Chapter 2

** Unraveling Truths**

The reception hall, once a vision of elegance with its sparkling chandeliers and pristine table settings, now felt like a hollow shell. The guests, awkwardly sipping champagne and murmuring in hushed tones, were an uneasy reminder of the chaos that had erupted at the chapel. The cheerful clinking of glasses and the soft melody of the string quartet were drowned by the tension that gripped the room.

Sophia sat at the head table, her eyes glazed as she stared at the untouched cake adorned with delicate sugar roses. Every inch of the hall screamed celebration, but all she could feel was a gnawing emptiness. Jason’s sudden appearance had answered nothing; instead, it had unearthed more questions, each more damning than the last.

Jason stood a few feet away, talking in low tones with Ava, who still looked shaken. Sophia watched them, the bitter taste of betrayal heavy on her tongue. She couldn’t shake the image of Jason’s hardened expression at the chapel, his words echoing in her mind.

**Jason** turned towards her, his face a mix of guilt and frustration. “Sophia, we need to talk.”

Sophia folded her arms, her gaze icy. “Talk? Now you want to talk? After you humiliated me in front of everyone?”

Jason sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I thought—”

“You thought what?” Sophia snapped, her voice breaking. “That you could just walk away and leave me to pick up the pieces? You didn’t even have the decency to face me, Jason. You left a note.”

“I know,” Jason said quietly. “I was scared, alright? I’ve been getting these messages—threats—telling me things about us, about you. They said you were hiding something from me.”

Sophia’s eyes widened. “Messages? From who?”

Jason shook his head. “I don’t know. I thought it was just cold feet at first, but then the clinic report showed up in my car. It was like someone was trying to push me into a corner.”

Ava stepped forward, her face pale. “Sophia, I swear I didn’t give him the report. I only told him you were planning a surprise.”

Sophia’s mind raced. The clinic report had been in her bag the night before the wedding, but now she couldn’t remember when she had last seen it. She glanced between Jason and Ava, a sinking feeling in her stomach. There was a missing piece, a secret hanging just out of reach.

“Who else knew about the baby?” Sophia asked, her voice trembling. “I hadn’t even told my family yet.”

Jason hesitated, glancing around as if the walls had ears. “I don’t know. But whoever it is, they don’t want us together.”

Sophia clenched her fists, anger bubbling to the surface. “So you just ran? You didn’t even ask me?”

“I didn’t know what to believe!” Jason snapped, his voice cracking with frustration. “One minute I’m thinking about our future, and the next I’m finding out about a baby I didn’t even know existed, and someone’s telling me you’re not who I think you are.”

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. “Not who you think I am? What the hell does that mean?”

Jason looked pained, his eyes searching hers. “They said… they said the baby might not be mine.”

The room fell silent, the tension thickening. Sophia’s vision blurred with tears of anger and disbelief. She stepped back, her heart pounding. “How could you even think that?”

Jason’s face contorted with regret. “Sophia, I—”

“No,” Sophia interrupted, her voice firm. “You don’t get to question me like this. You left me standing at the altar because of some anonymous threats? Some lies?”

Ava reached out, but Sophia pulled away, her trust shattered. She turned, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor as she walked away from the table, each step echoing her defiance. She needed air, space—anything to escape the suffocating sense of betrayal.

She pushed open the heavy glass doors and stepped out onto the terrace, the cool night air biting against her skin. Sophia gripped the railing, staring out into the darkness. Her mind was a whirlwind of doubt and pain, every thought pulling her deeper into a pit of uncertainty.

As she took a deep breath, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. **Ethan**, Jason’s estranged brother, stood leaning casually against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His eyes were sharp, watching her with an intensity that made her uneasy.

“I heard there was drama,” Ethan said, his voice smooth and taunting. “Never thought I’d see Jason screw up this bad, though.”

Sophia turned to face him, wiping away the tears that clung to her lashes. “This isn’t the time, Ethan.”

Ethan shrugged, flicking ash from his cigarette. “Oh, but it is. You see, this little mess? It’s just the beginning. Jason’s not the only one who’s been getting messages.”

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you talking about?”

Ethan stepped closer, a sly smile tugging at his lips. “You think those threats were random? Whoever’s pulling the strings here—they’ve been watching you. Watching all of us. And trust me, sweetheart, they know more than you think.”

Sophia’s blood ran cold, her grip tightening on the railing. Ethan’s words hung heavy in the air, a sinister promise of more secrets yet to be uncovered. She stared at him, her mind racing. Who was behind this? And what did they really want?

As Ethan’s cryptic warning echoed in her ears, Sophia realized she was entangled in a web far more dangerous than she had ever imagined. The truth was out there, buried under layers of deceit and hidden agendas. And now, she had to decide—uncover the secrets that threatened to destroy her, or walk away before it was too late.