SOPHIE'S DECISION

Sophie unpacked her suitcase, memories of her time with Luc flooded back. Each item held a special memory, a moment shared with him that she cherished. But as she reached the bottom of the suitcase, her fingers brushed against something cold and metallic. Pulling it out, she was surprised to find her engagement ring.

The sight of the ring brought her back to reality. She had been so caught up in her time with Luc that she had completely forgotten about her engagement. A pang of guilt washed over her as she wondered how she could have been so careless.

She slipped the ring onto her finger, the diamond sparkling in the light. It was a beautiful ring, a symbol of the love she once shared with someone else. But now, as she looked at it, she wondered if that love was still there, if he would still want her back.

The thought lingered in her mind as she re-packed her suitcase, her movements hurried and anxious. She knew that she had to return the ring, or make things right with her fiancé. But a part of her hesitated, a part of her wanted to hold onto the ring as a reminder of what she had lost, because she was afraid she had already lost him.

In the end, though, Sophie knew what she had to do. She couldn't continue living a lie, couldn't continue deceiving the ones she loved. With a determined look in her eyes, she boarded a taxi, the ring still on her finger. She was ready to face whatever consequences came her way, ready to make amends and start anew.

The long ride back to to provence was filled with a mixture of anticipation and dread for Sophie. She couldn't wait to see luc's face again. She really missed running her hands through his tattered silky hair. She couldn't wait to kiss him again, to hold him. But she dreaded his anger. His dispointment in her was what she feared the most. 

Her thoughts were startled by the ringing of her phone in her bag. She picked it up, it was her superior at the office. She answered the call with mix feelings. She was confused when she heard him say; "Sophie, we can't process your resignation. Mr. Anderson only wants you on his case, and so does most of the major clients". For someone who was against her promotion and wanted her out of the firm, she knew this was just a desperate move for him. He just wanted to save face and avoid blame. She smiled, "sorry Hank, I can't work for you anymore" she heard herself say with so much confidence. And with that, she ended the call.

Somewhere in the villa, Stephanie paced the floor of her room as soon as she woke. It had been two weeks since that night with Luc, and she hadn't come up with any ideas. The television was playing in the background, its sound a distant noise to her thoughts. She turned and faced it in a bid to switch it off when she heard the female lead in the telenovela say, "But I'm having your baby, Matthew!" She paused. "Yes, a baby!" She hugged the television and kissed the female lead on her cheek. "You're so brilliant, Stephanie," she whispered to herself. She picked up her phone from where it lay on her bed and dialed Luc's number.

Luc had a long evening the previous day. He had spent most of it drinking and mourning his loss. He hadn't come to Provence for this. He came to escape the pain Stephanie had inflicted on him, not another episode of heartbreak. He lay on his bed, the heavy banging of his head a testament to his recent rigorous drinking habits. "Sophie," he whispered gently as his lips moved in a bittersweet smile. He knew he could forget everything else, but not Sophie. He loved her. He truly loved her still. "I hope you're okay, wherever you are," he thought silently to himself and let out a sigh. He had been neglecting some of his duties at the villa, and he needed to pull himself together. He wasn't going to disappear because he lost his love. Maybe if he worked harder, she might return. The sound of his phone ringing distorted his chain of thoughts.