Sophia’s POV

I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something.

I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything.

My heart thumped hard against my chest as we gazed at one another — strangers who’d been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby.

But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized.

“I want a divorce,” I repeated, keeping my voice steady. “I’m serious.”

Slowly he nodded. “Yes, sure,” he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom.

My chest felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away.

This is it. I’m going to be free.

And yet somehow, I didn’t feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth — he never loved me at all. He’s not even upset about the divorce!

I sighed. It’s time for me to move on.

The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. “We should sign this,” I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers.

He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same.

“Elijah, please,” I whispered, making sure my voice wouldn’t break. “Let's end this.”

His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didn’t sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently.

Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serena’s name, making my chest tighten. I can’t believe this woman’s timing!

But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didn’t want to answer it because I was in the room with him.

A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my chest. “Why don’t you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.”

He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room.

Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings — relief, frustration, anger, sadness.

“I’m finally free,” I murmured to myself incredulously.

While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, “The morning’s almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.”

With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. “Sorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.”

Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her chest and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly.

I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesn’t matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely!

But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. “You know what? It's actually quite nice,” she said, her tone almost mocking. “Elijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!”

Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. I’m done here. I’m done with all this.

Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after I lost my baby, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me.

That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. “Luckily I hadn’t sold it,” I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him.

Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla.

It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla:

Damn that Elijah! You have no idea what I saw! Elijah was out partying and flirting with that bitch, which he never did with you! Major Asshole!

My heart sank, anger and sadness clouded my mind as I realized he was indeed getting back together with Serena and flaunting her around.

Forcing back my tears, I told Kayla:

It’s over between me and Elijah. We were divorced.

Sophia’s POV

“Aaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!” Kayla hissed. “If I had known he’d treat you like that, I wouldn’t have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldn’t have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!”

Being the daughter of Raven Media’s renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too.

“You should have seen them at the party last night!” she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look.

“They didn’t even care that I was there! They were just… Aaahhh! I really couldn’t take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!”

“Oh, wow,” I uttered in disbelief. “But it’s over now, Kayla. I’m doing my best to move on.”

Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. “I’m always here for you, Sophia. You know that.”

“Thanks so much. I’m really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,” I responded with a fluttering heart.

“Well, you’ve always had my back even in high school. So now it’s my turn to return the favor.”

Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. We’d hit it off at once, and the rest was history.

“Anyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesn’t deserve you, Sophia,” she went on. “So what are you planning now?”

“Well, I’ve been giving it some thought…” I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. “A few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in France—”

“You did not!” she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. “This will surely be your big break!”

I laughed. “I haven’t been accepted yet, you know.”

“Oh, but you will be!”

Kayla’s enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself.

But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijah’s name popping up on the screen. I froze up.

Kayla’s eyes narrowed when she saw it too. “Go ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.”

As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijah’s sharp tone of voice on the other end. “You filed for our divorce, and now your family wants money from me?! Unbelievable!”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“You know I’m busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!” Elijah railed angrily.

I felt mortified and helpless. “I’ll talk to Troy.”

“Good. Make sure he doesn’t come back again ever.” Then he hung up.

I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak for a while. My family's constant demands for money had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and abuse Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting.

“Sorry I have to go now, Kayla,” I said, bravely deciding to act immediately.

She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye.

I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved to after my adoptive father Tom Bennett passed away. He’d left me the original house where he’d taken care of me like his real own child.

But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. They’d bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan.

Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. “What the hell did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!”

Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall.

“It was never going to work out,” I said, trying to maintain my composure. “Just please stop bothering him. We’ve cut our ties. You can’t ask for money from him anymore.”

“Oh, man!” Troy exclaimed with frustration.

Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family.

At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for money, he became impatient and angry.

One time, they even borrowed money in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me.

“Did you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!” Brenda said, looking desperate.

Troy scoffed. “When I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. I’m guessing there’s a third party involved! People who don’t know better would think that woman is his wife!”

Sophia’s POV

My chest felt like it would explode any time now. “It doesn’t matter,” I eventually said to Troy. “It’s none of my business now. I don’t care what he does with that woman or with whomever.”

Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, “We’re definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for money! Just stop!”

“But…” Brenda began to protest.

I raised my hand to stop her. “Elijah and I are over. Besides, I’ll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijah’s money, then now you won’t have any more need for me, right?”

They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once.

“All the money that you swindled out of my ex-husband’s pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,” I went on in a steady voice. “We don’t have to see or talk to each other ever again.”

On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab.

All of this drama’s taking a toll on me, I guess.

But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadn’t fully recovered since the loss.

“Could you please take me to the hospital?” I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility.

The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach.

I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me.

Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man.

“Are you okay? You look like you're about to faint,” he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features.

“Oh, wait! It’s you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?”

I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. “Uh, Daniel?” I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me.

“Yes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.”

I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well.

As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside.

The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms.

“How are you feeling now?” Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area.

“A little better, but still kinda dizzy,” I answered honestly. “Thanks for the assistance, but it’s okay if you have somewhere to be. You’ve already done too much for me.”

“Oh, it’s okay,” he said with a smile. “Unless you don’t want me here.”

“It’s nothing like that, of course!” I quickly replied. “Thanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while I’m here.”

“Well, I’m all ears. People say I’m a good listener.”

I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment.

Chuckling, I said, “I don’t really know you, Daniel…”

“You know my name. That’s a start.” His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up.

“I remember… Daniel Pierce…” I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. “High school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.”

He laughed. “You’ve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too — the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.”

I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. “You’re joking!”

“No, it’s true… Really! I’m sure you’ve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?”

He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. “Good-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.”

“Oh.” His expression changed immediately. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“You know, it's been a rough few months,” I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. “I'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for money from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.”

Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue.

“And then I lost my baby...It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?”

He nodded in understanding. “I’m so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. I’m sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?”

“Yeah, starting anew in a foreign land,” I answered, thinking about my application in France.

“Hmm… sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. “It takes courage to make such a big change.”

I smiled weakly. “Actually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.”

Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Paris…”

My jaw dropped. “What? I’m planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!”

He looked at me with astonishment. “What are the odds, huh? Looks like we’ll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.”

I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. “That’s really… something else.”

“Surely you’ll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?”

“The Latin Quarter, of course. I’m looking at an apartment there, since it’s where most students live.”

Daniel chuckled. “And it looks like we’ll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “Who knows? Maybe we’re destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Let’s fly together. I mean, if that’s alright with you?”

His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. “Thank you, Daniel…”

Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic.

“Miss Sophia Bennett?” she informed me. “Your test results are here.”