Sophia's POV.
I stare at the grand set in front of me, the bright lights and cameras creating a sterile, almost suffocating atmosphere. The buzz of the production team fills the air, and the contestant's mill about, laughing nervously and adjusting their outfits. For a moment, I almost forget why I'm here, caught up in the distraction of it all. But then I remember. I'm here to get over him. To prove to myself that I don't need him. That I can move on.
But that's not exactly what happens next.
I'm led backstage, where a crew member briefly checks my name before ushering me to a line with the other women. We're all in this together, they tell us, but I already feel separate. This place feels like a stage, a performance I'm not sure I'm ready for. I glance around, trying to keep my breathing steady, but I'm barely holding it together.
That's when I see him.
Alexander Kim.
He's standing by the front of the set, his back to us, talking with a producer, looking every bit the man he once was. My chest tightens, a lump forming in my throat. My heart beats wildly against my ribcage, and a wave of nausea hits me so sharply that I have to take a step back.
No. No, this can't be happening.
I blink rapidly, trying to clear my head, but it's useless. There he is. The man who left me at the altar, the one who shattered my heart into pieces I've never been able to glue back together.
He turns, and his eyes meet mine. The room seems to go silent, like the world is holding its breath. He freezes, just as I do. There's a brief flash of recognition in his eyes, and then something else—something deeper, more painful. Regret.
I swallow hard, my breath coming out in shallow gasps. I can't breathe. My stomach churns, and I feel my hands tremble at my sides. The last place I thought I'd end up, the last thing I expected to face, is him. But here he is, the one person I thought I would never have to see again.
"Are you alright?" a voice says beside me, and I turn to see one of the other contestants, a woman with warm brown eyes, looking at me with concern.
I don't answer. I can't. My mouth is dry, my tongue heavy. It's hard enough to stand here in front of him, let alone explain the storm of emotions raging inside me.
But I'm not going to leave. I can't give him that satisfaction. I won't be the one to run away this time. I've done enough running in my life.
I force my feet to stay planted on the ground, breathing in deeply, trying to find some semblance of control. For a moment, it feels like everything is closing in, but then I see Rachel in the crowd, her eyes searching for me. I look away from Alexander and lock onto her. She gives me a small nod, her way of saying, you've got this.
I'm still furious with her for getting me into this mess, but I need her right now. I take a deep breath, steadying myself.
The producers give us a quick rundown of what will happen next. I try to focus on their words, but all I can think about is Alexander—his presence looming in the background, like an echo of a life I thought was long behind me.
But it's not behind me. Not yet.
The other women chatter excitedly, oblivious to the tension I'm feeling. The cameras are rolling, and I know that any moment, I'll have to make my entrance. It's all part of the show. I'm supposed to smile, laugh, and pretend like everything is fine. But I'm not fine. I'm not fine at all.
"Everyone ready?" a voice calls out from the crew, snapping me out of my thoughts. I nod, but my heart is hammering in my chest.
We all take our positions, standing in a line at the edge of the stage. The spotlight is blinding, and I can barely make out the form of Alexander standing in front of us, waiting for us to walk toward him.
I wish I could say I don't care. That it doesn't matter. But it does. It matters more than I want to admit.
The sound of footsteps fills the air as the first contestant walks forward. One by one, they step into the spotlight, flashing their brightest smiles, playing the part. But with each step, my stomach churns more and more. It's my turn now, and I'm not sure I'm ready.
But I walk. My feet move forward before my brain can even process what's happening. I force myself to smile, to put on a mask. I can't let Alexander see how much he still affects me. He doesn't deserve that.
But as I approach him, our eyes meet again, and it all comes rushing back—every emotion, every memory. I want to run. I want to scream. But I stay.
I take a deep breath and hold my head high. I won't let him see the cracks in my armor. Not now. Not in front of all these people.
I stand before him, and for a moment, neither of us speaks. It's like we're frozen in time, caught in this strange, twisted moment. The world is watching us, and all I can hear is the pounding of my heart.
Finally, he speaks, his voice low and hesitant. "Sophia."
Just hearing my name on his lips makes my heart stumble. I want to respond, to say something cutting, but all I can do is nod.
"Are you here to stay?" he asks, his gaze intense, searching me for answers. I wonder if he's asking himself the same question.
I swallow, forcing the words out. "I'm here to prove that I can."
