Chapter 13
Only after his eyes recovered did Ethan return to the Fuller house.[]
As soon as he entered, his stepfather summoned him to the study.[]
Soon after, arguing erupted. Ethan yanked open the door, and his mother, waiting outside, looked at him with concern before walking into the study.[]
Ethan lowered his head, laughing bitterly to himself.[]
Knowing he would never be her first choice, yet still hoping and expecting.[]
A chill settled in his heart as he thought of Sophia again.
No matter the situation, right or wrong, Sophia had always stood firmly by his side.[]
But such a person would never be his again.]
His eyes reddened, and his phone vibrated in his pocket.]
He mechanically answered, only to hear Veronica’s near–hysterical voice, which only irritated him further.[]
Sensitive to his moods, Veronica quickly calmed herself.]
“Ethan, where are you? Can I come find you?“]
Ethan had returned to the home he had shared with Sophia.]
In the dark, he hugged Sophia’s favorite pillow, resting his head on it and breathing in the lingering scent.
Empty alcohol bottles littered the floor. As he staggered to the bedroom, his foot suddenly caught on something, causing him to fall.]] |
ver.]
Just as he was about to get up, his attention was drawn to the box he had kicked over.
Ethan’s intoxication seemed to vanish instantly as he scrambled to pick up the phone next to the box.
It was Sophia’s phone. How had it ended up here?]
He suddenly remembered that before Sophia’s accident, she had mailed him a package.[]
Like a man seeing hope, he gathered the contents of the package, quickly finding a charger for the phone that had automatically shut down.[]
Ethan was desperate to find beautiful memories of them in Sophia’s phone.[]
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Chapter 13
But when the phone finally turned on, his smile froze.]
He scrolled rapidly through the screen, but in thousands of photos, there wasn’t a single picture of them together. Instead, every image showed him and Veronica in intimate situations.[]
And Veronica’s threatening text messages appeared one after another.[]
So Sophia had known everything!]
Ethan’s eyes widened as his finger accidentally touched a nearby audio recording.]
A conversation immediately played in the silent room:[]
“Ethan, have you thought this through? It’s fine to have some fun with Veronica, but are you really serious about her? Last time, you left Sophia alone at her birthday celebration–you didn’t see how upset she looked! We’ve all watched you two grow together. Do you really have to take things this far?“]
“And faking your death? Isn’t that unfair to Sophia?“]
“I’ll leave her the company and all my properties. She’ll be financially secure for life. Isn’t that enough?“]
“But Sophia isn’t short on money herself.“||
“So, that’s why Veronica needs me more.“[]
The phone slipped from Ethan’s hand, crashing to the floor.]
Ethan’s face showed both shock and pain as he cried hoarsely, like a child who had made a terrible mistake.[]
So Sophia had left him because of his affair.]
He had thought she was being stubborn about the Veronica situation and refusing to apologize.[]
Had Veronica’s uncle really been sent by Sophia? The answer was obvious, but Ethan dared not think further.[]
He was afraid…]
Afraid he had wronged Sophia.[]
Tears fell one by one, darkening his white shirt where they landed.[]
When the door sounded, he instinctively looked up, momentarily hallucinating that Sophia had returned.[]
He scrambled to his feet and rushed toward the person, embracing them tightly.
“Sophia, is that you?“]
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Chapter 13
“Sophia, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I misjudged you. Please forgive me! I knew you weren’t dead. I love you, my wife, I love you!“]
