Chapter 6

Sophia POV

I was locked in the basement for a full three days.

There was no food or water here.

I survived by licking water droplets that seeped down the walls.

My stomach condition flared up, the pain making me roll on the ground.

But I didn't make a sound.

Before, when I cried out in pain, Tristan would feel sorry for me. Now when I cried out in pain, he'd only think I was acting.

On the evening of the third day, the door opened.

Marcus stood in the doorway.

"Come out. Tristan wants you to go to the cemetery."

I supported myself against the wall to stand.

My legs were so weak I nearly fell.

"Where to?"

"Mrs. Shaw's death anniversary." Marcus said, "Tristan wants you to kneel there and repent."

Mrs. Shaw's death anniversary.

My eyes flickered.

That's right, today was the fifth anniversary of Mrs. Shaw's death. Back then, she had a heart attack from the shock of the data leak news.

I was taken to the public cemetery.

Tristan was already there.

He wore a black trench coat, standing in front of the tombstone.

Linda stood beside him, holding a black umbrella.

"Kneel."

Seeing me arrive, Tristan spoke coldly.

I walked over and dropped to my knees with a thud.

The photo on the tombstone was very kind.

That was the only person in this world who had given me warmth.

"Mother."

Tristan looked at the tombstone. "I brought the criminal."

"Sophia, tell my mother the truth."

He turned to look at me, a trace of expectation in his eyes. "As long as you admit you were wrong back then, as long as you're willing to change, I..."

"I was wrong."

I interrupted him.

I knelt on the ground.

"Mrs. Shaw, I wronged the Shaw family. I shouldn't be alive."

Tristan froze.

He hadn't expected me to admit fault so readily.

All the blame he'd prepared stuck in his throat.

"Since you know you were wrong, behave yourself from now on."

He tugged at his tie. "Tomorrow at the wedding, you'll be a bridesmaid. Don't embarrass the Shaw family."

Bridesmaid.

Making the ex be a bridesmaid. That was the greatest humiliation.

"Okay."

I agreed very readily.

After the memorial, Tristan took Linda and left first.

I stayed behind.

"I'll talk to her a bit more." I said to Marcus.

Marcus glanced at the time. "Hurry up. The car is waiting for you below."

Everyone left.

Only the sound of wind remained in the cemetery.

I pulled out that tin box from my pocket.

I dug a hole in the soil beside the tombstone with my hands.

My nails broke, my fingertips bled. I felt no pain.

I buried the box inside.

Inside were that photograph and the diary I'd written for Tristan over these ten years.

Those girlish thoughts, those grievances that couldn't be voiced. All buried here.

I lay on the mound of earth, saying softly, "I did what I promised you."

"You said to watch over him, not to let him be destroyed by hatred. These five years, I let him hate me. Better than letting him hate the world."

"Now he's getting married, and Linda will take care of him. I should rest too."

I patted the soil off my hands and stood up.

The setting sun stretched my shadow very long.

The wind blew past.

I took one last look at the tombstone.

Goodbye.

After tomorrow, Sophia will exist in this world no more.

Back in the car.

Marcus handed me a white formal dress.

"Tomorrow's bridesmaid dress."

I took it.

It was a style I'd designed five years ago. Linda had taken it and modified it, turning it into the current bridesmaid dress.

I'd wear clothes I designed myself to send the man I loved to marry someone else.

"Pretty good."

I touched the fabric. "Very suitable for a funeral."

"What did you say?" Marcus didn't hear clearly.

"Nothing."

I looked out the window.

It was dark.

Before dawn comes the darkest hour.

As long as I endured it, there would be release.

I closed my eyes and shed a tear.

If there's another life, I don't want to fall in love with Tristan again.