Chapter 20
Sophie stood by the bedroom window, staring at the lush garden outside. The day had been quiet—too quiet.
She let out a soft sigh and decided she couldn’t stay cooped up any longer.
Slipping on a pair of flats, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
“Let’s see what Alex’s life looks like now,” she murmured to herself.
The grandeur of the house didn’t surprise her as much as the realization that Alex had built such an empire.
Marble floors gleamed under the sunlight streaming through massive windows, and modern art adorned the walls. It was clear that Alex had become more than the ambitious boy she once knew—he was a man who had achieved everything he set out for.
As she wandered, her mind drifted to their college days. The memories were bittersweet, tinged with the guilt of a relationship that hadn’t worked.
Alex had loved her deeply, but she had never been able to reciprocate in the way he deserved.
“You don’t love me the way I love you, Sophie,” Alex had said the night they ended things. “And that’s okay. But I can’t keep pretending this is enough for me.”
The words stung even now, but she couldn’t deny their truth. She respected Alex, admired him, but love? That was something she had never truly felt for him.
A sudden voice broke her reverie.
“Miss Sophie?”
She turned to see a maid standing nearby, her expression polite but curious.
“Oh, hi,” Sophie said, startled. “I was just… exploring.”
The maid smiled warmly. “Would you like me to show you around?”
Sophie hesitated, then nodded. “That would be nice, thank you.”
The maid led her through the mansion, pointing out the main living areas, the sprawling library, and the impressive dining room.
Outside, the pool sparkled under the afternoon sun, surrounded by perfectly manicured hedges. Sophie felt a pang of envy at how seamlessly Alex seemed to have built a life of perfection.
“Mr. Alex has always been very particular about the design,” the maid said with a hint of pride. “He wanted every corner of the house to feel like home.”
Sophie smiled faintly, wondering if Alex had ever truly found someone to share this home with.
After the tour, they returned inside, and Sophie found herself drawn to the living room.
The TV was already on, the low hum of a news anchor’s voice filling the air. She thanked the maid and settled on the plush couch, grabbing the remote to change the channel to something lighter.
Her thumb hovered over the button, but a headline at the bottom of the screen caught her eye: “Exclusive: Brenda Hughes Accuses CEO of Assault and Abandonment.”
Sophie’s heart stopped.
Her gaze snapped to the screen, and there she was—Brenda. The woman who had shattered her marriage.
Brenda was sitting on a news studio couch, her face a picture of practiced vulnerability.
“Oh my God,” Sophie whispered, leaning closer to the screen.
Brenda’s voice was soft but clear as she recounted her story. “I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I can’t stay silent anymore,” she said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “Adam Monroe took advantage of me. He used his power to manipulate me, and when I told him I was pregnant, he abandoned me without a second thought.”
Sophie shot to her feet, her blood boiling. “What the hell is she doing?”
The anchor leaned forward, his expression one of concern. “Brenda, that’s a serious accusation. Are you saying Adam Monroe forced himself on you?”
Brenda nodded solemnly. “Yes. I trusted him, and he betrayed me in the worst way.”
Sophie’s mind raced, her pulse pounding in her ears. She knew Adam wasn’t perfect, but this?
This was a lie. She had lived through the pain of her crumbling marriage, but she had never imagined Brenda would stoop this low.
Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone, then hesitated. Who would she even call? Adam? What could she say to him after everything that had happened?
The broadcast continued, and Sophie forced herself to watch as Brenda played the victim, spinning a web of deceit.
“I just want justice,” Brenda said, her voice breaking. “And I want other women to know they don’t have to be afraid to speak out.”
Sophie’s stomach churned. She knew this wasn’t about justice—it was about revenge.
Her grip on the remote tightened as she fought the urge to hurl it across the room. She had come here to escape the chaos of her life, but it seemed like no matter where she went, the shadows of her past were determined to follow.
The sound of the front door opening startled her, and she turned to see Alex walking in, his suit slightly rumpled from a long day at work.
“Hey,” he said, his smile fading when he saw her expression. “What’s wrong?”
Sophie turned to the TV to see that the news was over. She glanced at Alex briefly and without a word, she raced to her room.
