Three
1851 Words
Author’s POV
With all the strength she could muster, she snickered “It was all a plot from the start right?”
He chuckled “If not for the position of Chairman at the Whitmore Corporation and Catherine’s revenge…”
He leaned in closer “I would never have married you”.
He gave her a once-over with his eyes, shaking his head in disapproval “I feel like throwing up just by looking at you”.
Her breath came out in ragged breaks, her heart breaking into a million pieces. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall but she held them back.
Betrayed.
Used. Played.
Heartbroken.
She felt all of them at once but refused to break down in front of him. So she squared her shoulders, sharpened her gaze, and looked him straight in the eyes.
He was clearly taken aback by the change in her countenance, a flicker of surprise crossing his features but he quickly masked it with that chilly gaze she already grew accustomed to.
“Then let’s get a divorce”. Sophie’s voice sounded perfect. Confident. But only she knew the storm that was raging inside of her.
His chuckle echoed around the room “Divorce? That would mean letting you off easily. Then who would give Catherine a bone marrow? After what you did to her face? You are really vicious, Sophie”
Sophie couldn't wrap her head around what he was saying. What face? That explains the reason Catherine always wore a white veil, turns out her face was scarred.
She wondered why Alex thought she had anything to do with Catherine’s scarred face but before she could defend herself, he cut her off.
“You don't have to worry sweetheart, after I'm done with you, you won't see any reason to stay alive”
With that, he forcefully let go of her throat, causing the back of her head to collide forcefully with the headboard. Pain bloomed in Sophie’s skull which made her shut her eyes to endure it.
Just when she thought it was over, Alex spoke up again.
“Listen and listen good, once we are back at the Russo household, Cath would be the lady of the house and you would be her personal maid”
Sophie chuckled coldly, clearly opposing the atrocities he just spouted. But he didn't seem bothered by it.
With a calm voice, he declared, “You can choose not to comply but think about your father”.
Her head immediately snapped in his direction as her blood ran cold “What are you going to do?”
His smile sent chills down her spine. “I have evidence of bribery against John Whitmore..”
Sophie’s breath caught but he wasn't done. With a slow, almost teasing tone, he added “Who happens to be your lovely father”.
She shook her head. “my father is not that kind of person. You are lying”.
He looked at her pitifully “What an obedient daughter” but then his tone turned harsh again “Wait until the media gets this evidence, how many people would believe he is innocent then”.
It dawned on Sophie that the company her father worked so hard to build had fallen into the wrong hands.
And it was all her fault.
She trusted the wrong person.
Sophie thought inwardly.
‘I can't let that happen, not after we crawled our way up. I practically watched my dad suffer, just so he could achieve something tangible.
The late nights. The rejections.
The gains and the losses.
It can't just go down the drain because of me. I've caused my family enough harm already.’
In a moment of desperation, she clutched Alex’s shirt. “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it. Please spare my father and the company”.
Alex sneered “Weren’t you trying to act tough just now? The way you behave is truly repulsive”.
The tension in the room could be caught through with a knife. Suddenly, a voice rang in the doorway.
“Brother, what are you doing?”.
Alex leaned in, adjusting his glasses with a knowing look. “Don’t say what shouldn’t be said. Just think about your father,” he whispered to Sophie, urgency lacing his tone.
Just as he straightened up, his smile perfectly in place, he turned around in time to see Ava, his cousin, striding into the room with Ethan by her side.
Sophie, aware of the tension, forced herself to maintain a cheerful expression. With practiced grace, she plastered on a smile, determined not to let Ava see the storm brewing beneath the surface.
Ava bounded over to Sophie, not even sparing Alex a glance. Her energy was infectious as she plopped down on the hospital bed, grabbing Sophie’s hands with excitement, completely unaware of the quiet tension in the room.
“Ethan and I just received your wedding invitation so we rushed back from overseas”.
Then her expression morphed into one of confusion “But what really happened?”
Sophie shifted her weight uncomfortable on the bed when Ethan chimed in.
“A wedding was what we anticipated, how did it end up in the hospital?”
Alex shot Sophie a glance that crackled with tension, his eyes almost challenging her to utter a single word out of line. The air hummed with unspoken secrets.
Sophie remained silent, not able to give her a befitting answer. But Alex responded almost immediately.
