Despair
1415 Words
In the pitch darkness of the night, the biting cold wind lashed mercilessly against Sophia's face, tangling her hair and covering most of her face. The torrential rain beat heavily against her body, leaving her drenched and disheveled.
But she had no time to care for her appearance or her rain-soaked hair. With tear-filled eyes, she ran desperately towards Mercy General Hospital, clutching a document heavy as if it weighed a thousand pounds—a divorce agreement.
Yes, it was from Nathan Scott, the man she had loved for seven long years, sent by his messenger.
Despite everything, Sophia refused to give up hope. She couldn't believe Nathan could be so heartless. She had chased him for four years, married him for three. Even if there were misunderstandings at their wedding, she couldn't believe Nathan had no feelings for her.
If he really had none, why did he touch her just a month ago?
She needed to hear the reason for this divorce agreement directly from Nathan. She believed there must be some compelling reason. She needed to hear his explanation in person.
Exhausting all her energy, Sophia finally reached the inpatient department of Mercy General Hospital, standing outside Elizabeth Scott's room—Nathan's mother, her mother-in-law. Even after all this time, Sophia still felt uneasy in Elizabeth's presence.
With a nervous and shaky hand, Sophia adjusted her drenched hair in the reflection of the window and carefully applied lipstick, trying to restore some color to her pale lips and not to appear too haggard.
Once satisfied, a faint, almost invisible smile formed on her lips. She knew Nathan was inside with his sick mother. Elizabeth was proud and despised her for any lack of decorum.
Just as Sophia was about to enter the room, she suddenly heard Elizabeth's weak yet aggressive voice from inside.
"Nathan, when are you going to get that woman out of the Scott family?"
Hearing Elizabeth's words, Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She knew that "that woman" referred to her. In the Scott household, Elizabeth often referred to her as "that woman."
How ridiculous it was—she was Elizabeth's daughter-in-law, yet she was never seen in a favorable light, always addressed disdainfully.
Was Elizabeth so eager to see her and Nathan divorced? Sophia's heart fluttered with uncertainty.
She knew the reason behind Nathan's decision to marry her wasn't honorable.
A misunderstanding led to them being photographed by reporters in a hotel, spreading rumors throughout Hilltown City. Despite being just photos of them entering and exiting the hotel room, it was enough to condemn them.
Even the Scott family couldn't escape the "fierce public opinion." Their reputation was greatly damaged, Scott Enterprises' stocks plummeted for three days straight, causing widespread panic within the company.
To save the family's reputation and the company, Nathan had no choice but to marry her.
Elizabeth and Nathan always thought she trapped him, but she hadn't. She was simply caught up in an unexpected situation with a drunken Nathan, leading to everything that happened, but they never believed her.
"Mom, don't get upset, take care of your health," Nathan's deep and magnetic voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Sophia always heard this gentle tone when Nathan spoke to his mother, but he had never been so tender with her.
"I can't help but be angry! Have you forgotten how she entered our family, how she caused your father's death? A scheming woman who climbed into a man's bed, a barren hent? She's brought nothing but shame to our family."
As Elizabeth spoke about Sophia, her voice was filled with anger and resentment, as if Sophia's existence was an indelible stain and disaster for the Scott family.
Sophia laughed bitterly inside. The misunderstanding about her father-in-law wasn't her fault. He had been kind to her; how could she possibly harm him? Yet, they chose to believe only what they saw.
"Mom..." Nathan tried to say something but was cut off by Elizabeth.
"No more words. Haven't you already given her the divorce papers? Just make her sign them and send her back to the Turners. You said yourself, keeping her in the Scott family was only to atone for her sins. But now, I don't want to see her anymore. I don't need her atonement. The position of Mrs. Scott belongs only to Isabella. Even if you don't consider Isabella, what about her child? That's the rightful heir of the Scott family. Do you want him to be born with the stigma of illegitimacy?"
"Mom, don't worry, I'll handle everything. You just focus on getting better and don't get upset over her. It's not worth it."
Nathan's eyebrows furrowed, his voice full of earnest reassurance.
Sophia stood frozen outside the room, hearing every word. So, staying in the Scott family was for "atonement"?
The reason behind their marriage, her enduring Elizabeth's scorn and insults, was all for atonement?
What had she done wrong?
Isabella? A child?
Nathan and Isabella had a child?
How could this be?
Overwhelmed by the crushing news, tears silently fell. Her trembling hand slowly withdrew from the doorknob.
Elizabeth and Nathan's conversation echoed in her mind.
Nathan and Isabella...
Isabella, the woman who had always held a special place in Nathan's heart.
A bitter smile crossed Sophia's disheveled face. It wasn't a smile at anyone else but herself.
She had chased Nathan for so long, loved him so deeply, yet she was nothing more than a speck of blood on his curtain, never outweighing his beloved Isabella.
Atone for sins?
What a ridiculous reason. The only reason she could marry him was to atone?
Her biggest mistake was loving Nathan Scott.
What was she still holding onto? What more reason did she need?
Sophia backed away, her face a mask of confusion and despair.
Lost in her thoughts, she headed towards the hospital's main entrance but encountered the person she least wanted to see.
Isabella!
Isabella was still as beautiful as she was in college, serene and ethereal as if not belonging to this world, but now with an added maturity.
But now, her belly was noticeably swollen, her right hand instinctively cradling it, while her left held a fresh ultrasound image. The image was clear, showing the indistinct profile of a child.
Recalling Elizabeth and Nathan's earlier words, Sophia blurted out, "Why are you here?"
Isabella seemed unsurprised by their encounter, a bewitching smile on her lips. "Why can't I be here?"
"You... your child... is it..." Sophia struggled to ask, "Is it Nathan's?"
Isabella, reading her thoughts, openly laughed. "Yes, it's Nathan's. Our child."
Sophia felt a chill spread through her, her vision blurring as Isabella gloated. "Even if you're married? So what. Nathan doesn't love you. Don't forget how you climbed into his bed, how your father forced Nathan to marry you, how you drove us apart. What right do you have to question me? You're the intruder between Nathan and me!"
Isabella's face twisted into a sneer, recalling their shattered dreams because of Sophia. If not for her, Isabella would already be Nathan's wife, the lady of Scott Enterprises.
But now, seeing Sophia's crumpled divorce papers, a smirk of scorn and triumph appeared on Isabella's lips.
"Wanted to ask Nathan if he really wants to divorce you? Did you get the answer you were looking for?"
Isabella's merciless words hit Sophia hard. Her hand instinctively reached out to push Isabella away, but Isabella suddenly screamed.
"Ah... my child... my child... why would you do this to my child..."
Sophia, startled by Isabella's cry, reached out to help, but the next moment, her hand was firmly gripped.
"Sophia, what are you doing?"
Nathan's emotionless voice resounded in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
Sophia met Nathan's cold gaze, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.
"It wasn't me... she did it on purpose..." Sophia tried to explain.
"Enough! Weren't you supposed to stay at home? How did you end up here? How long have you been here?"
Nathan's harsh questioning made it clear he was displeased with Sophia's unannounced visit to the hospital.
Nathan didn't even want to hear her explanation, adding to Sophia's pain. But recalling her purpose, she mustered the courage to ask him one more time. A voice inside her urged her to ask now, or she might never get the chance again.
Lifting the crumpled divorce papers, her voice trembling but clear, she asked, "Nathan Scott, you didn't give me this divorce agreement, did you?"
- Writer
