steps towards the unknown shadows

Back at the local hospital where Sophia went to terminate her pregnancy, she deliberately chose this discreet location to avoid being recognized. She wasn't ready to let her family find out what was going on. Not yet.

Hours passed, and Sophia woke up feeling dizzy and weak. She could barely sit up on her own. Her entire body felt drained, as if every ounce of strength had been sapped. As she reached for her phone, her heart sank—there were several missed calls from her father. Panic shot through her, and her breathing quickened.

What do I do now? she thought, her mind racing. Would I even go back to my family? Mom doesn't care about my happiness anymore. She blames me for everything—for bringing James into the family. And she's right. If I hadn't trusted him, he wouldn't have known so much about us or even thought of robbing us.

The guilt was unbearable. Sophia's thoughts spiraled out of control, and her tears began to fall. The pressure was too much, and she started crying uncontrollably, sobs shaking her frail body.

Hearing the commotion, one of the nurses—a middle-aged woman with a kind face—hurried into the room. She approached Sophia with concern etched across her face.

"Ma'am, what's wrong? Are you feeling any pain or discomfort?" the nurse asked as she carefully examined Sophia, looking for any physical signs of distress.

Sophia shook her head, barely able to speak through her sobs. "I don't know what to do," she managed to say, her voice breaking. "My life is a mess. I'm sick and tired of everything. I can't go back to my family because they'll punish me even more. And now, they'll force me to marry a man I don't love just because he has money. My mom blames me for everything. My sister hates me too. It's like… it's like I'm the bad person. But when I was doing everything right, no one ever praised me. Now that everything's falling apart, they're all against me!"

Her sobs grew louder as she buried her face in her hands, unable to contain the wave of emotions crashing over her.

The nurse sat down beside her and placed a comforting hand on Sophia's shoulder. "I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, my dear," she said softly. "But please listen to me. You're stronger than you think. Mistakes happen to everyone, and they don't make you a bad person. Forgive yourself first. You're doing your best, and even if no one else sees that, you need to see it for yourself."

Sophia sniffled and looked at the nurse, her sobs slowing as she listened.

"Your mother might seem harsh now, but don't let that destroy your spirit. Sometimes, people act out of frustration, not because they don't care. Still, you need to make your own decisions. Your happiness matters. Don't let anyone force you into something you don't want."

The woman's gentle words began to soothe Sophia, and she wiped at her tears, though they kept coming.

The nurse hesitated, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You remind me so much of my daughter," she said after a moment.

Sophia frowned, her voice still shaky. "Your daughter?"

"Yes," the nurse replied, her voice heavy with emotion. "She was around your age when she passed. I made some mistakes with her, and I live with the regret every day."

Sophia's curiosity grew as she noticed the sadness in the nurse's eyes. "What happened to her?"

The nurse sighed deeply, as if the memory itself was a burden. "Her father passed away when she was young, and I struggled to provide for her. One day, a wealthy young man came into her life and proposed to her. I thought he was a blessing—a way out of our struggles. I pushed her to marry him, even though she told me she wasn't ready."

Sophia leaned forward, listening intently.

"At first, things seemed fine. She didn't complain, and I thought she was happy. But one day, I visited her without warning and found her crying alone in her room. She tried to hide it from me, pretending everything was okay. I didn't press her, thinking she'd tell me when she was ready. I was wrong."

The nurse paused, her voice cracking as tears began to fall. "Her husband became abusive. One night, during an argument, he hit her with an iron rod. She suffered a head injury and was rushed to the hospital. I spent every penny I had trying to save her, but she didn't make it. And that man—he vanished. His family didn't help. They wouldn't even listen to me. I lost my daughter because I pushed her into something she didn't want."

Sophia's heart broke as she listened to the nurse's story. Tears streamed down her face, and she reached out to hug the older woman.

"Don't let anyone force you into sacrificing your happiness," the nurse said softly. "You deserve to live your life on your terms. But whatever you decide, don't forget your family. If they don't support you now, prove them wrong later. Build a better life for yourself, and when you succeed, take care of them—if they deserve it."

Sophia nodded, the woman's words igniting a spark of determination in her. She resolved to sell the last of her property and reach out to an old school friend who lived in a distant village. There, she would start fresh and rebuild her life on her own terms.

Meanwhile, at Ethan's location, a knock sounded on the door of his room. One of the security staff stood outside with a file in hand.

"Sir, here's the report you requested on Caldwell Horizon," the man said politely, handing the file to Ethan. A small flash drive was clipped to the edge of the folder.

"Thank you," Ethan replied, taking the file and glancing at its contents. "I'll let you know if I need anything else."

The guard nodded, closing the door behind him.

Ethan sat down and opened the file, his eyes scanning the pages. Shock flashed across his face as he read about the robbery that had taken place on Mr. Caldwell's birthday. The report detailed how the thieves had not only stolen most of the Caldwell family's assets but had also taken out massive loans in their name.

How could this have happened? And on his birthday? Ethan thought, his mind reeling. His thoughts turned to Sophia. Is this why she hasn't called me? Could something have happened to her?

His heart pounded as he stared at the flash drive. With trembling hands, he plugged it into his laptop, he took a deep breath as he was unsure what would be unfolded in the drive yet.