Chapter 4
Sophia rode slowly, somewhat lost in thought, failing to notice Victoria approaching on horseback from the side.
By the time she realized what was happening, her horse had been startled into losing control.
Sophia’s heart jumped. Before the horse could bolt, she released the reins and rolled to one side.
She hit the ground hard and rolled several times. Looking up, she saw Victoria, who had also tallen from her horse, being held in Alexander
arms.
Her heart clenched painfully. Alexander noticed her too and immediately moved to release Victoria.
Just as he let go, Victoria grabbed his hand, covering her stomach with the other and speaking weakly, “The baby…”
Sophia watched him freeze mid–motion, then embrace Victoria again. He looked up at Sophia with apparent conflict. “She’s carrying a child. I need to get her to the hospital first, okay?”
Watching him hold the other woman so tightly, bitterness flooded Sophia’s heart. She smiled silently and gave a faint nod
With her permission, Alexander immediately lifted Victoria and rushed toward the exit.
Sophia watched his urgent retreat, bitterness nearly overflowing from her heart. A riding instructor approached to help her up. “Miss, are you hurt anywhere?”
She’d dismounted in time and suffered no serious injuries–just minor aches that paled compared to her emotional pain.
Sophia shook her head at the instructor and thanked him for his kindness.
Enduring her physical discomfort, she walked to the ranch entrance. The car that had been parked there was gone.
The scene felt painfully familiar. This time, she felt no pain like before she’d expected this, hadn’t she?
She took out her phone and called an Uber, returning home alone.
Exhausted from recent events, Sophia went to bed early without waiting for Alexander, not caring it he’d return.
The next morning, Sophia woke to find Alexander sitting beside the bed, watching her with a smile that faded when he saw the emptiness in her eyes. Panicked, he grabbed a box from the nightstand and fastened something around her wrist. Then he gently kissed the back of her hand, as if it were precious,
Holding her hand, Alexander said, “I’m sorry, darling. I couldn’t take you to the hospital first yesterday. Victoria is pregnant–she’s my friend’s girl, so I should look after her. You understand, right?”
Friend?
Sophia looked down with a sardonic smile.
Only then did she focus on the bracelet–she recognized it as one she’d casually admired before, quite expensive.
She thought of the words she’d heard in the private dining room and murmured, “Not worth it.
Alexander heard her and panicked “What are you saying? What’s not worth it? Darling, you’re worth everything. You deserve this and all the beauty in the world.”
Hearing tits, Sophia laughed softly, looking up at him. “I saw a TV drama yesterday where the female lead was dating the male lead but serretly put engaged to someone else. Everyone was debating whether the male lead should forgive her. What do you think?”
Alexander, fidgeting with her hand, replied casually, “Of course he shouldn’t forgive her.”
Sophia gently withdrew her hand think so too.”
Before he could grab her hand again, Sophila said she was hungry
Alexander immediately offered “I’ll cook today, darling Go freshen up, and I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
He headed downstairs enthusiastically to cook
Sophia watched his retreating figure and removed the bracelet–she didn’t deserve something so expensive, just as she wasn’t worth him sacrificing his family’s interests.)
Two days later was Sophia’s birthday. Alexander, who usually spent every birthday with her, suddenly said he had business that day and celebrated with her a day early.
Sophia didn’t ask what business he had. If possible, she’d rather not celebrate at all.
But when Alexander heard her say this, he immediately became serious, “I promised to spend every birthday with you. We can’t skip
Hearing this, Sophia laughed softly, thinking. This is the last time. After this, you won’t be part of my birthdays, ‘
The cake was brought out, Alexander inserted candles and sang happy birthday just like every year before.
Sophia closed her eyes and silently wished, ‘I hope after leaving Alexander, I can start a new life.”
After making her wish, she blew out the candles.
Alexander watched her, smiling as he asked what she’d wished for.
Sophia looked down, cutting the cake while silently thinking, “To leave you.”
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