You opened the door for her. And now you’re acting like you’re still in control, like she’s just some pawn in your game.” “She is a pawn,” Julian sn
Vanessa’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floor of the restaurant’s private lounge, her crimson lips set in a thin line of disdain. Sophia sat at a small table by the window, casually stirring her tea, as though she hadn’t a care in the world. Vanessa spoke first. “So, this is where you hide when you’re not busy meddling in other people’s lives?” Sophia looked up slowly, a faint smirk played on her lips. “I wasn’t hiding, Vanessa. I thought you’d appreciate my transparency.” Vanessa pulled out a chair and sat, her movements are sharp, and it's deliberate. “Cut the crap, Sophia. We both know you’re playing some game. Showing up out of nowhere, pretending to care about Julian and his business—what’s your endgame? Or should I say, your revenge plan?!” Sophia placed her spoon down delicately, her expression is now serene. “Revenge? That’s a big word, Vanessa. Why would I need revenge when Julian’s doing such a fantastic job ruining his life on his own?” Vanes
“So, what's next?” she asked, her voice is low, yet filled with anticipation. “She already owns most of the company. Now, we need to make sure she feels it. That she knows she’s not welcome here.” Julian's lips twitched into a bitter smile. “She’s not going to be able to walk in here without feeling the weight of what she’s lost. I’m going to make sure of that. We’ll make her regret every decision that led her to this point.” He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. Vanessa’s eyes glinted with excitement. “I’m in. But we need to make her feel it, Julian. Not just the business side. We need her to see us—together. In front of her face. That’ll hurt her the most.” Julian thought for a moment, then nodded. “Exactly. Let’s make sure she sees how happy we are. How perfect we are. Let’s remind her of everything she can’t have anymore.” Vanessa walked over to him, sitting on the edge of his desk, her proximity deliberate. She lowered her voice, her tone is
Sophia had stayed late, long after the board meeting had ended, trying to focus on the numbers in front of her. But the weight of Julian and Vanessa’s presence—especially their closeness—had been impossible to ignore. She had to push past the bitterness, keeping herself focused on the work at hand, she must keep in her mind the goal that she has. Then, just as she was about to leave, the door creaked open. Vanessa stepped inside, her heels are clicking sharply on the floor as she moved toward Sophia’s desk. Her posture was straight, too confident, and the smile she wore was anything but friendly. Sophia didn’t even look up. She didn’t want to. But Vanessa didn’t seem to care. “You know, I thought you’d be gone by now,” Vanessa said, her voice dripping with condescension. She stood just a little too close, the scent of her perfume is now filling the space between them. “I mean, after everything Julian’s done, I thought you’d want to get away from all of this. From the company,
“Are you ready?” Alexander’s deep, steady voice filled the hallway as he stepped inside Sophia’s grand yet understated home. He adjusted his cufflinks, his sharp navy suit tailored perfectly to his form, exuding an effortless sophistication. “Just a moment!” Sophia’s voice called out from upstairs. Alexander leaned against the polished bannister, his brow furrowing as he heard the faint click of her heels descending the staircase. When Sophia came into view, his breath hitched. She was a vision in a floor-length, crimson gown that clung to her curves in all the right ways. Her hair, styled in soft waves, cascaded down her back, and her makeup highlighted the sharp cheekbones and full lips he hadn’t noticed before more often. She was radiant—commanding, even. There's really something different from her now, it's a sense of strength. “Wow…” The word escaped him unbidden, and Sophia paused at the bottom of the stairs, her lips curving into a subtle, knowing smile. “Is it too mu
Alexander’s lips curved into a small smile as he stared at the photo on his phone screen. It was a candid shot taken at Grant's mansion. Sophia, her son, and himself sitting together at the carpet, laughter frozen in time. The image looked deceptively like a family portrait, and Alexander couldn’t stop himself from repeatedly glancing at it. “They could be mine,” he murmured under his breath, his thumb brushing over Sophia’s face on the screen. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Not even close.” Still, he couldn’t deny the warmth spreading in his chest as he stared at her. Sophia’s laughter in the picture was genuine, unguarded—something he rarely saw these days. His gaze lingered on her solo shot, taken later that same day. Her soft smile,—it did something to him. His pulse quickened, betraying emotions he hadn’t fully acknowledged until now. And then anger simmered beneath the surface. Her ex-husband, Julian, had destroyed so much of her trust, wasted so much of what she h
"Come on, buddy, give me something here," Alexander teased, his rich baritone carrying through the quiet living room. He was on the floor, lying on his side, gently wiggling a plush giraffe in front of Sophia's baby boy. The baby cooed, waving his tiny fists toward Alexander’s tie, which had become his new favorite toy. "He's obsessed with that tie," Sophia said from the couch, her arms crossed as she watched the two interact. "You’re going to spoil him." "Good taste should be encouraged early," Alexander quipped, carefully lowering the tie within the baby’s reach. The baby grabbed it, letting out a squeal of delight. Sophia shook her head, a soft smile is tugging at her lips. She didn’t know what to make of Alexander Cater. At first, she thought he was just doing a favor for her father, fulfilling some unwritten rule of loyalty between business partners. But the way he treated her son—with tenderness, patience, and genuine care—was starting to chip away at her skepticism.
