Chapter 9
When she opened her eyes again, the sharp smell of antiseptic made Sophie cough violently.[]
The white ceiling swam before her eyes. She heard Matthew’s low, gentle voice. “You’re awake? How are you feeling?”
“Dawn!”
She shot up, yanking the IV needle in her arm, and scrambled to get out of bed, oblivious to the pain.[]
Matthew quickly restrained her. “Calm down, the baby’s fine. Monica is with her in the next room.“]
Sophie shoved him away. “Get out!“]
Matthew’s expression darkened. “Sophie, I know you’re still angry, but Joseph’s kidnapping was an emergency. I had no other choice…”
“No choice but to sacrifice my daughter?“]
Sophie grabbed the water glass from the nightstand and hurled it at him. It shattered at his feet. “Matthew Wilson, get out! I never want to see you again!“]]
“Do you have to be like this?”
Impatience crept into Matthew’s voice. “Ever since the baby was born, you’ve been so unpredictable. Fine, T’ll go. Call me when you’ve come to your senses.”
He slammed the door, leaving silence in his wake.]
Before Sophie could process what had happened, Monica walked hi, a document in her hand and a victorious smile on her face.
“Your daughter is in the nursery. Sign this, promise to never see Matthew again, and I’ll let you take her.”
Sophie took the agreement. Her finger traced the “no contact” clause. When she looked up, her eyes were emotionless. “The kidnapping. You staged it, didn’t you?”
Monica raised an eyebrow, making no effort to hide her smugness. “Clever girl. I just wanted you to see clearly that in his heart, Joseph and I are his real family.”
“He saved Joseph. He only cares about us. You’ve lost.“]
Sophie said nothing more. She flipped to the last page and signed her name.]]
When the nurse brought Dawn to her, and the tiny body curled up in her arms, Sophie’s tears finally fell.]
This was her whole world.
Watching the scene, Monica sighed. “You know, I used to think he loved you. Our first time was an accident. He avoided me for half a year, wouldn’t even see me until I found out I was pregnant.”
“But men change. Maybe he loved you once, but he loves me now. And besides, I gave him a son. Your daughter can never
compete with that.”
“I know you look down on me, but you just got lucky being born into the right family. If you were in my shoes, you wouldn’t have acted any better.”
Sophie gave a faint, bitter smile, too weary to argue.]]
Her throat was raw, and every word was an effort.]
Before leaving town, she went to the office to make one final check of the “Guardian Project’s production records.
The evidence of Monica’s supplier substitutions and embezzlement was compiled into an encrypted file
God has a way of settling scores. These landmines she’d planted would detonate eventually.[]
She’d wait and see if Matthew could still protect his greedy “wife” when that day came.[]
As she boarded the plane with her daughter in her arms, Sophie sent a text to Matthew’s biggest rival: (Sorry for the delay. I told you I’d marry you, and I don’t break my promises.]]
The reply was almost instantaneous: [Sophie, I’ve waited twelve years for this day. It was worth every second.[]
A sting in her nose, she turned and refreshed her social media feed. There was Monica.
A photo of Joseph in a birthday hat, with Matthew and Monica kissing him on either cheek. The caption read: [Happy 7th Birthday to our little star! Mommy and Daddy will love you forever.
Attached was the deed to an amusement park.
It was Matthew’s birthday gift to him.[]
And in the next moment, a text from Matthew popped up:]
[Sophie, something urgent came up at the office. I’ll be home late.]]
[When I get back, I’ll register our daughter and find the best doctor for her condition.
[Sophie, I will always love you.]]
Sophie snorted and blocked all contact from both him and Monica.[]
10
As the plane broke through the clouds, she turned off her phone, leaned down to kiss her daughter’s soft hair, and murmured, “Now he remembers he has a daughter to register? Too bad. Her last name is Harris.”
“And soon, she’ll be calling the man you hate most ‘Daddy. Get ready, Matthew, Payback is coming!”
