Chapter 118 HELLLO VICTORIA

Chapter 118 HELLLO VICTORIA


Sophia felt tears sliding down her cheeks.

“Yeah,” she said. “Vanessa’s testimony destroyed my reputation. No one trusts me anymore.”

Her voice broke slightly.

“I lost everything. My company. My reputation. My friends.”

She looked down at the tiny baby sleeping peacefully.

“All I have left is her.”

Sophia brushed a finger across Victoria’s small cheek.

“And she’s perfect,” she whispered. “So maybe that’s enough.”

“Sophia…” Alexander said softly.

“They’re letting me keep thirty percent of my MLH shares,” Sophia continued. “Tanaka’s company is taking control now. I’ll still get dividends from the shares. It’s enough to live on. Enough to raise Victoria.”

She took a shaky breath.

“I’m done fighting, Alexander. I’m tired of revenge, lies, and power games. I just want to be her mother now.”

On the other end of the phone, Alexander’s voice grew thick with emotion.

“That’s good,” he said quietly. “That’s really good.”

He paused before continuing.

“I’m going to fight the charges against me,” he said. “My lawyers think they can get the Morrison case thrown out. The evidence is weak.”

Sophia listened carefully.

“There’s a chance,” Alexander continued slowly, “that I could get out in a few years… instead of spending decades in prison.”

Sophia looked down at Victoria again.

For the first time since everything had fallen apart, she felt a small spark of hope.

“I hope you do,” Sophia said softly. “Victoria needs her father.”

Alexander was quiet for a moment. “Even after everything that happened between us?”

“Yes,” Sophia answered. “Even after everything.”

She looked down at the tiny baby sleeping in her arms.

“We hurt each other a lot, Alexander. We destroyed so many things. But we also created something beautiful.” She brushed her finger across Victoria’s tiny hand. “And she deserves to know her father.”

Alexander’s voice shook. “Can you… send me a picture of her?”

Sophia smiled gently. “Of course. I’ll send one today.”

“Thank you.” He paused before speaking again. “Sophia… I love you. I know I shouldn’t say it. And I know you probably don’t believe me. But it’s true.”

Sophia looked at their daughter.

“I believe you,” she said quietly. “And Alexander… I think I love you too.”

She sighed softly.

“I’m just not sure if it’s real love… or if we’re both so broken that we don’t know the difference anymore.”

Alexander gave a small laugh through the phone. “Maybe one day we’ll figure it out.”

“Maybe,” Sophia said.

A moment later, they said goodbye and hung up.

Claire walked back into the room carrying two cups of coffee.

“Was that Alexander?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Sophia said, taking the coffee gratefully. “He wanted to hear about the baby.”

Claire sat down beside her. “And?”

Sophia let out a small breath. “He says he loves me.”

Claire raised an eyebrow. “Do you love him?”

Sophia stared down at Victoria, thinking.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “At first I thought I did. Then I thought I hated him. Now… I just feel tired.”

“Tired?” Claire asked.

Sophia nodded.

“I’m too tired to hate him. Too tired to love him. Too tired for anything except this.”

She looked down at the tiny baby in her arms.

Claire smiled softly. “That’s called being a new mom.”

Then her expression became serious.

“Sophia… there’s something I need to tell you. It’s about Vanessa.”

Sophia looked up. “What about her?”

“David investigated her finances,” Claire said, pulling out a folder. “Rafael is paying her five million dollars to testify against you.”

Sophia blinked. “Five million?”

Claire nodded. “And that’s not all. He promised her a job, an apartment, and legal help to get child support from Damien.”

She handed the documents to Sophia.

“It’s all here. Proof that she was paid to lie about you.”

Sophia slowly looked through the papers.

Real proof.

Evidence that Vanessa had sold her out.

“What should I do with this?” Sophia asked quietly.

Claire leaned forward. “Expose her. Show the board. You can get your position back at MLH.”

Her voice was full of determination.

“You can still win, Sophia. You can still beat Rafael.”

Sophia didn’t answer right away.

Instead, she looked down at Victoria.

So tiny.

So perfect.

So completely dependent on her.

After a long moment, Sophia shook her head.

“No,” she said softly.

Claire blinked. “What?”

“I’m not fighting anymore,” Sophia said calmly. “Let Rafael have MLH. Let Vanessa have her money. Let them think they won.”

She kissed Victoria’s small forehead.

“I already have everything I need right here. And I’m not risking her future for revenge.”

Claire stared at her. “You’re really done? After everything?”

Sophia nodded.

“I’m really done.”

A small smile appeared on her face.

“For the first time since I stood at that wedding altar seven years ago… I’m choosing something other than revenge.”

She looked at Victoria again.

“I’m choosing her. And for the first time in years… that actually feels right.”

Claire leaned over and carefully hugged her, making sure not to disturb the baby.

“I’m proud of you,” she said softly.

Sophia laughed a little, though there was sadness in it.

“Don’t be. I only figured this out after I destroyed almost everything in my life.”

She shrugged gently.

“But I guess it’s better late than never.”

Later that night, the hospital room was quiet.

Sophia sat alone with Victoria sleeping peacefully beside her.

She leaned closer and whispered softly to her daughter.

“I’m going to be better for you,” she said.

“I’m going to give you a life that isn’t full of lies, revenge, and power games.”

She gently touched the baby’s tiny hand.

“I’m going to teach you how to be strong without being cruel… how to be smart without hurting people.”

Her voice grew softer.

“I want you to become everything I tried to be… and failed.”