Chapter 2 Pregnant

Sophia stood frozen in place, watching the luxury sedan disappear down the driveway.

Her heart felt like an overturned spice rack—bitter, sour, and overwhelmingly painful.

The contrast between how Zachary treated her and how Paula was was like night and day.

With Paula, he had endless patience.

With her, he couldn't even spare the time to listen to what she had to say.

She closed her eyes, exhaustion weighing down her every breath.

For the next month, Zachary never came home.

As his wife, Sophia, could only track his whereabouts through paparazzi photos trending on social media—shopping with Paula today, attending a yacht party with her tomorrow.

Sophia's heart gradually went numb through this limitless waiting and invisible bitterness. She had already found a lawyer and signed the divorce papers.

Now she just needed Zachary to return so they could finalize everything at the courthouse.

She shut herself away in the house while the housekeeper came daily to prepare meals.

But this evening, the moment the housekeeper set a bowl of chicken soup on the table, Sophia was hit by a wave of nausea and dry heaving. She bolted toward the bathroom.

She retched violently, as if trying to expel everything from her stomach.

When Sophia emerged from the bathroom, she was drenched in cold sweat.

Looking up, she found herself face-to-face with the long-absent Zachary.

Zachary frowned at her pale complexion and asked with confusion, "What's wrong with you?"

Sophia shook her head slowly, supporting her exhausted body as she moved forward. "Probably ate something that didn't agree with me. My stomach's been acting up."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the smell of chicken soup hit her again. Her face turned pale, and she rushed back to the bathroom.

Zachary instinctively glanced at the dishes on the table.

The housekeeper spoke up, "Mrs. Spencer hasn't had much appetite lately and has been eating very bland foods. She seems to get nauseous specifically from the smell of chicken soup. Could Mrs. Spencer be pregnant?"

Zachary's eyes turned glacial in an instant.

He had never even touched Sophia!

How could she possibly be pregnant?

Sophia had no idea what was happening outside. When she stumbled out again, completely drained, Zachary grabbed her wrist and forcibly dragged her toward the door.

Sophia couldn't break free and could only stumble along with his determined stride.

"Zachary, where are you taking me? Let go of me."

Zachary opened the car door and shoved Sophia inside.

His eyes were cold as he stared at her. "To the hospital."

Sophia looked at him in confusion, frowning. "What for? I'm exhausted. I want to go home and rest."

Zachary didn't respond, simply starting the engine.

Sophia remained completely bewildered.

She couldn't understand what had gotten into Zachary with this sudden return.

Throughout the drive, Sophia kept her eyes closed. She had been unusually tired lately, spending most of her time sleeping and resting.

She had assumed she was just run down.

But when the doctor placed the positive pregnancy test results in front of her, Sophia's face turned pale as paper, her hands trembling as she held the report.

"I'm pregnant?"

She barely had the strength to form the words, her mind going completely blank.

Could it be from that night?

The terror of being violated crept up on her again, like an invisible hand squeezing her throat.

She was so overwhelmed that she missed the fury in Zachary's gaze.

After leaving the hospital, Sophia remained in a daze.

Zachary grabbed her wrist, his eyes sharp as blades, his voice barely containing his rage. "You agreed to the divorce because you've been having an affair, and now you're even carrying his child!"

He had never imagined Sophia would betray him.

No wonder she had so easily agreed to the divorce when he brought it up—she already had another man!

"Did you even think about Dylan? What do you think he'd say if he knew about this?"

Zachary's accusatory tone finally snapped Sophia back to reality.

Her face was pale, the corners of her eyes reddening.

"You're the one who asked for a divorce. I gave you what you wanted, and now it's my fault?"

Zachary's grip on her wrist tightened, his voice harsh. "You shouldn't have betrayed me! Even if this was an arranged marriage, couldn't you manage basic fidelity?"

For a moment, Sophia felt like he might actually break her wrist.

Though her arm ached, the pain in her heart was far worse. She almost wanted to laugh.

"What right do you have to be angry? Have you forgotten what you've done? You've been entangled with Paula all this time. Do you really think you're being faithful to me and accuse me?"

With that, she found the strength from somewhere deep within to wrench her wrist free.

She stepped back two paces, watching Zachary with wary eyes.

This child was evidence of the violation she had suffered, not something she had chosen. She was the victim, not the perpetrator.

The pain she carried was unspeakable, beyond anyone's understanding, yet she still had to endure Zachary's suspicious glares as he accused her of infidelity.

In that instant, all of Sophia's suppressed grief erupted.

"Zachary, think whatever you want. I've already signed the divorce papers. We can finalize everything whenever you're ready."

The fury in Zachary's eyes blazed even hotter as he spoke with sarcasm.

"I never realized you were such a selfish person, only thinking about yourself, never considering anyone else around you."

"Planning to divorce me so you can run off with your lover?"

Sophia clenched her fists tightly, retorting, "Don't make it sound so harsh. Won't divorcing me make it easier for you to marry Paula? Do I need to list every single scandal you've created with her over the years?"

She was practically screaming by the time she finished.

After the emotional outburst, only deep exhaustion and helplessness remained.

"Dylan won't know about the divorce. Right now, divorce is the best choice for both of us," Sophia said flatly.

"Absolutely not. I will never give you what you want."

Zachary's cold gaze slowly traveled downward to rest on Sophia's abdomen.

"Whoever your lover is, I'll make sure he pays for this."

"Do whatever you want," she said, feeling utterly drained.

She simply couldn't bring herself to reveal that she had been assaulted, especially when she didn't even know who the father of this child was.

Even if she explained, Zachary would never believe her.

This attitude only infuriated Zachary further.

Without hesitation, he yanked open the car door and drove off.

Once again, Sophia was left standing alone.

She looked down at her stomach, her eyes filled with despair.

This child's existence was yet another reminder of that night when she had been hurt.