You’re Making a Mistake

The soft hum of the glass penthouse was broken only by the distant clinking of plates. Sophia moved through the corridor, her heels clicking faintly on the polished floor. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her steps deliberate. The sound led her to the kitchen.

She paused in the doorway, her gaze falling on Cedric. He was leaning casually against the marble counter by the sink, his back to her. He was still dressed in the black shirt and tailored pants he had worn to his father’s burial. The sight irritated her— a stark reminder of his audacious behavior at the ceremony. The phone in his hand glowed faintly, his thumb scrolling through the screen lazily. The aroma of cooking rice filled the air, steam rising from the pot on the stove.

Sophia’s heart pounded as she stepped inside. She wasn’t sure if it was anger or frustration bubbling within her, but she couldn’t hold back anymore. Cedric’s indifference during the burial, his callous remarks, his need to make everything about himself— it was too much.

“What the hell was that stunt you pulled at your father’s burial?” Her voice sliced through the air, firm and unrelenting. She took a few steps closer to him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “You didn’t even have the decency to give him the respect he deserved. Instead, you turned it into a circus about you.”

“Shut up,” Cedric ordered, his tone cold and dismissive. He didn’t even glance up from his phone.

The audacity of it made Sophia’s anger flare hotter. “No, I won’t shut up!” she fired back, her voice rising. “What you did today was a disgrace, Cedric. It was a complete mockery of your father’s memory.”

“I said, shut up,” Cedric repeated, louder this time, his voice echoing sharply in the space. His phone made a soft thud as he placed it on the counter. Slowly, he turned to face her.

Sophia swallowed but stood her ground. She wasn’t going to back down, not this time. “And what will you do if I don’t? Will you hit me?” Her voice wavered slightly, but she pushed through. “Someone needs to stand up to you and point out the error of your ways, Cedric. You think you’re untouchable, above everyone else— but you’re not. You’re only human, just like the rest of us.”

Cedric’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he stepped toward her. His movements were slow and deliberate, the tension crackling in the air between them. “I’m not like the rest of you,” he spat, his voice low but charged with anger.

Sophia instinctively took a step back as he advanced. Her hands gripped the edge of the counter behind her, her knuckles white. Cedric stopped inches away, towering over her.

“You’d better watch how you talk to me,” he warned, his voice a dangerous growl. “If you know what’s good for you.”

Sophia’s breath hitched, but she forced herself to speak. “You think intimidation makes you powerful?” Her voice trembled but didn’t falter. “You think it makes you better than the rest of us? You’re just a scared little boy hiding behind your arrogance, Cedric.”

His eyes darkened, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. He leaned in slightly, his voice low and cutting. “Speaking of the rest of us, let me make something very clear. The farce we’ve been calling a marriage? It’s over.”

Sophia blinked, the weight of his words sinking in like a blow to the chest. “What are you talking about?”

Cedric straightened, his expression cold and unyielding. “I’m ending it,” he said simply. “I’ll have my lawyer send you the paperwork in a week or two.”

“You can’t do this,” Sophia said, her voice cracking. She stepped forward, desperation clawing at her throat.

“Watch me.” Cedric’s lips curled into a sneer. He folded his arms over his chest, his tone mocking. “And while you’re at it, start packing your things. You’ll be gone before the paperwork even gets to you.”

Sophia shook her head, her composure unraveling. “This isn’t possible. You can’t just throw me out like this. We signed contracts.”

“Possible?” Cedric barked a bitter laugh. “You'd soon find out nothing is impossible. And let me be very clear about one thing— you’re not taking my son with you. You will leave empty-handed for all I care, and I will not be giving you a single cent of my money.”

Her hands trembled as she clutched the counter for support. “Michael needs me. You can’t take him away from me.”

Cedric’s eyes were merciless as he turned toward the stove. He grabbed a plate from the counter and began scooping the steaming rice onto it, his movements calm and precise. “Do I look like I care?”

Sophia stepped closer, her voice rising in desperation. “Cedric, please. Think about what you’re doing. You’re making a mistake.”