Sophia's heart raced as she stormed out of the bridal shop, barely able to process the betrayal she had just witnessed. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, humiliation, disbelief. Just as she reached the door, a firm hand caught her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
"Sophia, wait!" Alex's voice was steady, commanding, the kind that demanded attention. She turned to face him, her eyes still wet with unshed tears.
"What do you want?" she snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. "Isn't this enough humiliation for one day?"
Alex's expression softened, and he released her arm, taking a step back. "I know this isn't the ideal time, but there's something I need to ask you."
Sophia looked at him, incredulous. "Ask me? What could you possibly have to ask me after… after that?" She gestured wildly back toward the shop, where her now ex-fiancé was undoubtedly still inside with his lover.
"Do you want to go to the registry office and get married? Right now?" Alex's words were calm but firm, as if he'd already made up his mind.
Sophia blinked, stunned into silence. "What? You… you can't be serious."
Alex nodded. "I am. You were planning to get married today, right? Your family, friends… they're all expecting it. We could do it. Just us, no fuss. Then you won't have to explain anything to anyone."
Sophia's heart pounded as she processed his words. It was insane. She barely knew this man, and yet, here he was, offering to marry her on the spot. It was an impulsive, reckless idea. But wasn't that exactly what she needed right now? An escape from the nightmare that her life had just become?
"And why would you want to do that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. "You don't even know me."
"I don't," Alex admitted. "But I do know what it feels like to be betrayed. And right now, I think we both need a way out. This could be it."
Sophia hesitated, glancing back toward the shop. Her ex-fiancé's laughter still echoed in her mind, cruel and mocking. The thought of facing her family and friends, of explaining how her perfect day had been ruined, was unbearable.
"Okay," she whispered, almost to herself. Then, louder, "Okay. Let's do it."
A flicker of surprise crossed Alex's face, quickly replaced by determination. "Good. Let's go."
They left the shop together, the decision hanging between them like an unspoken agreement. The ride to the registry office was a blur, her mind too numb to fully grasp what she was doing. But it was a strange kind of comfort, knowing she wasn't alone in this madness.
By the time they arrived, Sophia had stopped shaking. The clerk processed their paperwork with mechanical efficiency, asking questions that seemed to pass through her without sinking in. When it was over, they stood outside the building, two strangers bound by a legal document and an unexpected twist of fate.
"Well," Alex said, breaking the silence. "We're married."
Sophia nodded, still in a daze. "Yeah. We are."
There was an awkward pause, the weight of what they had just done settling between them.
"Do you… want to come back to my place?" Alex asked, his tone cautious.
Sophia glanced at him, searching his face for any hint of malice or ulterior motive. But there was nothing—just a calm, steady presence that she found oddly reassuring.
"Sure," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "Why not?"
The ride to Alex's house was quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts. When they arrived, Sophia couldn't help but be impressed. The house was modern and spacious, with large windows that offered a stunning view of the city skyline.
"This is… nice," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Thanks," Alex replied, his tone polite. "Make yourself at home."
Sophia wandered into the living room, feeling the soft carpet beneath her feet. Everything about this place was so different from what she was used to—sleek, modern, and expensive. It was clear that Alex lived a life of luxury, one she hadn't even begun to comprehend.
As she sat down on the couch, her phone buzzed in her purse. She pulled it out, seeing Mia's name flash on the screen. For a moment, she considered ignoring it, not ready to explain the whirlwind events of the day. But she knew Mia would only worry more if she didn't answer.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound normal.
"Sophia! Where are you? I've been calling you for hours!" Mia's voice was laced with panic. "What happened? Are you okay?"
Sophia took a deep breath, unsure of where to even begin. "I… I'm fine, Mia. I'm with Alex."
"Alex?" Mia repeated, confused. "Who's Alex? What happened with Derek? Tell me everything!"
Sophia sighed, knowing there was no escaping this conversation. "Derek… he was cheating on me, Mia. I caught him with another woman in the bridal shop."
"What?" Mia's voice was sharp with outrage. "That bastard! I swear, if I get my hands on him…"
"Mia, wait," Sophia interrupted, trying to calm her friend down. "That's not all. After I found out… Alex asked me to marry him."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "What did you just say?"
Sophia closed her eyes, bracing herself for Mia's reaction. "I said… I married him. Today. We just got back to his place."
"You what?!" Mia's voice was so loud that Sophia had to pull the phone away from her ear. "Sophia, are you out of your mind? You married a stranger on the same day you caught Derek cheating? What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't thinking," Sophia admitted, feeling the weight of her impulsive decision settle on her shoulders. "I just… I couldn't stand the thought of facing everyone. I didn't want to explain what happened. And Alex… he seemed like a way out."
Mia was silent for a moment, her anger giving way to concern. "Sophia, you're my best friend. I'm worried about you. This doesn't sound like you at all."
"I know," Sophia whispered, feeling tears welling up again. "I know it's crazy. But right now, I just need some time to figure things out. Alex… he's not a bad guy. He's been really kind to me."
Mia sighed, her tone softening. "Okay, if you say so. But if anything feels off, you get out of there, you hear me? I don't care what the situation is—you don't owe him anything."
"I will," Sophia promised, grateful for Mia's unwavering support. "Thank you, Mia. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Don't mention it," Mia replied, her voice tender. "Just… take care of yourself, okay? And call me if you need anything."
"I will," Sophia repeated, feeling a small measure of comfort in Mia's words. "Goodnight, Mia."
"Goodnight, Sophia."
As she hung up, Sophia felt the exhaustion of the day finally catch up with her. She leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes and letting out a long breath. Her life had turned upside down in the span of a few hours, and she had no idea what tomorrow would bring.
But as she sat there in the unfamiliar comfort of Alex's home, one thing was certain—nothing would ever be the same again.