Sophia’s POV
It was our ninth wedding anniversary, but Damon Steele came home with his pregnant mistress.
For nine years, he had treated me like I was the moon itself. He sent me rare moonflowers, kissed my hand in front of executives and investors, and swore I would always be his only one. And now? He stood proudly beside another woman, her swollen belly framed by his possessive arm like a trophy.
"She's sensitive right now," he said casually, pulling her closer as she leaned into him with a smug smile. "No repeated meals. She needs someone with her when she sleeps. Move your things to the guest villa."
My body stiffened. "A-Are you kidding me, Damon? You expect me to move into the guest villa like some castoff because of your mistress?"
His eyes narrowed. "I wasn't asking, Sophia. Do it."
"No." My teeth clenched as I pointed at Natalie. "You got your secretary pregnant, and now you bring her here? On our anniversary? The audacity, Damon. No way."
"I said do it, Sophia."
His voice dropped, cold and commanding — the same tone that made boardrooms fall silent. My chest tightened, but I refused to back down.
"I'd rather leave," I said quietly. "I'm done. Goodbye, Damon."
He thought I would stay and serve his mistress? Never. I had packed weeks ago, the moment I received the video of him and Natalie leaving a hotel suite together.
Damon scoffed and walked toward me, flicking his hand dismissively. "You want to leave? Fine. Throw your little tantrum. You'll come crawling back in three days, begging like the pathetic has-been you've become."
Soft laughter echoed behind him. Board members. Senior staff. People who once treated me like the queen of the Steele Group.
Too bad for them.
The car my cousin sent from Norththorn Holdings was already waiting outside.
I retrieved my bags and headed toward the door without looking back.
"Leave the Moonstone bracelet," Damon suddenly ordered. "Give it to Natalie."
My breath caught.
I tightened my fingers around the silver bracelet my late grandmother had given me. It was the only thing I had left from her… the only thing that had comforted me through weeks of betrayal.
"No," I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks. "Not this. Anything but this."
Damon snorted, pulling Natalie closer. "Don't make this difficult, Sophia. She likes it."
I could have fought harder. I could have refused. But my hands were already trembling, my strength draining away.
Slowly, I walked toward Natalie.
With shaking fingers, I unclasped the bracelet and fastened it around her wrist.
"Take care of yourself," I murmured softly.
But the moment the clasp clicked shut, Natalie gasped. A thin red line appeared across her pale skin.
"W-What did you do to me?" she cried, clutching her wrist as she collapsed. "Did you hurt me on purpose?"
"What? No!" I stared, stunned.
Damon reacted instantly, rushing to her side and lifting her into his arms as if she were made of glass. Then he glared at me, his eyes filled with fury.
"What did you do to her, Sophia? Are you that jealous?"
"I didn't do anything…" My hands trembled midair.
"Call the doctor! Now!" he barked, then turned back to me coldly. "You. Clean this up. Every last piece."
My gaze dropped to the shattered bracelet on the marble floor.
I knelt and began picking up the broken pieces. The sharp edges cut into my palms, but I welcomed the pain.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. Once. Then again.
Blood stained my hands as I pushed myself up and met his eyes.
"Is that enough, Damon?"
His expression remained cold. "The person who used to protect you is gone. Who are you pretending for now?"
My chest tightened. "Why don't you just divorce me, Damon? If you hate me this much, end it."
He let out a low, amused laugh. "Why would I? You'll come crawling back anyway. And divorce is troublesome."
Something inside me finally went quiet.
I gathered the last broken pieces, threw them into the trash, washed the blood from my hands, picked up my bag, and walked out.
This time, I didn't look back.
