Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Sophia froze.
She stared at Vincent, disbelief flashing in her trembling eyes.
“Vincent what did I do wrong?”
“If you have a problem with me, take it out on me,” Vincent replied coldly, his voice a blade. “Doris is innocent. into attacking her.”
Sophia’s hand clenched the pharmacy bag so hard, her knuckles turned white.
She stared at him–the man she had loved unconditionally, the man she’d sacrificed five years of her life
had no right to mislead your friend
“Doris is innocent?” Her voice cracked with a laugh, tears glistening but refusing to fall. Her lips trembled as she fought to keep control. Her voice shook as she finally snapped:
“What about me? I’ve raised your child for five years like a goddamn fool–am I not innocent too?!”
Vincent was stunned.
Karina gasped. “Wait–what do you mean, their child‘? Are you saying… Rowan is his and Doris’s?!”
Sophia’s chest heaved, but she didn’t answer. Her eyes locked on Vincent. “Just tell me one thing. Why did you lie to me?”
Vincent’s brow furrowed. His voice was calm, like none of this mattered.
“We agreed from the start–mutual benefit. Rowan’s biological mother didn’t affect our arrangement.”
Sophia’s breath hitched.
So that was his justification.
So cold. So logical. So merciless.
She laughed again—a breathless, broken sound. Her vision blurred, dizziness washing over her.
Karina caught her just in time, panic rising. “Sophia–hey, hey, are you okay?”
Vincent loosened his grip on Doris, as if suddenly concerned.
But just as he turned to Sophia, Doris’s body went limp in his arms.
“Doris?”
She had fainted.
Vincent immediately scooped her up and rushed toward the in patient wing without another glance at Sophia.
Karina was fuming.
“She’s faking it! I swear to God-” she hissed. “You have to divorce him. Five years raising someone else’s kid like a stepmom and this is how they treat you? No way. I’m making a burner account tonight and dragging that phony actress to hell and back-”
Sophia didn’t hear the rest.
She fainted.
Sophia slept deeply.
13:44
Queen’s Vendetta: From Surrogate Bride to Billionaire Heir
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Chapter 23
When she finally woke, it was already noon the next day.
Karina opened the door just as she sat up in bed.
“Tinally,” Karina muttered, walking in and shutting the door behind her.
Sophia blinked groggily. “What happened to me?”
“You fainted from rage–what else?” Karina snorted, sitting beside her.
Sophia’s lashes fluttered. The events from the pharmacy replayed in her head. Her chest ached.
She had known Vincent didn’t care about her. And yet she still chased after answers like a fool.
She’d embarrassed herself.
Sophia raised a hand to her temple, regretting everything.
“So, what now?” Karina asked, her gaze flicking to Sophia’s stomach. Her voice softened. “You’re really gonna keep his baby, after all this?”
Sophia went still.
“Being a single mother isn’t easy,” Karina warned, gripping her hand. “Your mom gets out tomorrow. If she finds out what you’re going through…”
“I know.”
Sophia placed a hand gently over her belly.
Her voice was barely a whisper. “It’s just… hard to let go.”
Karina opened her mouth, but a burst of chatter from the hallway cut her off.
“Oh my God! Doris just went public with her relationship!”
“Didn’t someone leak they were living together already? This is confirmation!”
“They’re childhood sweethearts–AND he’s New York’s most eligible bachelor!”
“Who? Doris’s man?”
“Yeah! Vincent–the undefeated legal prodigy! He’s a freaking legend!”
“Wait, the Vincent? The tall, hotshot lawyer who was on that legal podcast
“Yup. Girl hit the jackpot.”
“…All of New York’s socialites just lost.”
The voices faded.
Silence fell in the hospital room.
Karina snapped.
“This is INSANE!”
She slapped her thigh so hard she winced, then cursed through gritted teeth. “He cheated! You two aren’t even divorced yet and he’s already going public with her?!”
Sophia’s chest ached, but her expression was hollow.
“It was going to happen sooner or later.”
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Queen’s Vendetta: From Surrogate Bride to Billionaire Heir
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Chapter 23
She had no choice now but to face the truth.
What she once thought was a legal marriage–five years of sharing a home, raising a child, believing, she was building a life–was just a transaction to
Vincent
Something he codd terminate the moment it no longer served him.
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