“Nothing to worry about, Ava. An emergency cropped up, and Sophie was a bit rattled. The doctor assured us she'd be out by today.”
Internally, Sophie scoffed at his performance. He played the part of a doting husband flawlessly for their guests, but in the shadows, he was a monster.
Those were the very men she detested the most, yet she had fallen in love with one of them.
Anxious that Ava might dig deeper into the troubling situation, Alex wasted no time shifting gears.
“Ava, you just waltzed back without a heads-up. I would’ve rushed over to the airport to pick you up.”
Ava held up her hands, brushing off his concern with a wave. “Oh, Alex, look at me, I’m perfectly fine.”
She flashed a bright smile, arms outstretched, showcasing her well-being. But as her gaze flickered back toward Sophie, worry etched itself across her face.
“Just make sure Sophie gets back to her feet in no time”.
Then with a deep sigh, she added “My return this time is also grandpa’s intention. He wants me to start working for Russo Enterprise”
No one else noticed but Sophie on how Alex’s face paled, his nails digging into his palm and how he fought to control his expression from morphing into hatred but failed.
Alex inwardly sneered while struggling to keep his face neutral.
‘I’ve always known that Ava is grandpa’s favorite but if he thinks he can hand over the Russo Enterprise to her, he’s in for a huge surprise’.
His nails dug deeper into his palms, drawing blood.
‘And her friendship with Sophie is threatening, I must get rid of her for good’.
As these evil thoughts swarmed his mind, Alex let out an eerie smile which made Sophie to subconsciously shiver.
She clearly sensed that Alex didn't like the fact that his grandfather personally called Ava back to come work in the company. But Alex wouldn't dare hurt his cousin right?
Just as she was wondering what Alex was up to, he suddenly spoke up.
“Ava, you should probably rest after a long trip but grandpa must be so excited about your return at the company. You shouldn't make him wait for long”
Ava looked conflicted, she didn't want to leave her friend all alone “But…”
Sophie gave her a warm smile as if to reassure her that she would be fine.
Alex watched their little exchange with indifference. You two won't be seeing each other often so enjoy it while it lasts.
“Ethan, I’ll take Ava to the company now. You can find your way back.”
Walking over to her bed, he bent over and pretended to peck her lips while saying in a hushed voice “You’d better listen to my warnings”.
With a gentle pat on her head, he headed for the door after Ava had exchanged goodbyes with Sophie.
Just as the door snapped shut, Sophie released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.
It wasn't long before a nurse walked in and handed her some documents. “Congratulations ma’am, you are pregnant.”
Sophie covered her mouth with one hand.
“What?!!”
As if she remembered something, she suddenly sat upright. “Please can you keep this a secret from my husband? I would like to surprise him.”
The nurse smiled knowingly, nodded her head and exited the place.
Tears of both joy and sorrow fell from Sophie’s eyes as she closed her eyes to rest.
——————
Ava rolled her box as she followed behind Alex, clearly thrilled to see her grandfather again after studying abroad for so many years.
‘He must have missed me so much’. She giggled, as memories of her childhood came rushing in.
Trapped in her delusions, she failed to notice that Alex was constantly texting on his phone and walking a bit faster than usual.
Looking around the place, it was eerily quiet, too quiet that she felt a knot in her stomach.
Her instincts screamed at her to go back but looking at the broad shoulders of her older cousin, she dismissed the thought.
‘With Brother Alex here, I don't have to be scared’ She tried to reassure herself.
Just then, two masked men clad in an all-black clothe suddenly appeared from nowhere.
One of them hit Alex square on the head with a rod, making him to fall head-first to the floor, going into an unconscious state immediately.
Ava fell to the ground in horror as she stared at Alex’s limp body. She looked up and saw the second masked man coming over to her in slow, deliberate steps.
She crawled backwards at each step he took. Her heart beating wildly in her chest and her face went deadly pale.
With a shaky voice, she muttered “What do you want. Let me go”
“Somebody help!!” but her voice only echoed around the place, not a single soul in sight.
Her body went cold as she realized that nobody was coming to save her. Just then her gaze went up and saw the same rod which had knocked Alex unconscious coming down with such a force that scared her to death and screamed loudly.
The sound of iron meeting bone could be heard as Ava’s eyes rolled to the back of her head.
Everything went pitch black.
- Writer
