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Chapter 9 – Under the Spotlight
Last Updated:
2024-12-04 01:03:38
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The muffled ticking of the clock echoes in the living room, each second feeling like another beat pounding in my head. The whiskey in the almost-empty glass in my hand should have silenced the confusion that has followed me since the moment we left the event.But it hasn’t.I lean back on the leather couch, staring at the ceiling with a frustration I can’t explain. The night was supposed to be a simple public display, a formality to keep up appearances. Sophia was supposed to play the perfect wife, and I, the husband everyone expects me to be.And she did. Perfectly.Sophia Carter… no, Sophia Hawthorne now. A woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a piece in a carefully calculated game. An alliance to avoid a public scandal.But nothing about her is simple.The black dress she wore, that unwavering gaze that met every malicious comment… and the way she confronted Olivia.She surprised me. Again.And then came Louis Mitchell.The memory of his smiletoo easy, too confidentmakes
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AlexanderAttending social events should be as simple as it’s always been. I’m used to playing the role of the ruthless man, the flawless businessman, in these environments. It’s my comfort zone. But since I married Sophia, nothing feels simple anymore.We’re at a refined restaurant, where a select group of investors discusses deals over crystal glasses and linen napkins. A night to close partnerships, maintain appearances, and reinforce my image. Sophia is by my side, wearing an elegant burgundy dress. The fabric molds to her curves subtly, without exaggeration, but enough to draw attention. And those glances bother me more than I’d anticipated.She’s more reserved than before, yet her presence doesn’t go unnoticed. Many are curious about our sudden marriage, and though I feign indifference, I can’t ignore how her natural charm sparks curiosity and, to my growing irritation, interest.“I need to speak with Mr. Mendez about the European branch contract. I won’t be long,” I inform her,
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Part I – SophiaThe soft evening breeze still carries the aroma of the restaurant where we dined. The city sparkles below us as Alexander and I return to the penthouse in a silence that isn’t awkward but thick with unspoken expectations. For days, I’ve felt our relationship shifting, one small step at a time. The kiss we shared earlier, the MacBook he gifted me this morning, the way he smiled as he watched me write… all of it forms a mosaic of someone entirely different from the cold, calculated man I first met.We enter the living room, and the soft lights cast gentle shadows on the walls. I slip off my shoes with a sigh of relief, while he loosens his tie and shuts the door behind us. We’re alone now—no audience, no curious gazes. Just us.“Dinner was wonderful,” I say, my voice calm, almost timid.“Yes, it was,” he replies in a low voice. “You seemed happy.”“It was… nice to talk without any pressure,” I admit, offering a faint smile.Alexander steps closer. There’s a care in the w
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SophiaThe news of Leo’s arrival came through a brief warning. He had called the doorman, announcing he was at the entrance and demanding to come up. My first reaction was relief that he had sought me out, but it was quickly replaced by a growing anxiety. I knew he wasn’t coming for good reasons.It didn’t take long for the doorbell to ring, and when I opened it, Leo stormed in like a hurricane. He didn’t ask for permission, didn’t wait for an invitation. He simply barged into the penthouse, his eyes brimming with fury as they scanned the luxurious surroundings.“So this is where you’re living now?” he began, his tone dripping with contempt. “A palace while I was left in that dump!”“Leo, please, keep your voice down,” I urged, closing the door and glancing quickly down the hall. I knew Alexander was home, and the last thing I wanted was for him to witness this family drama.“Don’t tell me to keep my voice down, Sophia!” he exploded, turning to me with a finger pointed. “You abandoned
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SophiaThe morning began with a heavy weight on my shoulders. I knew visiting my mother wouldn’t be easy, but the tension built with every mile on the way to the hospital. Leo had visited Eleanor before me, and just the thought of what he might have told her made my stomach churn.When I arrived at her room, her expression confirmed my fears. Eleanor Carter, even frail and pale, had the same sharp, cutting gaze as always. She didn’t need to say a word for me to know she was about to emotionally tear me apart.“So, the illustrious Mrs. Hawthorne has finally decided to appear,” she began, her voice hoarse but laced with unmistakable sarcasm.“Mother, please.” I sighed, trying not to let her tone affect me. I placed my purse on the chair beside her bed and sat down. “I came to visit, like I always do.”“Don’t give me excuses, Sophia,” she snapped, turning her head to look at me. “Leo told me. You married a billionaire. A powerful, wealthy man. And you didn’t even bother to tell me.”“Mot
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SophiaThe day had arrived, and I felt a tightness in my chest as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a light blue dress, elegant but discreet, trying to convey the image of someone who had her life under control. However, my inner self told a different story. My mother, Eleanor, had asked—no, demanded—to meet Alexander, and I knew that the dinner would be anything but pleasant.Since her health had improved, thanks to the top-notch hospital treatment I managed to pay for with Alexander’s generous money, Eleanor had been sharper than ever. She emerged from the hospital with renewed energy and the same inclination for emotional manipulation. Leo, meanwhile, seemed to be simply enjoying what he considered my lucky break. The apartment Alexander had provided for them was spacious, modern, and located in a great part of the city, yet Leo complained incessantly.“You live in a palace while I’m stuck here,” he said the day before, when I went to visit the two of them. I h
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