My Perfect Marriage

Chapter30

"Do you realize how hard I worked to get into this company, to rise to this position? And you expect me to throw it all away?" the woman retorts, pushing the paperwork away impulsively, her face twisting with anger.

"And yet, you willingly cast it all aside for an affair. How pathetic," Sophia retorts, a smirk playing at her lips.

"Do you believe that getting rid of me is all it takes to fix your crumbling marriage? That once I'm gone, it will be all smiles and love? You're deluded. You live in a different world," the woman bites back, tears streaming down her cheeks. Sophia only responds with a salacious smile, knowing that the woman has no concept of how the wealthy and elite navigate their personal lives.

"He told me that you are a cold, unlovable monster, that any feelings he may have are tethered to a girl he used to know, a person who ceased to exist long ago. He expressed how your presence makes his skin crawl and how he hated having you near him. Now, I understand why,"

Sophia maintains her composure as the woman's hurtful words do not visibly sway her, though they still cut her deeply. She hears them in Leon's voice, realizing that these are the exact sentiments he would express and the way he has subtly conveyed them throughout their years together.

"Do you believe our marriage is solely about us? About him loving me? How naive you are," Sophia leans forward, pushing the contract back towards the woman before extracting a check from her handbag and placing it unceremoniously on top. The generous amount pains her, but Sophia is determined to send the woman away, never to be seen again.

"You cannot be bought off. I will not betray him," the woman wails, jumping up in an attempt to mirror Sophia's posture and cold demeanor, but failing to intimidate her. In Sophia's eyes, she is a feeble, outdated version of her younger self, before she learned to handle the pain and emotions that shaped her.

Ironically, as Sophia observes the woman, she notices the striking resemblances between them. It is ironic because Leon always denied having any romantic interest in Sophia, yet this woman practically mirrors her, except for a few differences in hair color and fashion choices. They share delicate features, eye shade, and a remarkable physical similarity. However, the woman appears softer, sweeter, and more naive, likely due to the absence of the Park family's influence. Despite her intelligence and business acumen, she lacks the fortitude required to thrive in the cutthroat world of the business elites. Sophia recognizes in her a reflection of herself at the age of fifteen.

"I am not asking you to betray him, nor am I attempting to buy you off. If you truly love him, you should be willing to sacrifice yourself to protect him and everything to which he has devoted his life," Sophia leans back, crossing her hands over her knees, carefully observing the woman before her. She feels no intimidation by the woman's stance or the glare directed at her.

The woman is feeble, evident even from a distance. Sophia wonders how she managed to establish herself as a prominent figure in Biochem, unless she deceived Sophia about her origins and how she acquired her position. Sophia suspects their office encounter was not their first meeting, and it wouldn't require much effort to uncover the truth.

"He will despise you for this. For controlling every aspect of his life and making him miserable," the woman exclaims, her voice quivering with emotion, tears streaming down her cheeks. Sophia responds with a sardonic smile, impervious to the woman's display of vulnerability.

"He already despises me. I am the only one truly looking out for his best interests in the long run. That's why I am doing all of this, just as I have done for him throughout the years. This is what love entails, not the facade you are presenting," Sophia adds a touch of anger to her words, causing the woman's lip to tremble.

"Why can't you just let him go? Allow him to find happiness while retaining ownership of POLO. Why are you doing this?" the woman pleads, her desperation evident in her voice.

"Because I can and I must. POLO is not merely a company; it is my family. Leon is not just my husband; he is my entire existence. I will not allow you to waltz in and destroy everything, simply because you have this notion that he wants a life with you. He was merely indulging a passing fancy, and when I present him with the choice, which do you think he will choose? You or POLO?" Sophia's satisfaction grows as she observes the woman's expression crumble. It is clear that she realizes just how much more significant the company is compared to their relationship. Sophia silently expresses gratitude that their affair is new enough to not leave a lasting impact on her future with Leon.

Impatiently tapping her finger on her watch, Sophia rises to her feet, brushing off her suit as she locks eyes with the woman. She knows she has delivered her message for now and needs to give the woman time to consider her options. "You have twenty-four hours to decide. If I haven't heard from you by this time tomorrow, I will begin taking the necessary steps. You will witness your lover's downfall." Retrieving her business card from her purse, Sophia leans down and carefully places it on the table. Every deliberate action emphasizes the class divide between them, making it abundantly clear that the woman can never enter Sophia's world. The Hale family would devour her effortlessly.

The woman cannot contain her tears as she watches Sophia stride across the room towards the hallway. Sophia pauses at the entrance, glancing back over her shoulder. She scowls at the ease with which the woman has been defeated, disappointed that Leon chose someone so incapable of fighting for their love. It saddens Sophia.

"Make the right choice for Leon. You may lose your job or your standing in this city, but he will lose everything and everyone who has ever been important to him. And he will have only you to blame when it all comes crashing down." Sophia doesn't wait for a response, walking out with a confident click of her heels on the wooden floor. She flings open the door to be greeted by the blinding daylight, finally breaking free from the oppressive, grey poggy weather that had enveloped the past month.