Chapter 7: Do You Want Revenge?

Alexander raised his eyebrows slightly, putting his hands in his pants pocket as if waiting for her to continue.

Sophia's heartbeat increased, knowing he would not take it well, and she was ready for him to react or even divorce her. Divorce? Her heart sank at the thought of another divorce.

She bit her lower lip, avoiding his eyes, but she could feel his sharp eyes focused on her face. He didn't say anything, and his silence didn't make Sophia's heart calm, so she continued.

"I was together with Marcus Hawthorne for 3 years but we never did….I mean we were never close." She said with her face blushing. "It was just complicated."

Alexander's lips curved slightly, "how efficient."

"Huh?" Sophia was surprised. She expected him to be annoyed or maybe not show any interest.

"You dropped a fish and hooked another on the same day?" his neutral voice came again but there was no humor in his eyes.

Sophia's face flushed deeper. His words stung but it was the truth anyway. "I-I didn't plan it, and there wasn't much I could do."

He watched her for some time without saying a word. Just as Sophia thought the conversation was over, his deep voice came again, "Do you want revenge?"

"What?" Sophia blinked, clearly taken aback.

"I asked if you want revenge on him. Marcus." He repeated this time, his voice slow and deliberate. His eyes were still on her gauging her reaction.

Revenge? Sophia's mind raced. The question hung in the air as Sophia has never thought of revenge even after everything she went through in the Hawthorne family. Was it wrong to make them pay for what they made her go through? Even for a fraction of it?

She remembered Lila's call that night and gritted her teeth tightly, anger overwhelming her emotions.

She remembered how Marcus treated their marriage like a temporary convenience, the way his family mistreated her, and the way he arrogantly signed the divorce papers with no emotions, dismissing her just as his family always did. Maybe it was time for him to understand what he had truly lost and for his family to respect her.

She swallowed hard before composing herself. "I'll think about it." She murmured, not sure if she wanted to admit that part of herself yet.

Alexander didn't press further but she saw a glimmer in his eyes. He had already planted the seed; whether it grows is up to her.

****

Sophia had a peaceful night in ages and she woke up the next morning refreshed.

She went to visit her mother. She hadn't seen her since the surgery and felt guilty for not being with her as she was one of the few people who mattered to her.

Alexander had settled for the surgery and taken care of everything, giving Sophia relief but she dared not tell her mother the truth about her marriage. At least not for now.

She got to the hospital and found her mother sleeping peacefully, her face pale but serene. Ethan was sitting in a chair beside her bed with a tired but relieved expression.

"Hey, soph." He greeted her with a warm smile. "The surgery was successful, Mom is doing better now."

"I'm so glad Ethan. I was so worried." She said as she leaned in to kiss her mother's forehead.

As they spoke in soft tones, trying not to disturb their mother, the door to the room creaked open. Evelyn and Lauren Hawthorne, her ex-mother-in-law and sister-in-law, entered the room, their faces twisted in disdain. They had been told Sophia would be there, but they came nonetheless, pretending it was to check on her mother's recovery.

"Well, isn't this a surprise," Lauren remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't expect to see you here, Sophia."

Sophia glared at them, but she stayed calm. "Of Course, I'm here for my mother," she said evenly. "Isn't that obvious?"

Evelyn's cold eyes flicked over Sophia, her lips curling into a sneer. "I heard your mother had her surgery done yesterday, did Marcus pay for it after that little stunt you pulled?"

Sophia's heart pounded and she felt the emotions she thought were gone resurfaced. But still, she stood her ground, "Marcus and I are already divorced, Evelyn. We are finished and that goes for you two."

Both women were surprised; they got a divorce? Sophia observed them and knew that Marcus didn't take their marriage important anyway so even the divorce wasn't a big deal to him. That's why he hadn't informed his family.

Lauren came to her senses and scoffed. "So you divorced my brother so that you can get the alimony money for your mother's damn surgery?"

"How can you stoop so low Sophia? You divorced Marcus just for that little money?" Evelyn couldn't believe it and her disdain for Sophia was obvious.

Sophia felt her head spin at their accusations. "And who told you my mother's surgery has anything to do with Marcus? I didn't even want a penny from him or your family."

Lauren mocked, "So where did you get the money from? Don't tell me you got another man to leech off so soon. Or did you go sleeping with random men to raise the money, Sophia?"

Ethan couldn't stand them slandering

his sister, he stood up with anger etched on his small face. "That's enough. You have no right to slander my sister."

Sophia stood up, placing her hand on her brother's shoulder. "Don't worry about them, Ethan. Nothing they say matters to me anymore."

Then she turned to the two women, her voice cold and resolute. "I'm no longer under your control anymore and where I got the money is none of your business. Now leave before I call the security. You're disturbing the patient."

Evelyn was about to retort when Ethan stopped her, "You heard my sister, leave now."

Evelyn stormed out with Lauren in tow both fuming with range. She called her son on the way out.

"Marcus, where are you? Can you come to the family house, we need to talk."

Back in the hospital room, Ethan looked at Sophia, "Are you okay Soph? I don't know how you've been dealing with them. They're so awful."

Sophia let out a bitter laugh, "I thought I could fight for that marriage but I got fed up with everything. I'm done letting them control me."

"Wait, were you serious when you told them you divorced Marcus?" Ethan asked with curiosity.

"Of course I was. We are already divorced and I'm free from the Hawthornes now."

"Yeah! That's good news. I have been waiting for this for a long time." Ethan jumped happily startling their mother. She wasn't asleep and overheard everything.

She just stared at Sophia without saying a word.

Sophia felt her mother's stare and felt uncomfortable. She didn't want her to find out just yet. She wanted to say something but her mother talked first.

"My dear, it must have been hard for you in the Hawthorne family."

"Mom," Sophia just called her mom but no word came out of her mouth. Her mouth trembled and tears threatened to fall.

Her mom sympathized with her, "I heard everything. I didn't know you were going through a lot. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you mom." She said, barely controlling her tears.

Catherine sat up slowly extending her hand to her. She hugged her and Sophia couldn't control her tears anymore as she cried out as if venting all the hurt she had been carrying.

After some time, Ethan broke the silence, "We should be celebrating; you can't cry for that scumbag, sis. He isn't worth it."

"Can you stop it, Ethan? Your sister needs your support right now." Evelyn reprimanded.

Sophia wiped her tears amused by her brothers. "It's okay mom, Ethan is right. Marcus doesn't deserve a single drop of tear from me. This is the last time I'll cry for my failed marriage. I have my future to build now"

As she said that, her thoughts drifted back to her new home, Valmere and Alexander. The man was a mystery and distant yet Sophia felt a force pulling her towards him.