All Chapters of It's Pay Back Time, My Ex-Husband!: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Sophia’s heels clicked sharply against the polished floor as she strode into the high-class bar, the doors slide open effortlessly in front of her. She was done with the day, done with the lies, the drama, and most of all, done with them. "Vanessa? Really?" she muttered to herself, feeling the burn of humiliation deep in her chest. Her ex-husband's affair had taken center stage in her life, and Vanessa, the girlfriend, had been flaunting it for all to see. Sophia could barely breathe without someone whispering behind her back, throwing the blame on her like she had somehow been the one to ruin everything. The bar was quiet, an escape from the chaos outside, the dim lighting making it feel like she was stepping into another world entirely. She moved toward the counter, trying to steady her shaking hands. She settled onto a barstool, signaling the bartender. "Whiskey, neat," she said, her voice surprisingly calm, though inside, it was anything but. The bartender didn’t questi

“You’re letting them win, Sophia.” Her father’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—a fury he barely masked. Sophia sat slumped on the couch, her face is pale and devoid of the spark it used to have. She didn’t even glance up at him. “What do you want me to do, Dad? Fight them in court? Waste more money just to hear people say that Julian and Vanessa are saints and I’m the bitter ex-wife?” she muttered, running her fingers through her unkempt hair. Her Dad crossed his arms and stared at her for a long moment. “No. I want you to stop giving up.” Sophia scoffed, leaning back into the cushions. “Easier said than done. You don’t have the entire country laughing at you. I do. Every time I step out, people whisper about how pathetic I am. And Julian…he just gets to live his life with her, like his son never existed.” His Dad's’s jaw tightened. “You still have people who care about you, Sophia. Jamella and I aren’t going anywhere. And your son—” “My son doesn’t even

Alexander’s lips curved into a small smile as he stared at the photo on his phone screen. It was a candid shot taken at Grant's mansion. Sophia, her son, and himself sitting together at the carpet, laughter frozen in time. The image looked deceptively like a family portrait, and Alexander couldn’t stop himself from repeatedly glancing at it. “They could be mine,” he murmured under his breath, his thumb brushing over Sophia’s face on the screen. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Not even close.” Still, he couldn’t deny the warmth spreading in his chest as he stared at her. Sophia’s laughter in the picture was genuine, unguarded—something he rarely saw these days. His gaze lingered on her solo shot, taken later that same day. Her soft smile,—it did something to him. His pulse quickened, betraying emotions he hadn’t fully acknowledged until now. And then anger simmered beneath the surface. Her ex-husband, Julian, had destroyed so much of her trust, wasted so much of what she h

“Why does it always come back to her?” Vanessa muttered under her breath as she leaned against the cold brick wall outside the venue. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses echoed through the door, but all she could hear was the thudding pulse of frustration in her ears.“Ms. Vanessa?” A voice cut through her thoughts. It was one of the guests, actually her friend. “You okay?”“Do I look okay?” Vanessa snapped, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean, seriously..." Vanessa replied, crossing her arms tightly. “It’s like he’s still tied to her in some way. I thought he’d moved on!”Inside, Julian was nursing his wine, his gaze drifting across the room to where Sophia stood with Alexander.“Look at her,” he muttered to himself, clenching his glass. “She thinks she’s won.”“Who?” Ben chimed in, sliding into the seat beside him. “You mean Sophia? Come on, man. You’re not going to let her get under your skin like this. Besides, don't tell me you're regretting everythin

As the night wore on, Sophia and Alexander found a quiet corner of the venue, the hum of music and laughter fading into the background. Sophia leaned against the wall, her heart still racing from the confrontation with Julian. Although she had felt empowered in that moment, an undercurrent of anxiety tugged at her. “Are you okay?” Alexander asked, his voice gentle as he studied her expression. “I think so,” she replied, taking a deep breath. “It’s just… I didn’t expect him to confront me like that. It felt like everything I thought I’d left behind came rushing back.”Alexander stepped closer, his presence reassuring. “You stood your ground. That’s what matters. You showed him that you’re not afraid anymore.”“I appreciate you being here,” she said, meeting his gaze. “I don’t think I would have handled it so well without you.”He smiled, the warmth of it reaching his eyes. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You’ve been through so much, and yet here you are, standing