Chapter 48

Sophie

A girl.

They were having a beautiful baby girl.

Three days after their gender reveal party, Sophie laid in the bath, running her fingers over her growing bump and watching the water trickle across her skin.

"Are you a Rhiannon?" She asked in a soft whisper. "Or maybe Isabella?" "Her name is Odette," Alex said as he walked into the room fixing his tie. "It means wealthy or fortune. Which is exactly what she's going to make us. A fortune."

"Must you be so crude?" She tsked, shielding her bump from him. "This is your daughter you're talking about."

"Mhm, I'm aware."

Sophie dropped her gaze and held back a defeated sigh. So far, Alex had not warmed to the idea of a baby. The minute they were alone, his false smile had disappeared and instead, anger had darkened his eyes to the point the memory of his expression left Sophie feeling cold.

"You could at least pretend to be happy, Alex."

"I am happy," he said. "You've sold me on the idea of a kid very well. Happy family man. Beautiful partner and an adorable kid. It'll look great for my image."

He was only repeating her own words, but they sounded so much worse from his mouth. Had she really pitched their daughter like a business deal? What kind of mother was she?

"And beyond your company? Alex, are you not happy to have a baby with me?"

Alex glanced at her before checking himself out in the full-length mirror. He looked good today. She hated that .

"Look, Soph. I don't hate the thought, and I will do right by both you and Odette."

"But?" She asked.

"But a baby wasn't on my agenda for a while yet. I'm talking years into the future."

"Did you plan a baby with Erica?" If she had announced her pregnancy, Alex would have been over the moon. She just knew it.

"No," he said, meeting her gaze in the mirror. "Believe it or not, kids never came up once in our marriage."

"But you were together for so long."

"Which tells you how little I thought of having a baby." He sighed and approached the tub, leaning down and resting his arms on the side. "Look, I'm sorry I haven't reacted the way you thought I would. Or at least hoped I would. It's been a surprise and a massive adjustment."

"I know," she agreed with a nod. "Believe me, I know. I thought I was only a few weeks along when I went to the doctor, only to find out we're over halfway."

"I believe you." He kissed her forehead. "I've named her, haven't I? I care enough to do that."

"I suppose so." Maybe. It would be more touching had Odette had a prettier meaning. She hadn't expected Alex to dance for joy when he found out. She just hadn't predicted his complete apathy, either.

"Look, I'm never going to be the type to abandon my kid," Alex said. "So I'm sure I'll get used to the idea. You just gotta be patient."

"And what if you don't, Alex?"

He stood, straightening himself out. "Not an option. I will."

She found his confidence astounding, but as he left the room, it was clear he was ending the conversation. She sighed in frustration, submerging herself under the water for a moment.

Unable to stop herself, she couldn't help but imagine Marcus' reaction had she told him she was expecting his child.

Once the initial shock had subsided, he would have experienced overwhelming happiness. She just knew it. He'd take such good care of her to the point his overprotectiveness would have frustrated her. Every appointment would have its place in his diary, and he wouldn't be thinking of all the ways his child could boost his image and earn him money.

For the first time since he kicked her out all those months ago, she felt a pang of longing for him.

She thought back to the news segment where he had stood side by side with Erica, looking at her in a way Sophie was sure he had never looked at her. At the time, she thought they'd looked good together, a truly beautiful couple. Now she wished it was her by his side instead.

She emerged from the water, clearing her eyes and taking a breath, her latest revelation weighing heavy on her heart.

"You need to get moving, Soph," Alex called from the other room. "We need to get to the office."

Lifting herself out of the bath, she moved on autopilot, her mind a haze of confusing thoughts. How crazy that only a few days ago she had been on top of the world, feeling like the belle of the ball.

All eyes had been on her as she cut into that beautiful cake, revealing the baby pink sponge beneath the icing. She had thrown her arms around Alex, certain that they were going to be together forever.

And now she was thinking about another man, wishing she were with him instead.

Had Alex shown any emotion towards their daughter, maybe things would have been different. But it had been long enough, and he still hadn't come around. How long had it taken her? Ten minutes? Half an hour, max. Once she had a moment to compose herself, to think it through and accept her predicament, she warmed to the idea of a baby rather quickly.

It happened so quickly that she couldn't help but think she was meant to be a mother, after all.

She could be a good mum if only she had the right partner. It was only now she realised that Alex might not be the right partner.

Top drawer of his desk. Underneath the black diary .

Erica's words played through her mind for the first time in weeks, and alarm bells began to ring. Perhaps Alex was the wrong partner because he had never wanted her the way he loved Erica. Walking into their bedroom, she watched him as he scrolled through his phone, paying her no attention.

"Alex?" She said quietly. "Alex, do you love me?"

"Hm?" He glanced up at her, offering a quick smile with a nod. "Sure do, babe."

"And Odette?" She asked, using the name he had chosen for their daughter. "Do you love her?"

He put his phone down, meeting her gaze. "I'll love her when she's here, I'm sure. What's the matter? Hormonal?"

Maybe she was. But still, that wasn't the answer she wanted to hear. Shrugging, she grabbed some clothes from the closet, dressing swiftly. "Would you feel the same if Erica was pregnant?"

His head tilted, looking her up and down. "I don't know," he admitted. "I think so. Why so many questions about Erica?"

"Do you still love her?" She asked, fastening her skirt and smoothing it over her bump.

