“Vanessa…?” Sophia whispered, her heart twisting painfully.
Her fingers clenched around the stethoscope — hard enough that her knuckles went white.
So it was true. Alexander and Vanessa were together.
“Just so you know,” sneered Clara Kane, “Vanessa never actually left my brother. The inheritance trust from Grandma has already been transferred. You’re worthless to the Kane family now.”
She scrolled lazily through her phone. “Leave. Don’t waste my time.”
Clara was twenty-eight, twice divorced, notorious for her affairs and indolence.
To her, Sophia was nothing more than a gold digger — the woman who had bewitched the Kane grandmother into forcing Alexander’s marriage for inheritance rights.
Her disdain turned venomous.
“Still dreaming of your fairytale? Without the Kane family, you’re nothing.”
A trophy wife?
Sophia almost laughed.
After placing her instruments back in the box, she rose and followed Clara inside.
Clara had just started another mobile game when Sophia suddenly snatched the phone from her hand.
Smack!
The device hit the floor, screen cracked.
“You bitch! Are you out of your mind?” Clara screamed, lunging forward.
She wasn’t strong — multiple miscarriages had left her frail — and within seconds, Sophia had pinned her down.
Slap!
“If it weren’t for me, your brother would’ve been dead a hundred times over! Who’s the ungrateful one here?”
“You dare hit me?” Clara shrieked.
Another slap.
“I cooked for you, cleaned for you, treated your illnesses — and you call me a trophy wife? Your family is the real parasite!”
“You— you lunatic!”
Clara’s scream turned into a sob. She hadn’t expected the gentle Sophia to snap.
“Siri, call my brother! Now!”
By the time Alexander rushed back, the room was chaos.
Both women were disheveled, bruised, and furious.
“Look at her!” Clara wailed. “Is that how your wife behaves? Like some gutter woman!”
“Sophia,” Alexander’s voice was low and seething. “Apologize to my sister.”
Sophia gave a bitter laugh.
“Apologize? To them?”
She looked at the man she once loved, her heart hollow.
“I must’ve been blind.”
“Apologize. Now.”
Tears burned her eyes, but she held them back.
Instead, she straightened, took out a few folded pages, and spoke quietly — almost peacefully.
“Alexander Kane — let’s divorce.”
“And remember — it’s me, Sophia Reed, who doesn’t want you.”
“From this day on, we’re strangers.”
She flung the divorce papers into his face, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out.
Alexander stood frozen. When he finally reacted, she was already gone.
Bang!
His fist slammed into the wall.
“That damn woman.”
Outside the Kane Mansion, a sleek Alfa Romeo was parked at the gate.
Sophia recognized the plate, smiled faintly, and got in.
“Welcome back, Sophia.”
The deep male voice carried a note of warmth she hadn’t heard in years.
