Chapter 6 - Sophia’s True Colors
"Alex, what's happening?" Sophia whined, rushing over and grabbing his forearm with both hands.
"What does she mean, she owns the harbor? My father's investment firm has three million dollars tied up in that marble shipment!"
Alexander pulled his arm away violently, glaring at his mistress with eyes full of waking disgust.
"Your father's firm? Is that all you care about right now?"
"We have bills to pay, Alexander!" Sophia shrieked, her sweet facade completely disintegrating into frantic selfishness.
"You promised me you would buy me the gallery on Oak Street once you pushed Claire out of the picture!"
"Shut up!" Alexander roared, slamming his fist into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster.
"My mother-in-law held the deed to the harbor... and I let her die alone in a hospital room because I was in your bed."
Sophia took a frightened step backward, crossing her arms defensively.
"Don't you dare blame me for that! You wanted to be with me! You told me she was just an old woman who was wasting your time!"
The memory of Ethan’s voice cut through Alexander’s mind like a double-edged razor: I held Grandma’s hand. She kept asking for you.
He looked down at the empty space on the foyer floor where Claire’s wedding ring had lay an hour ago, feeling a hollow ache spread through his ribs.
He had chosen an ambitious, shallow parasite over the only woman who had ever protected his back without asking for a dime.
The doorbell rang again, but this time it wasn't a guest bringing soup.
Three corporate attorneys representing the Moretti syndicate’s high council pushed open the door, their faces pale with existential dread.
May you like
"Alexander," the lead counsel announced solemnly. "The commission has called an emergency tribunal at noon."
"If those ships aren't cleared by three o'clock, they are stripping you of your title and handing the syndicate to your cousin."
