Chapter 1: "A Marriage in Shambles"
Sophia Lin sat quietly at the grand table in the Hayes' luxurious dining room, her fingers gently tracing the rim of her porcelain cup. The air was thick with tension, broken only by the clink of fine china against the marble table. Across from her sat Margaret Hayes, Nathan's imposing mother, her gaze sharp and unrelenting.
"Sophia," Margaret began, her voice laced with disdain, "do you really think your mother's death anniversary is a matter Nathan should concern himself with? His time is far too valuable to be wasted on such trivialities. Do you realize what it means for him to take even half a day away from his company?"
Sophia’s heart clenched at the harshness in Margaret’s words, yet she remained composed. Her grip on the cup tightened as she swallowed the pain.
"I understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible, the weight of her grief pressing heavily on her chest.
Without another word, she rose from her seat, intending to retreat to the solitude of her bedroom. But Margaret’s cold voice echoed behind her.
"Don’t forget, the medicine is already prepared. You must drink it three times a day, on schedule."
Sophia halted in her tracks, lowering her head. She didn’t respond, choosing instead to continue up the grand staircase, her steps heavy with the weight of unspoken anguish. Behind her, she could hear Margaret’s sharp muttering, words that cut deeper than any knife.
"Three years and still no child. Even chickens lay eggs after being fed. What good is she if she can’t give us an heir?"
Sophia bit her lip to keep from crying. How could she explain that each time Nathan touched her, he would ensure she took the pill afterward? He desired her body, but never wanted her to carry his child. He had made that abundantly clear.
Exhausted, she entered their bedroom and was greeted by the sight of Nathan standing by the window, his broad back turned toward her. He was meticulously adjusting his cufflinks, his suit crisp and flawless as ever.
Sophia forced a smile, her love for him still painfully evident despite everything. She walked over to him, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his jacket as she picked it up to hand to him.
"Nathan, I made your breakfast. It's downstairs. Today is—"
"I told you before, Sophia," he interrupted coldly, snatching the jacket from her hands. "I don’t need you to make breakfast for me. I have staff for that. Stop wasting your time."
The smile faded from her lips as quickly as it had appeared. She lowered her gaze, trying to hide the tears that threatened to spill over.
"I just wanted to do something for you," she murmured.
Nathan’s eyes, devoid of warmth, fixed on hers. He reached out, gripping her chin firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze. His touch was rough, devoid of tenderness.
"If you want to do something for me, stay out of my way," he said icily. "Except in bed. That’s the only place I want to see you."
Sophia’s heart shattered at his words. She had loved him for so long, had sacrificed so much, yet his indifference was as relentless as ever.
"I understand," she whispered, her voice trembling with the effort to remain composed. "I'll be late coming home tonight."
"Don’t bother telling me. I don’t care," Nathan replied, his tone as dismissive as ever. Without another word, he turned and left the room, leaving Sophia standing there, her heart heavy with sorrow.
An hour later, Sophia found herself at the cemetery on the outskirts of Avalon City. She knelt before her mother’s grave, her fingers tracing the engraved letters on the tombstone.
"Mom, I’m here," she said softly, placing the bouquet of lilies on the grave. Her voice cracked as she spoke, the weight of the past year pressing down on her.
"I’m sorry Nathan couldn’t come again this year. He’s been so busy... But don’t worry about me. I’m fine, really. Everything is...fine."
She spent the morning talking to her mother’s memory, recounting the small details of her life—details that she could share with no one else. As the hours passed, the sky darkened, and the distant rumble of thunder warned of an approaching storm.
Sophia hastily gathered her things, glancing anxiously at the ominous clouds overhead. Just as she was about to leave, the heavens opened, and a torrential downpour began. She was stranded, drenched to the bone, with no means of escape.
Desperate, she pulled out her phone and sent Nathan a message.
"The rain is getting really bad. Can you come pick me up, Nathan?"
She waited, huddled beneath a small tree for shelter. Half an hour passed with no response. Her hands trembled as she sent another message, trying to suppress the growing fear in her chest.
"Please, Nathan, I can’t get a cab. I’m stuck."
But her phone remained silent. Alone and soaked through, Sophia had no choice but to walk home in the storm. The cold seeped into her bones, and by the time she reached the Hayes mansion, she was shivering uncontrollably.
As she stepped through the door, she was greeted by the sound of laughter from the living room. She paused, her heart sinking as she recognized the voice. Emily Zhang—the woman who had always been Nathan’s true love—was sitting comfortably on the couch, engaged in lively conversation with Margaret.
Sophia’s entrance went unnoticed at first, but then Nathan turned, his expression darkening at the sight of her disheveled appearance.
"What happened to you?" he asked, his tone devoid of concern.
Sophia couldn’t speak. Her gaze was fixed on Emily, who was staring back at her with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"This must be your wife, Nathan," Emily said sweetly, though there was an edge to her words. "I didn’t realize you were married. There’s been no mention of it anywhere."
Sophia felt the words like a slap to the face. It was true—despite being married to Nathan for three years, the world still believed he was single. Their marriage had always been kept in the shadows, a secret that Nathan had no intention of sharing with the world.
"She’s no one," Margaret interjected coldly. "Just someone who was forced upon Nathan by his grandfather. She’s of no importance."
Anger flared in Sophia’s chest, but she fought to keep it at bay. She couldn’t afford to lose control, not here, not now.
"Nathan," she said, her voice trembling, "I waited for hours in the rain for you to come. You didn’t even reply to my messages."
Nathan’s expression didn’t soften. He remained as cold and distant as ever.
"You should have called a cab," he replied. "It’s not my responsibility to look after you."
Sophia’s heart ached at his words, but she refused to let him see her break. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to speak again.
"Today was my mother’s anniversary, Nathan. The least you could have done was be there for me."
For a moment, there was a flicker of something in Nathan’s eyes—regret, perhaps—but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. He sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Sophia, we’re getting divorced. I don’t know why you’re still clinging to this marriage. I told you from the beginning that it was never going to work. You knew I loved someone else."
Sophia’s heart dropped, the finality of his words cutting through her like a blade. She had known, of course. From the very first day of their marriage, Nathan had made it clear that his heart belonged to Emily. But hearing it now, after everything she had endured, was like a death sentence.
Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away, refusing to let them fall.
"Fine," she whispered. "If that’s what you want, Nathan, I’ll sign the papers. But don’t expect me to make this easy for you."
With those words, she turned and walked away, leaving behind the life she had once thought would bring her happiness.
