Chapter 11
The rescue team Ethan hired had been searching the open sea for nearly a week without finding Sophia.
The team members were exhausted, and they sent a representative to try reasoning with Ethan.
But the representative had barely opened his mouth when Ethan’s glare scared him into retreat.
The assistant, seeing how haggard Ethan had become, reluctantly called the Fuller family and his friend Jason.
When Jason arrived, it was already deep night. The rescue team members had returned to rest, leaving the vast sea stretching before them. Ethan stood alone in the distance, letting the waves splash against him.
“Ethan, you’ve lost your mind!” Jason ran over, dragging him away from the dangerous water.
Ethan’s pent–up emotions finally exploded. Grief and helplessness intertwined, strangling him until he could barely breathe.
He collapsed to the ground, shouting toward the sea, calling Sophia’s name over and over.
In response, he received only the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
All strength seemed to drain from his body, and he began to dry heave.
Jason watched him, his heart aching at the sight.
“Ethan, Sophia is gone. But life must go on. What about your company? You’ve never had a secure position in the Fuller family. If you continue like this, everything you’ve worked so hard for will be lost!”
“And there’s Veronica. Didn’t you tell me that when you first saw her, it was like seeing yourself? She moved your heart. Now that Sophia’s gone, she’d probably want someone to love you in her place. You don’t need to run away with Veronica anymore–you can be with her openly. Isn’t that better?”
Ethan’s body suddenly showed a physical reaction, shaking uncontrollably.
Yet he ignored it, letting tears stream down his face, his broken heart seemingly beyond repair.
He raised his fist and repeatedly struck his already numb chest.
“Jason, I never imagined that losing Sophia would make my heart hurt so much… so much!”
It was Sophia’s constant presence that had made him believe she would always be waiting for him whenever he turned
around.
He had taken her kindness for granted, no longer seeing the value in it.
Only now–having lost her completely, did he realize he had integrated Sophia into his very blood and bones. He could de to leave with Veronica because he knew that no matter what, Sophia would guard their home, their past, waiting for him.
Ethan admitted his selfishness, but even so, he had hoped Sophia would love his imperfect self wholeheartedly.
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He Stole My Womb, I Destroyed His Empire
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Chapter 11
They had witnessed each other’s most vulnerable moments. Even if his romantic feelings had faded, Ethan believed he would never mistreat Sophia.
But now she had left so suddenly, the immense grief and loss threatened fo consume him entirely.
Ethan realized he loved Sophia far more than he had imagined.
But his once gentle wife hadn’t even left him a bone to mourn.
Jason hid his sorrow and tried to comfort the suffering Ethan.
“It will be okay, Ethan. Everything will be okay.”
Ethan’s tears had dried up as he lay motionless on the ground. His swollen, painful eyes were clouded, making even basic
vision difficult.
His lips curled into a self–mocking smile. “Without her, will I really be okay?”
This time, no one could answer his question.
His mother hadn’t come to see him, and the Fuller family had issued him an ultimatum.
Before leaving, Ethan took one last look at the ocean.
He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and turned away quickly. “Let’s go.”
Jason supported him as he walked. Due to his emotional distress, Ethan had cried himself into temporary blindness.
This couldn’t be known to the Fuller family, so Jason temporarily became his eyes.
After weeks of lying low at home, Sophia finally adjusted to the time difference.
Seeing her rummaging through boxes she had shipped from home, Meredith seemed surprised.
“Are you feeling better?”
Sophia dusted off her boxes, nodding in response.
Meredith pursed her lips. “All those photos and videos have been completely scrubbed from the internet. Looks like Ethan’s
work.”
Sophia was surprised but quickly smiled cynically.
“I suppose he thinks with my ‘death,‘ we’re even.”
“Even? He’s thinking too simply,” Meredith said, narrowing her eyes as she looked out the window.
Sophia arranged her belongings on the desk, her eyes showing no emotion.
After a while, she spoke softly, “You don’t need to do anything for me. I’ll handle everything myself.”
Meredith seemed surprised but smiled after considering her words.
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He Stole My Womb. I Destroyed His Empire
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Chapter 11
“I wasn’t planning to do anything, but there’s someone you should meet.”
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