Chapter 3
Emily carried Sophie into the crematorium herself.
She watched her little girl go from a small, lively child to nothing but a handful of light, weightless ashes.
Throughout it all, not a single tear fell from Emily's eyes. She felt like a shell of herself, just going through the motions.
She asked the staff to place a small portion of Sophie's ashes into a delicate pendant. Later, it was set into a necklace, so she could keep her daughter close to her heart.
Emily knew Sophie would rather remain with her than lie alone beneath the ground.
When it was done, Emily left the crematorium and went straight to her attorney's office.
"I want to sign the divorce agreement from four years ago," Emily said.
The day after Edward slept with Olivia, he drafted a divorce agreement himself and signed it right in front of Emily.
"Emily, if I ever betray you again, just sign this and leave me forever," Edward said.
Emily thought she'd never have to see that divorce agreement again in her life.
But just five short years later, it was right there in front of her once more.
Emily took the divorce papers. Without a hint of hesitation, she signed her name.
*****
When Emily returned to the villa, she wandered into Sophie's room on autopilot, barely aware of what she was doing.
The room was still perfectly neat, just as it had been that morning. Not a single thing had changed.
But the laughter and happiness that once filled this space would never echo here again.
Emily's gaze swept slowly across the room, taking in every single item, until her eyes finally settled on the doll sitting by the bedside.
It was Sophie's birthday gift, a doll with a voice recorder built in.
When Emily pressed the play button, Sophie's familiar little voice echoed through the room.
"Wow, Mommy gave me this doll! I'm going to hug it every night when I sleep. I love you so much, Mommy!" Sophie's voice rang out.
Each word struck Emily's heart like a ton of bricks, the pain hitting her again and again.
After holding back for so long, her tears finally burst free, unstoppable.
She clung to the doll, curling up on the bed, as if Sophie's warmth was still there, lingering in her arms.
She was drowning in regret.
She wished she'd never trusted Edward with Sophie that morning.
She regretted not leaving him five years ago.
Worst of all, she wished she'd never loved Edward.
Emily clutched the tiny pendant at her chest, whispering, "Sophie, we'll leave here very soon."
Tears trickled from her eyes, vanishing into the darkness.
Early the next morning, Emily came downstairs and noticed two unexpected guests in the living room.
Edward was holding Olivia's hand, applying iodine to a small cut with focused care.
Olivia's eyes were rimmed with red, but she stubbornly looked away, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Mr. Bennett, don't think that just because you're being nice to me, I'll let my guard down and give you custody of Lucas. He's mine. He belongs to me alone," Olivia said.
Even with her cold words, Edward didn't show any anger. He gently blew on the cut, wrapped it carefully in gauze, and then met her gaze with a resigned look.
"I'm not here to fight you for Lucas. But he's our son, and you can't deny that. I just want to make up for the five years you and Lucas spent without me," Edward said.
Emily's hands hung stiffly at her sides, clenched so hard her nails dug deep into her palms.
He wanted to make up for it?
He owed Olivia and Lucas, but why did he have to pay with Sophie's life?
Edward noticed Emily standing there. He put down the gauze and walked over, gently pulling her into his arms as he tried to reassure her.
"Emily, Olivia was just using the kitchen to cook for Lucas. She accidentally cut her hand, so I was helping her with the wound. Don't overthink about it," Edward said softly.
"How's Sophie? Has she woken up yet?" Edward asked.
Emily's lashes trembled.
"No," she replied.
Because Sophie would never wake up again.
Edward paused, looking genuinely puzzled.
It was only anesthesia. He didn't understand why Sophie hadn't woken up yet.
He was about to say something else when a message alert cut him off.
After reading the message, Edward frowned.
"Emily, there's something at the office. I need to step out for a while," Edward said.
After that, he patiently reminded Olivia.
"Be careful not to get your wound wet. I'll come back and take you to the hospital to see Lucas."
Hearing Edward's gentle tone, Emily felt like a giant hand was squeezing her heart, making it hard to breathe.
Edward used to only show his gentle side to her and Sophie.
Now, Olivia and Lucas had joined that circle.
After Edward left, only Emily and Olivia were left in the living room.
Olivia's expression turned icy again.
"Mrs. Bennett, you don't have to worry. Even though Mr. Bennett helped Lucas, I have no intention of letting my son be treated as an illegitimate child. I will never give up custody," Olivia said.
"It's just the two of us here. There's no need to pretend anymore," Emily said.
Her expression hardened, showing no mercy as she revealed Olivia's real intentions.
"You say you don't want him to be an illegitimate child, but what you really want is for him to become the rightful heir of the Bennett family," Emily said sharply.
Five years ago, Edward gave Olivia a hefty sum as hush money and compensation. He even had his bodyguard buy her pills, insisting she take them.
But Olivia ended up pregnant anyway and went on to have the child.
Five years later, she came back to Bennett Holdings for a job interview and then "accidentally" revealed to Edward that they had a child together.
Emily had grown up in a wealthy family. She could easily see through Olivia's real intentions.
Olivia's face stiffened for a split second, and then she sprang to her feet, looking as if she'd just been deeply insulted.
"Mrs. Bennett, don't judge me with your condescending, wealthy attitude," Olivia snapped.
"I just couldn't bear to let go of a child. I never saw it coming when Mr. Bennett realized Lucas was his!" she added.
Emily gave Olivia a cold, dismissive look, watching her stand there with that defiant expression. Without another word, Emily turned and went upstairs.
Whatever was going on in Olivia's mind, Emily was done caring.
If Olivia wanted to be Edward's wife so badly, Emily was happy to let her have him.