Chapter 1: Divorce Papers

Sophia’s Point of View

“Katrina, do you have the papers ready?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t help it. I had waited too long for this day—two years, to be exact.

Katrina, my assistant and closest confidant, stood in the doorway of my office, holding a thick envelope in her hands. “They’re here. Everything’s set for your signature.” She hesitated for a second before stepping forward. “Are you sure about this, Sophia? Once you sign them, there’s no going back.”

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

For two years, I had lived in the shadow of a contract marriage. A marriage that wasn’t born out of love, but necessity. My grandmother, in her final days, had pushed me into it. She didn’t mean to be cruel—her heart was in the right place. She wanted to see me secure, married to a man who could give me the stability she feared I couldn’t find on my own. So, James Dalton, the third son of the powerful Dalton family, was chosen. He needed connections for his enterprise to thrive in New York City, and my grandmother’s influence offered him exactly that. In return, I got the illusion of a husband, one who never showed up, never called, and never played the role.

For two long years, we remained bound by that contract, existing in separate worlds. He focused solely on his company, expanding his empire while I remained a silent, invisible wife. And me? I wasn’t just sitting idle. I built my own empire, in secret, growing into a woman who didn’t need anyone—not him, not anyone.

Now, it was time to end it.

“I’m not waiting anymore, Katrina. I’ve waited long enough.”

I walked toward the large windows of my office, the city skyline stretching out before me, and the sunlight filtering in. New York had always been a city of opportunity, and I’d made sure to seize it. My reflection in the glass had changed. I wasn’t the wide-eyed girl who signed those papers two years ago. No more innocence, no more hiding. I was ready to confront the world—and James.

Turning back, I gave Katrina a nod. “Prepare the cash. I want $10 million ready to hand over to him.”

Katrina’s brows shot up. “Wait, you’re giving him alimony? You’re offering to pay *him*?”

I smirked. “That’s right. I want to be clear—I don’t need anything from him. Not his name, not his money, and certainly not his pity. I’m walking away from this marriage as the woman I should have been all along. He underestimated me, Katrina. He thought I’d be content being a name on paper. Well, he’s about to see that I’m worth far more than that.”

Katrina still looked skeptical. “You don’t think he’ll be surprised by the check?”

“Oh, he’ll be surprised, alright. And I want to deliver it myself. I want to see the look on his face when he realizes I’ve been playing a far bigger game than he ever thought.”

Katrina let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You really are a force of nature, Sophia. I’ll make sure everything’s ready.”

As she left the room, I leaned back in my chair, staring at the unsigned divorce papers on my desk. This was it. The final step.

I thought back to the day my grandmother had brought me the proposal. She had been so frail, her health deteriorating by the day. Her biggest concern was me—her only granddaughter. She had grown up in a time when marriage was a woman’s greatest security, and she had spent her last years ensuring I would have that, even if it wasn’t built on love. I had agreed for her sake, even though every part of me knew it wasn’t what I wanted.

But I had no regrets. The marriage may have been a contract, but it had taught me everything I needed to know about myself. And now, with my grandmother gone, I was finally free to make my own choices.

I stood up and walked toward the mirror in the corner of the room. My reflection stared back at me, and I barely recognized myself. Gone were the soft curls and the gentle makeup. I had traded them in for sleek, straight hair, bold eyeliner, and a tailored suit that screamed confidence. I looked powerful—strong, exactly as I needed to be for the meeting ahead.

No more hiding. No more pretending. It was time to show James—and the world—who Sophia Reed truly was.

By the time Katrina returned, I was ready. She handed me the envelope with the papers and the documents showing the $10 million transfer. “Are you nervous?” she asked, handing me the check that I would give James in person.

“Not at all,” I replied, exhaling slowly. “I’m excited.”

As I held the envelope in my hand, a strange calm settled over me. This wasn’t the end of something—it was the beginning. My future was no longer tied to a man who didn’t care, no longer bound by a contract signed out of obligation.

Today, I was reclaiming my life.

“I’ll send the divorce papers to his office now, and tomorrow, I’ll meet him. In person. He deserves that much.” I smiled again, this time with a confidence I hadn’t felt in years. “It’s time to close this chapter, Katrina.”

Katrina gave me a knowing look, one of approval mixed with admiration. “James won’t know what hit him.”

I laughed, genuinely this time. “No, he won’t. But I’m looking forward to watching him try and figure it out.”

And with that, I took one last look at the city outside my window, then straightened my posture. It was time to step out of the shadows and into the light—on my terms, no longer tethered by anyone else’s expectations.

Tomorrow, James Dalton would see a whole new Sophia Reed. And for the first time, it would be on my terms.