Letting Go

Sophie sat quietly in the living room, her hands resting on her lap as she stared at nothing in particular. The dining table was set a few feet away, the food long gone cold. She had prepared everything hours ago, carefully arranging each dish the way she always did, even though a part of her already knew it wouldn't matter.

She kept glancing at the door, expecting him to walk through but hours had gone by and he still wasn't home.

She didn't need to check the time to know it was late. The stillness of the night and the dim lights inside the house told her already.

Her gaze drifted toward the table again, and a faint, almost bitter smile touched her lips.

She had a feeling she knew where he was. Instead of the pain she thought she would feel, she was just numb. Almost like she had been expecting it.

Serena was back. Of course, he had to celebrate her return. She was all he had been waiting for all these years.

'Everyone must be happy right now.' she thought.

Her parents. Julian. Even the world that had once pitied Serena’s disappearance. She was back. Everything had fallen back into place.

She was the anomaly.

Sophie slowly leaned back into the couch, her fingers curling slightly against the fabric as her thoughts spiraled. She had spent three years trying to make a place for herself in a life that had never belonged to her.

Three years of hoping that one day, Julian would look at her the way he looked at Serena.

She let out a quiet breath, her chest tightening as she finally allowed the truth to settle fully in her mind.

That day was never going to come.

Her hand moved to her stomach almost unconsciously, resting there as if she was grounding herself. The faint warmth beneath her palm made her pause, her expression softening just a little.

For a moment, she closed her eyes.

When she found out about the pregnancy, she had thought things might change. She had allowed herself to imagine a different future, one where Julian stayed, one where he finally saw her.

Now, that hope felt almost foolish.

“I can’t…” she whispered, her voice barely audible in the empty room.

She swallowed hard and shook her head slightly, as if correcting herself.

“He can't know,” she murmured instead, her tone steadier this time.

Her fingers pressed slightly against her stomach, and for the first time since she found out, her decision felt clear.

She wouldn’t tell him.

She didn't want her child growing up in a home like this.

The sound of the front door opening cut through the silence, and Sophie’s body tensed slightly before she forced herself to relax. She didn’t turn immediately, but she listened as his footsteps echoed through the house.

Julian walked in, loosening his tie as his gaze landed briefly on the dining table. He let out a quiet sigh, his expression cold as usual.

“You didn’t have to do all this,” he said flatly, sounding almost annoyed. “I already ate outside.”

Sophie nodded once, her face calm as she stood up slowly. She didn’t ask where he had been, and she didn’t need him to explain.

She already knew.

“I’ll clean it up,” she said quietly, her voice steady as she moved to walk past him.

“Wait.” His voice stopped her mid-step.

Sophie paused, her back still facing him as she waited. Something in his tone made her chest tighten, though she couldn’t explain why. It was almost as if she knew what was coming.

Julian walked past her and placed a set of papers on the table. His expression softened for a short while when he raised his head, whatever emotion he had was gone as quickly as it came.

“You should have known this was coming,” he said calmly.

Sophie turned slowly, her eyes falling on the document. She didn’t need to read it fully to understand what it was.

Divorce papers.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Julian watched her closely, expecting some kind of reaction. He had imagined this moment many times, and in every version, she resisted. She cried, she begged, she refused.

But Sophie simply walked forward and picked up the papers.

Her fingers held the edges lightly, her expression calm in a way that felt almost unnatural. That was not the reaction he was expecting, especially since she had been holding onto him for so long, craving his love.

When she finally looked up at him, there was no anger in her eyes. She nodded with a faint smile, accepting her smile. But, just before she picked up the pen, she said.

“Before I sign,” her voice came out softly, she bit her lips, looking down at the paper for a second before raising her head to meet him. "There's something I'd like to ask."

Julian frowned slightly but didn’t interrupt. "Go ahead."

She took a deep breath, he fingers shaking nervously under the papers.

“Would you have loved me,” she asked slowly, “if I were the one who saved you that day?”

There was an uneasy silence in the room as the question lingered in the air between them.

For a brief moment, Julian hesitated. Then he looked away.

"It doesn't matter." He answered coldly. "You didn't save me that day. Serena did."

“You were only a replacement. Now that she’s back, you must leave.”

Something in Sophie’s expression shifted, but it wasn’t visible enough to name. A faint, almost sad smile appeared on her lips as she nodded once.

“I understand,” she said quietly.

Without another word, she picked up the pen and signed the papers, not even bothering to go through the terms.

None of it mattered to her. Not anymore.

Julian’s brows furrowed slightly as he watched her. He had expected her to sign eventually, but not like this. Not so easily.

Sophie placed the papers back on the table and turned away.

“I'll leave the house first thing in the morning,” she said calmly.

Julian stared at her for a second, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before he masked it.

He was certain she would come back. She always did.

She had nowhere to go since her parents' house was out of the question. She would eventually have to beg him.

Before he could respond, she was already halfway up the stairs, heading to her room.

Julian remained where he was, his gaze falling to the signed papers. There was a strange knot in his chest. One he didn't want to acknowledge.

He shook his head and walked away.

He wanted this.

He was finally going to get his happy ending with the woman he really loved.

 

 

************

THE NEXT MORNING

Julian stirred awake the next morning feeling as if nothing had happened the previous day. He got ready for the office and walked downstairs, ready for breakfast.

But, the dining table was empty when he arrived.

In his three years of marriage to Sophie, this has never happened. She had always had his breakfast and coffee laid out before he was ready. It was a routine he had grown used to without ever acknowledging it.

A frown formed on his face.

"So, this is how she's choosing to react." He thought, shaking his head as he turned to the stairs.

"Sophie! There's no breakfast." He called out dryly but was met with silence.

When he called the second time, the cleaner rushed to him.

"Mr Vale." The maid greeted.

"Where is Sophie? Why isn't my breakfast ready?" He asked angrily.

The maid tilted her head, confused. "I-i thought you knew, Mr Vale."

His brows knitted, his frown deepening.

"Mrs Vale is gone. She left first thing this morning."