Chapter 3

Chapter 3: AGONY

Sophia froze, her heart sinking as she recognized Ryan's voice. She turned slowly, her tear-streaked face looking up at him.

"Ryan," she began, her voice shaking. "He's your son."

Ryan's face twisted in rage as he threw forged paternity results at her feet. "Don't you dare lie to me, Sophia!" he yelled. "Lana showed me the proof. You're disgusting. Carrying another man's child and pretending it's mine?"

Before Sophia could utter a word, Lana stepped forward, her expression perfectly masked with pity. "I never thought you'd stoop this low, Sophia," she said, her voice dripping with false sympathy.

Grief became fury in an instant. "I know you did this, Lana!" she screamed, rising from her seat. "You forged those results. You're trying to destroy my life!"

Lana scoffed, moving closer to Ryan. "Ryan, you see how delusional she is? She's trying to blame me for her mistakes."

Ryan stared up at Sophia with boiling anger. "Enough of your lies, Sophia! You disgust me!"

Before Sophia could plead her case, Ryan stormed past her and grabbed the urn containing their baby's ashes.

"Ryan, no!" Sophia screamed, reaching for him.

Ryan held the urn high, his face cold and unforgiving. "This bastard doesn't deserve to rest in peace," he spat.

Sophia fell to her knees, her hands clasped in desperate prayer. "Please, Ryan, don't do this. He's your son! Please, don't take this from me!"

But Ryan's mind was filled with anger and betrayal. He opened the urn and began to pour the ashes onto the ground.

"No!" Sophia wailed, her cries echoing through the cemetery. She lunged forward, her hands clawing at the ashes as they scattered. The gray powder clung to her hair and skin, mixing with her tears as she wept uncontrollably.

She pressed her head to the ground, her body trembling with sorrow. "My baby," she sobbed, her voice barely audible. "I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…"

Ryan watched her with cold detachment, his rage unwavering. Lana stood behind him, a triumphant smirk flashing briefly before she replaced it with a look of mock concern.

Sophia knelt, bathed in the ashes of her dead child. Her wails pierced the air, hoarse and gut-wrenching, yet Ryan loomed over her, his features icy in anger. Lana handed him a bottle of water, her face smug yet composed.

"She's so filthy," Lana said, her tone dripping with disdain. "Ryan, clean her off. She looks pathetic."

Ryan wavered for an instant; something in his gaze fluttered, incomprehensible-guilt or regret, maybe-but was quickly subdued by the heaviness of Lana's manipulative power. He reached for the bottle of water and unscrewed the cap.

"You hurt me so much, Sophia," Ryan said, his voice not laced with any of the love it used to be filled with. "After this, you will never betray me again."

He tipped the bottle, pouring cold water over Sophia's head and back. The water mingled with the ashes, sticking to her skin and clothes, further degrading her. Sophia gasped at the shock of it but did not budge from her spot, hands digging into the dirt beneath her.

"You both are monsters!" Sophia screamed, her voice trembling but laced with newfound strength. Her tear-streaked face lifted to meet Ryan’s cold gaze, and then Lana’s smug smirk. "You’ll regret this. Both of you."

The ground received Sophia, her water-soaked and ash-thrown body a picture of grief and anger. Ryan and Lana had long since turned their backs toward her, heading towards the sleek car belonging to Ryan.

"Let's go, Ryan," Lana said, slipping her arm through his. "We don't want to be late for the company meeting."

Ryan turned a mask-like face back to Sophia, then got into the car. Lana threw a last smirk at Sophia before she disappeared inside. The car started and, in a few seconds, was gone.

She clenched her fists and screamed after them, her trembling voice full of rage and despair. "Ryan Walsh, Lana-you both will regret this! I swear!" Her voice reverberated through the empty cemetery, but there was no one to hear her pain-or so she thought.

The air turned quiet again as, distantly, she heard the sound of wheels crumpling on gravel cut through her sobs. Her head jerked faintly toward the side, taken aback as a shiny black car pulled within feet. The vehicle was very pristine with windows tinted as black as could be to keep interior views hidden.

Her breath hitched as the car door opened and two tall men in black suits stepped out. Intimidating, moving with precision and calculation-like people who had received military training-they remained on either side of the car while their eyes scanned the surroundings to focus their attention on her.

The rear door opened, and a man came out, clad in a fine, black tailored suit. This was a man of power. He commanded attention at every turn of his head. With the heavy shoes polished to brilliance, his deliberate steps struck with sinister weight.

Sophia stilled her tear-streaked face and raised it towards him a little. There was just something about him-a powerhouse of energy that nearly stifled her.

The man walked toward her, his eyes unreadable, yet locked upon her crumpled form. She felt the weight of his presence, even kneeling as she was, shattered and shamed.

