Chapter 3

Three days later, Sophia showed up at Lucas's company with the divorce papers in her hand. Even though he had turned her down last time, she had no choice—for the sake of the baby, the divorce had to happen. "Hi, I'm here to see the Chairman," she told the front desk calmly. She knew there was no way she'd get through to Lucas directly—he'd long since stopped picking up her calls or replying to texts. She was always the hidden wife, after all. Lucas was probably too ashamed of her to let anyone know she existed. "Well well, look who it is. Sophia," came a sharp voice from behind. Sophia's lashes flickered. Before she even had time to react, the file folder got yanked right out of her hands. "Give that back!" Sophia snapped, her whole body tensing up the moment she recognized the overweight woman in front of her—Rebecca Walters, Eva's mom. "Sophia, you'll be happy to know Lucas agreed to your little divorce," Rebecca sneered as she flipped through the documents. She leaned in uncomfortably close, forcing a smile as she hissed, "But here's the deal—he also said no one's signing anything until you give birth and we can test the kid's blood type. If you die being a lab rat, your baby can still be a walking blood bank for our Eva." Thud. Sophia's bag slipped from her hand and hit the marble floor. "No… No way! I need to hear that from Lucas himself!" she cried, shoving Rebecca aside and stumbling toward the elevator. "That's his child! He can't be that cruel! He can't… he wouldn't!" "Stop right there! Lucas doesn't want to see your trashy face!" Rebecca yelled, reaching out and yanking Sophia hard by the shoulder. "You haven't done enough by ruining my daughter? What more do you want? You won't stop till I'm dead, is that it?" Her grip tightened, nails digging in like she wanted to rip Sophia apart. Just then—ding!—the CEO's elevator doors slid open. With a sudden shriek, Rebecca let go and tumbled backward to the floor, landing in a dramatic heap. The way she fell—anyone looking would think Sophia shoved her. "Sophia!" It was Lucas. He rushed straight to Rebecca's side, helping her up with a cold glare toward Sophia. "Are you out of your mind? What the hell do you think you're doing?" The fury in his voice cut deeper than any blade.It was always the same—he never believed her. Not even once. No matter what really happened, he always pinned the blame on her without hesitation. But she was human too. She could feel pain. She used to endure it all, because he loved her. And he was all she had. Now… now she had a child to protect. She couldn't—she wouldn't—keep swallowing this anymore. "Lucas, I want a divorce! Right now, no more waiting!" Sophia grabbed the pen from the receptionist and shoved it into Lucas's hand, then slapped the divorce papers open on the desk in front of him. Her voice trembled with anger. "You want to be with Eva? Fine, be my guest! Sign it, go ahead and sign it! These ten years I loved you… I must've been blind!" Lucas took the pen… and without a word, hurled it to the floor. "You're actually insane!" he snapped. "Someone, get her to a hospital!" The two security guards nearby exchanged a look but still moved forward, one on each side, grabbing Sophia by the arms to drag her out of the building. She thrashed, kicked, tried to break free—but it was useless. Against them… Against Lucas… She didn't stand a chance. She was nothing but a moth fighting against a storm. "Lucas! Lucas, please!" Sophia cried out again, and this time it wasn't fury—it was desperation. The guard on her left stumbled down the stairs, loosened his grip by mistake. It was all she needed—she yanked her arm free and bolted back to Lucas, clinging tight to his left arm. "Lucas… please," she begged, tears in her voice. "The baby is innocent. Let's just end this peacefully—let's divorce, okay?" "Lucas…" How long had it been since she'd called him that? His lips curled into a faint smile—just for a moment. As if time had rewound ten years, to that summer afternoon when he first met her. But now, that name from the past… came only because she wanted to leave. Divorce. That tiny smile faded, replaced by something darker—something that hurt like drowning. "Get off me." He tried to shove her away, but Sophia clung to him even harder. In her world now, it seemed like the only word that mattered was "divorce." How pathetic. Lucas drew in a breath, let his anger dissolve, and put on a cold, almost amused sneer. Reaching out with one hand, he stroked her hair gently—so soft, so smooth—then suddenly lifted his leg and kicked her, full force. The stark white floor was instantly smeared with blood.