novelnext Chapter 13: If Only I Had Known
Chapter 13: If Only I Had Known
The woman turned her pale face away. "Sir."
In an instant, Sophia's features morphed into Emily's.
Ethan froze. All warmth and excitement vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by fury. He gripped Emily's wrist tightly.
"What are you doing here? I told my assistant to take you for the abortion!"
"I called her here."
Out of nowhere, Mrs. Foster descended from the second floor, her expression grim. Without hesitation, she slapped Ethan across the face.
"Enough! Wake up! How much longer are you going to keep acting like this?"
"For the sake of some woman named Sophia, you've neglected everything, staying out all night, drowning in misery, even abandoning the company!"
"Mom." Ethan's eyes were bloodshot, weighed down by exhaustion and despair.
These past few days had drained him.
"I lost Sophia... I can't find her. Please, help me bring her back."
Mrs. Foster fell silent for a long moment before sighing.
"If only you'd thought of this sooner."
"You knew Sophia couldn't stand infidelity. Why did you do it?"
Why?
Because he'd foolishly believed she'd never find out. He'd wanted a fleeting moment of pleasure.
At first, he'd truly believed he'd never cheat, that he'd love and cherish Sophia forever.
But after her miscarriage, when she recoiled from intimacy, he'd sought excitement elsewhere.
Emily had been the perfect choice, providing physical satisfaction without ever daring to confront Sophia.
He'd indulged without guilt, intoxicated by the thrill of the affair.
But no one could've predicted Emily would grow bold enough to provoke Sophia, or that Sophia would choose to disappear without a word.
If he'd known... if he'd only known! He'd never have hurt her.
Ethan buried his face in his hands, regret gnawing at him relentlessly.
"I was wrong... I was so wrong. If I could start over, I'd protect Sophia with everything I have!"
Mrs. Foster's expression remained cold. "Empty words mean nothing. No amount of regret will bring her back, she's gone."
"Who says she's dead?" Ethan's eyes burned with conviction. "A single video doesn't prove she drowned! There's no body. Until it's found, Sophia isn't dead!"
Mrs. Foster's face darkened. "You've lost your mind. Are you really going to keep searching endlessly? What about Emily? She's carrying our family's heir!"
At the mention of Emily, Ethan's gaze turned icy. He stared at her pitiful act with open disgust.
"If she hadn't provoked Sophia, Sophia wouldn't have left. As for that child..." His eyes flicked to Emily's flat stomach, his voice frigid. "It has to go."
"No." Mrs. Foster cut in sharply. "I don't care what mess you've made, but Emily is carrying my grandchild. That baby stays."
She stepped protectively in front of Emily, her stance unyielding.
Ethan's expression twisted with barely restrained rage.
"I won't allow it. If that child lives, Sophia will never come back."
Emily's eyes welled with tears, her lips trembling. "Sir, how can you be so cruel? Have you forgotten the last two years? Even a week ago, at the hospital, we, how could you treat me and our baby like this?"
"Cruel?" Ethan sneered. "If I were truly cruel, I'd drown you in the ocean and trade your life for Sophia's!"
Emily collapsed to the floor, her face drained of color, as if finally seeing the heartless man beneath his charm.
Ethan turned and left, returning once more to the shore.
The sea breeze carried the same biting cold Sophia must have felt that night.
Suddenly, he remembered something and frantically searched the spot where she'd last stood.
Digging through the sand, he finally uncovered her jacket, weighted down by Noah's lifeless body.
Ethan went still.
Had Sophia already decided to die that night?
Had she buried Noah here, intending for him to join her in death?
His heart shattered. Ignoring the filth, he clutched the small corpse to his chest, as if trying to pull Sophia back into his arms.