The Ex-Wife's Redemption: A Love Reborn Chapter 146

Henry had never seen Sophia cry like this before, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably as if she'd lost something irreplaceable. Seeing her sobbing against the stairwell wall stirred something unfamiliar within him.

He was terrible at comforting people. Even as he wanted to tell a joke to cheer Sophia up, his mind went completely blank. All he could do was hold her slender shoulders, his fingers making awkward little circles on her skin. His thin lips pressed together repeatedly as he struggled to find the right words.

Henry Harding, the man renowned on Wall Street for his sharp words and quick wit, suddenly found himself speechless. He even began to resent himself—why was his mouth so useless when it truly mattered?

But what intrigued him most was why Sophia was crying so intensely.

"Sophia, you're not usually the crying type," he finally said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "What happened to make you break down like this? Tell me, so I can... enjoy it." Henry had always thought seeing Sophia cry would bring him satisfaction, but now that she was actually sobbing before him, he felt a strange emptiness inside.

Sophia hadn't expected to encounter Henry during her most vulnerable moment. When she saw him walk through the emergency exit, she'd felt instantly defensive, certain he would mercilessly mock her and enjoy her humiliation. But the scenario she'd imagined never materialized. Not only had Henry refrained from mocking her, he'd actually offered his shoulder to cry on.

Hearing his poor attempt at teasing, Sophia quickly regained her composure. "Pft! If you don't know how to comfort someone, just shut up."

Seeing that she'd stopped crying, Henry immediately pushed her away with exaggerated disgust, his expression showing disdain. "Sophia, don't be so ungrateful! I kindly lent you my shoulder, and you've ruined my clothes with your snot and tears. I should be demanding compensation, yet you have the nerve to insult me!"

He dramatically pointed at the wet spots on his expensive coat. "Well? How do you plan to compensate for dirtying my clothes?"

Just seconds ago, Sophia had felt a flicker of gratitude toward this man, but with the atmosphere so abruptly shattered, that sentiment vanished entirely.

"I'll take it home and wash it for you," she responded flatly, still wiping away the last traces of her tears.

Henry was clearly unsatisfied with this solution. "That's it?" The look in his eyes quickly shifted, and Sophia immediately recognized the familiar hunger there.

He had just left Isabella after realizing she'd been manipulating him, which had killed any desire to be close to her. But now, seeing Sophia, he felt a sudden longing for intimacy. Calculating in his head, Henry realized they hadn't been together for over two months. He'd been deprived, craving her body, but Sophia had consistently avoided him.

Sensing danger, Sophia tensed as Henry's hand reached for her. With a quick, graceful movement, she dodged his grasp and quickly rose to her feet. "Save it!" she shouted, already backing toward the door.

Watching her sprint away, Henry felt a wave of anger wash over him. Was he really that repulsive to her? Without a second thought, he turned and headed in the direction she'd disappeared.

Back in her office, Sophia had just composed herself when Thomas knocked and entered.

"Sophia, are you alright? Did Henry give you trouble?" If not for those overbearing bodyguards, he would never have left her side.

Sophia responded politely, her voice devoid of any emotion. Thomas noticed her cool demeanor—not a hint of concern for what had happened to him, not even a simple greeting. A profound sense of disappointment settled in his chest.

The words he'd planned to say turned bitter on his tongue. "Aren't you worried about how Harding's bodyguards treated me?" he asked, his voice tinged with resentment.

Sophia lifted her head from the patient charts she was reviewing, offering him a slightly apologetic smile. "Thomas, don't worry. Harding's security team is very disciplined—they wouldn't have hurt you."

But she hesitated before offering her advice.

"But I should warn you: the Hardings aren't people you want to mess with. We're no match for them."

Thomas knew all too well how formidable Henry was. His family's business had been in freefall, with stocks plummeting—all thanks to Henry. His mother had been pressuring him relentlessly to apologize to Henry, but his pride wouldn't allow it.

He couldn't bring himself to apologize to his romantic rival. Now, hearing Sophia advise him to back down infuriated him.

