Now, it felt too quiet. Quietly lonely.
But the phone rang, cutting through the solitude.
["What did you do to Em?"] Jason's voice crackled with undisguised anger.

My face was blank, voice icy cold. ["What's wrong with her?"]
["You have the nerve to ask? After meeting you today, she started having stomach pains…"]
His words made me sick. I sneered. ["And? You think I planned it? You think I'm like you?"]
["What's that supposed to mean?"]
["Where were you the day I miscarried? Emily's baby is a baby. Mine wasn't?"] My voice rose, ending in a shout.
["I… I didn’t mean it like that."] Jason stumbled over his words.

I went flat again, unnervingly calm. ["So?"]
Not waiting for an answer, I continued. ["You were at Emily's prenatal appointment. Sharing the joy of her new life."]
["My baby… was it you? Was that car crash your doing?"]
Exactly. That's how I'd lost the baby. Maybe he took the hit meant for me, letting me survive.

["What the hell are you talking about, Sophia? You think I'm thatkind of person?"] Jason sounded genuinely shocked.
He seemed pretty confident in his own moral compass.
I hung up. Couldn't be bothered to argue. I’d find out the truth. Everyone involved would pay.
And everything Jason had built? He’d pay that back too.
I’d never told him my real background, worried he’d feel inferior. I’d played the ordinary girl, adapting to his world.
I’d always earned what I wanted. But after graduation, I’d swallowed my pride and asked my family for a favor, just to give his career a leg up.
What had my mom said back then? ["How can you set aside your pride for a man?"]
I hadn't understood then, thought she was exaggerating. Now, I saw she’d hit the nail on the head.
I dialed a number. ["Look into that car crash two months ago. Also, check out Summit Technologies."]
The voice on the other end hesitated. ["Summit's CEO is Mr. Brooks?"]
I snorted. ["And?"]
His tone became instantly respectful. ["On it, boss."]
Jason had become a business prodigy in just three years. Besides my family's quiet support, his own methods hadn't exactly been clean.
Some people get so high on praise, they forget where they started.
Maybe it was true – the higher you climb, the colder it gets. The night wind blew, bringing a surprising chill.
The next morning, the report on the crash landed. A few sparse sentences, but I read them over and over.
The driver washired by Jason.
Why? Just because Emily was pregnant too?
I couldn't tell if the churning inside me was pure hatred for him, or fury at myself for misjudging him for years.
Either way, my heart felt squeezed by an invisible fist. Every breath cut like a knife.
All I wanted now was to see Jason. My pain deserved repayment a thousandfold.
["We need to talk. Your building's coffee shop."]
["Fine."]
The mirror showed a ghost. The relentless blows of the past few days had taken their toll.
I spotted a bright red dress tucked in the back of the closet. I realized I hadn't worn anything that vivid since getting with Jason. It was always blacks, greys, whites – trying to match his endless suits.
My past self’s naivety felt laughable now.
I pulled out the newest dress, covering the dark circles under my eyes with layers of concealer.
The woman in the mirror looked vibrant, alive. My wilted spirit had somehow bloomed again.
Jason was already there when I arrived. A small cake waited on the table.
["You came."] He looked up, face arranged in its familiar gentle expression, almost like nothing had changed.
["Sign the papers."] I slid the prepared divorce agreement across the table.
He frowned, eyes locked on me. ["What is this?"]
I wasn't in the mood for games. I flipped to the last page. ["I signed. I don't want your money."]
["Is this about Emily?"]
Seriously? He agreed to divorce, then dragged his feet, now brought up Emily again. What was his game? Martyr act?
I raised an eyebrow. ["Are you worth the bother?"]
Then, sharp pivot: ["Do you know how I lost my baby?"]
Guilt flashed in his eyes. I caught it.
["I was devastated about the baby."]
So what? I laid it bare, slapping the evidence down in front of him.
His face darkened. He grabbed my hand, voice thick with apology. ["Sophia, listen…"]
I yanked my hand back, disgust plain on my face.