The truth always comes out

**SOPHIE MADSON’S POV**

As I approached the door, Steven's grandmother hurriedly met me. I looked at her and felt a pang in my chest for her, who had been like a second mother to me and had cared for me and my son all along. We embraced, and she looked at me with great sadness as if she wanted to understand what I had just done there through my expression.

"Don't tell me that..."

"I came for him to sign the divorce papers," I reveal.

"Don't tell me that, dear God... everything will return to how it was before. This will all pass; I know he was foolish, but don't let go of him, I..." she starts crying.

Facing her, I hold her hands and bring them to my lips, kissing them tenderly, which makes her cry even more. She didn't deserve to be going through all this at her age.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to bear much. I tried; if anyone knows that, it's you, Mrs. Wolker. But it's over!" I hold back the tears once again.

"I can't think about how everything will be from now on," her voice shaky.

"I was a mother, and for a short time; I had a mother not too long ago. Now I want to think about myself."

I know my words were harsh but necessary. I hug her once again, a tight hug full of appreciation for the person she was to me. I kiss her forehead and bend slightly to be at her height.

"Goodbye, I will miss you."

I forced a smile, and she couldn't stop crying. It was with a heavy, bleeding heart that I turned my back—leaving that face with the feeling that I was even more depleted if that was possible. When I approached the car, Liam was there, and I was surprised because I came alone.

"Ready for your new life?" he asks with a smile.

We had talked for days about opportunities, and he had countless times praised that I could have a bright future far from there. I had no reason to stay; I felt like my life had been restarted, like a book with many pages but completely blank, waiting to be written. I would do that because the friend fate had brought me would ensure I had new opportunities.

I toss the car keys, and he catches them in the air. Walking to the driver's seat while I hurriedly take my place, when I'm already settled, I look at the house. Through a large window, I could see Steven standing there, looking in my direction. He wasn't well, but neither was I; I think I was even worse than him.

"United States, here we come!" he jokes.

"Indeed!"

I still looked at the window, and a treacherous tear slipped from the corner of my eye; the love I felt for him was not being erased, just camouflaged by so much pain.

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**STEVEN WOLKER’S POV**

I look out the window; she leaves with that guy right before me. I have no right to say anything about her because I know very well everything she went through; I know the times she tried to be patient, and I, like a jerk, kept making constant mistakes. It was inevitable; I entered the wrong automatic mode every time I had to decide something and needed clarification. I took a deep breath and ran my hand over my face, wiping away the rolling tears. Luckily, the house was empty. My brother was with Sophie's friend, and my sister came by occasionally.

When I turned around, my grandmother stood there looking in my direction. I lower my head and can't face her. She spoke so many times, and I didn't listen.

"I lost her!"

"Partially yes, son..." she sighs.

"And what do I do now?"

"I taught you to pray when you were a child; maybe that will help. Unfortunately, only time will tell."

She turns away, and I feel even more defeated. I walk back to the office again and go to a cabinet where some bottles of liquor and glasses are poured into one of them. When I remember the smug laughter of that bastard who took my wife away, I can't contain my anger and hurl the book against the wall with all the force possible. It shatters, making a loud noise, but my grandmother would assume I was letting out all my anger.

Luckily, there were other bottles of liquor. I downed the poured shot in one gulp and grabbed another bottle, lifting it to the table and examining the divorce papers. They would stay there, untouched, and be delivered. I wanted not to sign anything, but if that idiot thought I would make her feel more angry, he was very wrong.

_____________________

I was very drunk, lost count of how many hours had passed, and even more of how many shots of whiskey I had taken. I begin to recall some moments; we were in the bathroom, and she was naked with her body pressed against mine as I felt myself sliding inside her. I pound the table in frustration, which triggers another memory: her voice when she woke up, and I brought coffee to bed. Everything was making me feel even worse. With difficulty, I pick up the phone and dial Sophia's number, but it goes straight to voicemail. Damn!

The door opens, and Nathaly appears. I couldn't deal with many people, but hers was the worst of all at that moment. I put my hands to my head, and she came to me. When she touched my shoulders, I immediately pushed her away.

"Get away, GET AWAY!"

She widens her eyes, stepping back and looking at me as if scared.

"Steven, honey..." she tries to speak.

"Honey, my ass... get out of here, I'm warning you!"

I stand up with some difficulty, and she tries to come near again, touching my body, which only makes me more furious with her persistence. I impulsively push her away and raise a pointed finger at her.

"I don't lay a finger on a woman. I won't do it now, but you stay away from me. It's all your fault!"

"She's a gold-digging bitch, Steven."

"SHUT UP!" I shout. "Never again... open your mouth to talk about Sophie like that, do you hear me? You're the bitch."

"Don't insult me!"

"I'm telling you to get out..." I point to the door. "... You're not leaving? Okay."

I walked out, almost stumbling, holding onto things, but I was really in a state of absurd drunkenness. Everything starts spinning at an intense speed, nausea takes over, and I feel a tingling sensation all over my body. My legs give out, and I think my body is collapsing immediately. What finally stopped me was the impact on something substantial that I couldn't distinguish. With that, darkness takes over at once.