Chapter 3
1522 Words
DAVID
(On the phone with Maxwell)
Maxwell:
"Hey, son. I know this marriage wasn’t what you wanted, but I did it for your good. You can’t keep her at my place forever. Go home and bring your wife. What will people say when they find out you’re living separately?
"As the head of this company, your reputation matters. You need to show up at social events with her and, honestly, start getting to know her better."
David:
"I’m not ready. I don’t even know how to face her or live with her. Let her stay there for now; at least she won’t get bored."
Maxwell:
"I wasn’t asking, David. I’m telling you. Do not go against me."
Maxwell hangs up.
I slammed the phone down in frustration. I never wanted this marriage, and I still don’t. But going against my father isn’t an option. With a heavy heart, I drove to my parents’ house to pick her up.
SOPHIA
The drive was tense. He said nothing to me the entire way.
I cleared my throat and decided to break the silence.
"How have you been?"
"Good," he replied curtly.
"How was your day?"
"Good."
I clenched my fists in frustration and gave up. Rude, rude, rude! I shouted in my head but stayed silent the rest of the way.
When we reached his apartment, I was surprised. Everything was simple but elegant. The decor was tasteful, and the place felt surprisingly comfortable.
David motioned to the hallway. "I use my other room as a library. I didn’t think we’d actually live here together, so you’ll take my room. I’ll sleep on the couch until I figure something else out."
I blinked at him. "No, it’s fine. I can sleep on the couch. I don’t want to inconvenience you."
"Hey, I wasn’t asking," he said firmly. "You take the room. I’ll sleep on the couch. That’s final."
Without hesitation, I agreed. "Okay, thank you."
Later that Evening,
After unpacking my things and taking a shower, I found him sitting in the living room.
"What would you like for dinner?" I asked.
"I’m not hungry. Make something for yourself," he replied coldly.
I rolled my eyes. "I didn't see you eat anything on our way here, so I’m making dinner for both of us. Look, I don’t know why you hate me so much or why you can’t stand me, but if we’re going to live together, can we at least try to be friends?"
I didn't wait for his response, I walked into the kitchen and started cooking
An hour later I was done
Dinner is ready” I said
Okay” he replied
DAVID
Dinner was awkward. We ate in silence, and she kept a straight face the entire time. I couldn’t help but feel guilty. She deserved better than how I’d been treating her.
Finally, I broke the silence.
"Thank you for the food. It’s delicious. Honestly, you cook as well as any professional chef."
She smiled faintly. "You’re welcome. I had to learn; I’ve been cooking for my family since I was a teenager." I didn't want to say much not to reveal the secret of how I got to be his wife.
"I see. That explains your skill," I said. I paused, then took a deep breath. "I know I haven’t been nice to you, Sophia. I’ve been distant and unfair. I’m sorry."
Her smile grew softer. "It’s fine."
She looked at me earnestly and said, "I know you didn’t want this marriage, and neither did I. So, let’s just start as friends and figure this out together."
"Okay. Friends," I agreed.
"Goodnight, David."
"Goodnight, Sophia."
____
While lying down, I could not help but think about how beautiful she was, calm, energetic when necessary and she didn't hesitate to make dinner even after how bad I'd been towards her
Maybe I did not make a mistake, after all, I have Dad to thank also
I smiled and went to bed immediately it was a hectic day.
SOPHIA
I woke up with a smile. Last night, he apologized. It was a small gesture, but it meant so much to me. He wasn’t as bad as I had thought. At dinner, I had to keep a straight face to stop myself from staring at him. He’s so handsome—tall, charming, with those deep eyes... my dream man.
After getting ready, I stepped into the living room and found a note on the center table:
"I left for work and didn’t want to disturb you. I’ll be back by 7."
I couldn’t explain why, but the note made me happy.
THE CALL
My phone rang. It was from the hospital. My heart skipped a beat as I answered.
"Hey, sis!" I greeted warmly.
"Sophia, where have you been? I’ve been worried about you," my sister replied, her voice trembling.
"I’ve been busy. I’m so sorry, love."
"You’re never too busy for me," she whispered. "I had a bad dream about you last night."
My chest tightened. "What kind of dream?"
"I saw you crying at a funeral. I was standing next to you, but I couldn’t comfort you."
My throat tightened. "It’s okay, baby. Don’t be scared. I’m fine, and so are you. I’ll visit you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay. I love you, Sophia."
"I love you too."
The call left me shaken. She had never told me about dreams like this before. Fear gripped me, and for the first time in a long time, I prayed.
THE HOSPITAL
The next morning, I went to the hospital early. At the front desk, a nurse questioned why I hadn’t been visiting. I mumbled an excuse about work.
Moments later, the nurse directed me to the doctor’s office. My heart pounded.
The doctor looked at me solemnly.
"Miss Thompson, we’ve been trying to reach you and your uncle, but nobody responded.
I’m so sorry, but your sister didn’t make it. Her condition worsened, and we couldn’t perform the surgery in time."
His words hit me like a freight train. "What do you mean? I spoke to her yesterday! She was fine! She’s waiting for me!"
The doctor shook his head. "I’m so sorry. We did everything we could. Please prepare yourself for the burial arrangements."
I stumbled out of his office, my vision blurred by tears. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.
She’s gone. My baby sister. My only family. Gone.
I fell to my knees outside the hospital, sobbing uncontrollably. Everything I had done, I had done for her. And now, she was gone.
I felt the world crumble around me.
David
It was late, but I was still working on my laptop. I hadn’t finished everything at the office, so I brought it home. A part of me looked forward to being home tonight—not for the solitude, but because I’d meet her there.
I couldn’t explain it, but the idea of having someone waiting at home gave me a small sense of excitement, even if it was her.
I arrived home at exactly 7:15. But to my surprise, the house was quiet—too quiet. She was nowhere to be found.
A wave of concern washed over me. I realized I didn’t even have her number to check where she was. Great. I’d really been an ass these past few days.
A fleeting thought crossed my mind. Maybe she left.
Panic kicked in, and I rushed to her room to check if her belongings were still there. Everything was intact. Did she go back to her family’s house?
Maybe she left because of boredom? Should I call her family to check? No, that would be too much.
I sat on the couch, exhaling deeply. Why am I so worried? She’s an adult—she’ll be back. Or at least, I hope she will.
---
It was past 9 when I heard the front door click. I let out a sigh of relief. She was back.
But what happened next surprised me. She walked past me without a single word, as if I didn’t exist.
Did she not see me? I wondered. Or is this a new side of her I haven’t seen before?
I remembered her saying she didn’t want this marriage. But she also said we could try to be friends.
Why am I overthinking this?
I tried to focus on my work, but I couldn’t. My mind kept wandering. What could have happened to her?
Not long after, I heard soft sounds coming from her room—muffled wimps and sniffs.
Was she crying?
My chest tightened. What could have happened to her?
I moved closer to her door, hesitating. Her sobs were faint but unmistakable. She said something, but the words were swallowed by her tears.
I debated knocking, asking if she was okay. The urge was strong, but just as quickly, it faded. I don’t want her to think I’m
invading her privacy.
I sighed and stepped away from the door.
Returning to my desk, I finished my work, took a shower, and went to bed. But sleep didn’t come easily.
Her tears haunted me
- Writer
