Chapter 25 A treasure lost...
Chapter 25
Alex's POV
I ran into the expressway, almost colliding with an oncoming car. “Watch your way, fool!” the driver yelled, his voice a mixture of anger and surprise. I barely registered his words; my mind was racing, consumed by everything that had just happened.
I slumped down on a bench beside the bus terminal, the cold metal pressing uncomfortably against my back. The city was alive with the sounds of honking cars and chattering pedestrians, but all I could think about was Sophie. Just days ago, I had received those shocking pictures of her with her new so-called husband, and I had felt the ground shift beneath my feet. I had been utterly blindsided. What was I supposed to do? Confront her? I had chosen silence instead, hoping it would somehow protect me from the whirlwind of emotions threatening to swallow me whole.
My thoughts drifted back to Stella, the woman I had chosen over Sophie. She had told me she suffered a miscarriage, a statement that had come with sorrow. But I soon realized that she had been unfaithful from the very start. Deep down, I knew I never truly loved her; my interest had always been tied to her wealth. The lifestyle she provided was tempting, but it left me feeling empty.
I had loved Sophie, and the weight of that love was crushing me. I wasn’t planning on revealing my secret relationship with Stella until I learned about her pregnancy. When that news hit, I felt like my entire world had been flipped upside down. I had moved into Stella's house, feeling trapped, even though I know she was cheating. The thought of questioning her about her infidelity terrified me—what if she kicked me out? The fear of losing my comfortable life kept me silent, but my heart was breaking for Sophie.
Now, the rich girl was pushing me to follow through with a deal that I knew would hurt Sophie even more. I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t. The thought of causing her pain twisted my gut.
I had searched for Julian’s house online and finally found it, my heart racing as I approached. I hoped that maybe, just maybe, she would consider taking me back. After all, I knew she still had feelings for me. But when I saw her, the fierce look in her eyes was enough to make me take a step back. She looked more intimidating than my timid Sophie, who had always believed every word I said.
How could Sophie have moved on so quickly? Did she really marry a billionaire? Was it a way to get back at me? To make me jealous? A million questions swirled in my head, but the most pressing was: why did she feel the need to find someone else? I had always believed she was waiting for me, that she would understand my choices.
Julian’s expression had been deadly, as if he would kill me if I dared to approach. The protective energy radiating from him was palpable, and I realized that he wouldn’t let me anywhere near Sophie.
As I sat there, the weight of my decisions pressed heavily on my chest. The bus terminal was bustling around me, but I felt utterly alone. The world was moving forward, while I was stuck in a moment of regret and longing for what could have been. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had lost Sophie for good, and the thought was unbearable. I needed to act before it was too late, before she truly became another man's forever.
Desperation clawed at me like a wild animal, gnawing at my insides. Should I really reach out to Isabella, Sophie’s best friend? Maybe she could help convince Sophie to give me another chance. I felt a flicker of hope, and I knew I had to try.
I boarded the bus, my heart pounding with each stop it made until I finally alighted at the restaurant where Isabella worked as a waitress. The familiar neon sign buzzed overhead, casting a colorful glow on the sidewalk. As I stepped inside, the din of chatter and clinking dishes surrounded me, but my focus was solely on Isabella. I spotted her attending to a customer, her movements quick and efficient.
As soon as she saw me, she immediately pulled off her apron and stormed over, dragging me outside. “Are you crazy? Why are you here?” she yelled, her voice sharp enough to cut through the noise of the restaurant.
“Isabella, I need to talk to you,” I said, trying my best to sound sorrowful, to convey just how heavy my heart felt.
“Then start talking; you can see I’m busy,” she replied, her eyes narrowing in total disgust.
“Erhm, Isabella…” I began, but she cut me off with a flick of her wrist.
“I will go back inside if you don’t start talking. I have only two minutes with you,” she snapped, impatience radiating from her.
“Can you please help me talk to Sophie? I know I hurt her, but…” My voice trailed off, the weight of my words hanging in the air between us.
“Did you just listen to yourself? I should help you talk to her? You don’t have what they call shame. You are shameless!” Her voice rose, drawing a few curious glances from passersby.
“Isabella, I really realized my mistake…” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my tone.
“Just keep your stinking mouth shut! You lost the only treasure betrothed to you, and you can never get that treasure back,” she shot back, her voice dripping with disdain. “Well… I don’t blame you; I blame her for not listening to me when I told her you were a jerk who was only after her money.”
Her words stung more than I expected. I wanted to defend myself, to explain that it was never just about money, that I had feelings for Sophie, but the truth felt tangled in a web of my own making.
“If I dare see you here again, I promise you I will pour hot water on your head,” she threatened, stepping closer, her eyes fierce. “Leave now before I scream ‘thief.’”
The finality in her tone was chilling, and I felt the air around me thicken with tension. I took a step back, the weight of my mistakes crashing down on me like a tidal wave. “Isabella, please…”
“Enough!” she cut me off, her expression unwavering. “You’ve done enough damage already. Just leave, Alex. You’ve lost her, and it’s your fault.”
With that, she turned on her heel and marched back inside, leaving me standing on the sidewalk, feeling as if I had just been thrown into a pit of despair. I knew I had to find a way to make things right, but every avenue seemed to close before me. The reality of my situation sank in deeper, and I realized that convincing Isabella to help me might have been my only shot.
Now, standing alone, I felt the weight of my choices crushing me. I had lost Sophie, and the thought of never having the chance to make things right gnawed at my insides. I turned away from the restaurant, my mind racing with possibilities. Each step felt heavier than the last, the world around me blurring into a haze of regret and desperation.
I was determined to do everything to get Sophie back, even if it meant playing dirty. The thought of her with someone else made my blood boil, and I couldn’t let that happen. I searched my pocket for the number that the rich girl’s secretary had handed to me earlier, the faint hope it represented now my only lifeline. I pulled out the crumpled piece of paper and saw her name: VICTORIA LANGLEY!
With trembling hands, I dialed her number, my heart pounding in my chest. It rang for what felt like an eternity before she finally picked up, her voice cool and detached. “Hello,” she said.
“Hello, this is Alex. I’m ready,” I replied.
“Send your address. I will send someone to pick you up,” she instructed, her voice brisk and businesslike. Before I could reply, she hung up, leaving me standing there in the silence of the street, my mind racing.
I took a deep breath, fighting the knot in my stomach, as I typed in my address.
As I pressed "send," a mix of anticipation and dread coursed through me.
The minutes ticked by slowly, each one stretching into an eternity, as I waited for the car to arrive.
Finally, a sleek black car pulled up, its tinted windows reflecting the fading sunlight.
I took one last breath and got into the car.
Sophie, you pushed me to this! I will make sure you regret leaving me.