Chapter 3

3

I didn't expect Sophie to be in such a hurry that she'd bring that man right into our home.

They walked in arm-in-arm, looking like a blissful couple.

When she spotted me, the smile on Sophie's face vanished instantly.

"It's too late to apologize now, Nate. You know I never take back what I say."

I looked at her quietly and asked in a flat tone, "And then what? What price do you want me to pay this time?"

Maybe because my attitude was different, Sophie froze for a second before a cold sneer returned to her lips.

She stroked her belly and looked at me with pure mockery.

"I'm pregnant. I expect you to take good care of me and my son."

"Also, this child will be my heir. I want you to transfer thirty percent of your family's company shares to him."

I gripped the railing tightly to keep my hands from shaking.

"Why? He isn't my child. Why should he get my family's inheritance?"

Sophie's eyes suddenly filled with nothing but raw hatred for me.

"Because you're the one who stepped in when Silas was vulnerable! You're the reason he lost me and his health got worse!"

"You made me lose the man I loved most, so I'm going to make sure you feel what it's like to never be loved back!"

"Once this child is born, we'll call it even. You owe us this, Nate!"

A dull ache radiated from my chest, and I swear I could hear my heart finally shattering into pieces.

The beautiful lie I had been telling myself for years was finally stripped away.

I almost lost control of my emotions right there.

For the first time, this woman who had been so familiar felt like a complete stranger.

Perhaps loving Sophie Thorne was the biggest mistake of my life.