Chapter 2 : Five million Reasons

Claire stared at the envelope for a moment, then picked it up and handed it to Sophia.

“There’s no name,” she said softly. “Nothing written on it.”

Sophia’s hands shook as she tore it open.

Inside was a printed bank transfer slip.

Five million dollars.

Sent to an offshore account.

Her name was on it. Only her name.

There was also a short typed note:

This is your freedom.

Take it.

Use it.

On the back, another line was written: Someone is watching. And waiting.

Sophia lifted her head slowly, her voice barely a whisper.

“How did this get here?”

Claire shook her head slowly. “I don’t know. It just slid under the door. Whoever did it must’ve been quick.”

Sophia stared at the papers in her hands. The number still didn’t feel real. Five million.

“Who sends this kind of money?” she asked softly. “And why me? Why now?”

Claire sat beside her on the sofa. “Maybe a rich uncle you forgot about,” she tried to joke, then sighed. “Or someone who saw what happened and wanted to help.”

She paused, then added quietly, “Or someone who hates Alexander just as much as you do right now.”

Sophia let out a bitter laugh. “That list is getting longer by the minute.”

Outside the dressing room, voices rose and fell. Her mother was crying. Her father was shouting into his phone. The wedding that was supposed to be the happiest day of her life had turned into a public disaster.

Sophia slipped the papers into her clutch and slowly stood up. Her legs felt weak, but her mind was strangely clear. The tears had stopped.

“I can’t think about this right now,” she said. “I can’t face my parents. Not tonight. They’re already so embarrassed.”

She took a breath. “I need to leave before the reporters swarm the place.”

Claire nodded. “Then let’s go. My car’s out back.”

Sophia’s Apartment — New York

The place felt strange now. Alexander’s cologne still lingered in the air. A half-packed box of his things sat by the door, but Sophia didn’t even look at it. She went straight to the bedroom.

She yanked open the closet. His suits hung neatly next to her dresses. Without a second thought, she started pulling her things jeans, shirts, a warm coat, passports, her laptop and tossing them into a suitcase.

Claire leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Where are you going? Don’t tell me… you’re really leaving? Just like that?”

“I have to,” Sophia said, not looking up. “The shame is too much. If I stay, I’ll drown in pitying stares and endless questions. And Alexander… he’ll spin this whole thing to make me look crazy.”

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She glanced at it. Messages from her mother poured in: Are you okay? Saw the video. Call me!

A news alert flashed across the screen:

HEIR TO BLACKWOOD FORTUNE DITCHES BRIDE FOR BEST FRIEND — LIVE FOOTAGE

Sophia powered the phone off and tossed it aside.

Then the home phone started ringing. Nonstop.

She ignored the ringing phone and kept packing, the sound buzzing in her ears like a warning.

Claire muttered from the doorway, her voice low and sharp, “I can’t believe they did this… right in front of everyone. And pick up the damn phone, or I will.”

The phone on the nightstand buzzed again. Sophia reached for it, her fingers still trembling from packing.

It was her personal assistant. She took a deep breath and answered, trying to keep her voice calm.

“Hello… yes, this is Sophia.”

“Miss Hart… I—I don’t know how to say this,” the assistant stammered. “But… the company… it’s no longer your father’s. Alexander Blackwood… he now owns it. The merger went through. Everything is… transferred.”

Sophia froze. The words didn’t sink in at first. “Wait… what?” she whispered.

“I know it’s sudden. I’m so sorry. I just found out myself,” the assistant said quickly. “I thought you should hear it from me before… anyone else.”

Sophia stared at the phone. Her mouth felt dry. Her brain refused to work. She couldn’t speak. She was completely dumbfounded.

Before she could respond, another call came through. Her father.

Her father’s voice cracked. “Sophia! Do you even know what’s going on? The company… the family’s entire business… it’s gone! Alexander… he owns it now!”

“Dad… the PA just told me,” Sophia said quietly. “I just… just found out.”

“Sophia! We need a solution, how are we going to get the company back from your cheating ex fiancé?” His voice was tight with panic.

Sophia swallowed hard, the weight of betrayal pressing down on her. She barely whispered, “I… will fix it father.”

Her lips pressed together. She couldn’t tell her father the truth. She had signed the papers herself, trusting Alexander completely. She hadn’t read every line. She had believed him.

Her father’s voice rose, full of heartbreak and anger. “Will fix it? ONE WORD? Sophia… this is everything we’ve worked for! How could you… how could you let this happen?”

Then the line went dead before she could reply.

Claire broke the heavy silence. “How could Alexander do something so wicked? This proves he never really loved you. He was after your family’s company all along.”

Sophia zipped her suitcase shut, her hands trembling. “I let myself be blinded by love. They didn’t just steal my heart… they stole my family’s future. Alexander’s hiding millions in fraud, using our company as a shield.”

Claire’s eyes widened. “You have proof?”

Sophia nodded, her jaw tightening. “Enough to bring him down… if I play this right.”

LATER THAT EVENING

The terminal was dim and almost empty. Holiday lights blinked faintly above, casting a cold glow. Sophia huddled in a corner seat, hood up, scrolling through news on a burner app.

Videos of the wedding disaster were everywhere. Comments shredded her: Poor girl. She must have seen it coming. What a trainwreck.

A man approached quietly. Tall, silver-haired, dressed in a crisp dark suit. He carried a slim briefcase.

“Sophia Hart?” His voice was low and steady.

She froze. “Who are you?”

“Victor Lang,” he said, sitting one chair away not too close. “I knew your grandfather, Henry Hart. Good man. We did business together decades ago.”

Sophia studied him, wary. “Why are you really here?”

“To help,” Victor said. He glanced around the empty gate. “I saw what happened today. Alexander… he’s a snake. Just like his father.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You seem to know a lot.”

Victor gave a thin smile. “People talk. But I’ve been watching the Blackwoods for years waiting for them to slip.”

Sophia folded her arms. “And why should I trust you?”