Chapter 24
He had never once taken their marriage seriously-
So of course, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with being with Doris.
“You’re just giving up like that?”
Karina stared at Sophia, exasperated.
“Even if your marriage was a business deal from the beginning, would you really have agreed to it if he hadn’t lied about Rowan’s mom being dead?
Sophia’s lashes trembled.
Exactly.
If she had known from the start that Rowan’s biological mother was Doris, she never would’ve married Vincent-
And she definitely wouldn’t have let herself fall.
Even if back then she’d had no other choice-
Even if she still had to trade herself for her mother’s freedom-
She would’ve drawn a clear line. She would’ve played her part, raised Rowan with care, and stayed in her place.
She never would’ve let herself cross into their world, become the uninvited third party, the unwanted wife.
What a cruel ending. So humiliating.
So unbearably humiliating.
Karina stared at Sophia, heart
burning with frustration.
She knew how proud Sophia was deep down.
Sophia always bottled things t
sup, never let herself appear weak in front of others-
That had everything to do with her family, that cold, fractured mess that taught her silence, not survival.
And just when Karina thought she’d finally escaped it all,
Vincent and Doris showed up to tear her heart open again.
Karina was seething.
She pulled out her phone and opened Weibo.
“Vincent is a lawyer. A damn good one. He sees everything. For five years, he saw your love, your care, your sacrifices–and he chose to ignore them. He knew. He just never gave a damn.”
“I swear to God, I’m leaking everything. That scumbag and his little princess? They’re done.”
“Don’t.”
Sophia reached out and stopped her.
Karina looked up, startled to see the calm in her friend’s eyes.
No tears, no anger–just quiet resignation.
13:44
Chapter 24
That made her even angrier.
“Don’t? Sophia, they lied to you for five years! They flaunted their love right under your nose while you were playing housemaid!”
“I agreed to take care of Rowan,” Sophia said softly. “That was always part of the deal.”
Karina’s eyes went wide. “That’s bullshit!”
“Even if that was the deal, why the hell did he sleep with you?! If he was so in love with Doris, why did he touch you? And now you’re pregnant–Sophia, how are you okay with this?!”
Sophia froze.
She lowered her gaze, lips tightening, humiliation sweeping over her in a cold wave.
A beat later, she gave a dry little laugh.
“It’s my fault. I was weak. I let myself fall.”
Karina stared at her in stunned silence.
Then she knelt beside the bed and pulled Sophia into a tight hug.
“No. You are not weak. You did nothing wrong, Sophia. Nothing. I’m sorry–I’m so sorry. I just got too worked up. You know how I get when I’m mad. I say stupid things.”
She held her tighter, her hand gently rubbing Sophia’s thin back.
“It’s not your fault. You’re kind, you’re strong, you’re incredible. You were the best thing that ever happened to that man, and he threw it all away. He’s the one who should regret it.”
Sephia buried her face in Karina’s shoulder, her voice trembling:
“Karina… That night five years ago… It was so cold. He showed up right when I needed someone… I–I couldn’t help it…”
Karina’s heart shattered all over again. “I know. I know. And it’s not your fault.”
“It’ll get better. You’ll leave him, and you’ll thrive. You’re going to shine so bright. And next time? It’ll be someone who sees that light and chooses you–fully.”
Sophia broke. Her shoulders shook as quiet sobs escaped her.
Karina held her.
Held her like she could shield her from everything that had gone wrong.
No words could fix it.
But she’d stay there as long as Sophia needed someone to hold her shattered heart.
A long silence later, Sophia whispered-
“Karina help me book the procedure.”
Karina closed her eyes, her own tears falling freely now.
“..Okay.”
13:44
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