Chapter 24
Snow fell suddenly in Coastal Town.
Elliot stood at the entrance of Sophie’s guesthouse, a thin layer of snow covering his black coat, his fingertips red from cold, yet still gripping the document envelope tightly.
He stared at the closed door, his Adam’s apple bobbing, finally raising his hand to knock.
The door opened.
Sophie stood in the doorway. Seeing him, her expression showed no reaction whatsoever. “What do you need?”
Elliot’s breathing caught slightly.
He had thought when he saw her again, he’d have so much to say, but now that the moment had come, his throat felt blocked, unable to squeeze out a single word.
“I…” His voice was hoarse as he held out the document envelope. “I hope you’ll take a look at this.”
Sophie’s gaze fell on the documents, but she didn’t take them. “What is it?”
“Everything Phoebe Evans did to you.” Elliot’s fingertips trembled slightly. “I just found out she was framing you all along. This is all the evidence.”
After listening, Sophie showed not even a trace of surprise, simply looking away calmly. “Oh, I don’t care about those things
anymore.”
Elliot’s heart sank heavily.
He had expected her to be angry, hurt, even to demand why he was only coming now. But she just said casually–she didn’t care
anymore.
“I’ve already punished her.” He added urgently, as if desperate to prove something. “And your parents, I also…”
“Elliot Sinclair.” Sophie interrupted him, her eyes indifferent. “Why are you still blaming everything on other people even now?”
He was stunned.
“Don’t you have any fault at all?” She looked directly at him, her voice soft but each word like a knife. “When Phoebe was doing those things to me, weren’t you enabling her?”
Elliot’s breathing stopped, his heart feeling like it was being crushed.
He wanted to argue, but when the words reached his lips, he found he couldn’t say a single one.
Yes, what right did he have to push all responsibility onto Phoebe?
He was the one who repeatedly chose to believe Phoebe, repeatedly ignored Sophie’s grievances, even when she needed him most, personally pushed her into the abyss.
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Stand In Bride’s Escape: No More Chains, Only Freedom
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Chapter 24
1…” His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a note of awkward bitterness. “I’m sorry.”
Sophie shook her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. “No need to apologize. There’s no point in saying these things now
anyway.”
She paused, suddenly raising her left hand, the diamond ring on her ring finger reflecting blinding light under the lamp.
“I’m already married.”
Elliot’s pupils constricted sharply, his entire body struck as if by lightning.
He stared fixedly at that ring, his mind ringing as if something had collapsed with a thunderous crash.
“You…” His voice was unrecognizably hoarse. “To whom?”
Sophie didn’t answer, just turned her head to look outside the door.
Elliot followed her gaze-
Ryan stood not far away, carrying a bag of groceries he’d just bought, his gaze cool as he looked in their direction.
In that instant, Elliot’s blood seemed to freeze.
Sophie’s tone was calm to the point of cruelty: “Elliot Sinclair, we’re finished. Don’t come disturb me again.”
With that, she turned and walked toward Ryan, her retreating figure resolute, without a trace of lingering attachment.
Elliot stood there, watching her figure gradually disappear into the snowy veil, his chest feeling like a piece had been carved out alive, the pain nearly suffocating him..
He knew that this time, he had truly lost her completely.
The snow fell harder and harder.
Elliot didn’t know how he made it back to his car.
He sat in the driver’s seat, his fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles went white, veins bulging grotesquely on
the backs of his hands.
The snow outside the window blurred his vision, like his current chaotic thoughts.
He remembered the first time he met Sophie, how she stood quietly in the Albright family’s living room, eyes downcast and obedient, like an exquisite marionette.
He remembered the porridge she cooked for him, the lights she left on for him, all the grievances she endured for him.
He remembered her final look at him–calm, indifferent, as if he were just an insignificant stranger.
His heart felt like it was being slowly tortured with a dull knife, the pain making it hard to breathe.
He suddenly punched the steering wheel, the horn blaring harshly in the quiet snowy night.
steering
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Stand–In Bride’s Escape: No More Chains, Only Freedom
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Chapter 24
“Sophie…”
He whispered her name, his voice unrecognizably hoarse.
But this time, no one would ever respond to him again.
Some mistakes must be atoned for with a lifetime of repentance.
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Stand In Bride’s Escape No More Chams, Only Freedom
