Sophia’s POV

Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away.

“Well, Sophia,” he began, his tone measured, “the results are in. Congratulations to you both.”

I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief.

“You’re going to be parents. Congratulations!” the doctor added.

I’m… pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child?

The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor.

“Other than that, you’re perfectly healthy, Sophia,” the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking.

My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real.

Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didn’t know what to say either.

“Let me drive you home, Sophia,” he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me.

I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad.

What the hell am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and I’m supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me.

Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again.

If I have this baby, it won’t have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I don’t have anyone to help me?

My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before.

This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby?

Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful.

As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. I’m so sorry, baby. It’s just all too sudden. But I know that I’m going to take care of you and love you with all my heart.

Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil.

Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrived—I had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

In just a week’s time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. “Call me when you get there!” she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters.

As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses.

The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me.

Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. “Everything will be okay,” he reassured me. “I'm here. We'll do this together.”

His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation.

I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, You’re my lucky charm, my baby.

By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me.

As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed past—the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops.

Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder.

Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below.

This was it—the start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile.

“Looks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,” he remarked, glancing back at me.

"Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied.

Daniel chuckled. “Just remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.”

I rolled my eyes. “I'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.”

He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. “I'm just saying, you’ll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!”

I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. “Oh, shut up.”

We both laughed. He added, “You need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.”

“Oh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?”

Daniel grinned. “Hey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.”

I playfully nudged him. “I think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.”

He appeared pleased with that statement. “Fair enough,” he answered with a teasing smile. “But you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.”

I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years.

Sighing, I went over to my bags. “Come on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.”

As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment.

“Hello?” I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode.

“Who the hell is this? Where's Sophia?” a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient.

My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me.

I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, “Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allowed to go anywh....”

I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath.

It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me.

Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care?

No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved?

Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety.

“Who is he?” Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question.

I sighed,

“My husband. No, ex-husband.”

Elijah’s POV

Who the hell was that man who’d answered her phone? I thought angrily, smoke coming out of my ears as I paced back and forth in my office. She can’t possibly be dating someone new already!

I couldn’t believe it. It just wasn’t like Sophia to forget me and move on that fast. It angered me so much, and at the same time, it squeezed my heart painfully, knowing that it might really be over between us now, that this wasn’t just some temper tantrum or momentary insanity on her part.

I remembered then how I’d overheard my assistant Connor apparently talking to a lawyer, his tone hushed but urgent.

I strained to listen, my heart pounding in my chest. That time, Sophia and I had just signed the divorce papers.

“...file this divorce as soon as possible,” Connor's voice was clear and determined.

I found it hard to believe. Sophia was truly in a hurry to get out of this marriage. I knew she was unhappy, but the finality of this step hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought that maybe it had just been some cruel joke, or she was just not thinking clearly.

At the time, I agreed to sign the divorce papers only because Sophia was acting very erratically. In a moment of shock, I went along with it.

What the hell is going on with her? I thought she would regret it. I didn't expect her to be so determined.

Since we lost our child, Sophia has been demoralized, and I can't comprehend why she sees Serena as an enemy.

There's nothing going on between me and Serena. Maybe if I explain things to her, she’ll understand and forgive me. She’ll come back to me.

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling greatly confused and stunned. It was also incredulous that she’d asked Connor to do it for her. I knew they had become friends over the years, but I never expected this.

Yet this could be a twist of luck for me that she’d asked Connor, I thought, hope surging within my heart. After I had stormed out of the house, I had begun having second thoughts. I wasn’t ready to let go yet.

Immediately, I talked to Connor then. “Connor, what date is it now?”

“July 10th,” he replied.

I looked up from the mess on my desk. “And when was the last time you saw Sophia?”

He paused for a while, thinking. “Uh, I believe about a month ago.”

“You have our divorce papers, right?” I started.

Connor’s eyes widened. He didn’t have a choice but to say yes.

“This is our marriage, Connor. You must understand that couples go through challenges in their relationship from time to time. I know we signed those papers, but perhaps we just got carried away…”

He was listening to me, nodding in agreement.

