Chapter 5
That evening, while Alexander was out, Sophia packed her belongings and found photos they’d taken over the years. She took them to the back garden and burned them
These items carried emotions that no longer existed, so there was no need to keep them.
She didn’t take any of Alexander’s gifts. She wouldn’t take what didn’t belong to her, just as she wouldn’t keep Alexander once he no longer belonged to her.
After finishing this, she got a new phone card. After leaving, she wouldn’t use her current number, and she had no one she needed to contact anyway.
Having completed these tasks, she sat in the garden scrolling through videos when she stumbled upon a live interview.
She recognized the person on screen Victoria, wearing a wedding dress and standing center stage, with an arm from off–screen wrapped around her waist.
So his “business” was helping Victoria try on wedding dresses.
The host’s voice came through, “The groom prefers not to show his face, so let’s respect that, shall we?”
Then came the first question. “How did you two get together?
Victoria smiled. “Arranged marriage.”
The host immediately protested. “Looking at how sweet you are together, it doesn’t seem like an arranged marriage at all!” Victoria smiled shyly, glancing to the side as Alexander’s voice came through. “Can’t an arranged marriage be true love?” The host quickly apologized, then asked when the wedding would be
Alexander turned slightly toward Victoria, his partially visible eye showing deep affection. “Four days from now. It’ll be the most spectacular wedding–you’ll all see it then.”
The comments immediately filled with congratulations and well–wishes.
Watching that affectionate profile, Sophia’s heart felt seized by a giant hand, sending waves of suffocating pain through her.
The sunlight that should have been warming felt like it was exposing ber mercilessly. Every comment about how well–matched they were, every blessing, felt like a knife slowly cutting into her flesh.
She had no legitimate status–she was just a mistress hidden away from the light
Sophia smiled bitterly at herself.
That evening, Alexander returned with a box containing a dress.
immediately recognized it as a bridesmaid dress. Calmly, she asked, “Are you asking me to be a bridesinald at your wedding?”
The words made Alexander’s heart clench, thinking she’d discovered something. He stammered, “What?”
“an’t this bridesmaid dress?” Sophia replied with a bitter smile.
Relieved, Alexander immediately threw the dress on the floor, frantically saying, “I’m sorry, darling I didn’t know it was a bridesmaid dress. I’ll buy you a new one in a few days.”
He came over and held her. ” you were the bridesmaid, who would be my bride? You’re my only bride.”
Sophia remained quiet in his arms, silently adding. ‘Of course Victoria will be your bride.”
For the next few days until the wedding. Alexander stayed home with her.
Initially, she didn’t understand why, until the second day
verheard his phone conversation.
“Alright, Victoria, I need to keep her calm, don’t I? This way there won’t be any trouble at the wedding. Be good, okay?”
Hearing this, Sophia smiled silently–so he was afraid she’d discover something and ruin their wedding, but they were overthinking it.
The night before the wedding, Alexander held her tightly. “Sophia, stay home tomorrow and don’t go out. I’ll have a surprise for you when I get back tonight.”
Sophia remained noncommittal, but he insisted she promise verbally, so she agreed.
The next morning, Alexander
I got up very e
up very early. Before leaving, he kissed her forehead.
After the engine sounds faded, Sophia silently opened her eyes and lay on her side watching out the window until dawn broke, only to discover both the internet and TV signal had been cut off.
The housekeeper approached nervously. “Mrs. Sterling, the neighborhood is doing network maintenance. There might be no internet all day.
Sophia showed nothing on her face, saying softly, “Then I’ll go out for a walk later.
The housekeeper froze, wringing her hands. “Mr. Sterling asked you to wait for him at home.”
