Her Divorce, His Downfall (Sophia and Damian) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Sophia, it’s almost dark. Why isn’t Damian here yet?”

Hillcrest Memorial Park, New York.

Sophia Anderson, dressed in black, stopped before the headstone.

She bowed her head and placed a small bouquet at its base.

For a long moment, she just stood there in silence.

The cold wind stung her eyes, leaving them rimmed with red.

Today was the anniversary of her mother, Elaine Moore’s death. She’d cleared her schedule for it.

But her husband of three years, Damian Hall, was nowhere to be

seen.

As the CEO of Veridian Group, he always put work first. Always.

Sophia knew this well, so she didn’t blame him,

She pulled out her phone. His last text from this morning was still there.

[Busy.]

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She couldn’t resist calling him, but the line just beeped with a busy tone.

Her fingers stiffened, and a wave of disappointment washed over her.

Forcing down her emotions, Sophia spoke, her voice hoarse.

“Heather, he’s busy. He won’t be able to make it today.”

Her aunt, Heather Anderson, let out a mocking laugh and crossed her arms like she knew better.

“Sophia, ambition’s great and all, but a good man puts his wife first.

“It’s your mother’s memorial. He’s your husband–he should be here paying his respects. This is straight–up disrespect. To your mom. And to you.”

“He’s not like that.” Sophia’s chest tightened at hearing her aunt trash Damian. She jumped to his defense. “He really is swamped. The company just landed this huge-”

Before she could finish, her cousin Leo’s excited shout cut her off.

“Holy shit, look up there! That’s a Polaris drone show!

“Wait, Sophia–don’t tell me your husband set this up for your 2/9

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mom’s memorial?”

Sophia’s face went white. Something felt… wrong.

A memorial… and a drone show? Those two didn’t go together.

She looked up in a daze. The brilliant lights overhe her eyes.

stabbed at

Thousands of drones formed a perfect glowing ring in the sky— like an eye from another dimension.

As it rotated, rainbow fireworks exploded outward, pouring down like falling stars. Beautiful. Fleeting.

After the fireworks faded, the drones rearranged to form a glowing message:

“Always Happy, Princess Isabelle.”

Her younger cousin, Chloe, shrieked with excitement.

“Oh my god, that’s so romantic! If a guy ever confessed his love to me like that, I’d marry him on the spot.”

“Get a grip!” Leo muttered, rolling his eyes.

He pulled out his phone to film, then froze.

“Wait… hold up. Isn’t that Sophia’s husband? The great CEO 3/9

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Damian? Why the hell is he all over Isabelle?”

The blood froze in Sophia’s veins. Her eyes were glued to his phone screen.

Twitter was exploding.

#NYCBillionaireCEODamian Hall DropsMillions For His Girl

Media outlets were posting articles with photos and even live

streams.

The footage was pure chaos–crowds roaring, voices cheering.

Isabelle leaned against Damian’s broad back, gripping his hand as she shouted at the camera, her face glowing with triumph.

“Whatever I want, he gives me.”

The Patek Philippe on his wrist? The Andersons recognized it instantly.

Sophia’s birthday gift to Damian.

Comments flooded the screen:

“OMG, I heard NYC’s golden boy Mr. Hall just dropped over 10 mil on this drone show for his girlfriend!”

“That’s Ms. Isabelle Anderson–from the Anderson family, one 4/9

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of NYC’s four powerhouses. Gorgeous, rich, and totally spoiled by her boyfriend. They’re a perfect match. Talk about winning the birth lottery.”

“The birth lottery is real. She was born at the top while the rest of us can only dream. Look how much he loves her. That’s literally cash burning in the sky.”

Each comment was a poisoned dagger to Sophia’s heart. The pain was so sharp it almost suffocated her.

She stood frozen, staring blankly at the phone. A sharp ringing filled her ears.

Then Leo’s mocking voice cut through.

“Sophia, so this is your husband being ‘busy‘? Busy declaring his love for Isabelle? What’s the point of running Zenith Corp if you can’t even keep your husband in line?”

Heather snorted, piling on.

“Exactly! A wife needs to give her husband an heir–that’s how you keep a man.

“I mean, you’ve been married for three years, and you’re still not pregnant? Is there something wrong with you?

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“Maybe you should just quit, focus on having a b

take over the company.”

and let Leo

Sophia didn’t seem to hear them. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but she felt nothing.

So that’s where he was. Damian ditched the memorial to be with her sister.

He’d forgotten his promise to honor her mother, but remembered to keep Isabelle happy.

And she’d been making excuses for him, worried her family would give him hell.

How pathetic.

“Mom, stop it!” Seeing Sophia’s face turn pale, Chloe cut Heather off. “That’s so outdated. Who says a woman needs a

man?”

“What did you just say, you little brat?” Heather snapped,

“Enough! Heather. Let’s go home.” Michael stepped in from behind.

Then he shot Sophia a pointed look, trying to smooth it over.

sto smooth

“Sophia, Isabelle’s always been fragile–still acts like a child. a child. You’re the older one. Cut her some slack. Today was just a joke. 6/9

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Don’t take it to heart.”

Sophia’s lips parted, and a raw, broken sound came out.

“I understand, Dad.”

With that, she turned and walked down the hill without looking back.

******

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