Sophia gripped her chest tightly as if it felt like her heart was about to escape from her chest. Her hand slipped over her mouth as she tried to muffle her cries. She left the bathroom in the guest room scanning the room.
‘Two years’ she whispered. She had lived in the guest house just a small distance from the main mansion. The building was neat with very modern amenities. She didn’t lack anything and had a dozen staffs assigned at her beck and call.Noah reduced the amount of attention she was being given by the staff when his girlfriend, Kira Robinson, the daughter and sole heir to the Robinson group started to nag him. A union between the Milton’s and the Robinson’s would consolidate both families in the world of business for a lifetime.None the less, that wasn’t what George wanted for Noah. Kira Robinson was never a good fit. She acted like a spoiled child because her actions were always inconsequential. It happened that way because of how quickly her father’s PR could handle any mess, no matter the size.“You’re still here?” Sophia turned in the direction of the hoarse voice. She sniffled trying her best to wipe her tears with the sleeve of her knitted sweater.“Whyte,” he called her with a discerning tone, concern written all over his expression, “why are you crying?” Sophia paused almost dramatically when she saw Noah’s expression. He was doing it again, pretending like nothing had happened.She spent two years of her life married to an insensitive person. The worse part was, she had already fallen way too deep. Sophia and Noah never slept together in the same room, the only time they did was when George Milton, Noah’s father was around.He had been diagnosed with a terminal heart disease the year they got married. He was on meds which were working perfectly that time. Suddenly his body grew immunity. George Milton battled until the end. He was a strong man who began the Milton empire that was highly praised by everyone.“I’m not crying,” she lied, stuffing her clothes into her suitcase. He held her face gently, wiping the tears off. His action startled Sophia a little, but she just hoped he wouldn’t stop. Every day was a constant struggle for her, ‘which lover will I get today?’ she always thought to herself. Noah planted a kiss on her forehead.“Whyte, I don’t think I can do this anymore,” he spoke softly as his breath sent tinkles to her senses. It made her knees buckle.“Sophia, my name is Sophia. Noah—” she was cut off by a knock on the door, it was Kira.“Is she still there?” she whispered.“What did I tell you about snooping in my house?” Noah asked with a hint of rage in his voice. He could stand Kira or her entitlement. She was like a little kid and threw tantrums when she didn’t get what she wanted. He always knew how to put her in check.Sophia stood there, lifeless. She couldn’t believe how stupid she was, almost falling for his excellent theatrics again. She just kept dumping clothes inside her suitcase. When she was satisfied, she zipped it up and pulled it towards the main door.“Whyte, what are you doing? Did I say you could leave?” he asked looking down, his height towering over her. Her emerald green eyes glistered in the warm lighting of the living room. Sophia stared at him in silence.He scoffed, “If you want to leave, do it. But don’t take anything that I bought with my hard earned money. I know how people like you can be.”‘People like me?’ A wry smile tugged at her lower lips. She let go of the suitcase immediately, causing it to topple over. Sophia stared at Noah who stood there speechless. She walked to the mirror and examined herself, taking off every item Noah had gotten her.One of them made her chuckle in pain. Noah had gotten her a leg chain used to identify sex workers. He said it would make her remember where she came from so she could never feel comfortable in his house. But she had already done that. She made up all these thoughts in her head, praying daily that he would change but he never did.Sophia walked towards the massive gate of the Milton estate. Just then her phone began to vibrate and she picked it up immediately. It was her best friend, Chantelle. She had texted her earlier to pick her up from Noah’s house.Chantelle parked her car in front and Sophia climbed in. “Are you okay?” Chantelle asked.