Then, to her wonder, he halted right before her. In silence, the man slowly dropped onto one knee, putting himself on her level.

The breath caught in her throat as she stared at him, her heart pounding in confusion and unease. For the first time that day, she felt something she hadn't expected. Who is he? And why does he seem like he's been waiting for this moment.

Sophia’s body remained frozen as she knelt on the cold, wet ground, the ashes of her child clinging to her trembling form. Her mind was a haze of grief, rage, and humiliation when the man knelt before her and uttered words she could barely comprehend.

“Sophia,” he said, his voice steady and filled with a strange mixture of regret and authority. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

She blinked, unsure if she had heard him right. "Who… who are you ?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

The softening of the man's gaze was immediate as he replied, "I'm your brother, Landon Sullivan. And you… you are the real heiress to the Sullivan family.

Sophia's breath hitched, her mind stumbling to put together the meaning of his words. Heiress? Brother? Sullivan family? She stared at him, searching for some sign this was all just some joke.

But then Landon did something that left her utterly speechless. He raised his hand to his temple in a sharp, formal salute. The motion was crisp and deliberate, respect and reverberation dripping from it.

Matters worsened when the two bodyguards flanking the car did the same thing in tandem. Their salutes were in perfect sync, their faces somber, as if they were addressing royalty or something.

Sophia's lips parted, but no words came out. Her body shook, not just because of the cold water soaking her clothes but from the weight of what was happening.

Landon broke the silence. His voice was low and resolute. "Sophia, everything you've been through stops today. You're not alone anymore."

She tried to speak. Her voice cracked under the strain. "I don't understand. Why now? Why are you here? What are you saying?"

Landon lowered his salute. His expression was unreadable. "All your questions shall be answered, but just for now, believe me. It's about time you claimed what belonged to you.

Her eyes darted between him and the guards. She wanted to question him further, but the gravity of his presence, the way the world seemed to shift around him, held her back.

Sophia sat quietly in the back seat of the sleek black car. Her mind was reeling with all sorts of unanswered questions. Landon sat beside her, calm yet commanding. He did not say much as the ride continued and gave Sophia time to process her thoughts. The two bodyguards drove ahead, maintaining a watchful air of protection.

It had then swung onto a commanding drive with tall oak trees before she almost breathed at a stop when before the curve in the road unfolded what only a fairy tale estate might hold: sprawling and elaborate mansion construction of stonework and immense grounds including gardens with fountains flashing diamonds beneath the sun.

By the time the car finally stopped, Sophia could see a throng of people standing outside the estate. They were all so well-dressed; from where she stood, it seemed their faces all spoke of wonder, curiosity, and awe. When the door finally opened and Sophia stepped out of the car, all eyes had turned to her.

Welcome home, Miss Sullivan," a man in a tailored suit said, bowing slightly. He sounded like the head of the staff, his voice warm but formal.

Sophia's legs felt like lead as she hesitated. "Home?" she whispered under her breath.

Landon laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Yes, Sophia, this is where you belong. It's time for you to take your place as the rightful heiress of the Sullivan family."

As she walked towards the estate, the gathered crowd erupted into polite applause. Sophia's heart pounded as faces blurred around her, their voices murmuring words she could barely hear:

"She's finally here."

"After all these years."

"The Sullivan legacy continues.

But one voice cut through the din.

"She doesn't look like much," a woman sneered from the sidelines. Clad in an expensive gown, she crossed her arms, sharp eyes narrowing on Sophia. "Is this the so-called heiress? She's soaked, and just look at her! An embarrassment to the name of Sullivan."

Landon whirled abruptly toward her; his voice was icy, lethal. "Careful, Margaret. You forget whom you are speaking to."

The woman paled and muttered something under her breath before stepping back into the crowd.

Sophia's gaze darted to Landon, who seemed entirely unfazed. "What is all this?" she finally asked, her voice trembling.

Landon stopped just before the grand double doors of the mansion. He turned to face her, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her shiver. “Sophia, you’ve lived in the shadows for too long. The Sullivan name is yours by birthright, and with it comes power, wealth, and respect. But it also comes with enemies.”

She had opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a word, the heavy doors opened, and a large marble hall filled with priceless works of art and chandeliers greeted her.

"Come," Landon said. "There's much you need to know. 

Sophia took a deep breath, her fingers clutching the baby scan hidden in her pocket, and stepped into her new reality, unaware of the storm that was about to follow.

At Ryan Walsh house 

Ryan stood at the doorway, watching Sophia as she carried her bag. Her face was emotionless, but her eyes reflected a storm of determination.

"Sophia, are you really sure about this?" Ryan called after her as she marched toward the sleek black car parked outside. "Leaving without a penny? Without a roof over your head?"

Sophia turne

d around to face him, her eyes cold. For a moment, Ryan thought she might relent, but instead, she calmly released her grip on the bag.