Chapter 8

In the past, just a coy look from Sophia was enough to melt Alexander's heart. He used to want to give her the world.

But now, paired with her cruel words about Olivia, all he felt was revulsion.

His eyes dropped to the necklace resting against her chest, one he'd given her, and the sales clerk's comment from earlier echoed in his mind. A sudden, sharp ache gripped his heart.

Yes, he had showered Sophia with gifts. Just one piece of her jewelry could buy out an entire hotel.

But what had he ever given Olivia?

As he looked around at the modest decorations, guilt hit him like a tidal wave.

And Sophia, who had reaped all the benefits, had the audacity to sneer at the woman she helped destroy, without a shred of remorse.

He yanked his hand out of hers and said coldly, "Sophia Evans, let me make one thing crystal clear. No matter what divorce papers you signed, Olivia is my wife."

"You keep calling her vicious, but she knew the truth about Andy from the start and still never laid a finger on him."

"And as for that night, don't pretend it was fate. We both know what you put in that drink. You orchestrated the whole thing. You're not innocent."

"Whatever was between us is over. Don't contact me again. And Andy, he'll be raised by my mother. You're not needed."

Sophia went pale, turning desperately to Mrs. Carter, hoping she'd step in. But before the older woman could say a word, Alexander shut her down too.

"Mom, you already have your precious grandson. Don't push me anymore. I'm still your son, and you know exactly what I'm capable of when I reach my breaking point."

Without another glance at either of them, Alexander turned and stormed out, his assistant following close behind.

As they walked, he kept dialing Olivia's number, again and again. But the mechanical voice replied each time:

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable."

She had even blocked him on SnapChat.

When he got home, dread settled heavy in his chest. Olivia's things were gone.

All that remained were the shredded pieces of their marriage certificate in the trash.

His heart clenched.

He could still remember the day they got that certificate. Olivia had held that little red booklet like it was the most precious treasure in the world. She'd looked so happy, flipping through it again and again with tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips.

"Check everything," Alexander snapped. "Roads, trains, flights, ships, I don't care what it takes. Find out where Olivia went."

"And I want the full story, why did Sophia suddenly get divorced? What exactly happened between her and Olivia at the old house that day? Every single detail."

The bloodshot look in his eyes made the assistant swallow hard. He didn't dare ask questions, he just nodded and rushed off.

Alone in the empty house, Alexander sank to his knees in despair.

He used to think pregnant Olivia was a bit too clingy, always texting, always calling. He was too busy catering to Sophia to care, he would only respond to one out of every ten messages.

But now? Now he would give anything to hear her nag him again.

He missed her voice, desperately. Scrolling through their old messages, he played her voice notes over and over.

"Alex, the doctor hinted today that our baby might be a boy. But I kind of hope it's a girl. That way, she'll have a big brother to protect her. Don't worry, we've got plenty of time. We'll definitely have a daughter one day."

"Alex, the baby kicked me today. Such a little troublemaker. Are you still busy? If you have a minute… could you call me? Just thirty seconds would be enough."

Only now did Alexander realize what those voice messages really meant.

They were filled with her longing. Her loneliness.

And he hadn't seen it, until it was far too late.

He gathered the torn scraps of their marriage certificate from the trash, holding them tightly in his arms, sobbing like a broken man.

The assistant returned not long after, slightly out of breath.

"Mr. Carter, we traced Mrs. Carter's flight to a city in France. But there's barely any record after that. She's clearly going out of her way to hide her tracks, using minimal documents, no cards, no digital trail. We're still digging."

"As for Sophia's divorce and what happened at the Carter estate that day, I've sent a full report to your email."

Alexander opened it in silence.

Just as he finished reading, the doorbell rang.

Sophia had come.