Staring at the man before her, Sophia Reed realized it had been a long time since she last saw her husband, Alexander Kane.

The last time had been in her private clinic — when he brought Vanessa Cole in for a wellness treatment.

He’d looked at Vanessa with tenderness, yet when his eyes fell on Sophia, there had been only disgust.

“Sophia, you make me sick.”

Tonight was the Kane patriarch’s 80th birthday gala, and the reception hall was filled with laughter and champagne flutes.

Sophia knew Alexander didn’t want to see her, but some things still needed to be said — especially now that the divorce papers were already signed.

Just as she was about to approach the Kane grandmother, a familiar voice stopped her.

“Sophia.”

Vanessa stepped in front of her, holding up her phone. On the screen was a pregnancy test report.

“Look, my child is the heir to the Kane family.”

Sophia froze, her gaze shifting from the report to Vanessa’s belly. Beneath the tight evening gown, it was unmistakably rounded.

So the last “wellness treatment” had been for fertility preparation.

“Do you know why Alexander doesn’t come home anymore?”

Vanessa’s voice dripped with mockery. Seeing that Sophia stayed silent, she smiled smugly.

“Because you’re filthy.”

The words hit Sophia like a knife.

She had loved Alexander since she was young. During their three-year marriage, she had cooked for him, cared for his home, tried to be the perfect wife.

But no matter how hard she tried, his heart always belonged to Vanessa Cole — his first love.

Seeing Sophia remain quiet, Vanessa took a step forward.

“You really live up to your name — humiliated and worthless. Just step aside already.”

Her face twisted with malice.

“If it hadn’t been for your Reed family’s scheming, if you hadn’t tricked the Kane grandmother, I would be Mrs. Kane right now.”

“Sophia Reed, you deserve to die.”

She grabbed Sophia’s wrist. Sophia, startled, instinctively pulled back.

Vanessa screamed as she stumbled backward, crashing into a tower of crystal champagne glasses — not without yanking Sophia down with her.

Crash!

Glass shattered, and crimson spread across the marble floor.

Sophia fell too, landing hard beside her.

“Ah! She’s killing her!” someone screamed.

Alexander rushed forward.

“Alex…” Vanessa gasped weakly, “It’s not her fault. I slipped… Sophia didn’t mean to…”

She gave Sophia one last glance before fainting.

Alexander’s fury was ice-cold. He glared down at Sophia, voice trembling with rage.

“Why did you push her?”

The accusation drained all color from Sophia’s face.

Without another glance, Alexander scooped Vanessa into his arms and stormed away.

Moments later, Sophia was dragged into the study.

The noise from the gala faded. Only sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains when Alexander returned, tossing a stack of papers onto the desk.

“I was planning to give this to you after the party. Sign it now.”

Sophia flipped through the divorce agreement — the compensation was generous: thirty million dollars and two downtown apartments.

Her heart sank.

“Is this because of Vanessa?”

Her voice quivered. “It wasn’t my fault. I can prove my innocence. I’ll call the police—”

“Enough!” he snapped. “Haven’t you embarrassed me enough already? I don’t have time for this.”

Sophia’s frail body wavered; she clutched the edge of the desk, tears trembling in her eyes.

“Alexander… are we really divorcing?”

He gave her a look of contempt.

“Three years as Mrs. Kane wasn’t enough for you?”

The words cut deeper than any knife.

To him, she was just a woman who had married for money.

“Sign it.”

He turned and walked away, leaving her in silence.

Through blurred vision, Sophia dialed a number she hadn’t called in years.

“Brother… it’s me. I want to come home.”

A pause. Then a sigh.

“Alright. I’ll come get you.”

No questions, no judgment — only quiet concern.

For Alexander, she had crossed an ocean, stolen her family’s legal documents, and given up a prestigious position at a top medical center.

Now, as she stepped out of the room, she saw her luggage thrown carelessly down the stairs.

Her brown suitcase lay open, clothes scattered everywhere — and among them, the shattered pieces of a mahogany box.

Inside were her stethoscope and medical instruments, now scattered across the marble.

Ignoring everything else, she knelt and carefully gathered them, heart aching.

She hadn’t used this box much since marrying into the Kane family — but it was still her treasure.

When she looked up, someone was standing over her.

A woman leaned lazily against the doorway, phone in hand, looking down at her with a smirk.

“Finally decided to show up? Pack your cheap junk and get out. We don’t need you lowering the Kane family’s class when Vanessa becomes Mrs. Kane.”

“Vanessa…?” Sophia whispered, her heart twisting painfully.

Her fingers clenched around the stethoscope — hard enough that her knuckles went white.

So it was true. Alexander and Vanessa were together.

“Just so you know,” sneered Clara Kane, “Vanessa never actually left my brother. The inheritance trust from Grandma has already been transferred. You’re worthless to the Kane family now.”

She scrolled lazily through her phone. “Leave. Don’t waste my time.”

Clara was twenty-eight, twice divorced, notorious for her affairs and indolence.

To her, Sophia was nothing more than a gold digger — the woman who had bewitched the Kane grandmother into forcing Alexander’s marriage for inheritance rights.

Her disdain turned venomous.

