Supreme Authority

Chapter 8

Two years ago, Alex gazed into Sophia’s eyes and felt like the luckiest man on earth.

From the moment he met her, her kindness, beauty, and warmth captivated him.

Whenever she smiled, it was as though all his pain dissolved and color flooded back into his monochrome world.

He had lost his family and watched his only little sister slip into a coma, a tragedy that crushed any sense of joy he once had.

Yet, seeing Sophia care for his sister so tenderly reminded him that goodness still existed and that he deserved a sliver of happiness with the woman who brought light back into his life.

From the day they married, Sophia became his entire universe.

He treasured her wholeheartedly, quietly supporting her from the shadows and helping her rise to become the new CEO in the region.

He believed their bond was unbreakable, that no circumstance could tear them apart.

Nothing in the world could break it.

“Sophia,” Alex’s voice trembled, “Don’t you think we deserve a second chance?”

His hand trembled as he slid the divorce papers across the table.

“Anything but this. Please…”

Alex’s eyes were shattered glass—bleeding regret, heartbreak, the kind of pain that screamed without sound.

Sophia felt them cut, but the pain only ignited her fury.

Tears burst free as her face twisted.

“If you didn’t want this, then why the hell did you try to rape Olivia!”

“Wasn’t I enough for you?” she cried, voice cracking.

“How could you do that to me? I gave you everything, Alex—everything!”

“I stood by you when people laughed, when they said I was wasting my life on a man with no job, no future. I shut them up. I believed in you. I loved you. I saw something worth saving when no one else did. And now you throw it back in my face with this?”

“You didn’t just break us, Alex. You burned everything that ever loved you to ash.”

Alex looked into her eyes and saw it—what was once love, now drowned in fear, pain, and betrayal.

Everything they had poured their hearts into, year after year, for the future they dreamed of… was falling apart, crumbling in silence, slipping through their hands like ash.

And yet—beneath all the wreckage—there was still love.

But love wasn’t enough anymore.

Not after this. Not with no future left to hold.

“Sophia… I didn’t try to rape her. Please… you have to believe me.”

“Enough, Alex. Stop lying.” Her voice shook with a sorrow that cut like a blade.

“You caused this problem, and now we have to face the consequences.”

She looked at him through pained eyes.

“I tolerated your lack of ambition. I embraced the rumors that you were just a stay-at-home husband. You cooked for me, massaged my shoulders after work, helped me in every way you could.”

“I was happy with my career and a loving husband… but then you betrayed me with Olivia.”

“Sophia,” Alex stepped forward, reaching out, but she flinched—fear flashing in her eyes.

“Don’t touch me!” she snapped, and her hand struck his cheek with a sharp crack that echoed through the room.

She froze, staring at her hand in disbelief, as if horrified by what she'd done… or what he’d made her become.

Then the tears came, soft at first, then breaking her apart as she backed away, retreating behind a wall he could no longer reach.

Alex didn’t move.

The sting on his face was nothing compared to the pain in his chest—the pain of watching the woman who once loved him now look at him like a stranger.

He understood that his betrayal—real or not—had inflicted a wound that went far deeper inside Sophia.

“Sophia,” he whispered, voice heavy with sorrow.

“I always believed marriage was once for a lifetime.”

She shook with sobs, tears clinging to her lashes.

“I believed it too, Alex. God, you have no idea how much I wanted to keep believing in us. I gave you my heart—every fragile piece of it—and you shattered it.”

“Sophia, I didn’t rape Olivia—” 

“Enough!” she screamed, her voice sharp and breaking, like glass shattering. 

“I don’t want your lies. I don’t want your words. I’ll never believe you again. Just… stop.” 

Her eyes were distant now—cold, empty, filled with a quiet kind of pain that no longer shows itself. 

Because part of her still wanted to believe him. 

But the other part—stronger, louder—feared that believing would only invite another wound… deeper than the last.

She retreated deep inside herself, to that silent place where love once lived but now only pain remained.

A place he could no longer reach.

He swallowed the lump in his throat, his voice barely a whisper.

“So… what do you want from me now?”

She took a shuddering breath, forcing herself to sound strong.

“Sign the divorce papers, Alex.”

Her voice broke, the words trailing off into a silence heavy with heartbreak.

“Sophia…”

“There’s no more to discuss.” She wiped her tears, her expression turning resolute.

“I can’t accept you after what happened. Just sign these papers and let me salvage what’s left of my life.”

With trembling hands, Alex signed the divorce papers.

He felt a part of himself crumble with every stroke of the pen.

“I hope you’re happy,” he said softly.

“I’m not fucking happy!” Sophia yelled.

Their marriage—once they thought was as solid as an iron ship—had been just a paper boat all along.

And now it was tearing, sinking fast.

They could do nothing but watch.

And it hurt like hell.