#45 “He should be Mine!”
Kyle had shared more details about his colleague with Alexander. It turned out that the journalist who blackmailed Sophia had a notorious history of being involved in various scandals, making their situation even more precarious.
Alexander knew he had to call Sophia and inform her about what they had discovered regarding Evelyn’s kidnapping. The weight of the truth about Sophia being his ex-wife still lingered in his mind.
Everything that had transpired between them began to make sense: her initial coldness, her enigmatic remarks about him being a copy of her ex-husband, and the hidden layers of their interactions.
As he dialed Sophia’s number, Alexander couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Anger, confusion, and a of emotions. Anger, confusion, and a sense of missed opportunities gnawed at him. He wondered if he had been a better husband during their three-year marriage, would their lives have taken a different turn? He had genuine feelings for her, and he regretted not making more effort to meet her at least.
However, he also couldn’t ignore the anger he felt toward her for keeping such a significant secret from him.
Despite his reservations, he ultimately decided to do the right thing and help her with the information he had about Evelyn’s kidnapping.
His hands trembled slightly as he waited for Sophia to answer the call, hidden in his pants pockets. The seconds ticked by, and his anticipation grew.
*
Michael had stopped by Sophia’s office. The two had been debating their options for what felt like an eternity, but had reached an impasse, their frustration evident in the furrowed brows and weary eyes they exchanged.
Sophia slumped back in her creaky office chair, feeling a growing sense of despair creeping inside her. She rubbed her temples, trying to alleviate the pounding headache that had been haunting her all day. The weight of not knowing where their dear friend Evelyn was had taken a toll on her.
Just as Sophia was about to voice her frustration, her phone rang, jolting her from her thoughts. Her tired eyes widened with surprise as she saw Alexander’s name on the caller ID. After all that had happened, she hadn’t expected to hear from him.
Sophia hesitated for a moment, the uncertainty and exhaustion warring within her. She thought about picking it up. She then decided it was stupid to hide and picked up the phone.
“Hello,” Sophia said.
Silence, heavy and pregnant with anticipation, greeted her on the other end of the line. She wondered if Alexander had dialed her by mistake.
“Sophia, I have information about Evelyn,” Alexander began directly. Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. She leaned forward, gripping the phone tightly. “Alexander, please, tell us everything you know,” she implored.
Sophia, wanting to keep Michael in the loop and encourage transparency, put her phone on speaker.
“Who’s with you?” Alexander asked.
“Hello, brother,” Michael replied snidely. Sophia shot Michael a warning look, but it went unnoticed.
On the other end of the line, Alexander was clutching his phone furiously, his frustration evident in the tight grip of his hand. He hated it when Michael hovered around her.
“Sophia, I think the journalist I saw you with has something to do with the case,” Alexander said, his voice grave. Sophia sighed. “Well, obviously, but…”
“Listen, he’s always dealing in dishonest deals. I suggest you be careful,” Alexander continued, his concern for her evident in his words. “I looked up who he is, and I am sending you the information on email.”
Just as Sophia was about to thank Alexander for his assistance, she realized that he had hung up on her. She glanced at the email notification on her computer screen and quickly opened it. The information about the journalist’s dubious history and connections was laid out before her.
Sophia turned her attention back to Michael. “We have to report it to the police.”
“And I think it’s about time we did,” Michael replied, nodding in agreement.
They wasted no time. Together, Sophia and Michael collected all the evidence they had gathered during their search, including any information they had received from Alexander and their own investigative efforts. With a folder of documents, photographs, and notes in hand, they headed out to their car, parked just outside the building.
Once inside the car, they shared a moment of silent determination before Sophia started the engine. Their destination was clear – the nearest police station.
Shortly after arriving at the police station and reporting the situation, Sophia and Michael anxiously waited for updates on Evelyn’s condition and the circumstances surrounding her discovery. The minutes felt like hours as they contemplated the possible outcomes.
As Sophia paced nervously back and forth in her apartment, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions and worries, her phone rang. Without bothering to check the caller ID, she answered with trembling hands.
“Miss Johnson, Officer Rod is calling, we’ve found Evelyn,” a voice on the other end of the line announced.
Sophia’s heart leaped with joy at the news. “My God,” she said, her voice quivering with relief. “Is she okay?”
Officer Rod’s voice remained calm and reassuring. “She’s shocked but in a stable condition,” he replied. Sophia could hardly contain her elation. “I’ll be right there,” she exclaimed before hastily hanging up the phone.
