The tension that hung between Sophie and Victor was palpable. It wasn't just the dangerous attraction, nor the eerie confidence with which he looked at her; it was the unspoken promise that she was being pulled into something far deeper than she could fathom.
The day after their confrontation in the garden, Sophie couldn't shake the image of Victor's eyes—their intensity and the way he seemed to be reading her, as if he already knew everything about her. She couldn't tell if she should be afraid or intrigued. Either way, her mind kept returning to him, and the more she thought about it, the more she realized she was walking into a web of deceit, secrets, and emotions she wasn't prepared to deal with.
She was preparing herself for another uneventful day at the Xie mansion when the phone rang in her office, startling her out of her reverie.
"Sophie," the voice on the other end of the line was Leo's assistant, Maya, a pleasant, but distant woman, "Mr. Xie requests your presence in his study."
Sophie's stomach tightened at the mere mention of Leo. Their marriage was an arrangement, a means to an end, but she still remembered the man he once was—the man who had whispered sweet promises to her before everything turned cold. Now, all those promises felt like lies.
With a sigh, Sophie made her way up to the study. As she ascended the grand staircase, a sense of unease washed over her. The house was always so quiet, the silence so deafening, that sometimes it felt like the walls themselves were watching her, waiting for her next move.
She knocked on the door, her heart thumping in her chest, unsure of what she was about to walk into.
"Come in," Leo's voice, smooth but clipped, echoed through the door.
Sophie pushed it open, and her eyes met Leo's—the man she had once loved, now a stranger to her. He stood by the window, his posture rigid, his jaw clenched, as though he were deep in thought. When he saw her, he turned, his expression softening for a moment before he wiped it clean.
"I need you to sign some papers," he said, his voice steady. He walked over to a desk littered with documents and handed her a small stack. "Just a formality."
Sophie took the papers, feeling a knot form in her throat. She glanced at the first page and saw the words "Separation Agreement" printed at the top. She paused, looking up at him.
"You're asking for a divorce?" Her voice barely above a whisper.
Leo nodded, his eyes unwavering. "I've already moved on, Sophie. You should too."
The words stung more than she expected. She had known the marriage wasn't real, but hearing him say it so matter-of-factly made something break inside her. She had spent years with him, supported him, cared for him—and this was how he saw her.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I suppose it's what I deserve. All of it."
For a moment, Leo seemed to hesitate, but then he cleared his throat, as if shaking off the fleeting moment of remorse. "It's for the best," he added. "You and I were never meant to be more than business partners, Sophie. You were never my choice. I—"
The rest of his words faded as Sophie's mind began to spin, drowning in a sea of emotions. She felt betrayed, abandoned, and yet… she also felt something else, something she hadn't acknowledged before. Relief.
Maybe it was the finality of the moment, or maybe it was the fact that Leo had finally told her the truth. The years of uncertainty, the wondering why he'd become so distant, why he'd stopped loving her—they all made sense now.
"I'll sign it," Sophie said, cutting him off. She didn't need to hear any more. The truth had been laid bare, and it had left her feeling strangely hollow. Without another word, she signed the papers and handed them back to Leo.
Without a glance back, Sophie turned and walked out of the study, her heart heavy, but a weight lifted from her chest. She didn't have to pretend anymore. She was free.
Later that day, Sophie sat alone in the garden, her thoughts swirling. She had been so caught up in Leo's betrayal, she had almost forgotten about Victor. But his presence seemed to creep into her thoughts at every turn. She couldn't ignore the pull between them, no matter how much she tried.
As if summoned by her thoughts, she saw him again—Victor, leaning against the stone archway that led to the maze of hedges. His dark eyes met hers, his lips curling into a knowing smile.
"You look different today," he said, his voice low and soft, though the words carried a weight Sophie couldn't quite understand.
"What do you want, Victor?" Sophie's voice was shaky, unsure if she was ready to face him yet again.
He took a step forward, his presence dominating the space between them. "I told you before," he said, his gaze never leaving hers, "you're not as free as you think you are." He paused, watching the conflict dance behind her eyes. "You think leaving Leo will solve everything, but there's more at play here than just you and him."
Sophie blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. What did he mean?
"I don't know what you want from me," she replied, frustration creeping into her tone.
Victor's eyes darkened, his expression hardening for a moment. "You don't have to understand right now, Sophie. But soon, you'll realize you can't escape what's coming. You'll need to choose."
"Choose what?"
"Your future. Your power," he said softly. "And whether you're going to keep running… or embrace it."
Sophie's heart skipped a beat. The air between them felt electric, charged with an intensity that left her breathless. But before she could respond, he was already walking away, disappearing into the shadows of the garden.