Chapter 2 — The Woman He Loves
The moment the wedding ceremony ended, Adrian disappeared.
At that time the Guests continued celebrating around her as if everything were normal, but Sofia felt completely numb inside.
The heavy wedding dress suddenly felt suffocating.
“Did you see the way Mr. Knight looked at that other woman?”
“I heard they were supposed to get married years ago.”
Every whisper felt like another slap across Sofia’s face.
She forced herself to smile while photographers continued taking pictures.
But the moment the last camera flash disappeared, her expression collapsed.
Her mother rushed toward her worriedly.
Sofia nodded automatically. “I’m fine.”
Nothing about tonight was fine.
Her father looked guilty again.
“You don’t have to continue this if you don’t want to,” he said quietly.
Sofia almost laughed at the irony.
After everything that had happened…
Now they were giving her a choice?
But before she could answer, Adrian’s father approached them.
His expression was calm, but his sharp eyes carried authority.
“The media is still outside,” he said. “The family must leave together.”
Sofia looked around instinctively.
The older man’s jaw tightened slightly.
The words hurt more than Sofia expected.
Why would a man stay with the woman he never loved when the woman he truly wanted had finally returned?
A few minutes later, Sofia found herself sitting alone inside the backseat of a black luxury car.
Rain continued pouring outside the window.
The city lights blurred softly against the glass while silence filled the vehicle.
Adrian still hadn’t returned.
Sofia slowly removed her wedding ring and stared at it in her palm.
Yet the man who gave it to her couldn’t even pretend to care.
The car door suddenly opened.
Adrian entered without saying a word.
His wet black hair clung slightly to his forehead, and his expression looked darker than before.
Sofia immediately noticed something else.
He sat beside her silently while loosening his tie.
The tension between them became unbearable.
Finally, Sofia spoke softly.
Adrian froze for a second.
Then he answered coldly, “No.”
Sofia looked down at the ring in her hand again.
“You still love her,” she whispered.
Adrian turned toward the window.
The honesty shattered something inside her.
Most men would have lied.
But Adrian didn’t even try.
Sofia forced herself to breathe normally despite the ache in her chest.
“Then why continue the wedding?”
“Because people like me don’t always get choices.”
His answer surprised her.
For the first time, he sounded tired instead of cruel.
The car finally stopped in front of an enormous mansion surrounded by gates and security guards.
Sofia stared at it nervously.
This place didn’t feel like a home.
It felt like another prison.
The servants immediately lined up near the entrance when they entered.
“Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Knight.”
Sofia wasn’t sure she would ever get used to hearing it.
An older woman wearing a black uniform approached politely.
“Your rooms are prepared.”
Sofia looked toward Adrian in surprise.
But he simply removed his jacket carelessly.
Humiliation burned through her instantly.
Even the servants looked uncomfortable now.
The older woman quickly cleared her throat.
“I’ll show Mrs. Knight to her room.”
The bedroom was beautiful.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Everything looked expensive.
The moment the door closed behind her, Sofia finally allowed herself to cry.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sat on the edge of the bed still wearing her wedding dress.
This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.
Instead, she had married a man who loved someone else.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Sofia quickly wiped her tears.
To her surprise, Adrian stepped inside.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian walked toward the table and placed something down.
“What’s this?” Sofia asked quietly.
Her old phone had broken weeks ago.
“I told my assistant to replace it.”
Sofia looked at him carefully.
It was the first kind thing he had done for her.
But Sofia suddenly spoke again.
“Did you love her very much?”
For several seconds, he said nothing.
“She was the only person who ever loved me for who I was.”
The sadness in his voice shocked Sofia.
She suddenly realized something important.
Before Sofia could respond, he continued quietly.
“When Selena disappeared, everyone expected me to move on.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
Sofia’s chest tightened painfully.
Because now she understood the truth.
There would always be another woman living inside her husband’s heart.
Adrian finally looked at her directly.
“This marriage won’t be easy,” he said.
Sofia stared at the closed door long after he disappeared.
Outside, thunder echoed across the night sky.
And for the first time since the wedding began…
Sofia started wondering if marrying Adrian Knight had been the biggest mistake of her life.
The next morning, Sofia woke up alone.
For a few seconds, she forgot where she was.
Then reality came crashing back.
Her chest tightened painfully as she slowly sat up in the enormous bed.
Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, making the luxurious bedroom glow warmly.
But no amount of beauty could make this place feel comforting.
A maid entered quietly carrying a tray of breakfast.
“Good morning, Mrs. Knight.”
Sofia forced a small smile.
The maid carefully placed the tray on the table before hesitating slightly.
“Mr. Knight already left for work.”
Sofia looked down at the untouched breakfast.
“Thank you. You can leave it there.”
The maid nodded politely before leaving the room.
Silence returned instantly.
Sofia walked slowly toward the large mirror near the window.
She barely recognized herself.
Dark circles rested beneath her eyes from crying all night.
She still looked like a bride.
The white wedding dress hung loosely around her body like a painful reminder of yesterday’s humiliation.
Suddenly, her new phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Meet me at the Rose Garden Café at noon. We need to talk.
Her heartbeat quickened immediately.
Why would Selena want to meet her?
Another message appeared seconds later.
Please don’t tell Adrian.
Sofia stared at the screen for a long moment.
Part of her wanted to ignore the message completely.
But another part of her needed answers.
She already feared this marriage was doomed before it even began.
And she needed to know exactly what kind of woman still held within her husband’s heart.