With her heart pounding, Sophia grabbed her bag and dashed out the door. She knew she needed to get to Evelyn as soon as possible.
While rushing to her car, Sophia began making phone calls to inform everyone about the good news. The sense of relief and joy she felt was shared by everyone who had been tirelessly searching for Evelyn.
Everyone had gathered at the police station in less than 10 minutes. They weren’t allowed to see Evelyn yet, but they knew the interrogations would be over soon.
Not long after their intense session with the journalist in the interrogation room, the police officers emerged, their faces displaying a mix of disbelief and astonishment. The journalist had just dropped a bombshell, confessing to a series of jaw-dropping crimes that were intricately linked.
As the officers stepped into the well-lit lobby of the police station, their eyes widened with a mesmerized curiosity. What greeted them was a sight that defied their expectations.
Standing together, in an almost surreal gathering, were the crème de la crème of the city’s social circles-names like Sophia, Michael, and even the influential Grimms family. Seeing these prominent figures assembled at a police station, united in solidarity, was nothing short of extraordinary and left the officers both baffled and intrigued.
Sophia, the epitome of grace under pressure, stood tall, her expression a blend of determination and relief.
The police officers gathered themselves and approached the distinguished group, clearing their throats to get their attention. They knew that this was no ordinary case, and the revelations from the journalist’s confession were about to take everyone by surprise.
With a sense of gravity in his voice, one of the officers began to share the startling details that had emerged. Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve just concluded our interrogation with the journalist, and he has made some rather shocking admissions.”
He continued, “The journalist confessed to spreading false news about Sophia’s involvement in bribery, all orchestrated by a woman named Emily. Emily paid him to tarnish Sophia’s reputation and gather information about her identity.”
The police officer went on,” Furthermore, Emily was also involved in the kidnapping of Evelyn.”
Sophia was furious, but not surprised. She suspected Emily and her family, but she didn’t have the proof until now.
At that moment, the door to the police station’s lobby swung open, and Emily was escorted in by two stern-faced policemen. Her eyes darted around the room, finally settling on Sophia’s angry gaze.
As soon as she saw Sophia’s unrelenting expression, Emily halted in her tracks, a deep sense of frustration washing over her. She knew she had to face the consequences of her actions, and facing Sophia’s anger was just the beginning.
“Why, Emily?” Sophia finally asked.
“I… I liked Alexander. When I found out about his feelings for you, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him to you.”
Emily confessed, her voice choked with emotion. Sophia’s brows furrowed, her eyes searching for answers. “But why did you go to such extreme lengths, Emily? Why did you dig into my past and involve innocent people like Evelyn?”
Emily’s expression darkened and grew increasingly frantic as she poured out her confession. “I believed that if I could uncover your secrets and tarnish your reputation, Alexander would see you differently! I wanted to protect what we had. And your friend’s company… it would destroy my parents! I had to do something!” Her words carried a desperate tone, tinged with hysteria and desperation.
“Emily, there were better ways to handle your emotions. What you did was destructive,” Sophia responded, her voice laced with disappointment.” And your parents’ company failed because of their own actions, not because of Evelyn.”
Emily stared at Sophia, “Handle my emotions? You have no idea what I’ve been through! I’ve known Alexander since we were kids, and I love him! He should be mine! But the moment you appeared, you stole all his attention away from me! And now your friend is taking advantage of the situation, ruining my parents’ business! Do you think she’s innocent?”
Just as Emily finished her confession, she turned her head slightly and noticed Alexander’s presence. He had silently observed the entire conversation, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Their eyes locked for a moment, and suddenly, Emily’s expression changed. Remorse and realization flooded her consciousness. Her voice quivered as she spoke, “Alexander, I… I didn’t know. Please, Alexander, listen to me. I was blinded by my own insecurities and fears. I never meant to hurt anyone, especially not you. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
Alexander’s gaze remained fixed on Emily, his eyes filled with disappointment. He finally broke the silence, his voice heavy with the weight of their shared history. “I didn’t expect you to be so cunning, Emily.”
“Alexander, thank you for coming,” Sophia said. He nodded, but complicated feelings flooded past his eyes. “Of course I will come.”
As the police led Emily away, she couldn’t help but steal one last glance at Alexander and Sophia. Their interaction spoke volumes, and it was clear that something profound existed between them.
Tears welled up in Emily’s eyes, she felt a sense of defeat washing over her. She failed. The way Alexander looked at Sophia was something she had once believed was meant for her, but now she realized, it was no longer her place.
