Chapter 24
Alex paced the living room, his footsteps heavy and erratic. His jaw tightened as he ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident in every movement. He stopped abruptly and spun around to face Sophie, his eyes blazing.
“How could you marry that jerk?” he demanded, his voice sharp with disbelief. “You knew he broke my sister’s heart, and you still went ahead and married him?”
Sophie flinched at the venom in his tone and lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes. “He told me it wasn’t true,” she whispered.
Alex let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Of course, he’d say that. Adam Monroe wouldn’t admit to anything that paints him in a bad light. Did you really believe him?”
Sophie sighed, her voice soft and uncertain. “I… I didn’t want to judge him based on someone else’s story. I thought he deserved a chance.”
Alex clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling over. “A chance? Sophie, do you even know who you were dealing with? Adam doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He ruined my sister’s life, and now he’s done the same to you.”
Sophie’s shoulders slumped, her voice trembling as she said, “I didn’t know he’d turn out like this. Our marriage was fine—at least at first.”
Alex raised a brow, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “Fine? What happened, Sophie? What changed?”
She hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “It started a few months ago. He began coming home late. He stopped talking to me, stopped spending time with me.”
Alex’s expression softened slightly, but his anger still simmered beneath the surface. “Did you confront him about it?”
Sophie nodded. “I did, but he always had some excuse. Work meetings, late-night deadlines… I wanted to believe him. I needed to believe him.” She paused, swallowing hard before continuing. “Then one afternoon, I decided to surprise him at work. I wanted to bring him lunch and spend some time with him.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “And?”
“When I got there, he wasn’t in his office,” Sophie said, her voice barely above a whisper. “His assistant told me he’d rushed his PA to the hospital.”
Alex’s brow furrowed, suspicion evident in his gaze. “Why would he be rushing his PA to the hospital? That doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s exactly what I thought,” Sophie said, her voice growing steadier. “So, I went to the hospital. I needed to know what was going on.”
“And?” Alex prompted, his tone sharp with anticipation.
Sophie’s lips trembled as she continued. “When I got there, I found out she was pregnant. She told me herself. She said it was Adam’s baby.”
Alex let out a string of curses, throwing his hands up in frustration. “That son of a—! I knew he was a piece of garbage, but this? This is a new low, even for him.”
Sophie’s eyes filled with tears as she said, “He denied it, Alex. He kept saying it wasn’t true, that she was lying. But why would she lie? Why would she say something like that if it wasn’t true?”
Alex shook his head, his voice filled with disbelief. “Because she’s just as manipulative as he is. Adam attracts trouble like a magnet. But Sophie…” He paused, looking at her intently. “Why didn’t you leave sooner?”
“I wanted to believe him,” Sophie admitted, her voice cracking. “I loved him, Alex. And he loved me too… at least, I thought he did.”
Alex’s expression darkened, and his voice turned cold. “He loved you? Sophie, a man who loves his wife doesn’t have an affair. He doesn’t betray her trust like that.”
Sophie’s head dropped, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I didn’t want to give up on us. I thought we could work through it. But when I realized he wasn’t going to change, I knew I had to leave.”
Alex ran a hand down his face, letting out a deep sigh. “You deserved so much better, Sophie. You still do.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation hanging heavily in the air.
Finally, Sophie stood, brushing away her tears. “I’m tired, Alex. I think I’m going to head to bed.”
Alex nodded, his voice softer now. “Okay. Get some rest.”
She hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on him. “Thank you, Alex. For listening.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said gently. “I’m here for you, Sophie. Always.”
Sophie gave him a small, sad smile before turning and heading upstairs.
When she reached the guest room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, her mind racing. The headlines, the accusations, the betrayal—it was all too much.
She sank onto the bed, pulling her knees to her chest as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. The image of Adam, the man she’d once loved, flashed in her mind, and her chest tightened with pain.
How had it come to this? How had everything fallen apart so completely?
She buried her face in her hands, the sobs coming harder now. The loneliness, the heartbreak, the humiliation—it all crashed over her like a tidal wave.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and her cries quieted. She curled up under the covers, her tears soaking the pillow beneath her.
As sleep claimed her, the tears continued to fall, her heart heavy with sorrow.