I took a deep breath and went on. “Can you give me the papers? I need to talk to Sophia again first.”

That memory was very fresh in my mind. Until now, Sophia had no idea that the divorce had not been filed. Connor didn’t tell her.

Now it’s time to speak to her. I’ve given her enough time to calm down, and now I need to see her.

Even if I’m pissed off that she may be seeing other men.

Maybe this time, I could try to persuade her. I wasn't sure where I had gone wrong, but I knew Sophia had a soft heart. All I had to do was apologize first, and then maybe she would come back to me.

I found myself rushing through the city to get to Brenda Bennett’s house. Maybe they could tell me where she was.

A few days ago, I’d already gone to where Sophia had moved after she left the house, but it was empty. I had no idea where she could have gone. Her best friend Kayla kept avoiding me too.

I needed to see her, to talk to her, to make things right.

“Elijah!” Brenda greeted me in a cheerful tone when she saw me. “What brings you here?”

I was straight to the point. “Hi. Do you know where Sophia is?”

Her face fell. “Not really. That woman is just so confused, so you have to understand her. But I know that she really loves you and —”

“Where is she?” I demanded, cutting her off. “I must talk to her.”

“Uhm… We haven’t seen her for a long time,” she finally admitted.

“What?!”

Suddenly, Sophia’s younger brother Troy came out. When he saw me, his lips turned up into a grin. “Hey, bro. How’ve you been? We miss you, man.” He was always like that, acting as if we were the best of buddies. But really, he was just after my money all the time.

“He’s looking for Sophia,” Brenda informed him with a meaningful look that wasn’t lost on me.

“Ohhh, you won’t find Sophia anywhere here,” Troy said, chuckling. “She probably left already to study abroad.”

“What?! When? Where?”

He shrugged, looking as if he was trying to rack his brain. Then his eyes lit up. “How much can I get for telling you which country she was planning to go to?”

Asshole, I silently thought, anger and frustration welling up inside me. “Forget it. I can hire private investigators, anyway.”

As soon as I turned around to leave, Troy called out, “It’s France!”

I stopped in my tracks as a shiver went through my limbs. She’s in France, I thought in alarm.

I was engulfed in shock and disbelief all at once. I hastily went inside my car and dialed her number again, feeling the steam coming out of my ears as my blood boiled.

“Why did you leave the country, Sophia?” I muttered furiously as I waited for the ring.

But to my bewilderment, no ring came. I heard an error tone, so I dialed again.

This time, an automated voice said, “Sorry, the number you dialed is not in service.”

Sophia’s POV

It had been almost three months since I arrived in France, and I couldn't believe how much my life had changed. The vibrant atmosphere, the rich culture, and the artistic ambiance of this city had truly worked their magic on me.

Initially, adjusting to life here was challenging. The language barrier, the unfamiliarity of everything, and being away from home weighed heavily on me. But gradually, I found my rhythm.

I had just entered the hall where visual displays by selected graduate students of Interior Design were being exhibited.

I was immediately greeted by a sea of familiar faces – friends, classmates, and professors – all smiling and congratulating me.

As I moved through the exhibit, the compliments kept coming. “Sophia, your designs are so innovative!” one classmate remarked. “I love how you play with light and space.”

“Thank you! I've been experimenting with new techniques,” I explained, eager to share my process.

Approaching my professor, I was met with a smile of approval. “Sophia, your work is exceptional. You have a bright future ahead of you,” he said, patting me on the back.

I smiled, beaming with pride and joy. Indeed, immersing myself in my studies has paid off very well. I’ve also jumped on all opportunities to take on creative pursuits, joining exhibits like this and even doing a side hustle designing hole-in-the-wall cafes and startup offices.

Last week, our school held a design competition, and to my surprise, I won first place. It was a validation of my talent and hard work, something I never really experienced back home since I got married.

Later on, I felt an arm around my shoulders. “Ready to celebrate, Miss Super Artist?” a familiar male voice said. I turned around to see Daniel grinning at me. “Come on, my treat.”

We headed out of the campus and into our favorite pizza place nearby. Some of our other friends came to join us too.

“Ready to order?” Daniel asked.

