Chapter 61 LIES

Chapter 61 LIES
Sophia Adam stood at the end of the beautiful hall, holding onto her bottle of champagne glass with shaky fingers. Everyone in the room was chatting and laughing away. The decoration of the hall tells a story of wealth and influence of which she had never been a part. 
The bowl chandelier above her head seemed to ridicule her, shining its light on all her insecurities. She had worn the purple gown Adam had picked for her. It fits her perfectly, but she feels like a clown in it. 
She knew that people were staring at her. Not out of admiration or envy that women in the room had for each other but the sharp, cutting look of condescension. She could hear their whisper behind their glasses, their voice low but deadly. 
“That’s his wife? She is so plain.”
“Sincerely speaking, Lilian fits him perfectly. What is he doing with her?”
She was embarrassed, but she kept her head high. Silently wished that the ground would open and swallow her. She looked around the room, hoping to find her husband, Adam Ayuva, the center of attention as always. He was standing tall in his well-tailored suit, dishing out charm without even trying. 
Women surrounded him, laughing at his dry jokes and rubbing their hands on him at the slightest chance they got. 
And standing beside him was Lilian Zuckerberg, beautiful, glowing effortlessly, and full of confidence. Lilian slides her hand into his arm, her possessive gesture to clear anyone who cares to see. Everyone knew that Lilian was not just an ex; she owned Adam's heart, but Sophia pretended not to know.
Sophia forced herself to drink her champagne, and the moment the glass was in her mouth, she swallowed half of the wine in one gulp. She told herself that she was the one he chose to be with, and that's what matters.
Adam had promised her that once he had secured his inheritance, things would be better as he would focus on their marriage, but deep down, she wasn't sure she believed him.
She shifted her gaze to the walls of the hall, which were glass, and her reflection stared back at her. She couldn't recognize the woman staring back at her. She is supposed to be thankful for this life, the privilege of being in this kind of party, the designer clothes, and the mansion. But somehow she felt like an imposter, living another person’s life. 
She heard somebody laughing, which pulled her attention back to Adam and Lilian. Lilian whispered something into his ear in a flirty way; her lips almost touching his ear, and he smirked and whispered something back. Sophia’s stomach curled. She quickly removed her gaze. She didn't want anything reminding her of her place in Adam's world.
She decided to move to a part of the hall that was quiet, but as she was leaving, she accidentally heard something that made her stop in her tracks. 
Adam and Lilian were standing in a quiet corner. They spoke in whispers, but their voice was unmistakable.
“She is so dull, Adam,” Lilian said with disgust in her voice. “Why are you still keeping her around?”
“I needed a wife to meet the terms of the will. I have never promised her anything real.” Adam said in a cold voice.
Sophia’s heart broke into pieces. She pressed her back against the wall for support as she felt like falling, her heart beating like a drum. So it was true. Everything she had silently feared and hoped wasn't real—was all true. 
Lilian laughed hard. “So when are you finally going to get rid of her?”
“Soon,” Adam said quickly. “The lawyers are working on the paperwork already. Once the final assets are transferred to me. She will leave my life for good. She is only just a stand-in.”
Her whole body trembled, and the glass fell out of her fingers. Her heart tightened, and the walls seemed to be crashing around her. She wanted to scream, to cry, to yell at Adam, demanding an explanation for disrespecting her this way, but no words came out of her mouth. She turned on her heel and walked away, ignoring Adam, who was calling her name. 
Back at the mansion, Sophia sat alone in the big living room, staring at the ceiling.
Adam arrived two hours later, his suit in his hands and his expression plain.
“Sophia,” his voice was firm and distant. “We need to talk.”
She turned to look at him. Her eyes filled with a mix of anger and sadness. “How long will this continue?” She asked. “Do you have to embarrass me out there every single time?”
Adam sighed. He pressed his palms against his eyes. “You knew what this was.” He said without emotions in his tone. “I told you from the beginning that I wasn't in this for love. I just needed a wife to meet the terms of my father’s will.”
“I agreed because I thought that you respected me,” Sophia snapped at him. “But you have treated me like I am nothing. A tool. And then you flaunt your… your girlfriend in my face.”
Adam's eyes filled with rage. “Do not play the victim card here, Sophia. You have benefitted from this marriage just as I have.”
Tears broke out of her eyes, but she kept her voice steady. “You are right. I agreed to this, but I can't do this anymore; I am done.”
Adam disgustingly looked at her, ignoring what she said, he hissed and went into his study; he slammed the door behind himself, and Amelia went upstairs. She opened her wardrobe and started packing her clothes into her suitcase. For months, she had ignored the voice telling her to leave, but tonight, she decided to obey the voice. 
As she was packing, her hands touched a white box tucked away behind her drawer. Inside it was a pregnancy test strip that she had taken some days ago. Positive.
Sophia let herself fall on the floor; she held the box to her chest. She had wanted to tell Adam; she felt it would make him see her differently. But now, she realized that she wouldn't want a father like Adam for her child who treated people like trash. 
She would leave.
In her heart, she knew that this decision was just the beginning. Adam Ayuva may think that she is weak, but he will be shocked at how strong she is.