Her breath caught.
Was that a confession?
Sonia shook her head immediately rejecting the thought before it could take root.
It couldn’t be.
Besides, they had nothing in common.
Nothing at all.
And to be saved by him was already enough for her…
But the words had sunk deep, too deep that she felt her heart tremble under their weight.
For twenty years, she had lived with her parents, she never held a boy’s hand but when Lady Monica brought the marriage proposal, she had agreed.
Not because she was anxious but her mother had said it was her earnest wish to see her settle down.
And the promises that came with the proposal were just the same.
My family and I can I only bet on you and we hope you can be happy.
Sonia had believed she would be happy, she had trusted their words.
And that was exactly why she would never trust such vain promises.
It was her trust that left her broken, destroyed, and almost annihilated.
In this one month, she dared not live on those wishes that never came true.
Accepting her marriage to Alex had been because of her respect for elders; it was her filial piety and maybe her poor judgment.
Lady Monica Hort had been a good lady, and as days went by, Sonia had banked on the belief that the son of a lion must be a lion.
She had hoped her son Alex wouldn’t be irresponsible but would come around one day, and they would build their home.
But who would have thought he never had that intention to build with her?
He had only seen her like a maid, a tool, or whatever he thought she was.
This time, she dared not live on words anymore.
A faint smile appeared on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“You’re either very confident…” she murmured, “or very foolish.”
Kelvin let out a low chuckle.
“Maybe both. But I might not have to say it again… I really hope you can be happy.”
Sonia’s blurry gaze locked on him for a moment before she averted her gaze.
Her fingers brushed against the bedsheet as she drew in a few deep breaths.
“Kelvin…” she called after a brief hesitation, her voice quieter now; it was clear she was being cautious.
“Yes?”
She swallowed.
“About the funeral…”
Kelvin stilled.
“…what about it?”
Her fingers tightened again.
She really couldn’t bring herself to mention that man’s name.
If anything, she hoped that in this one month, she wouldn’t find herself in the same space as him.
Otherwise, she doubted she wouldn’t vomit on the spot.
The temperature of the room seemed to grow colder.
Kelvin’s gaze darkened, though his voice remained controlled as one word rolled off his tongue.
“Yes.”
Sonia let out a shaky breath.
“I see…” she murmured and drew in a deep breath.
“Who’s handling it?” she asked after a moment, her tone almost detached.
Kelvin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“The Hort family,” he replied.
Then, as though he recalled something else, his lips parted again.
“The matriarch is overseeing everything.”
Sonia went still for a moment, then a faint, almost ironic smile curved her lips.
Her fist clenched.
Of course, it had to be her.
She had been the only one thinking about her in the Hort family.
Even during the wedding, she had been the one who insisted on holding a wedding, saying it is every woman’s dream.
And now, she is still the one who knows she had to be laid to rest, and her so-called husband…
Sonia shook her head.
She dared not think about it.
“Tell me…” she said slowly, “what kind of funeral are they preparing?”
Her voice dropped slightly.
“Is it grand, or just enough to mourn the dead?”
Kelvin’s expression hardened.
“They’re making it… appropriate,” he said carefully.
Sonia smiled again; her smile was colder than ice.
“I want to attend,” she announced firmly.
Her fingers slowly curled into the sheets, her heart thumping hard, fear of her request being objected to.
At this moment, she hoped to take hold of her life, but then an unspoken rule stared right into her face.
She still needs his consent and help.
Kelvin frowned slightly.
“Are you sure you want to?”
Sonia had never been so sure than this time.
She swiftly nodded.
“I want to… can you help me?”
To see her reluctance, to see her hurriedly avoiding the truth she was supposed to embrace.
But there was none.
She was sure.
She had made up her mind.
No matter what scheme Kelvin had wrapped around her, she would take this bold step and make this one month fruitful and entertaining.
“If that’s what you want… I will arrange it immediately,” Kelvin’s voice was light, almost relieved.
“Thank you,” Sonia murmured.
******
In one of the skyscrapers in the Dew business district, the Hort Corporation stood tall among the other skyscrapers.
Its name, boldly engraved in gold, glittered in the sun, its light reflecting on glass.
Security personnel stood alert at the gate, receptionists dressed to perfection as they strove to keep up the company’s image.
On the last floor of the building was a wide hallway that stretched open from the elevator.
This floor only had four offices: two secretarial units, and then the office of the president and the vice president.
The office of the vice president was adjacent to the president’s office.
Soft taps of the keyboard echoed through the hallway as the secretaries typed away on their computers.
James stepped out of the elevator and tapped lightly on the door of the vice president.
“Come in.” The sonorous voice of Alex filtered through the hallway.
James exhaled, pushed the door open slightly, and stepped into the office.
Alex sat behind his desk, his face cold and expressionless as he signed off on a few documents.
“Ready?” he asked without lifting his head.
“Almost, I just want to confirm a few things from you,” James explained calmly as he steadied himself for whatever outburst might arise.
Alex’s brow furrowed; a flicker of annoyance touched his calm features.
“What to confirm?”
“The final arrangement and…” James began, but Alex’s fist clenched around the pen in his hand as he stared at his assistant.
“James, do I have to say it again… make the arrangement.”
“But sir…” James tried to explain.
Alex raised his hand, cutting him off instantly.
“Cyndi is unstable and emotional,” he said flatly.
“I can’t go back to her with this for review.”
“But Miss Sonia is your wife…”
“James, are you forgetting something?” Alex smirked coldly.
James took a step back, his head lowered, his fist clenched at his side as he tried to contain his rage.
“I am sorry,” he muttered.
Alex waved him off dismissively.