"No." He shook his head, shifting uncomfortably as he moved off the bed and approached her. "Not the way I used to, anyway."

"Do you wish she was here instead of me?"

"What? Sophie, no. What's got into you?"

She shrugged again, chewing her lip. Then why hadn't he sent off the divorce papers yet? "Hormones, like you said," she lied. "Sorry, I'm certifiable."

"You're worrying about nothing," he agreed, kissing the side of her head. "It's all going to be okay, Sophie. I really believe that. Let's go, yeah?"

Top drawer of his desk .

The words kept playing on repeat as they drove through the early morning traffic. They were making good time, and Alex was in a particularly good mood. Part of her wondered why, the other part of her fixated on those papers.

Underneath the black diary.

Over and over, the words repeated until she was sure she'd go dizzy from them racing around her mind. She walked into the office building with Alex's arm around her waist, not even sure when she'd left the car.

Surely Erica was lying.

There was no way the papers would be there, There was no way she couldn't check.

As had become their daily routine, Alex led her to her desk, making sure she was situated and comfortable. He knelt on the floor in front of her, wrapping her arms around her waist and placing a gentle kiss on her bump. All for show, of course. Her heart ached as she wished for just one moment where his affection towards their daughter was real.

"My angels," he murmured, cupping her cheeks as he stood. "Just call me if you need anything, baby."

He kissed her while Sophie looked over his shoulder. Was anyone falling for this? She wondered. Did she look like the idiot she felt she was? Alex bid her farewell, locking himself in his office as Sophie forced herself to concentrate on her morning chores.

Top drawer of his desk.

She returned a bunch of phone calls, arranging and rearranging Alex's meetings.

Underneath the black diary.

She typed up the latest promotional pack, ready for Alex to proofread.

Top drawer of his desk.

The pile of envelopes she had been ignoring for days seemed to organise itself as she worked through them one by one.

Underneath the black diary.

Her once drab keyboard, murky from overuse, now gleamed after a thorough cleaning.

Top drawer of his desk. Underneath the black diary.

Top drawer of his desk. Underneath the black diary.

"Sophie?" Alex clicked his fingers in front of his face. "Sophie, are you paying attention?"

Shaking her head, she blinked a few times, forcing herself to focus on Alex. Her cheeks flamed as she saw his associates looking at her as though she belonged in some sort of facility .

"I'm taking the Austin brothers to the conference room, Soph."

"Huh?" She said intelligently, catching the amused gaze of Steven Austin. "Oh! Oh, god, I'm sorry. Conference with the Austins, of course." She looked towards the two brothers. "I'm so sorry, gentlemen."

"Sophie's having a rough morning," Alex explained smoothly. "Our little girl has been playing havoc with her hormones."

"Is that right?" Steven said with a chuckle. "Well, I hope you feel better soon."

"Are you okay?" Alex asked, looking perfectly concerned. "I can postpone."

"Nonsense," Sophie replied. She chuckled self-consciously, waving a dismissive hand. Inside, she was seething. How could Alex lie so easily? He didn't care one bit for this child. "You must have your meeting, gentlemen. I'll be absolutely fine."

No way was she giving up her opportunity to sneak around in Alex's desk. With one last nod towards her, Alex led the men to their conference room, holding the door open for them. She held her smile on him, frozen in place until he'd disappeared from view.

Without hesitation, she leapt up from her chair, ignoring the glances in her direction as she let herself into Alex's office. Locking the door behind her, she glanced around the room, breathing heavily.

"Top drawer of his desk," she muttered to herself as she approached it. With shaking hands, she opened the drawer, rummaging through the sheets of paper. "Underneath the black diary."

Sure enough, the hard case of a leather diary lay at the bottom of the pile of documents. Heart pounding, she moved it out of the way and pulled out the crumpled divorce papers Erica had been so sure were there.

Someone clearly balled them in anger, only to smooth them out again soon after. Darker splotches covered the page as though someone had wept over them. She scanned the details, not really taking anything in .

The only thing that mattered was the signatures at the bottom.

There was Erica's signature, signed hastily in the provided box. Across the page, she recognised Alex's rushed scrawl, scribbled angrily across the line. She had been telling the truth.

Both anger and sadness welled inside Sophie until her eyes pricked with emotion. He had lied to her for nearly a year. He had sworn up and down it was Erica causing the delay and, like a fool, Sophie had believed him.

She had left her husband for this man. She had given up her comfortable life with a man who worshipped the ground she walked on for this lying sack of shit. What had she been thinking?

Sinking into his chair, she stared at the divorce papers, thinking back to her own. She never should have rushed to sign. At that point, she could have still won Marcus back, she was sure.

Did she still have a chance now? After all this time?

Was that even what she wanted?

It was the anger talking; she was sure. Right now, all she wanted to do was lash out and cause Alex as much pain as he was causing her. Still clutching the papers, it seemed there was only one thing to do.

Grabbing an envelope and addressing it appropriately, she sealed the divorce papers inside. With a calmness that scared her, she left his office and knocked on the door to the conference room. Popping her head around, she begged Alex for an early lunch. No way he'd refuse his pregnant girlfriend in front of his associates.

He dismissed her without question, blowing her a kiss.

Not giving him a chance to change his mind, she rushed out of the office and down the elevator. Still clutching the divorce papers, she only had one place in mind.

After delaying it for so long, Sophie was finally going to grant him the divorce he'd been supposedly begging Erica for.

As the mother of his child, it was the least she could do.