Sophie's POV
I powered on my phone.
When I opened my agent's messages, I saw she'd done everything in her power to delay the payment deadline for the three-million-dollar breach-of-contract penalty.
All I felt was bitterness.
There was nowhere left to run. I'd hit a dead end.
That night, Connor lay behind me in bed, one hand resting lightly on my belly.
"You and the baby… you're both okay, right?"
I closed my eyes, my voice flat and cold. "Mm."
His hand twitched slightly, like he hadn't expected that kind of answer.
So, I asked, "Connor, do you love me?"
There wasn't even a pause.
"I do," he answered automatically.
Right then, his phone rang.
I heard a gentle, tearful voice come through the speaker.
"Connor, I had that dream again... the one where you leave me. I'm terrified. Please don't get married. Don't leave me, okay?"
As soon as he heard her, his tone became gentle and cautious. "Gretchen, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I'm coming over right now."
Then he hung up and looked over at me. I was still lying there, facing the other way.
"Sophie, quit acting like a kid," he quickly rebutted. "I told you I'd marry you, and I will. Just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby."
Maybe, for once, the consequences had shaken him. Maybe some sliver of guilt managed to creep in. But just like always, Connor left without another word.
In his eyes, I would never compare to her.
Later that night, I got up and opened the photo album on my phone. I scrolled through our memories—the smiles, the snapshots, the moments that felt real. Moments that, at one point, I believed in.
But when I looked closely, I saw something I hadn't noticed before.
Ever since Gretchen came back, Connor and I hadn't taken a single picture together.
Not one.
That midnight, I saw Gretchen's latest post on her social feed.
One photo showed Connor out driving around the city at 2 a.m., picking up her favorite food. Then, another showed his silhouette in the kitchen, cooking for her in the dark.
He never did any of that for me and always told me to be more understanding.
And I was. I never asked for much. I never asked for anything.
It turned out that he didn't like considerate women.
He didn't feel the same passion and intensity for me as he had for Gretchen.
As I felt his betrayal creeping in, I grabbed the printed photos we still had and began tearing them up, bit by bit, until my hands were covered in tiny cuts from the sharp edges.
They felt like all the little wounds Connor had left on me over the years. The ones he thought didn't matter.
...
The next morning, I ripped down every wedding sticker and decoration from the walls.
And then I heard the key turn in the front door.
It was Gretchen Martin.
"Sophie, look at you now, what do you even have to fight me with?"
Inwardly, I couldn't help but think, 'God, this bitch's audacity is so blatant!'
Knowing Gretchen, I wasn't surprised to see her at all.
"Mm. Did you need something?" I asked, my voice cold.
She answered, "Sophie, if this really bothers you, I won't move in. I just wanted to help take care of you. Connor said you haven't been feeling well lately."
Suddenly, the bitch switched tones, playing innocent. I figured Connor must've been nearby.
Without warning, her fingernail jabbed hard into my belly, pressing right against the slight swell.
I flinched on instinct, throwing my hands over my stomach and shoving her away.
Then, I screamed as her head struck the edge of the table with a sickening thud. Blood flowed down her cheek in a thin, red line.
"Gretchen!"
Connor burst in, suitcase still in hand.
He dropped everything and rushed over to her.
"What the hell, Sophie?" he snapped, glaring at me like I was the villain.
Gretchen put on that innocent look, her voice shaky and sweet. "I'm okay, Connor. Maybe Sophie's just tired and emotional from the pregnancy. Please don't be mad at her. It was my fault. I startled her."
Her voice cracked, tears spilling down her cheeks, mixing with the blood.
"Sophie, seriously? Was that necessary?" Connor shot at me, finger pointed like I'd crossed some huge line. "You've gone after Gretchen over and over. Can't you just let it go for once?"
Connor then turned his back to me.
"Don't be mad at Sophie," Gretchen added softly. "Maybe it was just an accident. What matters is that I'm okay, right?"
She then tugged gently on his sleeve, her expression soft and forgiving, like she was the very picture of empathy and kindness.
God, the bitch looked just like the sweet, selfless girl.
'What a hypocrite!' I said to myself.
Still, even with all of Gretchen's fake little act, Connor bought every second of it.
He turned back to me and said, "You need to stop freaking out all the time. If something was going on between me and Gretchen..."
Connor trailed off, giving me a look.
"Just look at yourself. The way you are now. What do you even have that stacks up against her?"