I turn and walk away without looking back, not daring to let him see the tears threatening to spill. This is just the beginning. The game is on, and I won't let him win. Not this time.
I have nothing left to lose.
I have nothing left to lose.
The words echo in my mind as I take my place among the other contestants, my back to Alexander. I don't dare glance over my shoulder. If I do, I'm afraid I'll crumble. I'll collapse under the weight of all the memories, the anger, the unresolved hurt. I can't afford that. Not here. Not now.
I force my posture to straighten, take a deep breath, and settle into my role. The cameras are still rolling, their lenses capturing every movement, every emotion. I can't let any of them see the storm raging inside me. The bright lights of the set flicker around us, illuminating everything—except what's happening beneath the surface.
A producer calls out for us to move to the next part of the show, but I don't hear the words. All I can hear is the soft, quiet hum of my heartbeat, each thud a reminder of what I left behind. Of what Alexander left behind.
He's not just the bachelor anymore. He's the ghost that haunts me. He's the man I thought I knew—the man I trusted, loved, believed in—and now he stands before me, a stranger who has torn apart the life I once thought was mine.
I push the thoughts away as best as I can and join the others, following their lead as we shuffle toward the couches, the set where the contestants will get their first real chance to talk with Alexander. Each of us is trying to make an impression, but all I can think about is how much I just want to scream.
I sit on the edge of one of the plush chairs, the cool fabric underneath me offering no comfort at all. I want to disappear. I want to be anywhere but here, but at the same time, there's a stubborn part of me that refuses to back down. This isn't just about Alexander. This is about proving to myself that I'm not defined by the past. That I am stronger than the pain.
The other women are already chatting, their voices high-pitched and nervous, desperate for attention. But I can't bring myself to join them. My mind keeps drifting back to the moment we shared earlier, the moment when I saw his face and felt everything I thought I had buried come rushing back. It was like I was suffocating, drowning in memories I didn't want to relive.
I glance over at him. He's standing at the far end of the set, deep in conversation with one of the producers. He looks just as composed as he always did, but I know better. I can see it in his eyes—the flicker of guilt, of regret.
He's hurting, too.
But it doesn't matter. I'm not here for his pain. I'm here for me. I'm here to show the world—and myself—that I can be more than just the woman who got left behind.
I try to focus on the conversation between the other contestants, but my mind keeps returning to him, to Alexander, standing on the other side of the room like a silent reminder of everything I've lost. And, for a brief second, everything I might still want.
I push the thought away. I can't afford that kind of weakness. Not here. Not now.
"Sophia?"
I turn at the sound of my name. Maya, one of the other contestants, is standing in front of me, her gaze steady but curious.
"You alright?" she asks softly.
I nod quickly, offering her a strained smile. "Yeah, just… adjusting." My voice feels like it's cracking under the weight of the words, but I can't let it show.
Maya's sharp eyes seem to catch something beneath the surface, but she doesn't press. She just nods, settling into the chair next to me. For a moment, we sit in silence, both of us taking in the chaos of the game show around us. The other women are already starting to fight for attention, trying to be the first to catch Alexander's eye. But not me. I won't play by those rules.
Maya leans in, her voice low. "You know, you don't have to do this if you're not ready."
I look at her, surprised. "What do you mean?"
She shrugs. "I've seen the way you're reacting. I don't know what's between you and him, but... if it's too much, you don't have to stay. You don't owe anyone anything."
I can't help but smile, though it's bittersweet. "I can't just quit. Not now. I'm here because I need to be."
Maya raises an eyebrow, her gaze flicking over to where Alexander is talking to another contestant. "If you're sure. Just don't let him have all the power."
Her words are like a spark in the dark. Don't let him have all the power. I've been giving him power over me for too long. Too long. It's time to take it back.
I nod, feeling a weight shift inside me. She's right. I have the power to walk away if I want to. I have the power to choose how I move forward. Not him. Not anyone else.
Just me.
I stand up abruptly, surprising Maya. "Thanks," I say quickly, giving her a genuine smile. "I think I know what I need to do."
Before she can respond, I turn and walk toward the center of the set. The producers call for us to gather, the sound of their instructions almost drowning out everything else. I push my way through the crowd of contestants, my mind set. There's no turning back now. I'm not here to win him. I'm not here to play their game. I'm here to take back my life.
And whatever happens next
, I won't let Alexander Kim be the one to define me anymore.