Sophia had always been seen as a spoiled girl who thought of herself as a little princess, even though her family had fallen into poverty. But she wasn't like that at all. She cried every time someone treated her that way. She was just a young girl, unable to defend herself, and crying was the only way she knew how to express her feelings.
Whenever Sophia cried, Zane would come to her side, gently taking her hand and leading her for a walk. He always seemed to show up when she needed him, offering comfort and care. One day, after Sophia had cried, Zane smiled softly and said, "But who taught me not to make do?
Tell me, I've forgotten."
Sophia, still upset, did not respond. Zane's words made her feel better, even if she did not fully understand.
Sophia's first memory of Zane was when she first arrived at the welfare home. Her hair was always messy, and she didn't know how to take care of it. When she cried, she looked like a beggar. Zane couldn't stand to see her like that, so one day, he gently pulled her aside and said, "Sophia, you're a
girl. This isn't appropriate.
Even if you don't know how to braid your hair, you can't just make do like this. We're all in the same situation here, but that doesn't mean we should look sloppy. We all try to show our best side. When you learn to love yourself, people will be more willing to be friends with you."
Sophia did not understand what Zane was trying to say. She felt like he was being just like the others who had bullied her. She ignored him for a while, hurt by his words. Eventually, Zane won her over by bringing her candy, making her smile again.
It wasn't long before Sophia, in a rare moment of humility, asked another girl for help, something she had never done before. That marked the beginning of her first true friendship. Looking back, she found it cute how she had been back then, so innocent and unaware of how things worked.
Sophia had always cared for Zane in her heart, but she never showed it to him. Now that she was married to Zane's friend, Ethan, she had to keep her feelings hidden. Still, whenever she saw Zane, she could not help but feel drawn to him, as if his presence had some kind of magical effect on her.
On one of their walks, Sophia and Zane shared a moment of carefree joy.
They even almost ended up in a playful water fight in the river. But just as they were laughing, a familiar figure appeared. Sophia barely glanced at him at first, but then she caught a glimpse of his eyes—the cold, piercing gaze that only Ethan had.
Suddenly, Sophia felt a chill run down her spine. She froze, her hand still holding water, not knowing how to react.
Ethan stood tall, his presence as commanding as ever. His cold expression made Sophia feel like a child caught doing something wrong.
Zane noticed the change in the atmosphere and waved at Ethan. He turned to Sophia and said, "Boss Ethan is here. It is getting late. Tell him I'll head back to the welfare home for now, and I'll be back later."
Zane waved one last time and started to leave. Sophia stood there, her feet still in the water, feeling uneasy. She stared at Ethan, unsure of what to say. The tension between them was thick, and she didn't know how to break it.
Ethan walked over to her slowly. His presence was commanding, as always. He looked at her with his usual cold gaze and asked, "Is it cold?" His voice was sharp, like ice.
Sophia gave a nervous smile, trying to hide her discomfort. "It's not bad," she replied quietly, trying to sound calm. But inside, she felt a mix of emotions. She was grateful for his presence, yet uncomfortable with the silence that seemed to grow between them.
Without saying another word, Ethan reached out and grabbed her arm, lifting her gently out of the water. Sophia let out a small yelp of surprise. She hadn't expected him to lift her so suddenly, and her heart raced as she tried to adjust to his touch.
"Wait!" she suddenly called out, realizing something important.
Ethan paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at her, waiting for an explanation.
"My shoes," Sophia said, pointing to her high heels resting on the stone bench nearby.
Without a word, Ethan walked over, grabbed her shoes, and then returned to her side. He didn't say anything as he lifted her into his arms again and carried her toward the car. The silence between them was heavy, and Sophia didn't know how to break it.
As Ethan placed her gently into the car, he took her shoes from her hand. He didn't say a word, his actions speaking louder than anything else. There was no room for argument, no space for questions. Sophia sat there, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and unease.
She was thankful for Ethan's help, but at the same time, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
She had always been drawn to Zane and felt a special connection to him, but she knew deep down that her life with Ethan was the reality she had to face. She was married to Ethan, and no matter how strong her feelings for Zane were, she had to accept that her life with Ethan was her future.
She stared out the window as Ethan drove, her thoughts a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She did not want to hurt anyone, but she felt torn between the man she had married and the one who had always been there for her, the one who had once been her closest friend.
But the reality was clear. She couldn't turn back time. She couldn't change the choices she had made. Though Zane still held a special place in her heart, her life with Ethan was the life she had to live.
It was the life she had chosen, and now she had to learn to accept it, no matter how hard it was. As they drove in silence, Sophia's heart felt heavy, but she knew there was no easy way out of the mess she had created.
She could only move forward and try to make peace with her choices. The future, no matter how uncertain, was something she had to face head-on.