“Just take me home,” Sophia prompted without an ounce of emotion in her house.The money she earned at Milton group should have been enough to rent a neat apartment in a good area, but since she was paying off a lot of debts, including her mother’s bills and school loans, it was quite difficult to live.Her house was in the worst neighborhood. It was the cheapest option they could find and was suitable enough because it had two bedrooms and one bathroom. That way, her mother could live relatively comfortably.After she got married to Noah, her mother moved in with her younger sister’s family. It was quite a difficult adjustment, given the fact that the woman was married with kids. Sophia made up for it by pitching in a good sum every month. It was able to feed six people.It was hard but they did what they could to survive and lead an honest life, just like her father.“I want to leave the city,” Sophia broke the silence as she, her mother and Chantelle sat on the coffee table sharing worried glances.“But why baby?” Ava, Sophia’s mother asked. She was off her medications and had been healthy for six months. She even went back to her job as a pre-school teacher. Ava couldn’t understand why Sophia would want to leave the city where she grew up.“I completely agree with you,” Chantelle chipped, casing Sophia to smile a little. Chantelle turned to Ava, “After all you guys have been through, you need a fresh start. I can arrange it all for you, you wouldn’t have to bother about the logistics.”Sophia smiled at that, sending her mother a reassuring look. Ava couldn’t say no to Sophia, especially not after all the sacrifices she had made.All her dreams had burned to the ground. Her first love and the man who took her virginity on a drunken night, everything was gone. There was nothing left in the city for her, she had to move on.The light from the huge floor to ceiling windows had got him uncomfortable. He stood up promptly to find his phone. Noah staggered immediately falling back into his king sized bed. He propped himself up with his pillow with a look of disbelief on his face. His eyes narrowed when he found the anklet he had given to Sophia, vividly remembering his warning to her, “Take it off at your own risk.” In a house filled with luxury, the poor girl stood out like a sour thumb. All he wanted was for her not to get accustomed to the comfortable life he had provided. Noah started at himself in the mirror. He looked pathetic. It was another night of drinking himself to sleep. Ever since his dad died, he found it really difficult to sleep properly. He had to be on meds or scotch. His head spun a little when he remembered all the terrible things he had told Sophia. The guilt engulfed him like a large quilt. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Noah shot out of bed. His head was completely o
Sophia clicked her tongue, still trying to figure out a few things. She was making the finishing touches on her leaving plan. Chantelle seemed to be more excited than she was about moving to a totally different city. She put a call to Chantelle, it rang but there was no response. This was the first time she was leaving the city. She couldn’t believe herself, running far away because of a man. Anytime the thought of her father crossed her mind, there was this subtle conviction to stay and fight for what she wanted. But Chantelle was another voice of conviction telling her otherwise. Sophia’s dad was a driver for a popular company in LA. Her mother worked as a pre-school teacher so they were doing well enough. Her father died on the day of her high school graduation while he was driving to go see her. Sophia recalled him complaining about the brakes on the car, claiming they were faulty. He had complained to his boss who refused to do anything about it. She blamed herself f
Noah had finally summoned the courage to call Sophia but her phone had been switched off. ‘Where could she be? Did she already move on?’ He spent the whole day asking himself a lot of questions. He had his personal assistant, Sarah to go by her mother’s house only to the told that she wasn’t there. The neighbors said she had packed up and moved out. As if that wasn’t enough of a low blow, he had gone on social media and found various posts shaming Sophia. Immediately, Noah put a call to his PR manager. He needed the source of the posts to be found quickly. Imagining how Sophia would feel if she saw them made his heart sink deeper into his feet. “Hello sir,” Sarah knocked on the door of his office. “Come in,” he prompted, staing at his computer screen completely distracted. “Sir, the source of the post is from Wilson entertainment.” Sarah explained. Noah’s eyes widened a little bit. He lost focus for a second. “Wilson group? Are you sure?” he asked to clarify. Just then, his phon
