Chapter 2
Elijah was perfectly gentle.
As if those vicious words were all in my head.
I parted my lips to mention the divorce papers.
Then it hit me-our marriage certificate was fake. I didn’t even have the right to ask for a divorce.
Right then, a sugary female voice chirped from the other end.
“Honey, my back’s killing me… the baby’s kicking…”
Elijah sounded flustered for a beat.
“Baby, something urgent came up. I’ll be home later.”
Before I could respond, the call was hurriedly hung up.
I sat in the living room for an unknown time before hearing the villa door open.
Father and Elijah entered, their faces still glowing with lingering joy.
“Katia, Father specially ordered these from Switzerland-all pure natural ingredients.”
Elijah knelt before me, rubbing my swollen ankle.
“Why skip the prenatal check? Upset we didn’t accompany you? Tomorrow I’ll have the hospital director come per- sonally-okay?”
Their eager words hung unanswered, freezing them both mid-step.
Elijah gave an almost imperceptible shake: wedding news remained secret.
I handed Elijah a document. “Sign this.”
Father feigned jealousy. “My daughter would rather have her husband buy things now?”
Elijah signed with a flourish, never reading a word.
“We’re one as husband and wife. What’s mine is yours, so no need for formalities from now on.”
He smiled and handed the document back to me.
As we spoke, both their phones rang simultaneously.
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Father patted my shoulder. “There’s an urgent matter at the company. We’ll handle it in Building B.”
Elijah kissed the top of my head. “Building B was expanded for you-this way Dad and I can work while keeping an eye on you.”
With that, they hurried off.
The two pins that fell from their pockets reminded me: tonight was their Wedding Night.
I looked down at the document’s words-“Biological father voluntarily relinquishes all parental rights”-and laughed through my tears.
With this, the child in my womb would never be tied to Elijah.
I, Sophia, can love deeply and let go easily.
Wiping away the last tear, I called Justin Rivera.
“Justin, I want to terminate the equity trust early, and also stop all resource support to the Williams Group.”
“Miss Williams, after initiating the inheritance process, 72% of Williams Group shares will be transferred to your name within 10 days.”
Justin paused and added.
“When your mother passed away… she had set up thorough asset protection. Even if Sandra marries in, she can’t take a penny from the Williams Group.”
I hummed in agreement and hung up the phone.
The year my mother died, my father knelt in front of the memorial hall, crying bitterly.
He slapped himself repeatedly, saying he had behaved improperly after drinking and was sorry to us, mother and daughter.
I stayed holed up in my room all day, refusing to eat.
It was Elijah who patiently coaxed me spoonful by spoonful to swallow the porridge.
“Your mother in heaven would want you to be happy.”
Those words pulled me through.
And made me give him my whole heart.
Only now do I understand the calculation behind that tenderness.
My phone kept buzzing.
Photo after photo flooded in.
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Young Elijah kissing Katia on a cruise ship, fingers interlaced in snow.
Each photo bore the inscription: “To my beloved Katia.”
Turns out my honeymoon route traced their old haunts.
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