The Choice

Sofia’s heart pounded so hard she could barely breathe.
Victor Kane’s voice echoed through the phone.
“If you want to see your husband alive again… come alone.”
The line went dead.
Rain continued pouring around her as she stared at Adrian’s broken watch in her hand.
For a moment, fear threatened to overwhelm her.
Then she remembered Adrian’s face.
The way he had rushed to save her father.
The way he had stood between her and danger.
The way he looked at her before leaving.
Without another thought, Sofia got into a taxi and headed toward the location Victor had sent.
Now, standing inside the abandoned hotel, she wished she had listened to the guards.
Because Adrian was tied to a chair.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
And Victor looked far too pleased.
“Well,” Victor said, smiling. “The devoted wife came after all.”
Sofia ignored him.
Her eyes remained fixed on Adrian.
“Are you okay?”
Adrian shook his head angrily.
“Sofia, stop worrying about me and listen carefully.”
Victor sighed dramatically.
“Must you ruin every emotional moment?”
He walked toward a nearby table and poured himself a drink.
The casualness of it made Sofia even more nervous.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
Victor raised his glass.
“An excellent question.”
He took a slow sip before continuing.
“I want Adrian Knight to suffer.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“You dragged her here just to tell us that?”
“No.”
Victor’s smile widened.
“I brought her here because she gives me options.”
Fear crawled down Sofia’s spine.
“What does that mean?”
Victor placed the glass down carefully.
“It means I finally found something Adrian values.”
“I don't value her,” Adrian snapped instantly.
Sofia felt a sting in her chest.
Even now.
Even here.
Victor laughed loudly.
“That would sound much more convincing if you hadn’t nearly broken a guard’s arm when she walked into this room.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
Sofia looked away.
She wasn't sure what hurt more.
Adrian denying he cared.
Or the fact that part of her wished he did.
Victor suddenly sat on the edge of a table.
“Let's play a game.”
Neither Sofia nor Adrian responded.
Victor smiled.
“I enjoy games.”
“I don't,” Adrian replied coldly.
“That's because you usually lose.”
The room fell silent.
Victor leaned forward.
“Here's the deal.”
His eyes locked onto Sofia.
“You can leave right now.”
Sofia frowned.
“What?”
“You walk out of this building and I let you go.”
She immediately looked at Adrian.
“What about him?”
Victor shrugged.
“That's a different conversation.”
“No.”
Victor smiled again.
“Exactly.”
The realization hit her instantly.
He wanted her to choose.
Herself.
Or Adrian.
Victor stood.
“Interesting thing about love.”
His voice grew quieter.
“People always discover how they truly feel when forced to choose.”
Sofia swallowed hard.
She hated that he was right.
Because a few weeks ago, leaving would have been easy.
Adrian was a stranger.
A cold billionaire forced into her life.
A man who loved another woman.
But now?
Now things were different.
Before she could answer, shouting erupted downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Victor's expression changed instantly.
One of his men rushed into the room.
“Boss!”
Victor frowned.
“What?”
“The police!”
The room exploded into chaos.
Several guards immediately grabbed weapons.
Victor cursed loudly.
“Who called them?”
No one answered.
Adrian suddenly smiled.
For the first time all night.
Victor noticed.
“You.”
Adrian shrugged despite being tied up.
“I got bored waiting.”
Victor's eyes darkened dangerously.
“You planned this.”
“Partly.”
The distant sound of sirens echoed outside.
Growing louder.
Closer.
Victor grabbed his gun immediately.
Everything happened at once.
Guards began running through the hallways.
Doors slammed.
People shouted.
Sofia's heart nearly stopped.
Victor looked between her and Adrian.
Then smiled.
A dangerous smile.
“If I can't win tonight…”
He pointed the gun directly at Adrian.
“Then neither can you.”
Sofia reacted without thinking.
“NO!”
The gunshot echoed through the room.
For a second, everything went silent.
Then pain exploded through Sofia's shoulder.
She stumbled backward.
Confused.
Disoriented.
Warm blood soaked her sleeve.
Adrian's eyes widened.
“Sofia!”
The chair crashed onto the floor as he fought desperately against the ropes.
Victor looked shocked.
He clearly hadn't expected her to jump in front of Adrian.
Neither had Sofia.
The pain became worse.
Much worse.
Her knees gave out.
She hit the floor hard.
The room blurred.
Voices sounded distant.
Far away.
Then another gunshot rang out.
And another.
Police officers stormed into the building.
Victor cursed before disappearing through a side exit with several guards.
Chaos filled the hotel.
But Sofia barely noticed.
Because the only thing she could hear was Adrian shouting her name.
“Sofia!”
Strong hands caught her.
Adrian.
Somehow he had gotten free.
His arms wrapped around her carefully.
Fear filled his face.
Real fear.
Not anger.
Not frustration.
Fear.
“Sofia, look at me.”
She tried.
Everything looked blurry.
“You idiot,” Adrian whispered.
His voice trembled slightly.
“You absolute idiot.”
A weak smile appeared on Sofia's lips.
“At least you're alive.”
The words broke something inside him.
For several seconds, Adrian simply stared at her.
Then he pressed his forehead against hers.
“Don't do that again.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
The emotion in it stunned her.
Sirens echoed outside.
Paramedics rushed into the room.
People surrounded them.
But Adrian never let go.
Not once.
As the medics carefully lifted Sofia onto a stretcher, she caught one final glimpse of him.
Still covered in bruises.
Still exhausted.
But looking at her like she mattered.
Really mattered.
And for the first time since their marriage began...
Sofia wondered if Victor had been right.
Maybe Adrian cared more than he was willing to admit.
Maybe he cared more than either of them realized.
And somewhere in the darkness outside, Victor Kane escaped into the night.
Waiting.
Planning.
And preparing for his next move.

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