Chapter 7
His eyes stayed locked on the three of us, pupils trembling violently, hands clenching and unclenching until his knuckles turned white.
Michael Bennett stepped forward calmly, his tone steady.
“Sir, what business do you have with my wife?”
Daniel Hughes snapped back to awareness.
His gaze lingered on Michael for a moment before dropping to the daughter in my arms. The emotions in his eyes churned, then died into lifeless silence.
“She’s already this big…”
“So that’s it? Just a few months apart, and you married him?”
A hollow laugh broke from his lips.
Laced with self-mockery, bitterness, despair-and a desolation too deep to name.
“Sophia, do you feel no guilt toward me at all?”
His voice was lost, broken.
And suddenly, I remembered-I had once asked him the same question.
And what had he said?
He told me to understand him. He told me he needed “social outlets.” That no successful mar
could stay with one woman forever.
met his gaze, calm and steady.
‘Not even a little.”
When he dragged me to kneel before Emily Brooks, forcing me to bow my head in shame.
When he called me vicious, demanded I pay back Emily with a leg.
When I fainted at the County Clerk’s Office, and he walked away without a glance.
had already stopped caring then.
f I hadn’t met Michael afterward-
If he hadn’t saved me, given me a home, taught me how to love and be loved again-
Daniel Hughes wouldn’t even have the chance to stand before me today.
Because after the divorce, I had nearly drunk myself to death, giving up on life entirely.
But now? I had been reborn.
And Daniel… was nothing but a swamp I refused to sink into again.
Daniel’s body shook violently. He lunged forward to grab me.
“No! You’re lying! Your world has only ever been me! Make this man leave, and take the child
with him!”
Michael instantly pulled me behind him, his hand clamping onto Daniel’s wrist.
Before heading to dangerous regions with Doctors Without Borders, he had trained a full year in Muay Thai and firearms.
He didn’t even use much strength, yet Daniel’s face turned pale, sweat pouring down.
Daniel clenched his teeth through the pain, glaring hatefully at Michael.
“You’re just a poor doctor. What right do you have to take
Michael’s eyes turned icy, his grip tightening further.
my wife?”
“Who told you I’m poor? The Bennett Group may be managed by my older brother, but half the shares belong to me. I’ll never let my wife and child suffer.”
“And another thing-stay away from my wife. Next time, I’ll make sure this hand of yours never rises again.”
Daniel’s face twisted in pain, yet he still muttered stubbornly,
“Your… wife?”
He repeated the word blankly, tears spilling down his cheeks.
‘But I chose Sophia as my wife when I was eighteen…”
Turning to me, he wept openly, his voice desperate.
‘Sophia, please… give me another chance. I told you, for us it’s forever. Only death, never divorce.”
shifted my gaze away from him, instead smiling softly at Michael.
Honey, let’s go home. Our daughter’s asleep.”
He chuckled, gently taking our daughter from my arms, then laced his fingers with mine.
I brought you a gift. Traded it with the locals-a carnelian necklace.”
My eyes lit up instantly.
Really? I can’t wait to put it on.”
Mm.” His fingertips caressed mine tenderly. “They say it symbolizes happiness and fulfillment A beautiful blessing.”
We laughed and chatted as we got into the car.
No one spared a glance at Daniel Hughes, already on his knees behind us, weeping into his
hands.
Back home, a message suddenly came from Linda.
