Sophia took a sip of her coffee, her hands trembling slightly as she spoke. "Liam, I need your help," she began, her voice steady but tinged with determination.
Liam looked at her cautiously, sensing the gravity of her tone. "With what?"
"I need you to help me find a divorce lawyer," she said, her words landing like a bombshell.
Liam froze, his cup of coffee halfway to his lips. He set it down slowly, leaning forward as his hazel eyes searched hers. "Wait, what? You're serious? You want to divorce Alexander?"
"Yes," Sophia said firmly, meeting his gaze without wavering.
He sat back in his chair, stunned. "I—this is unexpected. What happened? Why the sudden change of heart? I mean, you… you used to worship the ground he walked on."
Sophia's lips curled into a bitter smile. "That was the old Sophia. The one who was blind to the truth. Alexander cheated on me, lied to me, manipulated me. And now? I don't want any of it anymore. I don't want him anymore."
Liam frowned, his concern etched into his features. He stood up abruptly, walking around the table to place a hand on her forehead. "You don't feel feverish," he said, his voice half-teasing, half-serious. "Are you sure you're okay? Because this doesn't sound like the Sophia I know."
She swatted his hand away, her expression softening for a moment. "I'm fine, Liam. It's just… you wouldn't understand."
Liam sighed, pulling out the chair beside her and sitting down. "Try me."
Sophia hesitated, then shook her head. "It's a long story, one I'm not ready to explain yet. All I can say is that I've woken up from a nightmare, and now I need to fix everything I've broken."
He studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. If this is what you really want, then I'll help you. I'll ask around and find the best divorce lawyer for you."
Sophia's shoulders relaxed slightly, a weight lifting off her chest. "Thank you, Liam. It means a lot to me."
Liam smiled faintly, but his curiosity got the better of him. "So… what about your family?"
The question caught her off guard, and her breath hitched. "My family?"
"Yeah," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Your parents. Your younger brother. They're doing fine, by the way. Your brother's been taking good care of them."
Sophia felt a lump form in her throat. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as guilt washed over her. She cursed the original Sophia in her heart for being so blind and selfish.
In the novel, Sophia had disowned her family, cutting off all ties with them after they voiced their concerns about Alexander. They had warned her that he wasn't a good man, that he was still hung up on his ex-fiancée. But the original Sophia, consumed by her obsession with Alexander, had refused to listen. Instead, she publicly humiliated them and walked away from the people who loved her most.
Now, sitting across from Liam, she couldn't fathom how anyone could be so cruel.
"I want to see them," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I want to apologize, to make things right. But…" She looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I don't know how they'll react when they see me after everything I've done."
Liam reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on hers. "Sophia, they're your parents. They miss you, no matter what happened in the past. I know for a fact that they still love you."
Her tears flowed freely now, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. "I'm not ready to face them yet," she admitted. "Not until I figure out how to make things right."
Liam nodded understandingly. "Take your time. When you're ready, I'll take you to them. They'll want to hear from you."
Sophia managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Liam. You're a better friend than I ever deserved."
He chuckled softly. "Don't get all sentimental on me now."
She laughed lightly, the tension in her chest easing just a bit. "Can you take me somewhere instead? Somewhere we used to go as kids. I want to remember the old times, the good times."
Liam's expression softened, and he nodded. "I know just the place."
---
As they drove to their childhood hideout, Sophia's phone buzzed incessantly. She glanced at the screen and saw Alexander's name flashing repeatedly.
"You're not going to answer that?" Liam asked, stealing a glance at her from the driver's seat.
"No," she said firmly, silencing the call.
Liam nearly swerved in surprise, his eyes wide. "Okay, now I know something's up. You, ignoring Alexander? Are we in some alternate reality?"
Sophia smirked. "Get used to it."
He shook his head in disbelief but couldn't help smiling. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but I like this version of you better."
Sophia gazed out the window, her thoughts swirling. She wasn't just trying to fix the mess the original Sophia had made; she was reclaiming her life, piece by piece. And she wasn't about to let anyone, not even Alexander, stand in her way.
When they arrived at the old park where they used to play as kids, nostalgia hit her like a wave. The swing set was still there, albeit rusted, and the small creek where they used to skip stones still bubbled quietly.
Sophia stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. She turned to Liam, her smile genuine for the first time in what felt like forever.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He grinned. "Come on, let's relive some of those memories."
As they walked through the park, laughing and reminiscing, Sophia felt a sense of peace she hadn't known in years. For the first time, she wasn't thinking about Alexander, or the pain of the past. She was just… living.
And it felt amazing.