“What on earth are you looking at? Drive!” Chantelle instructed her driver. ‘How could he humiliate me like that? In the presence of his low-life staff!’ She was in a fuming rage, recalling the words Noah had spoken to her. “Chantelle, there is no way on earth you can replace Sophia, you don’t come close in any aspect. I suggest you reevaluate yourself. Know your place.”‘Replace that wench?” she screamed, throwing a tantrum in her car. It was all because of Sophia Milton. Even with all the horrible things Chantelle had told Noah, he still liked Sophia. If Chantelle knew it was going to turn out the way it did, she would never had referred Sophia for the role of executive assistant. Chantelle had always had a crush on Noah ever since they were little. To the extent that her father almost suggested to George Milton that both of them get married at such a young age. Noah never saw her as anything more than a sister, and friend. She tried her best, year after year to impress Noah. Wi
The whole family shared worried glances. They never expected the final clause, 6 years, 25? Noah caught Jeffery smirking in his peripheral view. It didn’t seem to bother him quite much, even though he was the second choice. Jeffery had schemed a number of ways to frustrate Noah and make this clause favor him. “I assume we’re done here,” Jeffery sent a knowing look to Noah. Noah shrugged, “Do whatever you want,” he said with a subtle indifference. Jeffery scoffed, “Not an ounce of emotion, typical.” He turned on his heel and headed upstairs. Tanya and Harriet were still dumbfounded. After George had made Noah marry someone beneath him, he still didn’t leave it at that and had to torture him even further. Noah Milton never planned to have children after his ex-girlfriend’s unexpected betrayal. Maybe that was the reason he made Sophia get rid of her unborn child. Or the rage and overwhelming jealousy that clouded his judgement seeing Brad with her in that room on Tanya’s birthday. “…
Sophia’s fresh start was instantly ruined the moment she saw her best friend plant a kiss on her ex-husband’s lips. She thought that was all the heartbreak one person could experience in a lifetime, till her and her mother were kicked out of the apartment Chantelle had secured for them. No wonder she insisted they leave. After all these years, she was finally showing her true colour. Throwing her into the street when she least expected it. The landlord had a very compassionate look in his eyes, like if he could he wouldn’t be doing this. But it’s business, it was either her or himself, and he chose himself. “I’m sorry ma’am, it was orders from above.” He said watching the pair pull their suitcase out of the house. The neighbors who were outside kept their eyes on the pitiful scene, and the ones which were inside came outside to watch, making sure to murmur at regular intervals. ‘Did you see what she was wearing?’‘They don’t fit into this neighborhood, it’s a good thing
“Addison and Aiden Whyte, be good okay? Mummy’s off to work so your grandma’s going to take you to school.” Sophia summoned courage to tell her kids what to do when in reality, they chose what they wanted. She couldn’t believe it, they were four years old. It seemed like time had flown by so quickly, she would give anything to be able to hold them in her arms and sing lullabies again. Her son, Aiden, was the splitting image of his father. He had good looks. Every time she dropped the kids off at school, it was one compliment or the other. ‘Your son is so handsome, I’m sure he looks just like his father.’ Those words would sting each time but she tried her best to feign a smile but obviously her genius twins could see through the façade. ‘Mummy, why do you look so gloomy. Is it because of daddy?’ No matter how she tried to turn the conversation around, it wouldn’t work, unless she offered them ice cream. But there was only how far distracting her twins with sweets was going
The day he was told he couldn’t have kids was both the happiest, and saddest day of his life. Noah had been through an emotional rollercoaster. Just when he and Savannah had arrived in Florida, they were told Sophia and Ava had been kicked out of their house. Those insensitive neighbors had suddenly become so caring after realizing who was standing before them. It seemed like anytime Noah had a lead about Sophia’s whereabouts, it buried almost immediately. He was a mess. Everywhere he went, he say Sophia. Her silhouette, her red hair, freckles, beautiful blue eyes, it was like everything reminded him about her. If his morning coffee wasn’t made to perfection like Sophia did it, he would starve the whole day. Wondering where she would be, or who she was with made him almost go insane. He did what he knew best, channeled all that energy into work. In five years Noah had turned the whole system around, winning best businessman of the year for five years consecutively. All thes