Chapter 16
Sophie parked her car in the spacious driveway of Alex’s apartment complex, her hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel.
Beside her, Alex stepped out of his car and gestured for her to follow him.
“Come on,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. “You’ll be more comfortable here than in a hotel.”
She hesitated for a moment, clutching her purse tightly, before stepping out and following him. She didn’t have a better plan. Her chest felt heavy, her mind a jumbled mess of emotions.
Inside, the apartment was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city.
Alex led her down a quiet hallway and opened the door to a cozy guest room.
“This is your room,” he said, stepping aside to let her in. “If you need anything, just let me know. Or ask any of the staff.”
A middle-aged woman appeared at the door with a polite smile. “This is Mrs. Lina,” Alex said, introducing the head maid. “She’ll help you with anything you need.”
Sophie nodded, offering the woman a small, grateful smile. “Thank you,” she murmured.
After Mrs. Lina left, an awkward silence settled between Sophie and Alex. They stood a few feet apart, neither of them knowing what to say.
“Would you… like to have dinner with me later?” Alex asked, scratching the back of his neck. “After you’ve had a chance to rest?”
Sophie shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m tired, Alex. I think I just need to lie down for a while.”
He nodded, understanding. “Alright. Get some rest.”
He turned to leave, but her soft voice stopped him.
“Alex.”
He turned back to her slowly, and what he saw froze him in place. Tears streamed silently down her face, her lips trembling as she struggled to form the words.
“I was married,” she said, her voice breaking.
Alex’s heart twisted. He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand to stop him.
“I don’t have kids,” she continued, her tears falling freely now. “That’s the answer to your question earlier.”
He stepped forward instinctively, wanting to comfort her, but she took a step back, holding her hand up as if to keep him at bay.
“And… I got divorced today,” she added, her voice cracking under the weight of her pain.
The silence in the room was deafening. Alex stared at her, his mind reeling. He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to ease the heartbreak etched into her face.
“Sophie…” he began softly.
“I don’t want your pity,” she interrupted, wiping her tears quickly with the back of her hand. “I just… I thought you should know. That’s why I was crying earlier. That’s why I’m such a mess right now.”
“You’re not a mess,” Alex said firmly, his voice filled with sincerity. “You’re just… going through something. And it’s okay to not be okay.”
She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “It doesn’t feel okay. It feels like my whole life is falling apart.”
Alex took another cautious step toward her, his voice gentle. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head again, her arms wrapping around herself protectively. “No. Not tonight. I can’t…”
“Okay,” he said softly. “But if you ever do… I’m here. You know that, right?”
She nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on the floor.
“I’ll let you get some rest,” Alex said, stepping toward the door.
Just as he reached the threshold, her voice stopped him again.
Her lip quivered, and for a moment, she looked like she might start crying again. But she took a deep breath and managed a small, grateful smile.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He nodded, giving her one last reassuring look before leaving the room.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Sophie sank onto the edge of the bed, her head in her hands.
The events of the day played on a loop in her mind—Adam’s hesitation, Brenda’s lies, the way she’d felt like she was losing a part of herself when she walked away from her marriage.
And now here she was, in the apartment of a man she hadn’t seen in years, clinging to the fragile threads of her sanity.
She lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts a chaotic swirl. How had everything gone so wrong?
