Velvet Regret

Episode 3:An Attempt To Leave

The most dangerous thing in a marriage is not fighting but rather t is giving up.

Sophia did not know exactly when it happened

Maybe it happened the night Adrian forgot their anniversary or maybe it happened after years of being ignored

But when she opened her eyes that morning, something felt different.

For the first time in a very long time, she did not feel like trying.

She lay quietly in bed and stared at the ceiling.

Beside her, Adrian's side was empty.

He had already left for work.

No goodbye,no message.

Sophia slowly sat up.

A strange emptiness settled inside her chest.

Usually she would feel disappointed.

Lo and behold,today she felt nothing.

And somehow that was worse.

Downstairs, the house staff greeted her politely.

She smiled back and sat at the dining table.

Breakfast was already prepared.

The seat across from her was empty.

Just like always.

She picked up her coffee and took a small sip.

Then her phone buzzed.

It was Emma.

Sophia answered immediately."Good morning."

Emma was quiet for a second."You sound tired."

"I am."

"Did you sleep?"Emma asked

"Not really."Sophia replied her

Emma sighed.

Sophia could already imagine the worried look on her friend's face.

"You need a break."

Sophia gave a small laugh."A break from what?"

Emma's voice softened.

"From him."

The words hung in the air.

Sophia looked out the window.

Everything looked peaceful.

But inside her heart, Everything seems disturbing

"I don't even know who he is anymore."

Emma remained silent.

Then she asked carefully."Have you ever thought about leaving?"

Sophia's hand froze around her coffee cup.

The question shocked her.

Not because she had never thought about it.

Because she had thought about it

Especially recently."I loved him too much to leave."

Emma's voice became gentle."And now?"

Sophia swallowed.

For a moment she could not answer and that's because she wasn't sure anymore.

After ending the call, she spent the rest of the morning working.

She kept reviewing reports and attend a lot of meetings

Everything moved smoothly.

Inside Aurora Capital Partners, she was respected.

People listened when she spoke and valued her opinions.

It was strange.

The woman everyone admired in business was the same woman who felt invisible at home.

By noon, her assistant entered her office."You have a lunch meeting with the Singapore investors."

Sophia nodded."Perfect."

As she gathered her documents, her assistant hesitated.

"There is something else."

"What is it?"Sophia asked without looking up

The young woman looked uncomfortable."The media is still talking about Mr. Blackwood and Vanessa Cole."

Sophia's expression remained calm.

Much calmer than she actually felt.

"I see."

"The articles are everywhere."

Sophia smiled politely."Thank you for letting me know."

When the assistant left, Sophia leaned back in her chair.

She closed her eyes.

Just for a second.

She was exhausted.The constant disappointment was draining her.

***

Across the city, Adrian sat inside his office.

Several executives discussed a new project yet Adrian's attention drifted elsewhere.

Something felt off, something He couldn't explain it.

His eyes landed on his phone.

No messages from Sophia. Disappointed

No calls or reminders whatsoever

Usually she checked on him at least once during the day.

Had he eaten?....Was he resting?

Would he be home for dinner?

Small things.

Things he normally ignored but today there was nothing.

For some reason, he found himself staring at the empty screen.

One of the executives called his name."Mr. Blackwood?"

Adrian looked up."What?"

"The proposal."

Adrian nodded and forced himself to focus.

But the strange feeling remained.

That evening, Sophia arrived home later than usual.

The mansion was quiet.

She walked inside and headed upstairs.

Normally she would wait for Adrian

Not today

Today, she simply wanted peace.

She changed into comfortable clothes and sat on the balcony outside her bedroom.

The evening breeze felt cool against her skin.

For the first time all day, she relaxed.

An hour later, Adrian returned home.

He stepped into the house and immediately noticed something.

No one was waiting.No voice greeted him.

The house felt unusually empty.

He frowned.

One of the staff members approached."Good evening, sir."

"Where is Sophia?"

"Mrs. Blackwood is upstairs."

Adrian nodded and headed toward the bedroom.

When he opened the door, he found it empty.

Then he noticed the balcony.

Sophia sat quietly outside.

Looking at the city lights.Thinking.

For a moment, Adrian simply watched her.

She looked peaceful and distant at the same time

Like someone already halfway gone.

The thought bothered him.

He stepped outside."You came home early."

Sophia turned."Not really."

Her voice was calm.

Adrian sat across from her.An uncomfortable silence followed.

Finally he spoke."You seem different."

A small smile appeared on Sophia's lips.

"Do I?"

"Yes."

She looked away

Maybe she was different.

Adrian studied her face.

Something about tonight felt strange.

Like he was speaking to a stranger.

"How was your day?" he asked.

Sophia almost laughed.

For years she had wanted him to ask that question.

Now that he finally did, she no longer cared.

"It was fine."

"Just fine?"

"Yes."

Another silence followed.

Adrian shifted slightly.

He suddenly realized he had no idea what to talk about.

When had that happened?

When had conversations become this difficult?

Years ago they could talk for hours.

Now even a few minutes felt uncomfortable.

Sophia stood."I'm going inside."

Adrian looked up.

"That's it?"

She blinked."What do you mean?"

"You barely said anything."

For a second, Sophia simply stared at him.

Then she smiled sadly.

A smile filled with exhaustion.

"Of course, there's nothing to talk about"

The words hit him unexpectedly.

Before he could respond, she walked away.

Leaving him alone on the balcony.

Adrian remained seated.

Her words echoed inside his head.

Now you know how it feels.

For some reason, they stayed with him.

Later that night, Sophia sat in her office reviewing reports.

Her attention was fixed on the screen when she heard a knock.

Adrian entered.

She looked surprised.

He almost never came into this room.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Working."

At first he thought she was joking.

Then he noticed the documents.

His brows pulled together.

"I didn't know you worked this much."

Sophia looked at him.

For a moment she said nothing.

Then she smiled faintly."There's a lot you don't know about me."

The answer caught him off guard.

Before he could ask more questions, her phone rang.

She answered immediately.

A bright smile appeared on her face.

"Really?"

She listened for a few seconds."That's amazing news."

Adrian watched quietly.

He could not remember the last time he had seen her smile like that.

Whoever was on the phone clearly made her happy.

A strange feeling settled in his chest.

One he did not recognize.

When the call ended, he spoke."You seem excited."

"I am."

"What happened?"

Sophia gathered her files.

"Something good." She replied without any emotion

Then she walked past him.

Leaving him standing there.

Confused.

Watching her disappear down the hallway.

For the first time in years, Adrian realized something uncomfortable.

He knew almost everything about the business world.

how to build empires and negotiate businesses but one thing,he no longer knew his own wife.

And while Sophia lay awake later that night, staring into the darkness, one thought repeated itself over and over again.

Maybe she had spent too many years fighting for someone who stopped fighting for her.

Maybe love was not supposed to feel this lonely.

Maybe Emma was right.

It was finally time to think about leaving.

The thought terrified her.Yet unlike before, she did not push it away.

She simply closed her eyes and let it stay.

And somewhere in the darkness, the distance between husband and wife quietly grew wider.