"What are you saying, Sophia? You know Angel can't know about us," Arthur said, his voice thick with concern as he moved closer to her.
He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, his gaze intense, filled with sincerity. But just then, a soft gasp from Sophia cut through the air, freezing both of them.
Sophia's eyes flickered as she stared at Arthur, the bouquet of flowers in her hand falling to the ground.
Sophia's face was pale, her expression one of disbelief and sorrow, her hands trembling as she took in the words of Arthur.
Sophia, her heart sinking, exhaled slowly, trying to hold back the storm of emotions raging inside her.
She straightened up, her voice quiet but piercing, "Really, Arthur? You expect me to just forget all of it? Pretend that the love we shared, the memories we built, the moments that once meant everything... that they never mattered?"
The words hung in the air like a challenge, but Arthur remained speechless, staring at her, his lips parted as if to explain, but no sound emerged.
His eyes fluttered, uncertainty clouding his expression, a man trapped between two worlds.
Sophia's tone shifted, her frustration boiling over.
"Oh, I see. I'm just the woman who was there to satisfy your needs, and nothing more," she said, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.
She turned sharply, walking toward the door, ready to leave the room and the torment behind.
But just as she reached the threshold, a strong hand grasped her wrist, pulling her back with an intensity that startled her.
Before she could even process what was happening, Arthur's arms were around her, and she was pressed against him, her breath catching in her throat.
His lips lowered to hers in a kiss—fierce, desperate, as though trying to pour all his regret and longing into that one stolen moment.
The kiss was fiery and passionate, and when they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Arthur's eyes were filled with an intensity that spoke volumes.
Sophia, however, pulled back slightly, her disappointment unmistakable.
"Just because I stayed silent doesn't mean I was blind, Arthur. I have feelings, too. But you want to make me feel like I'm just some forgotten guest in your life," she said, her voice calm yet seething with hurt.
Arthur's expression softened, his voice trembling as he tried to make her understand. "Sophia, please... you need to understand, we can't do this right now. We need to lay low for a while. It's safer that way."
Sophia's eyes widened, disbelief in her gaze. "Why? Yesterday, you went out with Angel, and do you have any idea how terrified I was? How could you promise me one thing, then go back on it like it was nothing? You promised me, Arthur."
"I did it because I had to, Sophia. You're the one I want. You're the only one I want," Arthur said earnestly, his voice full of desperation, as though his very soul was reaching out to her.
But Sophia's eyes were hard, and her voice even colder. "No, Arthur. This isn't about love. You've been too persistent, too selfish. I don't understand what makes me so different from her. Why does it feel like I'm the second choice?"
Arthur's expression faltered as he stepped forward, his hand cupping her cheek in a tender gesture.
"Sophia, there's nothing wrong with you. You're perfect the way you are. I need you to know that," he said softly, his eyes pleading for her to see his truth. But before he could say another word, Sophia yanked his hand away, her gaze sharp.
"And the flowers, Arthur? Was that just another empty gesture?" she asked, her voice thick with sarcasm.
"Sophia, they were just a small gesture, nothing more," Arthur stammered, trying to explain, but she wasn't having it.
"No, Arthur. What about me? Does our relationship not matter to you anymore? Is that why you keep acting like everything we shared was nothing?" she said, the pain in her voice cutting through the tension in the room.
Arthur's face twisted in frustration. "Are we really going to go around in circles with this, Sophia?"
"Yes, Arthur, we are," she replied, her voice cold. "You've left me with no choice. I want to believe you, but how can I when it feels like you're playing me? I've seen you with her. I've watched you kiss her, hold her, and you expect me to just sit back and pretend like nothing is wrong? Just because I became friends with the woman you're seeing and the mistress of my husband, does that mean I'm supposed to accept it?"
Arthur stepped back, his voice thick with regret. "Sophia, it's just a matter of moments. You don't understand. Please, just trust me."
"Stop saying that!" she snapped, her frustration reaching its peak. She raised her hand, halting him. "I've seen those moments, Arthur. I've watched you kiss her forehead, act like she's the one you want, and now you want me to believe it's just 'a few moments'? Just tell me, Arthur—what are you really keeping from me?"
Arthur's eyes flashed, his voice rising. "The truth, Sophia. The truth about Angel. She's not who she claims to be."
Sophia froze, her anger momentarily slipping away, replaced by confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
Arthur stepped closer, his gaze darkening. "I've known something was off from the moment I met her. And that's why I need her at our company, why I've done everything I can to keep her close. Everything I've done has been for us—our family."
Sophia's mind raced, the pieces falling into place. "But she's not at the company, Arthur. She's nowhere to be found," she said, her tone flat but firm.
Arthur's face twisted in shock. "What do you mean by that?"
Sophia's eyes hardened as she spoke. "Stop chasing after a woman who doesn't need you. She won't be showing up for a while. Don't you see it?"
Arthur stared at her, unable to comprehend what she was saying. "What are you talking about?"
Sophia took a deep breath, her words cutting through the air with finality. "Don't you get it? This is all part of something bigger. Whatever's happening now, it's all connected. Tryson Bliss is involved, and that's why Angel's not at the company. He's the one pulling the strings."
At those words, Arthur's face darkened, his entire demeanor shifting as the weight of the truth settled on him. The room grew cold as the storm of realization hit him hard.