Chapter 51

#51 “I Can’t Imagine Being With Anyone Else.”

Collecting herself, Sophia took a deep breath, her voice steady as she responded to him.

“I see that you have solved the puzzle,” Sophia smiles at him, but the smile does not reach her eyes. “It doesn’t change anything, Alexander. You didn’t visit me once in these three years and now you pretend that there was something between us. There is nothing to fix because there was never a real connection.”

Alexander sighed deeply, acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. “I know I was wrong, Sophia,” he began cautiously.

Sophia’s voice turned cold and distant. “You were not wrong, Alexander; you made a decision. Your decision is that you don’t want to know me or have anything to do with me. I accept it.”

“Sophia, that was before I knew you,’ Alexander pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.

She let out a bitter laugh. “There were three long years in which I sat alone, waiting for you to get to know me. It’s late now. I suggest that the divorce, which was your idea, means that you don’t want to communicate, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

“I know I can’t change the past, but I can change the future. I want to make things right. Sophia, I didn’t even know your name or who you were all these years, and not that it justifies me, but…

Sophia interrupted him with a cutting remark. “You’re right; it doesn’t excuse you. Just like the fact that you now know who I am, and suddenly I’m useful to you, right?”

“What?” Alexander asked, stunned by her accusation.

“You heard me very well,” Sophia continued. “I remember what Emily said to me on the phone the day of our divorce. When, once again, I wanted to talk with you. She said, ‘For being a useless ex-wife, he has given you enough. What more do you want?’ And now you know that I am Sophia Johnson, a famous lawyer you want me back.”

“It’s not about that at all,” Alexander protested, his surprise evident on his face.

“You said it yourself,” Sophia countered sharply, her tone biting. You didn’t know who I was; you thought I was from a poor family, didn’t you? That I clung to you like a leech because I’m incapable of making money. This is where you are wrong, Alexander. I was able to help you in your work, to be your equal partner, and you stuck me in that villa and left me to rot there.”

“God, Sophia, I’ve never seen things like this; that’s what I want to talk about. To be clear, I obviously offended you. I never thought you were a leech,” Alexander insisted. Sophia wasn’t willing to let him off the hook that easily.

“Stop the circus, Alexander. Men like you are clear to me. For you, only work is important, and nothing else. You want to own, destroy competitors, and win new benefits. You’re a money machine. You will go through everyone and everything to get your way.”

Alexander was left stunned by her harsh words, unsure of how to react. He stared at her for a long moment, torn between feeling offended, hurt, and a strange sense of disbelief.

“Obviously, you haven’t gotten to know me at all until now, Sophia,” he finally responded, his voice measured.

“If I wanted power, would I have helped you all this time? And why on earth should I bother trying to make you like me if I was just going to use you for my own purposes? You’re a lawyer; if I need your services, I’ll pay. It’s another matter that I got to know and like you, and I want to improve this disgusting impression I’ve left on you.”

Sophia was already too furious to continue listening to him. “This is where our paths diverge, Alexander. Get another lawyer and don’t look for me for anything,” she declared, her tone final.

As Sophia turned to leave, Alexander grabbed her arm, desperation in his eyes. “What about the kiss, Sophia?” he asked.

“Mistake,” she snapped back, her anger undiminished. “Mistakes don’t make you moan,” Alexander retorted before finally letting her go.

Sophia turned her back on him, walking towards her friend Evelyn. She hoped he didn’t see her face flush at the memory of their passionate kiss.

*

As the hours ticked by, Alexander found himself lost in the depths of the nearest bar, where whiskey flowed freely and regrets ran deep. The bartender’s concerned glances didn’t register as he continued to order glass after glass, each sip failing to wash away the weight of Sophia’s words.

Sophia’s accusation hung heavy in his mind. She believed he was a monster, and, in his moments of solitude at the bar, he couldn’t help but agree with her. How could he not?

He had been absent throughout their marriage, failing in his role as a husband in every conceivable way. The guilt weighed on him, gnawing at his conscience like a relentless storm.

Yet, there was a cruel irony in their stubbornness. Sophia called him obstinate, but the truth was that they shared this trait in equal measure. It was one of the things he had always admired about her—the passion she exuded, her relentless pursuit of justice, and her unwavering character.

As Alexander nursed his whiskey and his thoughts, he was startled when he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. Kyle approached, concern etched on his face as he noticed Alexander’s disheveled appearance.

“Alex. my man.” Kyle said with genuine worry, taking a seat beside him. “You don’t look so good.

What’s going on?”

Alexander sighed heavily, his head pounding from both the alcohol and the emotional turmoil. “It’s Sophia, Kyle. We had a… conversation. Things didn’t go well.”

Kyle nodded in understanding. “I’m really sorry to hear that. But you know, there are plenty of other women in this city. You don’t have to fixate on your ex -wife. You can find someone new.”

Alexander ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “Kyle, Sophia is the only one I want. I can’t just forget about her and move on. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”

Kyle regarded his friend with sympathy but also practicality. “I get it, man. Love can be a real mess sometimes. But sometimes, when things break, they’re meant to be left that way. You can’t force something that’s not meant to be.

Alexander pondered Kyle’s words for a moment, his thoughts heavy with the weight of his feelings for Sophia. Then, Kyle brought up another matter.

“So, about that media group investigation, you’ve been working on… Do you still want me to send that information to Sophia?” Kyle asked.

Alexander hesitated, torn between his desire to protect Sophia from potential harm and his need to maintain some connection with her. After a moment of contemplation, he made a decision.

“Send it to her, Kyle,” Alexander replied, his voice resigned. “But send it anonymously to her email address. I don’t want her to know it’s coming from me.”