Chapter 5

SOPHIE WESLEY

When I opened my eyes, the pain had numbed completely.

No bloodstained. And I was standing on my feet, perfectly fine like nothing happened.

My eyes slowly moved over the room, then my eyes caught it.

My body on the floor, motionless, soaked in a pool of my blood.

I blinked.

"Tha... That's me..." My voice cracked with panic.

I moved, reaching to hold on to the wall for support, but my hand passed right through it and my knees gave. I crashed down, but I didn't hit the floor... I passed through it again, and through everything else, my hands closing around nothing.

I froze, fear washing over me as realisation that I was afraid to accept dawned on me.

I was dead.

But I was still here... Aren't I supposed to be in an abyss?

I hadn't even answered the question when the front door burst open. Heavy footsteps followed. Fast, deliberate, carrying the particular weight of someone who commands every room they enter.

"Sophie!"

I knew the voice before I found the face.

Knoxville Floyd.

He stood in the doorway, his eyes taking in the room in a single sweep... then his gaze landed on my body, and for a moment, he went still.

I stepped forward and waved my hand. "I'm here..." I was hoping he would see me.

"Sophie!" He ran, his footsteps heavy against the floor, then he passed right through me as if I wasn't even there, shattering the last piece of hope I was holding on to.

Then he dropped beside my body, holding me tightly in his arms, the terror I hadn't seen on anyone's face before crept up his face.

"Call an ambulance." The softness in his voice was gone. His voice dropped to something cold and raw. "Now."

Why? We had never spoken a single word to each other.

So why did he look like this was personal?

"Sophie, open your eyes... please." His voice cracked on the last word. "Stay with me. Sophie!"

I stood watching him press his hand against my stomach, his body shaking, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, tears dropping down his face.

I couldn't understand it. We weren't close. We had never been close.

I had met Knoxville Floyd five years ago at an orphanage... Both of us there to volunteer, working side by side for a few hours without exchanging much more than necessary.

We crossed paths a handful of times after that, on separate occasions, before I eventually learned he was Anthony's uncle.

The last time I saw him in person was the morning after the engagement.

Three days ago, I'd seen his name on the news... he'd returned to the country to oversee Ville luxe, his billion-dollar fashion empire.

That was all we were to each other.

So why did he look like he was losing someone he couldn't afford to lose?

I knew the answer didn't matter anymore. Whatever the reason, it was too late for it to change anything.

The room suddenly folded inward before darkness took over everything.

Then... Something pulled me back forcefully.

Air hit my lungs first.

I gasped, my body jerking upright, chest heaving, every nerve firing at once. Cold sweat soaked my skin. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I could hear it.

I couldn't move. Couldn't think.

All I could feel was the raw shock of being alive.

My fingers twitched.

I looked down at my hands... warm, dry, clean. No blood. No wound. No numbness creeping in at the edges.

"Sophie? Sophie?"

Light flooded in unevenly as my vision steadied.

The first thing I registered was the microphone in my hand. Then the maroon gown fitted against my body. Then the crowd... rows of faces, cameras flashing, a low murmur of anticipation filling a grand hall.

Mom and Dad stood in the front row, smiling proudly like something good was about to happen.

The way they used to look at me.

"Sophie? Are you alright?" A familiar voice came from beside me.

I turned slowly. It's him. Anthony.

He was in a familiar maroon suit... the one from our engagement night, holding a familiar ring out toward me, his expression caught between patience and concern.

My throat tightened as the realisation dawned on me.

I had been reborn... To our engagement day. The way everything began, and one month from now, Ivy would come back, and everything will fall apart.

My gaze moved past him, through the room, and stopped.

Knoxville Floyd.

He stood at the back, away from the crowd. Watching me, and even after our eyes met, he didn't look away.

Minutes ago, this man had held my body, panicking and crying. Now, he stood here composed, as if nothing happened.

"Sophie." Anthony lowered his voice. "You need to take the ring. Everyone's waiting."

My gaze found him, and all I see is a man who would one day put my favourite dress on another woman, and dismiss my dying voice as an inconvenience.

My chest burned.

My gaze dropped to the two rings in the box, then I reached for one.

The crowd stirred, expecting what came next. Anthony's shoulders eased with relief.

Then... I turned and started walking.

"Sophie? What are you doing?" Anthony's voice followed behind, but I didn't stop. Not even a glance back at him.

Murmurs followed me across the hall, but I kept walking, through the room until I was standing in front of Knoxville Floyd, close enough to see the confusion on his face.

He didn't pull back. His eyes held mine, as if waiting for what was going to happen next.

Here is the man who held me like I meant the whole world to him even though I didn't know the reason behind that yet... I looked back at Anthony. He was standing a few feets from me, wearing confusion like a mask... And the men who not only chose another woman over me, but also abandoned me to die with our baby.

You want my sister so badly? Fine!

I turned to Knox, a smile finding my face.

I'll have your uncle then.

I held up the ring and said, "Marry me."