Too Late She Already Married Mr. Right (Sophia) novel Chapter 45

“Maybe these last three years. I’ve played the obedient doormat too well. I accepted everything he threw at me. So he just… kept pushing the boundaries. A bitter, hollow smile touched Sophia’s lips.

“Sophie, why did you ever fall for that monster?”

Sophia’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment. “Earthquake, seven years ago. Remember?”

Annabelle froze. How could I forget? It was the cataclysm that stole her parents, transforming her from a cherished daughter into an orphan reliant on the kindness of relatives.

“I was trapped.” Sophia continued, her voice distant. “Under the rubble. He was there with the rescue team. He dug me out with his bare hands. When I saw him again three years ago, I knew him instantly. He didn’t recognize me.”

Annabelle frowned. “Sophie… What if you’ve got the wrong guy?”

“No.” Sophia’s voice cracked like a whip. “When I woke in triage, he was sitting right there, holding my IV bag. I know it was

him.”

Annabelle held her tongue. She hadn’t been in that rubble. She couldn’t rewrite someone else’s memory. And just because Lucas was a monster now didn’t mean he hadn’t performed an act of heroism years ago.

She leaned forward, her voice softening with resolve. “Then listen to me. You just repaid that debt with the only currency life accepts. You owe Lucas Westwood nothing ever again.”

Sophia’s hand drifted to her hollow abdomen, a fresh wave of grief crashing over her.

“I actually thought about keeping the baby,” she whispered, voice cracking. “Running away, starting over, just the two of us. I even told myself I’d swear off men forever if that’s what it took to give this kid a clean shot at life…”

The tears hit without warning. She squeezed her eyes shut, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. She’d sworn she could swallow this loss whole and keep walking. Instead, it was eating her alive from the inside out.

A bitter hatred surged toward Lucas and Emily. If they hadn’t pushed her so far, cornered her so cruelly, she would never have considered giving up her own flesh and blood.

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burn cities for this quiet girl who never asked to be anyone’s battlefield.

When the bowl was empty, Annabelle set it aside and eased Sophia back against the pillows

“Sleep. I’ll be back with dinner. She tucked the blankets around Sophia, snapped off the light, yanked the blackout curtains closed, and slipped out.

A bodyguard stood waiting in the hall. “Ms. Quinn,” he said in a low voice, “the Westwoods are holding Helen’s birthday party tonight at the Grandon Hotel.”

A cold smile touched Annabelle’s lips. “Perfect timing. I’ve got a little surprise for those snakes.”