Chapter 2 – The Woman From His Past
1076 Words
Sophia remains frozen in the hallway after reading the anonymous message sent to her.
She stares at the photograph of Adrian and Victoria together in a picture.
Her hands began trembling as doubt slowly crept into her heart.
She tries convincing herself that someone is only trying to provoke her.
Then she deleted the message but couldn't erase the painful image from her mind.
Taking a deep breath, Sophia decides to trust her husband instead of believing the anonymous sender who sent her the message.
Even so, an uneasy feeling settled deep inside her chest.
Adrian had always been distant, but he had never given her a reason to doubt his loyalty until Victoria returned.
Sophia silently prayed that everything she had seen was only a misunderstanding.
She wanted to believe the man she had loved for three years would never betray her, even if he rarely showed her affection.
She turned around and walked towards Adrian's office in confusion.
Every step feels heavier than the last.
The Employees continue whispering to each other as she passes them without looking in their direction.
Sophia ignores every stare.
As she reached Adrian's office door.
His secretary politely informs her that Adrian is busy.
Sophia smiles gently as she says she will wait for him.
Several minutes pass in silence.
Sophia notices Victoria's laughter coming from inside the same office she was not allowed to enter."
The cheerful laughter echoed through the hallway like a sharp knife piercing into her heart.
Sophia had never heard Adrian laugh that freely with her.
For a brief moment, she wondered if she had been trying to hold on to a marriage that had already slipped away.
She quickly shook the painful thought from her mind, refusing to jump to conclusions.
The laughter grew louder which made her heart tighten more.
The office door suddenly opens.
Victoria steps out first with a confident smile.
Adrian follows behind her.
Victoria casually adjusts Adrian's tie as if it is the most natural thing in the world.
Sophia watches the intimate gesture in disbelief.
Adrian suddenly noticed that Sophia was standing there.
His expression changes slightly but quickly returns to its usual calmness.
Sophia asks if they can speak privately.
Adrian immediately checks his watch before agreeing.
Victoria excuses herself but gives Sophia a victorious smile before leaving.
Sophia and Adrian enter the office together.
The atmosphere inside is cold and uncomfortable.
Sophia quietly asks who Victoria is to him now."
Her voice remained calm, but inside she was terrified of the answer.
She searched Adrian's eyes, hoping to find warmth, reassurance, or even a hint that she was overthinking the situation.
Instead, his expression remained unreadable, making it impossible for her to know whether he was truly falling for Victoria.
Adrian then answered that Victoria recently returned to work with Sterling Group.
Sophia then asked why he never mentioned it to her.
Adrian says it was unnecessary.
Sophia struggles to hide her disappointment from him.
She reminds Adrian that today is their wedding anniversary and he acts like this to her.
Adrian remains silent for several seconds.
He finally apologizes calmly for forgetting the date.
Sophia forced a smile and said she understood
Adrian then notices the small gift box in her hands.
He asks what it was.
Sophia hands him the carefully wrapped present.
Adrian accepts it without opening it.
He places it on his desk beside several business files.
Sophia couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes."
The small gift that had taken her weeks to prepare.
She had carefully chosen every detail, hoping it would become a memory they could cherish together.
Watching Adrian place it on his desk without even opening it felt as though her love had been pushed aside as easily as another stack of paperwork.
Adrian receives another urgent phone call.
His expression immediately became serious.
He tells Sophia he has another important meeting.
Before leaving, he tells her they can celebrate the anniversary another day.
Sophia quietly nods.
Adrian walks out of the office.
Sophia remains standing alone at a spot.
She looks at the unopened gift on his desk.
Tears slowly fill her eyes.
She decides not to cry inside his office.
She quietly left the office.
As she enters the elevator, she finally allows herself to cry."
The elevator doors slowly closed, hiding her from the curious eyes of the employees outside.
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks as she leaned against the wall, trying to steady her breathing.
She quickly wiped her face before the elevator reached the ground floor, determined not to let anyone witness her heartbreak.
Unknown to Sophia, Victoria watches everything through a security camera.
Victoria smirks, pleased that the distance between husband and wife is growing.
She then makes a secret phone call to an unknown man.
She tells him that everything is going exactly as they had planned.
The mysterious man reminds her not to make any mistakes in their plan.
Victoria confidently promises herself that Sophia will soon disappear from Adrian's life forever.
After ending the call, Victoria stared out through the office window with a satisfied smile.
She had waited years for the opportunity to reclaim Adrian, and she had no intention of letting anyone stand in her way.
As far as she was concerned, Sophia's place as Mrs. Sterling was only temporary, and soon the entire Sterling family would belong to her once again.
Meanwhile, Sophia wipes away her tears before reaching the lobby.
She refuses to let anyone see her weakness.
Then her phone suddenly rang once again.
It is Chairman Edward Sterling.
He asked her where she was.
Sophia explains she is leaving Sterling Group.
Edward the chairman insists that she should come to his mansion immediately because of something important he cannot wait to tell her.
Hearing the urgency in his voice, Sophia agrees without asking further questions.
She leaves the building and gets into a taxi.
From the upper-floor window, Adrian unknowingly watched as the car drove away quickly.
For a brief moment, he feels an unfamiliar sense of guilt but quickly pushes the feeling aside.
Victoria quietly joins Adrian at the window.
She tells him Sophia has always been too emotional.
Adrian says nothing, but his silence leaves his true feelings uncertain.
As Sophia's taxi speeds toward the Sterling Mansion, she has no idea that Chairman Edward is about to reveal a family secret that could change her marriage forever.
- Writer
