The shrill ringtone of Sophie's phone shattered the heavy silence in the room. She bolted upright on the couch, her heart pounding in her chest. Morning light streamed through the blinds, casting jagged shadows across the disheveled apartment.
Her phone buzzed again, vibrating against the coffee table. With a sinking feeling, she picked it up and saw Olivia's name flashing on the screen.
"You're late!" Olivia barked the moment Sophie answered. "Our flight leaves in two hours. Where are you?"
Panic hit Sophie like a bucket of ice water. She hadn't packed. She hadn't even thought about the logistics of the day, too consumed by the nightmare she was trying to erase.
"I... I'm on my way," she stammered, scrambling to her feet.
"Get moving!" Olivia snapped, hanging up before Sophie could respond.
The room blurred around her as she grabbed a suitcase, throwing in clothes haphazardly. Her hands shook as she zipped it shut, her mind racing with fragmented thoughts. She was still wearing the ring. She'd forgotten to take it off, and now the tiny circle of gold felt like a shackle.
Sophie managed to flag a cab and was halfway to the airport before she realized she'd left the marriage certificate on her kitchen counter. Her chest tightened, the weight of her oversight pressing down on her like a physical force. She considered turning back, but the risk of missing her flight loomed too large.
"It doesn't matter," she muttered under her breath, clutching the edge of the seat. "I'll deal with it later."
The cab driver gave her a curious glance in the rearview mirror but said nothing.
By the time Sophie arrived at the terminal, Olivia was waiting near the check-in counter, her arms crossed and her expression impatient.
"Cutting it close, aren't we?" Olivia said, her voice edged with irritation.
"Sorry," Sophie mumbled, avoiding her friend's gaze as she handed over her ID to the airline attendant.
Olivia softened slightly, her shoulders relaxing. "Rough morning?"
"You have no idea," Sophie replied, forcing a weak smile.
The plane ride was a blur. Sophie stared out the window, the distant clouds offering no comfort. Olivia chatted beside her, oblivious to Sophie's inner turmoil. Every time Sophie closed her eyes, fragments of the night with Ethan resurfaced—his teasing grin, the weight of his words, the reckless kiss that sealed their vows.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Focus. Get home, face Daniel, and fix this before it's too late.
Back in the city, the car ride to Daniel's apartment felt suffocating. Sophie sat in the backseat, her pulse quickening with every block they passed. Her phone buzzed with texts from Daniel, each one cheerfully oblivious to the storm brewing inside her.
When the car stopped in front of the towering building, Sophie hesitated. The doorman opened her door with a polite smile, but her legs felt like lead. She forced herself out, her suitcase rolling behind her as she crossed the marble lobby and stepped into the elevator.
The ride up was excruciatingly slow. Sophie's reflection stared back at her from the mirrored walls, her expression tight and pale. The gold band on her finger caught the light, and she stuffed her hand into her coat pocket.
Daniel greeted her at the door with his usual calm demeanor, his neatly pressed shirt and perfectly combed hair a sharp contrast to the chaos Sophie felt inside. He kissed her cheek, his touch light but practiced, and took her suitcase.
"Welcome back," he said, his tone warm. "How was Vegas?"
"Exhausting," Sophie replied, stepping inside and setting her purse on the entryway table.
Daniel chuckled, following her into the living room. "That's the point, isn't it? One last wild weekend before the big day."
"Something like that," she murmured, avoiding his gaze as she sank onto the couch.
Daniel sat beside her, his hand resting on her knee. "You're okay, right? You seem... off."
Sophie forced a smile, her chest tightening under his scrutiny. "Just tired. It's been a lot."
His expression softened, and he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I get it. But it'll all be worth it. Our life is about to start, Sophie. Everything we've worked for."
The words twisted like a knife in her gut. Sophie nodded, her throat too tight to speak.
That night, Sophie lay awake in Daniel's guest bedroom, staring at the ceiling. The ring still weighed heavily on her finger, a constant reminder of her failure to fix things before returning. Her phone sat on the nightstand, face down, but she knew Ethan's number was there, taunting her.
Her heart raced as she reached for the phone, flipping it over and unlocking the screen. No new messages. For some reason, that only made her feel worse.
She opened the message thread with Ethan, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Finally, she typed:
We need to talk.
Her thumb hovered over the send button, but before she could press it, a knock at the door startled her. She locked the phone quickly and sat up.
"Yeah?" she called, her voice strained.
Daniel poked his head in, his brow furrowed. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just couldn't sleep."
He stepped inside, his concern evident. "You sure? If there's anything on your mind..."
"I'm fine," Sophie interrupted, her voice firmer this time. "Really."
Daniel hesitated but nodded. "Alright. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," she replied, waiting until the door clicked shut before exhaling shakily.
The next morning, Sophie woke early and left before Daniel could ask too many questions. She needed time to think, to plan. Her first stop was the lawyer's office, where she hoped to put the annulment process in motion.
The receptionist greeted her with a polite smile, but Sophie barely registered it as she sat in the waiting area. Her foot tapped anxiously against the floor, her mind racing.
When her name was called, she stood, clutching her purse tightly as she followed the lawyer into his office. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor.
"How can I help you today?" he asked, gesturing for her to sit.
"I need an annulment," Sophie said, her voice steady despite the panic bubbling beneath the surface.
The lawyer nodded, pulling out a notepad. "Alright. Let's start with the details."
As Sophie recounted the events of the past few days, the weight of her actions pressed down on her. The lawyer listened intently, occasionally jotting down notes.
When she finished, he looked up, his expression serious. "There's a complication."
Sophie's heart sank. "What kind of complication?"
"If the marriage was consummated," he began carefully, "it's no longer a simple annulment. You may need to go through a formal divorce process."
The words hit her like a blow. Sophie's mind spun, her carefully constructed plan crumbling before her eyes.
"But I..." she began, her voice trembling. "It was a mistake. It wasn't supposed to happen."
The lawyer's gaze softened. "I understand, but legally, it happened. Mistakes don't negate the process."
Sophie stared at him, her chest tightening. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. She had been so sure she could fix this, that it could all go away quietly. Now, the reality of her situation was sinking in, heavier than ever.
As she left the office, the weight of the gold band on her finger felt unbearable. She had fled Vegas to escape the consequences, but they had followed her home. And now, there was no running from them.