“Still dreaming of your fairytale? Without the Kane family, you’re nothing.”

A trophy wife?

Sophia almost laughed.

After placing her instruments back in the box, she rose and followed Clara inside.

Clara had just started another mobile game when Sophia suddenly snatched the phone from her hand.

Smack!

The device hit the floor, screen cracked.

“You bitch! Are you out of your mind?” Clara screamed, lunging forward.

She wasn’t strong — multiple miscarriages had left her frail — and within seconds, Sophia had pinned her down.

Slap!

“If it weren’t for me, your brother would’ve been dead a hundred times over! Who’s the ungrateful one here?”

“You dare hit me?” Clara shrieked.

Another slap.

“I cooked for you, cleaned for you, treated your illnesses — and you call me a trophy wife? Your family is the real parasite!”

“You— you lunatic!”

Clara’s scream turned into a sob. She hadn’t expected the gentle Sophia to snap.

“Siri, call my brother! Now!”

By the time Alexander rushed back, the room was chaos.

Both women were disheveled, bruised, and furious.

“Look at her!” Clara wailed. “Is that how your wife behaves? Like some gutter woman!”

“Sophia,” Alexander’s voice was low and seething. “Apologize to my sister.”

Sophia gave a bitter laugh.

“Apologize? To them?”

She looked at the man she once loved, her heart hollow.

“I must’ve been blind.”

“Apologize. Now.”

Tears burned her eyes, but she held them back.

Instead, she straightened, took out a few folded pages, and spoke quietly — almost peacefully.

“Alexander Kane — let’s divorce.”

“And remember — it’s me, Sophia Reed, who doesn’t want you.”

“From this day on, we’re strangers.”

She flung the divorce papers into his face, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out.

Alexander stood frozen. When he finally reacted, she was already gone.

Bang!

His fist slammed into the wall.

“That damn woman.”

Outside the Kane Mansion, a sleek Alfa Romeo was parked at the gate.

Sophia recognized the plate, smiled faintly, and got in.

“Welcome back, Sophia.”

The deep male voice carried a note of warmth she hadn’t heard in years.

Sophia let out a soft laugh and threw herself into the man’s arms.

“Ethan, I missed you.”

Her second brother, Ethan Reed, chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately.

“Do you need me to teach that jerk a lesson?”

“No need.”

Sophia’s voice trembled. She sniffled, forcing back her tears.

“From now on, the eldest daughter of the Reed family is back. There’s no more Mrs. Kane.”

“That’s my girl,” Ethan said softly. “You’re the jewel of this family. You don’t need to suffer for anyone.”

“Dad and everyone are waiting at home.”

He wiped the tears from her eyes.

As the car pulled away, Sophia glanced back at the Cole Villa, her expression firm and cold.

Meanwhile, at the Kane Mansion, Alexander sat in silence.

The image of Sophia’s tear-streaked face haunted him.

He rubbed his temples — he must have lost his mind to still be thinking about that “vicious” woman.

The phone rang.

“Speak.”

“Mr. Kane, Miss Cole’s having another bleeding episode—”

Without hesitation, Alexander grabbed his coat and left.

Moments later, he arrived at the VIP suite of a Manhattan hospital.

Vanessa lay pale and weak on the bed.

“What happened?”

“Mr. Kane,” said his assistant James Quinn, bowing slightly, “Miss Cole heard about what happened at the mansion and insisted on finding you. Miss Carter tried to stop her, but she fainted from stress. The doctor’s checked her — the pregnancy isn’t stable. He suggested calling the Ghost Doctor, but… she’s been missing for over three years.”

James’s voice trailed off. The air around Alexander turned frigid.

“From now on, I want updates on Vanessa immediately.”

James nodded but hesitated again.

“There’s… something else. About Mrs. Kane.”

Alexander’s brows furrowed.

“Say it.”

“All traces of her — her photos, her records — they’re gone. It’s as if she never existed.”

Alexander’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Find her.”

So the woman had found someone else already?

Back in New York City, at the Reed Estate, Ethan and Sophia stepped inside.

An elderly man with silver hair hurried toward them, voice trembling.

“Why… why didn’t you come home sooner? My child…”

He studied her face, tears glimmering in his eyes.

“Dad…”

Her voice cracked.

Three years — and her father, Mr. Reed, looked so much older. Each wrinkle seemed carved by her absence.

“Come now, Reed,” said a calm male voice beside them.

Sophia turned — it was Adrian Scott, the family’s business partner and Alexander’s fiercest rival.

But she remembered meeting him once before — at a fashion event with Ethan. She had tripped on the stairs, and he had caught her.

He’d smelled faintly of cedar and cold air — like his expression, distant yet strangely familiar.

She had thanked him. He had frowned and replied flatly,

“It was nothing.”

Now, looking into his deep eyes again, Sophia felt that same inexplicable familiarity.

Her lips parted, but no words came.

“You’ve been gone for years,” Adrian said quietly. “Spend time with your family. They’ve missed you.”

Sophia’s cheeks warmed with shame. She had been too stubborn — too selfish.

“Get our guest some water,” Mr. Reed said kindly.

Sophia poured a glass and handed it to Adrian.

“Thank you for everything these years,” she said softly. “Please, have some water.”