+25 BONUS
Chapter 116
For the first time in her life, Sophia felt a weight in her chest she couldn’t quite name.
She stood there, rooted to the spot, staring at a woman who had been born into wealth–someone who’d likely never experienced a single day of real hardship.
And that woman was standing by Sophia’s ex–husband’s side.
It hit her like a slow, aching punch.
The man who had once been hers now belonged to someone else.
She didn’t think she loved Alex anymore–did she?-yet watching him move on so quickly still stung, a harsh reminder of just how easily she’d been cast aside.
Sophia tried to steady herself, but her eyes slid toward the woman beside him.
Jasmine.
The sight of her sparked an awkward, throbbing ache in Sophia’s chest.
It wasn’t exactly jealousy, but it was close. She caught the assessing look in Jasmine’s gaze–a flicker of cool curiosity that made Sophia feel dissected.
Then Jasmine’s posture shifted, her shoulders squaring, as if silently declaring her territory.
“Alex, who is this woman?” Jasmine asked, her voice as smooth as silk but laced with something sharper. (1)
Sophia’s brow knit. They had met before–at Jasmine’s own celebration banquet, of all places.
If Jasmine forgot–or pretended to–it could only mean one thing: Sophia hadn’t meant enough to be remembered.
“She’s my ex–wife,” Alex said flatly.
“Really?” Jasmine’s lips curved into a deliberately sweet smile. “Hi, I’m Jasmine. Nice to meet you.”
She extended her hand, the gesture seemingly polite, but the atmosphere around her was anything but warm.
Sophia shook it, feeling a faint tremor in her own fingers.
If Jasmine wanted to pretend they’d never met, then maybe it was best to go along with the charade–no matter how maddening.
A flush of stubborn pride flared in Sophia’s chest.
Jasmine was undeniably gorgeous–elegant, confident, the kind of woman who could turn heads without trying.
But Sophia refused to let herself feel small.
“Alex, I didn’t know you and Miss Jasmine were so close,” she said, carefully keeping her tone even.
Alex’s gaze hardened. “Did you ever care about me or my friends?”
The bitterness in his voice caught Sophia off guard, stinging like an unexpected slap.
She realized just how wide the chasm between them had grown.
The man she had once known so intimately now felt like a stranger hidden behind a towering wall.
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Chapter 116
“Alex,” she began, forcing down the knot in her throat, “can I speak to you alone?”
His eyes stayed cold. “About what?”
Sophia glanced around, looking for a quieter spot. “It’s private. Can we go somewhere else?”
He didn’t move. A muscle in his jaw flexed. “Let’s talk here I’m done with misunderstandings.”
‘Must you be so stubborn?‘ she wanted to say, but she only managed a strained whisper.
“Do we really have to do this in front of everyone?”
+25 BONUS
Sophia could feel her pulse hammering. She wanted to make amends–or at least find some closure—but Alex refused to budge.
Cold, clipped words fell from his mouth like barbed wire, each one scratching against her pride.
“Have you forgotten how you attacked my brother? Or Marco’s men?” she demanded, her anger rising
Alex snorted. “You want to sue me? Go ahead. I’ll have my lawyers waiting. Do whatever you think is right.”
Sophia bit down on the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her composure.
For the briefest moment, she remembered how she used to think of Alex: a king of a braggart, sure, but still good -kind, even.
Now he wore arrogance like armor, something she could barely recognize.
He gave a long, weary sigh.
“Ms. Lancaster, we’re divorced. You’re from a prestigious family, and I’m just a nobody–a broke man with no job. People will assume I’m trying to take advantage of you again. And let’s be honest–your family won’t approve either.”
Her fists clenched at his dismissive tone.
“Why are you acting like this? You never cared about any of this before!” she snapped, her voice trembling with frustration.
Alex’s stare sharpened. “Are you seriously asking me that? Wasn’t this what you wanted?”
“I…” She faltered, her mind spinning with half–formed defenses.
Deep down, she wasn’t even sure how much of it had been her own choice and how much had been her family’s.
“Alex, I know you despise me. But I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong. Besides, who do you think you are? You’re the one at fault here!”
Her tone was ice–cold, her pride getting the better of her.
He gave a harsh laugh. “You still blame me? From the day we met, all I did was try to help you. Yet here I am, always ‘the problem.‘ Fine. Let’s say I’m to blame. Then what?”
Sophia inhaled slowly, forcing her heart to steady.
“I’m not trying to fight. We’re not each other’s concern anymore. But at least have enough respect not to shout at me in front of your new partner.”
“Respect?” Alex let out a mirthless bark of laughter.
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Chapter 116
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“Did you ever respect me as your husband? All you ever did was treat me like some kind of shameless boastful fool!”
A long silence settled between the three of them, heavy and unbreakable, like ships adrift in a storm, powerless against the relentless tides of fate.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the standstill. “Sophia!”
She turned to see Marco approaching, his smile warm but touched with concern. “I’ve been looking for you. Why’d you wander off?”
Marco’s gaze flickered toward Jasmine–and in an instant, bis expression shifted, as though he couldn’t quite mask the surge of fascination flickering across his features.
It was like watching someone lay eyes on a striking piece of art for the first time.
If Sophia was a calm, steady river, Jasmine was a wildfire: unpredictable, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.
Marco only had a fleeting acquaintance with her brother, Charles–that elusive trickster.
As a result, he never discovered Jasmine Kingston’s true identity.
She was the type of woman who avoided social media and public events entirely, making it nearly impossible to find any photos of her.
Still, Marco couldn’t help sneaking glances her way, then darting his gaze off somewhere else.
He was well aware that ogling a gorgeous woman in public was a quick ticket to making yourself look like a creep.
First impressions and all that jazz.
“Alex, what a shocker seeing you here!” Marco greeted Alex with a paper–thin grin, although on the inside he was absolutely boiling.
How did this guy always end up with the most stunning women on his arm? He had just divorced Sophia and was already waltzing around with someone even more breathtaking. 1
Some people just win the genetics lottery, apparently. 1
Alex, for his part, didn’t look nearly as thrilled.
“Why would it be surprising to see me?” he asked, voice steady but with a razor’s edge.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Marco drawled, eyes narrowing in mock concern.
“Maybe because you’re unemployed? Broke as a joke? A worthless loser with no business stepping inside the Vancouver Convention Centre.” His sneer took up half his face.
“So, what’s the story–did you sneak past security? Or are you just faking wealth again?”
