My Perfect Marriage

Chapter33

"What about our daughter, Sophia? Did I deserve that? Did she?" He strikes her with the one thing he knows he can never move past. The one tiny thorn in his heart that exacerbates everything.

"Maybe you should ask your mother. I'm done here. Do what you want... I'm going to bed." Sophia caves, feeling not strong enough tonight to bring up their daughter, Tia. She has never found the strength to discuss her.

"What the f**k is that supposed to mean? Why would I ask my mother? Don't you dare walk away from me right now!" his angry tone resounds as she gets up and starts to move away. Sophia inhales deeply, trying to stay calm and blot him out, but he forcefully yanks her wrist from behind, causing her to be harshly pulled into the cabinet.

"Forget it. It changes nothing. Let me go. I'm going to bed." Sophia manages to yank her arm free, but he follows her, seething and refusing to back down.

"I'm moving out. Tonight. I'm taking whatever is left of my belongings that you didn't destroy and going to stay with her. It's over, Sophia, between us. It will never be what you want it to be. I'm not coming back." Sophia stops abruptly, causing him to bump into her from behind. She knows deep down that his choice doesn't shock her, although her heart races, and her mouth goes dry as pain courses through her being. She can deny it all she wants, but she knew Leon wouldn't silently accept being pushed into a corner. It's why she focused her efforts on convincing the other woman to leave.

"I won't hold back if that's what you choose. I'll ruin both of you," she threatens, her voice feeble and low. Even she knows she doesn't sound like someone who would carry out such a threat. His body heat envelopes her from close behind, suffocating her with his presence as he leans into her ear over her right shoulder. Goosebumps rise on her skin, and her stomach flutters despite everything. She resents her body for still responding to him in this way.

"I told you, I would fight. I'm not some weak opponent who will stand back and let you destroy my life. I want out. Away from you, away from this toxic mess between us. As far away as possible. You were never my choice, and I'm tired of being controlled."

"Then leave. Take her and go. Leave the company to my mother, me, and Johnny... knowing that I will take care of them." Sophia closes her eyes as a tear escapes her lashes, biting her lip to prevent herself from revealing how shattered she truly is.

"It's my company and my family. You're the one who should disappear. We don't need you; we never did, and I'd be happy if I never set eyes on you again for the rest of my life," Leon declares, nudging past Sophia with his shoulder, pushing her aside. His words reverberate in her ears, echoing deep within her shattered soul. It's a cold and brutal way of ending the conversation, leaving her deflated and alone in the darkness. Leon heads toward the stairwell in the lounge to go upstairs, and Sophia's legs give out, causing her to grab onto the countertop for support.

Turning back around, she looks at his cell phone, her thumb accidentally knocking it and causing it to rattle against his car key. Her attention shifts to the shiny oval key, which belongs to his sports car ─ his prized possession. The thought crosses her mind of how much he loves that car, and how it would likely hurt him more to see it scratched than to witness her in pain. However, she stares at it for a long moment, her emotions boiling inside, before reaching out to pick it up, turning it over in her hand as her bitterness seeps through.

"I bought you this as a wedding present... You don't want the marriage, so why should you keep the car?" Sophia speaks aloud, her voice filled with a hint of bitterness. The words leave a sour taste in her mouth.

She wonders if he uses this car as his preferred vehicle when visiting his mistress, and ponders if she finds it appealing. A hot car for her hot boyfriend ─ the car that his wife had bought for him to celebrate their union, now serving as a symbol of their disintegrating marriage. Sophia wonders if he has tainted it with their affair or if he has simply taken her to places he never took her. She contemplates if the other woman even knows who bought the car for him.

Sophia decides to take action, holding his cell phone in her hand. She walks over to the refrigerator's freezer compartment, shoving the phone as far back as possible, hidden behind bags of frozen vegetables, and slams the door shut. Although petty, she doesn't care.

Taking his keys, she heads in the opposite direction of Leon, making her way to the stairs that lead down to their underground garage. As she passes by, she grabs his Range Rover keys from the wall rack and puts them in her pocket. If he wants to leave, he can rely on a cab, as she won't make it easy for him. Starting now, she vows to make him regret his decision and show him the extent of her fighting spirit. If he desires pettiness and immaturity, she is ready to oblige.

Entering the parking garage, she marches past rows of assorted luxury cars, including her own. She beeps her car's key from a distance, noticing that the driver's door is already ajar. Leon must have been in such a rush to confront her that he didn't bother properly closing or locking his beloved vehicle. Sophia snorts at the irony, walking over to the car and opening it fully before sliding in without hesitation.

Sophia drives out of the underground via their access road, turning left to leave the city and reach the cliff roads where she can let the car roar. Their home is conveniently located on the outskirts, providing them a short drive to one of the most picturesque and winding roads that leads to a beautiful part of the country and eventually reaches the sea. The river that flows past their home, starting as a tiny trickle, has always fascinated her as it merges seamlessly with the vastness of the world, growing into a formidable force to take on the power of nature.

She notices the heaviness in steering the car and scrunches her face, disappointed by its lack of sensitive response. She wonders what he has done to the car, as it feels sluggish and doesn't meet the expectations of a multimillion-dollar limited edition. Sophia checks the gauges for any warning lights but finds none. In fact, not even the dials are lit up, suggesting a fuse may be out, a neglectful oversight on his part.

Annoyed, she presses her foot to the pedal, hoping to clear the engine with some good revs. The steering might simply require a fluid top-up, but she doesn't care, as she has no intention of letting this car exist beyond tonight. She gave it to him, and she can take it away. She wants him to experience the same feeling.