chapter five

A Glimmer of Hope

The days after the wedding passed in a monotonous blur. The once-vibrant Sinclair mansion now felt like a gilded prison, with Jack and Sophia occupying opposite ends of the space. Jack spent most of his time in his study, drowning his bitterness in whiskey and solitude, while Sophia busied herself with exploring the sprawling estate and avoiding the judgmental glances of the staff.

The ridicule of society didn’t stop at the wedding. Headlines mocked their union, branding it a "transactional farce." Sophia, to her credit, bore it all with a quiet resilience that Jack found both infuriating and perplexing.

One evening, Sophia wandered into the library, her fingers brushing the spines of countless books. The room smelled of leather and aged paper, a comforting contrast to the icy atmosphere elsewhere. She picked up a novel and settled into one of the armchairs, but her peace was short-lived.

Jack wheeled into the room, his expression dark. “Of all the places in this house, you had to choose this one?”

Sophia looked up, her face calm. “It’s a library, Jack. I didn’t realize you had a monopoly on it.”

His glare deepened. “Don’t test me, Sophia. I’m not in the mood.”

She closed the book and set it aside, meeting his gaze. “When are you ever in the mood, Jack? All you do is wallow in self-pity and lash out at anyone who comes near you. It’s exhausting.”

Jack’s hands tightened on the wheels of his chair. “You think you know me? You have no idea what it’s like to lose everything.”

Sophia stood, her voice rising. “No, Jack, I don’t know what it’s like to lose everything. But I do know what it’s like to be told you’ll never amount to anything, to be treated like you’re worthless by the people who are supposed to love you.”

Her words hung in the air, cutting through the tension like a knife. For a moment, Jack said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then he scoffed, wheeling himself toward the window.

“You agreed to this sham of a marriage for your own reasons, Sophia. Don’t pretend you care about me or what I’m going through.”

Sophia crossed her arms. “You’re right. I didn’t agree to this because I care about you. But that doesn’t mean I don’t see the person you could be if you stopped wallowing and started fighting.”

Jack laughed bitterly. “Fighting for what? My legs are useless. My life is over.”

Sophia’s gaze softened, but her voice remained firm. “Your life isn’t over, Jack. It’s just... different now. But if you keep clinging to this bitterness, you’ll never see the possibilities.”

Jack turned his chair to face her, his eyes blazing. “And what would you know about possibilities? You’re just a pawn in your parents’ game, Sophia. Don’t lecture me about fighting when you’ve clearly given up on yourself.”

The words stung, but Sophia didn’t flinch. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice low but steady. “I haven’t given up, Jack. That’s why I’m here. And whether you believe it or not, I think there’s a way for you to walk again.”

Jack froze, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. “What did you just say?”

“I said I believe you can walk again,” Sophia repeated, her tone unwavering.

Jack shook his head, laughing humorlessly. “You’re delusional. Do you think some pep talk is going to magically fix me? The doctors were very clear, Sophia. I’m never going to walk again.”

“I’m not talking about what the doctors said,” she replied, her voice quiet but insistent.

“What, then?” Jack snapped. “Some miracle cure? A magic potion? Don’t insult me.”

Sophia hesitated, searching his face for any sign of openness. “There’s something I can do... but it’s not something I can explain easily. You’ll have to trust me.”

Jack’s expression hardened. “Trust you? You expect me to believe that you, of all people, have some secret solution to my problem?”

“Yes,” Sophia said simply.

Her calm certainty caught him off guard. For the first time, he looked at her closely, searching for any sign of deception. But her eyes held only sincerity.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered, turning his chair away.

“It’s not,” Sophia said, stepping closer. “You’ve already decided that your life is over, Jack. What do you have to lose by trusting me?”

Jack’s hands tightened on the arms of his chair. He wanted to dismiss her, to accuse her of playing some cruel game. But a tiny flicker of hope had lodged itself in his chest, no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.

“What are you suggesting?” he asked finally, his voice low.

“I can’t explain everything right now,” Sophia said. “But I need you to believe that it’s possible. That you can walk again.”

Jack turned to face her, his skepticism clear. “You’re asking for blind faith. I don’t have that kind of luxury, Sophia.”

“I’m not asking for blind faith,” she replied. “I’m asking for a chance. Let me help you, Jack. If I’m wrong, you can go back to wallowing in bitterness. But if I’m right…”

Her words trailed off, leaving the unspoken promise hanging in the air.

Jack stared at her, his mind racing. Every instinct told him to dismiss her, to cling to the certainty of his anger and despair. But deep down, he couldn’t deny the part of him that wanted to believe her.

“Fine,” he said finally, his voice clipped. “I’ll give you a chance. But if this is some kind of joke—”

“It’s not,” Sophia interrupted. “You won’t regret it.” Sophia said walking out of the room without turning back