"I knew it!" Nicholas wiped the tears from his eyes. "You are really her. I knew I wouldn't feel attracted to just anyone. It's because.... you are my wife. You are the only woman I have ever loved."
Sophie was silent. Nicholas was always very direct. He was the opposite of Leland who always kept things to himself and made Sophie guess what he was thinking. With Nicholas, it was always so easy.
"Your Majesty... it's been a really long time since I last use the name Sophia Hansley," Sophie finally replied with a hoarse voice. "I am now Sophia Romanov. I have taken my husband's last name six years ago after we got married. My Nicholas 'died' six years ago and I took a long time to mourn for him."
She didn't want to elaborate on how awful her life was before Leland took her in and had been protecting her and her pups ever since. Nicholas also didn't need her to say those words. He was a smart man and could understand as such.
"Whatever happened between us in the past, now we are just strangers. I ask you not to come here again and disturb my family," Sophie continued her words which added to Nicholas' devastation.
The man who was earlier flew to the sky with joy because he could confirm his suspicions and find Sophie, his Sophie, was now knocked to the ground and his hopes and dreams shattered to a million little pieces.
He stepped closer to Sophie and took hold of the woman's arm. "No. Please don't throw me out like this. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for not remembering you. I'm sorry for letting you suffer. It was all a grave mistake on my part. I am willing to pay the price to make up for what happened."
Hearing and seeing Nicholas made Sophie's chest feel full. There was sadness that wanted to overflow but she was still trying to keep her promise to Leland.
"Nic, get out of here. Now you and I are strangers," Sophie said in a trembling voice.
"No, no." Nicholas shook his head. His heart couldn't accept Sophie calling him a stranger. "We ARE NOT STRANGERS. We'll never be. You are still my wife and when you married that other guy, you were still bound to me in marriage. Your marriage to him is not legal. And you are also the mother of my children. This is something that you cannot deny."
"Nic, don't be stubborn," Sophie stepped back. Since Nicholas had moved one step closer to her, she decided to move one step back to keep their distance.
"I am stubborn, that's just who I am," Nicholas insisted. "You know me that well to know that I will not back down. You are mine. You have my children. Don't lie to me and pretend that Luciel and Jan are not my sons. They look so much like me."
"I can't... please, Nicholas, you can not just suddenly barge into their life and claim your place. I told Luciel and Jan their biological father died when they were still in my womb. Please don't make them feel confused. Leland is their father now."
If it was up to Sophie, she would have loved for Luciel and Jan to have a relationship with Nicholas. However, she had to keep her word to Leland. She had promised to stay by his side and declare war on the royal family of Riga.
She couldn't have her cake and eat it too.
"You are robbing them of the chance to know their real father," Nicholas looked at Sophie in a fiery gaze. His sadness had turned into anger. He was mad at himself but he was slowly feeling mad at how stubborn Sophie was now. This didn't seem like the Sophie he knew from the past. That wretched Alpha must have forced her to act this way.
"Sophie, something stupid happened and I lost the opportunity to step up, for you and the kids, but I am here now. I made a mistake, but I am willing to rectify it. If I intentionally hurt you and left you... I understand that you hate me and don't want to have anything to do with me. But I didn't leave you."
"I don't fall out of love with you... Even when I didn't remember who you were, the moment I saw you I instantly felt the connection and was drawn to you, like a moth to a flame. Tell me you really have no feelings for me, even for a tiny bit, deep in your heart... look me in the eye and tell me, then I will back down."
Leland who had been listening and watching from afar clenched his fists tightly when Nicholas moved another step toward Sophie.
He really wanted to hit Nicholas but canceled his intention and decided to continue listening to the two people's conversation. He also wanted to know Sophie's answer to Nicholas' question.
The surge of sadness in Sophie's chest grew more and more pressing and almost toppled the stronghold that she had worked so hard to build.
"No." Sophie pushed Nicholas' chest roughly to step away from her. "It's over, Nick. I no longer have any feelings for you."
"You can't look me in the eye," Nicolas said. "I know you are lying."
Leland clenched his fists to the sides. He could tell that Sophie was lying. What was she lying about? That she no longer had feelings for Nicholas?
Sophie pursed her lips and shook her head. "You are wrong. I am not lying. That's the truth."
"Do you feel indebted to him and decided to choose him because you feel bad? I can settle whatever debts you have with him," Nicholas kept pressing on Sophie. "I will pay no matter what price he asks. I will clear all debts between us. I just need you to be honest with me."
Leland's ears perked up at the mention of debts. He was now wondering the same... if Sophie stayed with him because she felt indebted to him.
Would he want her to choose him because of debts? Or, would he be man enough to let her go and choose what her heart truly desired? Maybe she actually wanted to go back to Nicholas?
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