“You’re letting them win, Sophia.” Her father’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—a fury he barely masked. Sophia sat slumped on the couch, her face is pale and devoid of the spark it used to have. She didn’t even glance up at him. “What do you want me to do, Dad? Fight them in court? Waste more money just to hear people say that Julian and Vanessa are saints and I’m the bitter ex-wife?” she muttered, running her fingers through her unkempt hair. Her Dad crossed his arms and stared at her for a long moment. “No. I want you to stop giving up.” Sophia scoffed, leaning back into the cushions. “Easier said than done. You don’t have the entire country laughing at you. I do. Every time I step out, people whisper about how pathetic I am. And Julian…he just gets to live his life with her, like his son never existed.” His Dad's’s jaw tightened. “You still have people who care about you, Sophia. Jamella and I aren’t going anywhere. And your son—” “My son doesn’t even
“Vanessa, don’t you think it was a bit theatrical?” Julian asked, there's a hint of amusement in his voice as the door to his lavish office clicked shut. Vanessa smirked, tossing her designer handbag onto the plush leather couch. “Theatrics are necessary sometimes. Sophia’s humiliation needed to be public. It cements the narrative in everyone’s mind.” She adjusted her crimson nails, inspecting them like nothing else mattered. Julian poured himself a glass of whiskey from the crystal decanter on the side table, the clinking of ice is the only sound in the room for a moment. “Still, I don’t like leaving loose ends.” Vanessa scoffed, sauntering over to him. “She’s all bark and no bite. Besides, the evidence we planted is foolproof. Even if she screams conspiracy, no one will believe her.” ~ Flashbacks... Julian raised an eyebrow, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Foolproof? That’s a strong word, Julian. You better hope you're right because I don’t enjoy surprises—e
Sophia’s heels clicked sharply against the polished floor as she strode into the high-class bar, the doors slide open effortlessly in front of her. She was done with the day, done with the lies, the drama, and most of all, done with them. "Vanessa? Really?" she muttered to herself, feeling the burn of humiliation deep in her chest. Her ex-husband's affair had taken center stage in her life, and Vanessa, the girlfriend, had been flaunting it for all to see. Sophia could barely breathe without someone whispering behind her back, throwing the blame on her like she had somehow been the one to ruin everything. The bar was quiet, an escape from the chaos outside, the dim lighting making it feel like she was stepping into another world entirely. She moved toward the counter, trying to steady her shaking hands. She settled onto a barstool, signaling the bartender. "Whiskey, neat," she said, her voice surprisingly calm, though inside, it was anything but. The bartender didn’t questi
“Is this some kind of joke?!” Sophia's voice echoed sharply across the cold marble floor of Julian's company lobby. Her heart raced as she took in the chaos in front of her. Her belongings—her meticulously curated files, her awards, even the small cactus she kept on her desk—were being unceremoniously dumped into cardboard boxes by two security guards. Julian leaned casually against the reception desk, arms crossed, a slight smirk tugged at his lips. Vanessa stood beside him, dressed impeccably in a tailored black dress, her crimson nails were tapping rhythmically on her phone as if Sophia's outrage were nothing more than background noise. Sophia stormed toward them, her heels clicked like gunshots against the floor. “Julian, Vanessa, what the hell is going on? You can't just throw my things out like I’m some disgraced intern. I own the majority shares in this company!” Vanessa didn’t even bother to look up. “Not for long,” she murmured with a dismissive chuckle. Sophia’
Sophia had stayed late, long after the board meeting had ended, trying to focus on the numbers in front of her. But the weight of Julian and Vanessa’s presence—especially their closeness—had been impossible to ignore. She had to push past the bitterness, keeping herself focused on the work at hand, she must keep in her mind the goal that she has. Then, just as she was about to leave, the door creaked open. Vanessa stepped inside, her heels are clicking sharply on the floor as she moved toward Sophia’s desk. Her posture was straight, too confident, and the smile she wore was anything but friendly. Sophia didn’t even look up. She didn’t want to. But Vanessa didn’t seem to care. “You know, I thought you’d be gone by now,” Vanessa said, her voice dripping with condescension. She stood just a little too close, the scent of her perfume is now filling the space between them. “I mean, after everything Julian’s done, I thought you’d want to get away from all of this. From the company,
“So, what's next?” she asked, her voice is low, yet filled with anticipation. “She already owns most of the company. Now, we need to make sure she feels it. That she knows she’s not welcome here.” Julian's lips twitched into a bitter smile. “She’s not going to be able to walk in here without feeling the weight of what she’s lost. I’m going to make sure of that. We’ll make her regret every decision that led her to this point.” He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. Vanessa’s eyes glinted with excitement. “I’m in. But we need to make her feel it, Julian. Not just the business side. We need her to see us—together. In front of her face. That’ll hurt her the most.” Julian thought for a moment, then nodded. “Exactly. Let’s make sure she sees how happy we are. How perfect we are. Let’s remind her of everything she can’t have anymore.” Vanessa walked over to him, sitting on the edge of his desk, her proximity deliberate. She lowered her voice, her tone is