Chapter 176 One Hundred And Seventy Six

Chapter 176 One Hundred And Seventy Six
The shrill ringing of the desk phone cut harshly through the silence of Kennedy’s office.
He groaned softly.
His head pounded violently.
For a few seconds, he didn’t even remember where he was.
Then the stiff ache in his neck and the uncomfortable position of his body reminded him.
The office.
He had spent the night at the company.
Kennedy slowly lifted his head from the desk, wincing immediately as a sharp headache pulsed behind his eyes. Half-empty whiskey bottles sat scattered across the side table near the couch.
The blinds were slightly open now, allowing bright morning sunlight to spill into the office.
Too bright.
Too loud.
Too real.
The phone continued ringing insistently.
Kennedy cursed under his breath and grabbed the receiver.
“Yes?”
His voice sounded rough.
His secretary spoke carefully from the other end.
“Good morning, sir.”
Kennedy rubbed his forehead.
“What is it?”
“There’s someone here to see you.”
“I’m not taking visitors this morning.”
A brief hesitation followed.
“It’s Sofia.”
Kennedy’s jaw instantly tightened.
Of course.
For a second, he almost told the secretary to send her away.
But another part of him wanted this finished.
Completely.
“Send her in,” he said coldly.
A few moments later, the office door opened.
Sofia stepped inside elegantly dressed as always, though the moment her eyes landed on Kennedy, a small amused smile curved onto her lips.
He looked terrible.
His shirt was wrinkled.
The top buttons were undone.
His tie hung loose around his neck.
His hair looked messy from sleep.
And the exhaustion in his eyes was impossible to miss.
Sofia slowly closed the office door behind her.
“Well…” she said lightly.
“Looks like there’s trouble in paradise.”
Kennedy didn’t answer immediately.
He stood from his chair slowly and walked toward the mini bar near the window.
Sofia watched him carefully.
“You spent the night here?”
Still no answer.
Kennedy poured himself a glass of water instead of whiskey this time.
That alone told Sofia plenty.
He drank half the glass before finally turning toward her.
“I won’t waste time this morning.”
The coldness in his tone made her smile fade slightly.
Kennedy placed the glass down firmly.
“I don’t need your help anymore.”
Silence.
Sofia blinked.
“…what?”
“You heard me.”
“Kennedy—”
“I’m done.”
He walked back toward his desk.
“You don’t need to come here anymore.”
Sofia stared at him carefully now.
This wasn’t irritation.
This wasn’t temporary anger.
Something had shifted.
“What happened?” she asked slowly.
Kennedy looked directly at her.
“My marriage happened.”
Something flickered across Sofia’s face.
Annoyance.
Bitterness.
Then she folded her arms.
“So that’s it?”
“Yes.”
Sofia gave a soft mocking laugh.
“Oh please. Kennedy, you can’t seriously be this blind.”
“I said we’re done.”
“You need me.”
“No.”
“Yes, you do.”
She stepped closer to his desk.
“The company is still bleeding money.”
“The sabotage issues aren’t resolved.”
“You’re overwhelmed.”
“And you think now is the perfect time to push me away?”
Kennedy’s expression hardened further.
“I’ll figure it out myself.”
Sofia scoffed.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You can barely hold your marriage together right now.”
That hit a nerve instantly.
Kennedy’s eyes darkened dangerously.
“Careful.”
But Sofia was already irritated now.
Because this wasn’t going the way she planned.
She had expected tension.
Pain.
Distrust.
Not this sudden determination.
Then suddenly, anger slipped from her mouth before she could stop herself.
“Well maybe you should worry more about Daniel kissing your wife.”
The office fell completely silent.
Sofia watched carefully.
Waiting.
Expecting devastation.
Rage.
Shock.
Instead, Kennedy simply stared at her.
Coldly.
And that reaction confused her instantly.
“You already know,” she realized slowly.
Kennedy’s expression didn’t change.
That alone confirmed it.
Sofia frowned deeply.
“You knew and still took her side?”
Kennedy’s voice became dangerously calm.
“My wife told me the truth herself.”
That stung Sofia more than she expected.
Because honesty between them meant trust still existed.
And trust was dangerous for her plans.
Sofia crossed her arms tighter.
“Well.”
“She didn’t tell you everything.”
Kennedy’s patience snapped slightly.
“What exactly are you implying?”
Sofia tilted her head.
“You really think a kiss is all that happened?”
His jaw clenched instantly.
“You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
“She runs to him emotionally. And emotionally vulnerable women don’t usually stop at one kiss.”
“Enough.”
The single word exploded through the office.
Kennedy’s voice echoed sharply against the walls.
Sofia went silent.
Kennedy stared at her with fury burning in his eyes now.
“You don’t get to speak about my wife like that.”
Sofia laughed bitterly.
“Why?”
“Because the truth hurts?”
Kennedy moved around the desk suddenly.
Fast.
Intimidating.
Sofia instinctively took half a step back.
His voice dropped lower.
More dangerous.
“I know exactly what you’re trying to do.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“You want my marriage destroyed because you can’t accept the fact that I chose Antonia.”
Her face hardened instantly.
“You think that is what this is about?”
“I know it is.”
Sofia’s composure cracked slightly now.
“You chose her over me.”
Kennedy stared at her.
“Yes.”
The blunt honesty hit like a slap.
“And I would do it again.”
Sofia’s eyes flashed with hurt and fury.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“Kennedy—”
“I love my wife.”
The words sliced through her remaining control.
“You keep saying that,” Sofia snapped. “But your wife is out there kissing another man!”
“And whose fault is that?”
The question stunned her.
Kennedy stepped closer.
His voice became colder.
“I tolerated your presence because I thought the company needed you.”
“But I see clearly now. You are the problem.”
Sofia’s breathing sharpened slightly.
“You’ll regret this.”
“No,” Kennedy said quietly.
“You will.”
Silence filled the office again.
Heavy.
Hostile.
Then Kennedy pointed toward the door.
“Leave.”
Sofia didn’t move.
“Kennedy—”
“Now!”
The finality in his tone stunned even her.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Then slowly, Sofia grabbed her handbag.
Her expression had turned icy now.
But before leaving, she looked back at him one final time.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Kennedy’s face remained unreadable.
“The only mistake I made…”
“…was ever letting you back into my life.”
The words hit hard.
Sofia's jaw tightened.
Then without another word, she turned and walked out of the office.
The door slammed shut behind her.