"Why?" The single word fell from Sophia's lips, but the depth of her pain was unmistakable.
Her voice trembled, and the anguish in her eyes was impossible to miss.
Scattered across the floor were printed lewd photos—undeniable evidence of Richard's betrayal. The images were graphic, depicting him not just with one woman, but with many.
The reality of the situation hit her like a tidal wave, crushing her beneath the weight of heartbreak and disbelief.
Richard, tall and handsome as ever, stood before her, his expression a mix of guilt and defensiveness. He didn't look ashamed, not really.
Instead, there was a hint of annoyance in his eyes, as if he was being unfairly accused of something trivial. "I have needs, and you didn't want to meet them," he said, his tone flat, almost dismissive. "So yeah, I fooled around with some cheap girls, Sophia. But that doesn't change the fact that I love you the most. In my heart of hearts, you're the one I want to marry."
His words were like poison, seeping into her wounds and making them sting even more.
Sophia stared at him, her heart shattering into a million pieces as she tried to comprehend how the man she had trusted, the man she had loved, could say such things.
Each word out of his mouth was like a slap to the face, reducing their relationship to nothing more than a convenience for him—a place to return to after indulging in his desires elsewhere.
"I trusted you, Richard," Sophia said, her voice shaking with a mixture of sorrow and fury. Her eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to spill over, but she refused to let them fall.
"I believed in you. And all this time, you've been cheating on me. For years."
Richard's expression shifted, a flicker of panic crossing his face as he realized the gravity of her words. But Sophia was done.
She had given him everything—her love, her trust—and he had shattered it all. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she faced him one last time.
"Get out," she commanded, her voice firmer now, though it still trembled with the weight of her pain. "And never come back. It's over between us, Richard."
With a swift motion, she wiped away the tears that had begun to escape, her anger and hurt fueling her resolve.
She couldn't bear to look at him any longer, knowing that the man she had once seen as her future was nothing more than a liar and a cheat.
"Sophia, wait! Let me explain. I—" Richard's voice cracked as he reached out, desperation clear in his tone. But Sophia had already made up her mind.
She turned on her heel, her heart heavy but her steps resolute as she walked toward the door.
Richard's pleas fell on deaf ears. She didn't look back, not once.
Each step she took away from him felt like shedding a weight she had carried for far too long.
The door closed behind her with a finality that echoed through the room, leaving Richard alone amidst the wreckage of his lies.
As Sophia walked away, the tears she had fought so hard to hold back began to fall freely. But with each tear, she felt a little stronger, a little more certain that leaving him behind was the right choice.
The pain was still there, raw and biting, but so was a sense of liberation—a promise that she would heal and find happiness again, even if it meant doing so on her own.
"Are you okay?" James sent a private message, his concern evident in the text.
Sophia stared at the message, her heart racing as she debated whether to reply. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but despite the lingering pain, she felt a strange sense of pride.
This was probably the strongest she had ever felt in her life.
She had spent so long building her dreams around Richard, imagining a future where they would stand by each other through thick and thin, growing old together.
Now, that dream lay in ruins at her feet. She berated herself for trusting too easily, for believing in a facade that had ultimately crumbled.
As she sat in silence, her thoughts swirled around her mind, filled with memories of their time together and the illusions of love she had clung to.
The betrayal stung sharply, but deep down, she knew that moving forward was the only option. She couldn't let Richard's deceit define her any longer.
Ding! Another message chimed in, breaking her reverie.
"Hey, you should at least make me your friend, right? With how bad your eyesight is, I wouldn't be surprised if you got fooled again by another cheater." The message ended with a big smiley face.
Sophia couldn't help but smile at James's words. Despite her heartache, he had a way of lightening the mood, and it was refreshing.
For the first time since everything had fallen apart, she felt a flicker of hope. Taking a deep breath, she let the tension ease from her shoulders.
It was amazing how a simple message could make her feel better—much better, in fact. It reminded her that she was not alone, that there were people who genuinely cared about her well-being.
It dawned on her that if it weren't for James, she might have remained trapped in the web of Richard's lies for years, never realizing the truth.
She had spent so long believing in someone who didn't deserve her trust, and now it was time to reclaim her power.
"I hear you… so, is our date on Saturday still on?" Sophia typed back, her fingers moving with newfound determination.
She decided right then and there that a new friend could be exactly what she needed at this moment—a distraction, a fresh start, a chance to rediscover herself without the weight of Richard's betrayal hanging over her.
Sophia felt a rush of excitement at the prospect of getting to know James better.
Maybe he could help her navigate this new chapter in her life, one that was free from deceit and filled with possibilities.
As she hit send, she felt a sense of anticipation swell within her. Whatever happened next, she was ready to embrace it.