Aaron frowned, his gaze falling on her wrist, ready to ask, but Raelynn cut in first. "Aaron, you really are a piece of trash. Sophia must’ve been blind and cursed with the worst luck to marry someone like you."

"Trash?" Aaron's eyes darkened, his expression clouded. "Miss Johnson, maybe you should ask your dear friend how she climbed into my bed in the first place. If we're talking about trash, no one fits that title better than Mrs. Ryker."

Sophia's face turned even paler, and she staggered back a step.

"So, that's how you see me?" Her voice was low, almost trembling.

Aaron's brow furrowed deeper.

Sophia let out a bitter laugh, her tone soft and filled with resignation. "You're right. I was shameless. I was cheap."

They stared at each other, the air thick with disappointment and anguish.

Looking back, this marriage really had no reason to continue.

"So… Aaron, let's get a divorce." After a long silence, Sophia spoke calmly. "Have Joe draft the papers. I don’t want anything."

Aaron's face grew grim, and for a moment, he froze.

Then, his gaze swept over Sophia with scrutiny. "One moment you're running to my grandfather, the next you're asking for a divorce? Mrs. Ryker, don’t you think your performance is a bit over the top?"

"Don’t forget, you begged for the title of Mrs. Ryker!"

Sophia chuckled bitterly, the pain in her stomach intensifying. "I begged for it, yes. And now I don’t want it anymore. Is that a problem? Aaron, you disgust me."

"If this position is so filthy, let someone else have it. I, Sophia, am done."

Aaron's eyes turned cold as he reached out, gripping her jaw. "Divorce? Do you think Dolce Group, barely hanging on in Harborville, will still have a place without me? When it goes bankrupt, how will you survive? With that half-dead gallery of yours?"

"That’s none of your concern." She smiled faintly, her eyes unwavering. "Even if I have to pick trash off the streets, I’ll never want a filthy man like you again."

"This marriage is over."

Sophia’s stomach clenched again, and she grabbed Raelynn's arm tightly. "Raelynn, let's go."

Raelynn, knowing how much pain Sophia was in, shot Aaron a furious glare before supporting her friend out of the room.

Aaron made a move to follow, but the door to the operating room opened. Raina was wheeled out, and he followed her to the recovery room.

Meanwhile, Sophia barely made it around the corner before collapsing, sending Raelynn into a panic as she rushed to find help and got her admitted into a hospital room.

When Sophia woke up, the harsh white of the hospital room greeted her.

"You’re finally awake! My God, you scared me half to death," Raelynn said, her concern evident.

Sophia squinted, her voice hoarse as she murmured, "I’m sorry for worrying you."

"Don’t say that," Raelynn scolded gently, helping her sit up against the pillows. "It was just acute gastritis, nothing too serious. But Sophia… how long are you going to keep destroying yourself for him? What happened back then wasn’t your fault. Why are you punishing yourself?"

As she spoke, Raelynn handed Sophia a newspaper from the bedside table. "Take a look for yourself."

The front page featured a large photo of Aaron carrying Raina into the hospital.

The headline was blunt: simply"Ryker Corp CEO Accompanies Raina to Hospital Late at Night – Pregnancy Rumors Swirl." simply

Sophia's grip on the newspaper tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"Sophia, if you want to cry, just cry. Don’t hold it in." Raelynn reached out to embrace her. "It’s okay. I’m here."

Sophia remained silent, her head bowed as tears silently fell, soaking the newspaper.

"Since you got married, his scandals have never stopped. You used to think as long as those women didn’t show up in front of you, you could endure it. But now… now that woman is pregnant. How much longer are you going to lie to yourself? Until one of them shows up with a baby, calling you 'Mom'?"

"Let him go, Sophia. Let yourself go."

Sophia's breath hitched, the pain in her chest sharp and undeniable.

Raelynn gently patted her shoulder, hesitated, then added, "I… I managed to get a little something from the nurse. If you run a DNA test, you’ll know who the father is. Even if you want a divorce, having this in hand might get you a better settlement."

Sophia frowned and looked up at Raelynn.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You’ve given him so much… even lost a child for him—"

"Raelynn." Sophia's voice turned cold, cutting her off. "I told you not to mention that again."

"Fine, fine. I won’t." Raelynn sighed. "But even if you don’t want the money, you can’t let him drag your name through the mud after cheating on you."

"I understand. Thank you, Raelynn." Sophia's voice softened.

At least she still had Raelynn. At least she wasn’t completely alone.

Sophia stayed in the hospital for two days. Once her condition stabilized, Raelynn took her home. But aside from the servants, the house was empty.

It wasn’t surprising.

He’d lost a child—of course, Aaron would be with Raina.

Sophia stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the sprawling garden filled with Louis XIV roses.

Camila’s favorite.

Everything in this villa—from the décor to the furnishings—had been tailored to her tastes.

Camila might be gone, but her presence had never left.

As the sun set and night fell, the entire villa grew oppressively silent.

Sophia turned and went to the study, printing two copies of the divorce agreement before packing her belongings. From the bottom of her wardrobe, she retrieved a wooden box and opened it.

Inside were mementos of Aaron.

Photos, clippings from newspapers—even the scandals.

She let out a bitter smile. She never imagined that the tokens of her longing would one day be used to end their marriage.

Sophia packed her suitcase, placing the scandal clippings and the divorce papers on the coffee table. She curled up on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest, her face buried in them.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house.

Sophia lifted her head. The glare of the overhead lights stung her eyes, and she squinted at the figure standing there, struggling to focus.

It wasn’t until she heard the water running that she realized Aaron had gone to the bathroom.

When he emerged, Sophia hadn’t moved from her spot. Their eyes met.

The depth of despair in her gaze made him flinch.

Her voice was hoarse as she looked at him and said, "Aaron, sign it."

Aaron glanced at her coldly before sitting across from her. As he reached for the cigarette box on the table, his eyes fell on the divorce papers.

His hand paused briefly but didn’t reach for them.

Instead, he lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around his chiseled features, making his expression unreadable.

After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Are you sure?"