ticket.
Chapter 3
Over the next few days, Alex paraded Sophia at every high–profile event in Cresthaven.
She refused designer gowns and glittering jewelry, opting instead for a simple, elegant dress–always in muted tones with her long black hair worn straight or in a high ponytail, her face bare of makeup. In Cresthaven’s elite circles, she was a breath of fresh air.
Alex publicly showered her with praise, calling her one–of–a–kind, sparking a trend among socialites who mimicked her minimalist style. Designers even drew Inspiration from her for their next season’s collections.
To treat Sophia’s partial blindness, Alex spent tens of millions flying in specialists from around the world, assembling a team to consult on her condition Her congenital impairment was irreversible, but they devised a plan to prevent further deterioration:
When he learned how limited the options were, Alex snapped. In a fit of anguish and guilt, he did something reckless- so reckless he nearly damaged his own eyes, as if trying to share her pain.
Meanwhile, Emily lay alone in her hospital bed, consumed by a chilling loneliness. She stared at her phone, bombarded with news of Alex and Sophia’s public displays of affection, her heart slowly withering
It dawned on her that Alex’s love, once reserved for her, could be replicated. He was capable of such wild devotion for another woman
Emily visited her comatose brother, Ethan. Three years earlier, a car accident the world’s top medical team, snatching him back from the brink of death
But Ethen remained unresponsive, sustained only by machines and medication
pol had
his way to school had left him in a vegetative state. Alex had summoned
Now, clutching his hand, Emily’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Ethan, I’m leaving soon. Before I go, I’ll make sure you’re moved somewhere safe.”
“I used to think Alex was my forever,” she whispered. “But I was wrong.”
The words tumbled out, her pain pouring from a place she’d kept buried for too long. It was only after sitting with him for hours that she wiped her tears and reluctantly left the hospital.
That afternoon, she headed to the clerk’s office to file the paperwork–changing her legal residence, removing Ethan from her emergency contact list, and severing the last of her official ties to the Harrington name. Everything would be processed within a week.
Next, she visited the Willowridge Estate, the countryside property Alex had gifted her. She gathered every cherished gift he’d given her–items she once treasured and arranged for an auction house to sell them. Then, she hired a small law firm to transfer the estate’s title back to Alex.
Finally, she returned to the Skyloft Towers penthouse. She dug out the handmade gifts she’d crafted for Alex over the years–worthless trinkets he’d
once adored
One by one, she tossed them into the fire. In the flickering flames, memories of their love flashed before her–moments when they’d truly cherished
each other.
But that happiness was as fragile as a soap bubble. As the flames died out, so did their past.
Tears streamed down her face, unnoticed until she turned and met Alex’s probing gaze. Beside him stood Sophia, her expression cool and detached. “What are you burning?” Alex asked, his tone unreadable.
Emily froze for a moment, then replied flatly, “Just some things 1 don’t need anymore”
Alex gave a careless nod. “The diamond necklace I gave you go get it and give it to Sophia now.”
Even with her resolve to leave, Emily’s heart twisted painfully. That necklace was a Harrington family heirloom, meant only for the primary heiress. Now Alex wanted to hand it to Sophila. Her fingers curled briefly, but she nodded. “Alright, I’ll get it ”
They were divorced. The necklace no longer belonged to her.
Sophia followed Emilly upstairs to retrieve it. As they entered the walk in closet, filled with racks of designer clothes and sparking jewelry, a flicker of envy and resentiment crossed Sophia’s eyes, though her face remained serene.
Emily handed her a pearwood box containing the necklace, oblivious to the venomous glint in Sophia’s gaze. You’re divorced now, Emily. Why are you still here?” Sophia taunted, trailing behind her. “Clinging like this–It’s
“You don’t need to worry,” Emily replied, meeting her gaze coolly. “I’m leaving. You can have it all.”
Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor,” Sophla snapped, her usual polse giving way i Emily–not you, not anyone”
Chapter 3
‘s pathetic.”
to a darker edge. “I earned this myself. No one gets in my way,
R
ReelShort
Her eyes burned with malice as she yanked the necklace from the box and smashed it to the floor. In one swift motion, she shaved Emily down the stairs.
Emily cried out, tumbling helplessly. Her head slammed against the edge of a step, and blood began to trickle down her face.
Sophia dropped to the floor, calmly dragging a shard of the broken necklace across her own leg. “Alex, help! Emily’s hurt!” she called out.
The commotion drew Alex’s attention. He glanced at Emily, bloodied and sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, then rushed up to scoop Sophia into his
His eyes fell on the blood seeping from Sophia’s leg, his expression turning ley. “Did she hurt you?”
Sophia nodded without hesitation, her gaze cold as she looked down at Emily. “I know I don’t deserve the necklace. She’d rather destroy it than let me have it. I just didn’t expect her to throw herself down the stairs to frame me.”
Alex shot Emily a glance and summoned a maid to tend to Sophia’s wound. “I’ll take you to get that bandaged. I’ll deal with this.”
Moments later, he ordered his bodyguards to drag Emily into the living room.
“Sweetheart, what’s with the attitude?” Alex stood over her, his voice low and dangerous. “I told you not to lay a hand on her.”
Emily struggled to sit up, blood dripping into her eyes as she glared up at him. Through gritted teeth, she gasped, “She pushed me down the stairs!” Alex gave a cold, almost amused smilé, like he’d been waiting for her to say that. “You’ve been spiraling lately–jealous, reckless, always looking for someone to blame. If you can’t take responsibility, maybe it’s time you learned the hard way.
“Alex, check the security footage!” Emily pleaded, panic surging as the guards moved in around her. “There’s no need,” he said coolly. “Sophia doesn’t lie. You, on the other hand, keep crossing the line.‘
With a flick of his hand, the butler stepped forward, holding a leather strap.
Emily’s body trembled uncontrollably. Alex’s devotion to his mistress had reached such an extreme Crack!
The strap lashed across her back, tearing through skin and cloth, blood soaking her shirt. She bit her lip against the searing pain.
Under Alex’s cold stare, Emily stopped pleading. She shut her eyes, her body trembling as each lash scorched deeper, her silence louder than any scream.
She remembered years ago, when Alex’s father opposed their marriage. He’d had Alex dragged to the family crypt and beaten for three straight days. Three hundred lashes, until he was barely breathing.
Even in his delirium, Alex had sworn he’d marry no one but Emily, vowing to love her alone, forever.
He’d said she was worth more than his life, that he’d never let her suffer a moment’s pain, that he’d make the world know Emily Harper was his wife. But now, for another woman, he pinned false crimes on her and subjected her to family discipline.
Alex, was your “game” with Sophia really just for fun?
