As Sophie walked away from them, her figure slumped and lifeless, Natalie felt something inside her break irreparably. The friend she had once cherished, who had been like a sister to her, was now a hollow shell of the bright, gentle soul she'd known.
Sophie had been her "happy pill"—a ray of sunshine that had brought laughter and joy into every room. She'd been the girl with the infectious laugh, always quick to smile and bring comfort to others. For as long as Natalie could remember, Sophie had been the one to brighten her darkest days, to offer kindness even when the world seemed bleak. Sophie didn't even know who Natalie truly was; she'd befriended her without suspicion or judgment, never seeing Natalie as part of the Castellano family but simply as a friend.
In Natalie's eyes, Sophie had been everything pure and innocent, the kind of person who found joy in the simplest things, who trusted wholeheartedly, and who always believed in the goodness of others. But now, that light was gone. Natalie could see it in the way Sophie's shoulders slumped, the way her gaze held no warmth.
"I did this to her," Natalie whispered, her voice cracking as her family stood silently around her. "I destroyed the kindest person I've ever known."
Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, overwhelmed by the weight of her guilt. Memories flashed before her—the laughter they'd shared, the late-night talks, Sophie's unguarded smile that had once felt like home. She remembered the time Sophie had comforted her through heartbreak, wrapping her in a hug and whispering, "No matter what, I'll always be here for you." Sophie had never known Natalie's identity or the darkness that surrounded her family; she had simply accepted her with an open heart.
And yet, in her moment of weakness, Natalie had betrayed her. All because she had fallen for David's deception and allowed her selfish desires to cloud her judgment. She hadn't thought about Sophie, hadn't considered the consequences, and now Sophie had paid the ultimate price.
Giovanni and Alex watched as Natalie broke down, their expressions stricken. They were all grappling with the same bitter realization—that they had not only hurt an innocent woman but also shattered someone who had once been a beloved sister to their own family member.
"I loved her like a sister," Natalie sobbed, her voice thick with grief. "And I let her believe she was worthless… I can never make this right."
Alex placed a hand on her shoulder, his own guilt etched deeply into his features. "Then maybe we don't deserve her forgiveness," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "But we have to live with what we've done. We have to live with the fact that we took everything from her."
In that moment, Natalie understood the full extent of her betrayal, the depth of the pain she had caused not only to Sophie but to herself. She had lost a sister, a friend, and the one person who had ever made her feel truly loved and accepted. And in her heart, she knew that no apology, no act of remorse could ever bring Sophie back to who she once was.
As they left the prison grounds, Natalie's heart felt heavier than ever. She knew she would carry this burden for the rest of her life—the memory of a kind, gentle girl whose spirit she had destroyed, a sister she would never be able to make amends with.