“Of course I’ll have the usual. With extra pepperoni, please!” I quipped happily.

Living in Paris had changed me. I felt more confident, more alive. The city had a way of inspiring me, pushing me to new heights. I was becoming the person I had always wanted to be, and it was exhilarating.

“So Sophia…” one of our friends asked me with a smile, “you’ve been looking really happy, with the glow of a mom-to-be!”

As I settled into my seat, my hand instinctively flew to my belly, caressing it gently. It was showing already, and I was proud of it. I nodded. “Yes, can’t wait to meet the little one!”

“You and Daniel are such an amazing couple, and surely you’ll make great parents too.” She motioned to Daniel with her eyes as he went to order.

“Oh no, Daniel is just my friend!” I exclaimed. “We went to high school together, but it’s only now that we became close. But we're not romantically involved.”

“What?” another friend asked with disbelief. “But you guys look great together.”

“Yeah, and you seem so perfect for each other,” someone else added. “Many of us envy your relationship.”

I laughed. “We’re just friends, really.”

“He’s always taken care of you, right? And he’s always there at your exhibits, supporting your projects, and all that.”

I smiled genuinely. “Yes, he’s a very nice man and a fantastic friend.” I gazed at the returning Daniel, thinking how lucky I was to have him in my life now. He is indeed a reliable man. He treats me better than anyone has ever treated me.

As we all laughed together, I zoned out a little and thought about my future plans. Despite the challenges I've faced, I was determined to work even harder, ideally graduating before my baby's first birthday. That way, when I find a job, I can better take care of my little one.

After eating, we went to our favorite store, one that offered a unique selection of books, music, art, and artisanal crafts from around the world.

As I perused the shelves of the cultural boutique, my eyes fell upon a book that stood out among the others. Its cover featured a lineup of young billionaires, and there, among them, was Elijah's handsome profile.

I felt a twinge of recognition, but it was fleeting. Elijah was now like a familiar stranger to me, someone from a past life that felt distant and disconnected. Brushing off the momentary nostalgia, I continued browsing, my focus shifting to other books that piqued my interest.

“Find anything you like?” Daniel quipped from behind me.

“Not yet,” I answered.

My mind drifted back to Elijah for a while. I smiled, feeling free and independent, so different from what my life used to be. I never got in touch with him again after that divorce, and it was definitely liberating.

Sure, I occasionally encountered him on TV and sometimes in magazines and newspapers, but it didn’t bother me anymore like before. I no longer paid much attention.

Why was he interested in talking to me again, anyway? He had all the chances in the world before, and he never took any. Now it’s too late.

Back at home, I continued to focus on finishing my group project, immersing myself in the intricate details and deadlines. My concentration was abruptly interrupted when the video phone rang, displaying Kayla's name.

“Hey, Kayla! What's up?” I greeted, but my smile faded as soon as her face appeared on the screen. Her expression was a storm of fury.

“You're not going to believe this,” she spat, not bothering with a hello. “I've just started working at Sinclair Realty, and guess who my boss is? That bitch Serena!”

My eyebrows shot up. “Serena? As in, Elijah's ex and the queen of mean?”

“Exactly!” Kayla huffed, her face reddening. “You can't even imagine how annoying she is. She struts around the office like she owns the place, flaunting her superiority all day long. And she's even more insufferable than Elijah on his worst days.”

I leaned forward, frowning. “Gosh, I feel you. But you’ll be okay, for sure. You’re the strongest person I know. Don’t let her get to you. Just do your best, alright?”

“Yes, I know,” Kayla agreed. She looked as if she was physically trying to calm herself down. “It’s just infuriating to deal with her every single day.”

I nodded sympathetically. “I can only imagine. Just remember, you’re there for the experience and the connections. Serena’s just a bump in the road.”

Kayla sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly. “Thanks, Sophia. I needed that pep talk.”

Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared in the background behind Kayla, and my heart skipped a beat. Both of us froze, our eyes widening as we heard Elijah’s voice echoing faintly.

It struck me like a bolt of lightning—Kayla had been talking to me from the Sinclair Realty office!