Chapter 7

As soon as Sophia heard what I said, she retorted sharply, just like countless times before, "Impossible! You were the one who sent him the text! If it weren't for you, he wouldn't be dead!" "I didn't kill him! If I had even the slightest hint of guilt, the police would've convicted me back then! Sophia, how long are you going to keep deceiving yourself?" I shouted in anger, but the intense outburst made the pain in my abdomen even worse. Right now, I didn't have the strength to take any medication, especially as she stood before me, her eyes blazing red with fury. She let out a bitter laugh, more furious than ever. "Edson was drowning in debt and unable to repay it? Why did he refuse the money I sent him? Joshua, even now, you're still lying to me! If it weren't for you, he wouldn't have died. What did he do to deserve death at your hands?" Before I could respond, Sophia grabbed me by the throat, her grip fierce. "Joshua, why did you hurt him? I loved him so much. Why did you kill him? Why weren't you the one who died instead?" "I didn't... I really didn't kill him. I..." The pain in my abdomen worsened, sapping my strength. I couldn't even muster the energy to loosen her grip on my neck. For a moment, I thought it might be better if she just strangled me to death. But I couldn't let her bear the crime of murder. Someone like her, bright and vibrant, deserved a life as brilliant as the sun, not a future spent behind bars. I forced a faint smile. "Sophia, are you... planning to kill me?" Her bloodshot eyes burned even fiercer. She tightened her grip for a moment, then suddenly let go, stepping back and collapsing to the ground, gasping for air. Her gaze was full of rage as she stared at me. "Joshua, do you think I'll kill you and spend the rest of my life haunted by guilt over you? Dream on! I will never love you!" After Sophia spat out those words, she flung open the car door, dragging me out. "Get up. You're coming home with me!" "Home?" I looked at her in disbelief, unable to comprehend how she could go from wanting to end my life one moment to taking me home the next. Did she refuse to divorce me simply so she could keep torturing me? When I regained my senses, I was already sitting in her passenger seat. She drove fast, the scenery outside flashing as the wind howled, pulling at what little composure I had left. Eventually, we stopped at a red light at an intersection. Taking the opportunity, I turned to her, my voice steady and serious. "Sophia, let's get divorced. Then, you can start a new life with Edison and have the kind of life you want. I'm not trying to force you to give him up. I genuinely want a divorce." Her hands tightened on the steering wheel, and the slight calm in her expression vanished, replaced by anger. "You want me to live the life I want?" She smirked, a cold, mocking smile. "Joshua, do you even know what kind of life I want?" Of course I did. She wanted a life with Edson. He was the only person she had ever truly loved. Apart from being with him, her greatest wish was likely to see me dead. Now, with my days numbered, even my love for her had been worn away by years of her torment. "Sophia, you'll get your wish soon enough." "What do you mean?" Her gaze darted toward me, alarm evident in her eyes. At that moment, car horns blared behind us, urging her to move. She suppressed her curiosity and started driving again, her questions pressing on. "Joshua, what did you mean by that? Do you mean Edson isn't dead? That's impossible. I personally took his body to the crematorium. He—" My hand clenched into a fist, and I turned to stare out at the rapidly retreating scenery. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. "He isn't alive, but I won't be for much longer either." Sophia laughed coldly as if I had just told the most absurd joke she had ever heard. "Joshua, do you think that by fabricating this lie, I'll pity you, feel sorry for your premature death, and decide to live happily ever after with you? If someone as disgusting and despicable as you dies tomorrow, I wouldn't shed a single tear. I would set off fireworks to celebrate your demise!" Her words landed like blows, one after another, leaving me momentarily speechless. I never expected her to feel sad about my impending death, but hearing it still pierced my heart. I lowered my gaze and murmured, "That's fine too." The rest of the ride passed in silence. Half an hour later, we pulled up in front of our house. Sophia got out first, then walked to the passenger side and stared coldly at me. "Get out." Even though I wanted to leave this house, I instinctively obeyed her words. I opened the car door and stepped out. Once outside, I snapped back to reality and sighed. "I've already asked my lawyer to draft the divorce agreement. The house and the car will be yours. I'll walk away with nothing. Tomorrow, we'll go to the courthouse to finalize it." She stared at me for a long moment before speaking, her voice icy, "I won't divorce you. Not unless you're dead. Until then, you'll live with the guilt you deserve." Her words were like daggers, stabbing into my heart and twisting cruelly. Then she turned to the butler, Cade Rios, who had been waiting nearby, and gave him orders in a cold, detached tone. "Cade, lock him up. Don't let him leave or give him any attention for the next two days." "You're going to imprison me?" Before I could fully process her words, Cade had already signaled two other maids to escort me into the bedroom. Sophia stood at the doorway, looking down at me with disdain. "This isn't imprisonment. It's ensuring you don't act on foolish ideas." … The door slammed shut with a force that echoed through the room. I slumped to the ground, listening to the key turning in the lock. My body trembled as I scrambled and rushed to the door, yanking at the handle. The door was locked tight. I had no chance of escaping without someone unlocking it from the outside. I turned to the window, only to find it tightly sealed. I pounded on the door. "Sophia! Let me out! Imprisoning someone is against the law!"