"What do you mean 'Henry can't be messed with'? What do you mean 'we're no match for him'?" Thomas's voice rose sharply. "Is it because you love him that you take his side unconditionally?"

"Thomas, that's not what I meant," Sophia replied calmly. "I'm just saying it's better to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Given how Henry is targeting your family right now, it's best not to antagonize him further."

Thomas wasn't listening. His eyes reddened as he rushed toward Sophia, glaring at her with intense eyes. "What do you mean I shouldn't antagonize him? He's the one antagonizing me!" He was practically shouting now. "Sophia, can't you be fair? Why do you always take Henry's side?"

As he spoke, he grabbed for Sophia's hand. "I won't allow you to speak well of Henry!"

Sophia knew he had been secretly in love with her for many years. When Thomas heard she wanted to divorce Henry, no one had been happier. But hearing her repeatedly defend Henry, telling him not to provoke the man—implying Thomas was somehow inferior—was more than he could bear. His grip tightened on Sophia's wrist as his anger exploded.

"What makes Henry better than me? Tell me!" His voice cracked with emotion. "Let me tell you something: Henry is garbage! He strings you along while carrying on with Isabella. What else would you call him but trash?" His face contorted with rage. "And yet women like you can't get enough of men like him! I thought you were different—that you wouldn't share a man with another woman. I was wrong!"

Sophia was bewildered by Thomas's outburst. She yanked her hand free and stepped back, her brow furrowing as she stared at him.

"Thomas, what are you talking about? I was just offering friendly advice. Why are you so angry?" Her voice hardened. "If I've done something wrong, I'm happy to apologize and take responsibility, but if you touch me again, I'll report you for sexual harassment."

Sophia's warning was meant as sincere advice—the Hardings were powerful enemies. But to Thomas, her words felt like blatant mockery.

He grew increasingly agitated, circling around the desk and lunging toward Sophia. He gripped her shoulders tightly, his fingers digging into her flesh. "Six years ago, I waited outside the Harding estate all night for you! Why didn't you come down? Even if you'd just said one word—that you didn't like me—I wouldn't have waited all night. Why didn't you come down?"

His voice grew more desperate with each word. "Six years later, I see how unhappy you are, and I'm more desperate than anyone to give you happiness. Why do you cling to Henry like he's your last hope?"

"Sophia, open your eyes! Henry doesn't love you! Stop chasing after him!"

"There are so many good men in this world—why him? Why not me?"

"Six years ago, if I'd confessed my feelings sooner, you would have been mine! MINE!"

Thomas roughly pulled Sophia into his arms, trying to force a kiss on her lips.

As they struggled, the office door suddenly burst open.

A figure rushed in, forcefully tearing Thomas away from Sophia. Without hesitation, a fist connected with Thomas's face, followed by another, and another. Each punch landed with a sickening thud that echoed through the room.

During the scuffle, something small fell from Thomas's pocket. It blinked with a red light, indicating it was actively recording.

Henry, still throwing punches, deliberately stomped on the small device, crushing it under his shoe.

"Thomas, have you fallen so low that you need to exploit women for money?" he spat, disgust evident in his voice.

"How much would you have made selling this video?"

"Did you even consider Sophia's feelings?"

"If this is your idea of love, then I can only say being loved by you is a misfortune! A complete disaster!"

Thomas didn't try to defend himself.

The Sanders family was on the brink of bankruptcy. Compared to financial ruin, Sophia's reputation meant nothing. Besides, if her reputation was destroyed, she might give in to him.

What a vicious plan!

Henry's unexpected arrival had ruined his scheme.

Sophia, recovering from her shock, watched as Henry and Thomas fought. For a brief moment, she felt grateful toward Henry.

If not for him, she would never have known Thomas was carrying a hidden camera.

Had that video been released online, her life would have been destroyed.

Thomas claimed to love her, yet he hadn't hesitated to use her for his own gain.

Was this what he called love?

Six years of so-called love, and this was all it amounted to?