Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Child Support
SOPHIA’S POV
We stayed at the café for hours. Our coffee cups were refilled three tis, and still we talked.
Lance told
about his own struggles. He told
about the pressure from his family to take over their dical practice.
And I told him about the girl I used to be before Damien - ambitious, confident, full of dreams about changing the world through dicine.
"She’s still there," Lance said. "I see her. Every ti you talk about your patients, every ti you light up discussing research, every ti you refuse to back down even when you’re exhausted and hurt. She’s still there, Sophia. You just forgot how to see her."
His words made my eyes burn with tears.
By the ti we left the café, it was dark outside. Lance drove
back to Sky Manor.
"Thank you," I said as he pulled into the driveway. "For today, for listening. For... everything."
"You don’t have to thank
for being your friend." Lance smiled "I’ll always be here for you”
“Thanks”
I got out of the car and walked to the door. Inside, I found Marco and Bianca waiting in the living room.
I was shocked to see Bianca. I wasn’t expecting her. Marco stood up imdiately.
"Where the hell have you been? We’ve been calling for hours!" he shrieked.
"My phone’s been off." I looked between them. "What’s Bianca doing here?"
"I called her," Marco said. "Because you’ve been acting strange all week, you co ho with bruises you won’t explain, and today you didn’t answer your phone for six hours. So yeah, I’m worried. What’s going on, Sophia?"
I looked at their faces. They both looked so concerned about .
I couldn’t hide anymore. I couldn’t pretend everything was fine.
"Sit down," I said quietly. "Both of you. There’s a lot I need to tell you."
So I told them everything, about Tiffany moving her mother into Stone Villa, about Ashley wanting to call Tiffany "Mom”, about Tasha throwing the castle and then lying about
attacking her, about Damien dragging
out of the house, leaving bruises on my wrist, about the scene at the hospital today.
All of it. I told them every painful detail I’d been holding inside.
By the ti I finished, Marco was growling.
"I’m going over there," he said. His voice was low and dangerous. "I’m going to Stone Villa right now and I’m going to make that bastard understand what happens when you hurt my sister-"
"No." I caught his arm. "Marco, no. That’s exactly what I don’t want."
"He put his hands on you, Sophia! He left bruises!" Marco’s eyes flashed gold. "That’s not okay. That’s never okay, divorce or not."
"I know and I’m handling it." I squeezed his arm. "But not with violence. I just want this over cleanly."
"He doesn’t deserve clean," Marco growled.
"Maybe not. But I deserve peace." I let go of his arm and stepped back. "So please, let
handle this my way. Let
draft the divorce agreent and get him to sign it and move on with my life. No drama. No confrontation."
Marco looked like he wanted to argue, but Bianca put her hand on his shoulder.
"Sophia’s right," she said gently. "The best revenge isn’t violence. It’s living well."
"Thank you," I said to both of them. "For caring, for being here, for not judging
for still staying with him for as long as I did”
"We’d never judge you for that," Bianca said fiercely. "You were trying to save your marriage, trying to be a good mother. There’s no sha in that."
"Even though it didn’t work?"
"Especially because it didn’t work." Marco pulled
into a hug. "Because it ans you tried everything. You gave it everything you had. And when it still fell apart, you were strong enough to walk away. That’s not failure, Soph. That’s courage."
I let myself lean into my brother’s embrace, let myself feel supported and loved and valued, things I hadn’t felt in so long.
"Our family will always stand by you," Marco said into my hair. "Always. No matter what. You know that, right?"
"I know." My voice was muffled against his shoulder. "Thank you."
After Marco and Bianca left with strict instructions to call if I needed anything, day or night, I went to my room and pulled out my laptop.
Ti to draft the divorce agreent myself.
I worked through the night. I reviewed every clause, every detail, making sure everything was clear and fair and left no room for Damien to stall anymore.
Asset division: I wanted half of everything we’d accumulated during our marriage. Not because I needed the money, but because I’d earned it. I’d supported his career, raised his child, managed his household. I deserved my share.
Custody: Joint legal custody, but primary physical custody to Damien given Ashley’s clear preference to be with him and Tiffany. I’d have visitation rights - weekends, holidays, sumrs. These were standard arrangents that protected my rights as a mother even if my daughter didn’t want to see
right now.
Child support: Damien would pay, not because I needed it financially, but because it was his responsibility as a father.
Spousal support: I didn’t want any. I had my own career, my own inco. I didn’t want to be tied to Damien financially.
The Stone Villa: Damien could keep it. I never wanted to set foot in that house again. It had too many bad mories.
My personal belongings: I’d already taken most of what I cared about, but I added a clause giving
one week to remove any remaining items before Damien could dispose of them.
The mate bond: This was the hardest part to write. Werewolf law required both parties to officially renounce the mate bond in front of the pack council. It was a painful, public ritual, but necessary.
I added the clause requiring us to complete the renunciation ceremony within thirty days of signing the agreent.
By the ti I finished, it was three a.m. My eyes burned with exhaustion, but the agreent was done.
I saved three copies - one for , one for Damien, one for my lawyer.
Tomorrow, I would take it to Stone Villa and I would make Damien sign it, in front of witnesses if necessary.
No more delays. No more excuses.
This ended now.
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