Andrew Secretly Begins Investigating Sophia’s Past

Andrew had always believed that love was built on trust. He had spent months convincing himself that the inconsistencies in Sophia’s story were just misunderstandings, that her guarded nature was a byproduct of her family’s influence rather than a deliberate attempt to deceive him.

But after what he had overheard between her and Dante, something inside him shifted. The blind trust was gone, replaced by a relentless need to uncover the truth.

The First Doubt

The next morning, Andrew woke before Sophia. He lay beside her in bed, studying the peaceful expression on her face. She looked innocent, vulnerable—like the woman he had fallen in love with. But was she?

He slid out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her, and grabbed his phone. He stepped into his home office and closed the door behind him.

His fingers hovered over the screen before he finally typed a message to someone he rarely reached out to: Richard.

Andrew: I need a favor. Can you meet me at the office in an hour? No one else can know.

His brother’s reply came within seconds.

Richard: That sounds ominous. See you soon.

The Search Begins

By the time Andrew arrived at Remington Industries’ private headquarters, Richard was already waiting in his office, sipping a cup of coffee.

“You look like hell,” Richard noted, setting the cup down. “What’s going on?”

Andrew hesitated before closing the door and lowering his voice. “It’s about Sophia.”

Richard’s expression immediately darkened. “I knew it. I knew something was off about her.”

Andrew sighed. “I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but… something doesn’t add up. I overheard her and Dante talking yesterday. They were hiding something. Dante told her to ‘keep me distracted’ so I wouldn’t start asking questions.”

Richard sat up straighter. “That’s not nothing, Andrew. That’s a red flag the size of Manhattan.”

“I need answers,” Andrew said firmly. “I need to know who I’m really engaged to.”

Richard studied his brother for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Where do we start?”

Andrew exhaled, his mind racing. “Sophia doesn’t talk about her past much, but she did mention attending university in Italy. See if there are any records of her there. Also, I need to know more about Il Vero Lusso—her family’s company. And anything you can find on Matteo Russo and Dante.”

Richard pulled out his phone. “I know a guy. Give me a day.”

Andrew nodded, but his stomach twisted. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for the answers he was about to find.

A Trail of Secrets

That night, Andrew returned home late. Sophia was waiting for him in the living room, curled up on the couch with a book. She looked up when he walked in, her expression softening.

“You were gone all day,” she murmured, closing the book.

“Work,” Andrew said simply, shrugging off his jacket.

Sophia smiled. “I feel like we’ve barely seen each other lately.”

Andrew forced a smile, crossing the room and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I know. Things have been… busy.”

She studied him for a moment. “Is everything okay?”

Everything inside Andrew screamed at him to ask her, to push for the truth. But he wasn’t ready. Not yet.

“Of course,” he lied smoothly. “Just work stress.”

Sophia nodded, seemingly satisfied, but as she rested her head against his shoulder, Andrew’s mind was a storm of doubts.

The First Discovery

The next morning, Andrew’s phone buzzed with a message from Richard.

Richard: Meet me at the office. We need to talk.

Andrew’s pulse quickened. He made an excuse to Sophia and headed straight to Remington Industries. When he arrived, Richard was already waiting in the conference room, a file in front of him.

“I found something,” Richard said without preamble. “Two things, actually.”

Andrew took a seat, bracing himself. “Go on.”

Richard flipped open the file, revealing printouts of financial documents. “First, Il Vero Lusso isn’t just a luxury goods company. It’s a front. Their revenue streams don’t make sense—too much money coming in from sources that don’t match their business model.”

Andrew frowned. “Meaning?”

“Meaning Matteo Russo is laundering money through it,” Richard said grimly. “And based on what I found, he’s not just moving cash—he’s funding illegal operations all over Europe. Smuggling, bribery, arms deals. You name it.”

Andrew’s stomach churned. He had always assumed Matteo was ruthless, but he hadn’t imagined this.

Richard slid another document across the table. “And then there’s Sophia.”

Andrew’s breath hitched as he picked up the paper. It was a university record.

Richard tapped the page. “She was enrolled at a university in Milan. But guess what? She never graduated. In fact, she disappeared from their records for almost a year. No explanation. No official withdrawal. Just… gone.”

Andrew’s hands clenched around the paper. “Where did she go?”

Richard exhaled. “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”

Andrew’s mind reeled. Sophia had never mentioned this missing year. What had she been doing?

Richard leaned forward. “Andrew, I don’t know what Sophia’s role in all this is. Maybe she’s innocent. Maybe she’s being used by her father. But you need to find out, and fast.”

Andrew nodded, his heart pounding. “I will.”

The Confrontation

That night, Andrew returned home, his emotions a mix of fury and heartbreak. He found Sophia in their bedroom, brushing her hair by the vanity.

She smiled at him in the mirror. “You’re home late again.”

Andrew crossed the room, stopping just behind her. His reflection met hers in the mirror. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sophia’s hand froze. “Tell you what?”

Andrew’s jaw tightened. “That you disappeared for a year. That your father’s company isn’t what you say it is. That—” He stopped himself, exhaling sharply. “Why, Sophia?”

She turned to face him, her eyes wide. “Andrew, I—”

“Don’t lie to me,” he said, his voice firm but quiet. “I need the truth.”

For a moment, Sophia looked as if she might break. But then, just as quickly, her expression hardened.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

Andrew felt something in him crack.

“Then I don’t know if I can do this,” he admitted, stepping back.

Sophia’s eyes filled with panic. “Andrew, please—”

But he was already walking away.

For the first time, he truly doubted the woman he loved.

And he wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to look at her the same way again.