Chapter 8 - Victor Finally Learned the Truth About His WifeVictor had been taken.
Sophia refused to panic.
His captors wanted her to.
She called Nathaniel.
“Find him.”
“Already trying.”
“Don't involve the police yet.”
“Why?”
“Because this is bait.”
Julian traced the photograph.
“Warehouse district.”
Sophia recognized it.
The same place where the kidnapping had begun in her previous life.
She understood.
The timeline wasn't changing.
It was circling.
Sophia took her weapon.
Alexander objected.
“You're not going.”
“Yes.”
“You could die.”
“I already did.”
He looked at her.
“You're serious.”
“I am.”
Nathaniel grabbed his coat.
“Then we're going together.”
They arrived at the warehouse.
Victor was tied to a chair.
Isabella stood behind him.
Marcus was gone.
Several men surrounded them.
Sophia walked inside.
Isabella smiled.
“You actually came.”
“Yes.”
“You love him.”
Sophia looked at Victor.
He was bruised.
But alive.
“I did.”
Victor stared at her.
There was something in his eyes.
Regret.
Then Isabella pulled a gun.
“Drop yours.”
Sophia did.
Isabella smiled.
“Your family thinks money makes them powerful.”
“No.”
Sophia looked at her.
“Information does.”
Isabella laughed.
“Always the heiress.”
Victor looked confused.
“What?”
Sophia's eyes met his.
“Victor, I need you to listen.”
“What?”
“My name isn't Sophia Grant.”
He looked confused.
“It's Sophia Hastings.”
His face went completely white.
“You…”
She continued.
“My grandfather owns Hastings Holdings.”
Victor stared.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Since before we married.”
He looked destroyed.
“You lied to me.”
Sophia nodded.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to know whether you loved me without the money.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“What did you find?”
Sophia's voice broke.
“That you loved the idea of me.”
Silence.
Isabella laughed.
“You two are pathetic.”
Sophia looked at her.
“Actually, we're not.”
“What?”
“You just admitted too much.”
Isabella froze.
Sophia nodded toward the ceiling.
A tiny red light blinked.
“There's a camera.”
Isabella looked up.
Too late.
Federal agents stormed the building.
Gunfire erupted.
Nathaniel pulled Victor down.
Alexander's team surrounded Isabella.
She tried to run.
Sophia caught her.
They struggled.
Isabella screamed.
“You stole my life!”
“No.”
Sophia pinned her.
“You tried to steal mine.”
Police arrested her.
Victor remained seated.
Stunned.
Afterward, he looked at Sophia.
“You knew all of this?”
“Not everything.”
“Why didn't you tell me who you were?”
“Because I wanted one thing in my life to be real.”
“And was I?”
She hesitated.
“At the beginning.”
He swallowed.
“And now?”
Sophia looked away.
“I don't know.”
Victor lowered his head.
“I chose Isabella.”
“You did.”
“I thought she needed me.”
“She knew exactly how to make you feel needed.”
“I betrayed you.”
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
“Can you forgive me?”
Sophia thought about the future.
The warehouse.
The water.
The choice.
Then she remembered the man who had once said:
Do whatever you want with Sophia.
She shook her head.
“I can forgive you.”
Victor looked hopeful.
“But I can't forget.”
Hope disappeared.
“I understand.”
Sophia walked away.
Outside, her mother waited.
Victor stared at the older woman.
“Evelyn?”
His face changed.
“You're alive too?”
She nodded.
“You were never supposed to meet her.”
Victor looked at Sophia.
“Your mother knew?”
“Yes.”
He seemed overwhelmed.
Sophia stepped toward him.
“You loved me once.”
“Yes.”
“I believe that.”
He looked at her.
“But love isn't enough when trust is gone.”
She removed her wedding ring.
Placed it in his hand.
Then walked away.
Victor didn't chase her.
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For the first time, he understood that losing Sophia wasn't about losing a wife.
He had lost a life he had never fully appreciated.
