Sophia's POV
The initial medical visit seemed to be more personal than it should have been by any standard.
I was seated in a soundproof healthcare facility with a slightly spicy, antiseptic odor. I was nervously clasping my hands together in my lap when a nurse glanced through my file and seemed to be quite familiar with me.
"Sophia Patel," she said in a soft voice. "This will be a routine check-up.... Your blood will be taken for lab work; you will have some scans and counseling." If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you speak up."
I nodded, though my throat felt too tight to answer.
Grey Medical was nothing like the crowded hospitals I was used to. There were no hurried footsteps or raised voices. Everything felt calm and controlled, as if it was all planned that way.
Just like Alexander.
When the door opened again, I expected another nurse.Instead, Alexander walked in.
I stiffened instantly. "You didn't say you'd be here."
"I wanted to hear everything firsthand," he replied.
"This is a medical appointment, not a board meeting."
He met my gaze evenly. "That's precisely why I'm here."
The doctor came in before I could say anything else. She was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and greeted us professionally. She explained the process clearly, going over the timelines, risks, and what to expect. I tried to focus on her voice rather than notice how close Alexander sat or how carefully he listened to every word.
When the ultrasound screen flickered on, my breath caught.
There was nothing there yet. Only shapes and possibilities.
Still, something twisted inside me.
"You understand," the doctor said carefully, "that emotional attachment can happen. We'll provide counseling support throughout."
"I'm aware," Alexander said.
She looked at me. "And you?"
I hesitated. "I understand."
Did I really?
Afterward, as I was gathering my things, Alexander spoke quietly. "You handled that well."
I shrugged. "I didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
I laughed softly. "That's easy to say when your choices don't involve selling months of your life."
He didn't respond immediately.
Outside, the air was clear. His driver waited by the car, but Alexander didn't move toward it.
"His treatment is moving forward," he said instead. "I checked it out this morning."
I stood still. "You checked?"
"Yeah."
"That definitely wasn't the way we were supposed to do it."
"I am aware."
Anger, like a hot flame, erupted very quickly and unexpectedly. "Then don't confirm it again."
He looked at me with something that he couldn't understand in his eyes.
"You love your family very much, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do."
"That faith in the family will be your strength."
I put my arms back into my jacket. "Quit saying things like that."
He didn't say anything for a moment.
"Then refrain from behaving as if you're a throwaway," he said
The words stayed with me long after he left.
Work didn't improve.
Victoria kept finding new ways to remind me I didn't belong. Files disappeared, emails were sent to the wrong people, and I was blamed for mistakes I hadn't made. Each small act of cruelty built up, and it was exhausting.
By the time I got home that night, I was shaking.
Kate noticed immediately. "Okay. Sit. Talk."
I collapsed onto the couch. "I think they're trying to push me out."
"Because of him?"
"I really don't know," I confessed. "But, honestly, things have been different ever since he came…"
Kate looked a bit cross. "Sophia, just listen to me. Rich and influential men cannot drag you into their lives without anyone noticing. People see it. They are jealous of it."
"I didn't want this."
"I understand."
She was a bit reluctant and then said, "Have you thought about what will be then?"
"Then what?"
My heart was aching. "I keep it to myself."
"That you will be able to keep it to yourself forever is not true."
That night, sleep refused to come.
I dreamed of signing papers over and over, my name blurring until I couldn't recognize it anymore.
The next morning, nausea hit me hard.
I barely made it to the bathroom.
It was only when I looked at my reflection later, pale and with eyes that had gone really wide, that I recognized the reality of the situation.
My body was on its way to being different.
The meeting at work was brief, courteous, and heartbreaking. Heartbreaking.
"We are restructuring," the representative informed. "Your role is no longer needed."
I walked out with a box of my stuff, feeling as if there was a void in my chest.
I didn't shed a tear until I came out on the street.
My phone was ringing.
Alexander.
I almost didn't answer.
"What happened?" he asked without preamble.
"They fired me."
There was a long silence between us.
"I told them not to…"
"I don't care what you told them," I shouted. "This is how my life is going down the drain."
"I will handle it."
"No," I said harshly. "You are not allowed to fix everything. That is not protection. That is control."
Another silence.
He softened his voice a bit. "What would you have me do?"
The question was totally unexpected.
"I need... time," I said. "To catch my breath."
"You do have it."
I hung up, but I kept feeling the question's presence.
Later that night, I received a message from a number I didn't recognize.
Does having a child make you unique?
I felt like my stomach was going to fall out.
Another message came before I could react.
You are only here temporarily. Don't forget your place.
I couldn't take my eyes off the screen; my heart was racing.
I felt scared for the first time after signing the contract.
This was not just about a baby.
Someone was watching.
And they certainly were not going to let me forget that.