CHAPTER 3

Sophia’s POV

I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. 

I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. 

My heart thumped hard against my chest as we gazed at one another — strangers who’d been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. 

But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. 

“I want a divorce,” I repeated, keeping my voice steady. “I’m serious.”

Slowly he nodded. “Yes, sure,” he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. 

My chest felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. 

This is it. I’m going to be free. 

And yet somehow, I didn’t feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth — he never loved me at all. He’s not even upset about the divorce!

I sighed. It’s time for me to move on. 

The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. “We should sign this,” I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. 

He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same.

“Elijah, please,” I whispered, making sure my voice wouldn’t break. “Let's end this.”

His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didn’t sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. 

Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serena’s name, making my chest tighten. I can’t believe this woman’s timing!

But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didn’t want to answer it because I was in the room with him. 

A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my chest. “Why don’t you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.”

He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. 

Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings — relief, frustration, anger, sadness. 

“I’m finally free,” I murmured to myself incredulously. 

While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, “The morning’s almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.”

With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. “Sorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.”

Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her chest and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly.

I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesn’t matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely!

But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. “You know what? It's actually quite nice,” she said, her tone almost mocking. “Elijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!”

Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. I’m done here. I’m done with all this. 

Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after I lost my baby, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. 

That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. “Luckily I hadn’t sold it,” I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. 

Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. 

It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla:

Damn that Elijah! You have no idea what I saw! Elijah was out partying and flirting with that bitch, which he never did with you! Major Asshole!

My heart sank, anger and sadness clouded my mind as I realized he was indeed getting back together with Serena and flaunting her around.

Forcing back my tears, I told Kayla: 

It’s over between me and Elijah. We were divorced.