Poof! Wife Status, ERASED

Chapter 7: I'll Never Wait for You Again

Sophia Roberts didn't want to go, but her trembling legs refused to obey.

Perhaps she needed to see it with her own eyes—to finally kill the shattered remnants of her heart.

After adjusting to the bright lights of the hall, the sudden dimness of the storage room made her uneasy.

The space was secluded enough for the woman's unrestrained moans to echo shamelessly. Leaning weakly against the wall, Sophia peered through the door crack and saw Isabella Thompson clinging to a man, her legs wrapped around him, her face flushed as she locked eyes with Sophia outside.

Then, with a smirk, Isabella raised the silver bracelet on her wrist and taunted, "Professor Vanderbilt, slower—ah—"

Ethan Vanderbilt, lost in lust, growled, "You're the one who tempted me. Didn't I teach you to take responsibility for your actions?"

Sophia didn't remember how she left. She stumbled blindly, not even noticing when her heel snapped.

Until a masked man lunged from across the street and plunged a knife into her abdomen.

She woke to the sound of Olivia Smith's sobbing.

Weakly opening her eyes, Sophia scanned the hospital room before landing on the disheveled man slumped beside her bed—his jaw shadowed with stubble, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion.

Ethan was still in the same suit from the gala. How long had he been keeping vigil?

The moment she stirred, he sprang into action—calling for doctors, summoning the nurse, carefully spooning warm congee to her lips.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. That night, I got pulled into a meeting with investors. I swear, from now on, I won't let you out of my sight at events like that, okay?"

"The attacker's in custody. Anyone who hurts you will pay."

His eyes, red-rimmed from sleepless nights, made him look like a wounded puppy—nothing like the ruthless CEO of Lianyao Group.

Olivia chimed in, "Sophia, Ethan hasn't left your side since you were admitted. If you hadn't woken up, I think he would've lost his mind."

But now, Sophia could only see the hypocrisy in his face.

Her voice was hoarse as she asked the question that haunted her.

"Yesterday, while organizing my jewelry, I noticed Grandma's silver bracelet was missing."

Ethan immediately clasped her hand.

"It's an antique, so I sent it for restoration. You'll have it back soon."

Hah.

Twenty years of love evaporated in an instant.

Ethan, you knew how much that bracelet meant to me. Yet you gave it to Isabella.

She buried herself under the blankets, silent.

Ethan mistook her withdrawal for shock and gently rubbed her back, murmuring soothingly.

"Sweetheart, get well soon. The Ferris Manor is almost finished. I can't wait to see what you've planned for me."

"I'll retrieve the bracelet myself. I swear nothing like this will happen again. Forgive me, okay? Sweetheart? Are you asleep?"

Under the covers, Sophia wept silently.

Too late, Ethan. I don't want you anymore.

Soon, she heard a sharp whisper.

"What are you doing here? Haven't you hurt her enough?"

Then came Isabella's saccharine apology, dripping with insincerity. "I didn't know this would happen~"

Ethan held back his anger, mindful of the "sleeping" patient.

Isabella placed a fruit basket on the nightstand, then loosened her buttons to flash a glimpse of lace beneath her uniform.

"Poor Ethan, working so hard at the hospital… Shouldn't you get a reward?"

He exhaled roughly. "You're impossible. Wait for me in the car."

She hooked a finger through his belt. "No need. I'm staying downstairs~"

The door clicked shut. Olivia gaped as she spotted the couple making out in the elevator.

She stormed back to the room—only to find Sophia calmly peeling an apple, her expression numb.

"You saw them?"

Olivia choked out, "Those bastards!"

Sophia set the knife down. "What's the department downstairs?"

"Obstetrics." Olivia frowned. "Why?"

Obstetrics.

The apple slipped from Sophia's grasp. Those three syllables kept her awake all night.

Ethan never returned, citing piled-up work. But Isabella's texts kept coming.

[So sore~ But we tried new places and positions. Could you hear us?]

[All night, he couldn't get enough. But it's my fault—I love him too much to say no. He said the bracelet looks better on me~]

The final message:

[Stop pretending, Sophia. Ignoring me won't change facts. You think you're better than me because of your family? The moment I saw you in Sunshine Village, I knew I'd take everything from you. Including Ethan.]

Steeling herself, Sophia went to Isabella's room—only to find Emily Vanderbilt crouched beside Isabella's bed, cooing over her stomach.

Tears fell as their conversation reached her.

"Yay! Once the baby's here, I'll be an aunt!"

Isabella sighed dramatically. "But it'll grow up labeled a bastard."

"Don't worry! I'll make Ethan divorce Sophia. If she can't give us an heir, why should she stay? We're all sick of her diva act!"

Isabella beamed. "Then I'll thank you for my baby~"

Emily giggled. "No need! But why hide this from Ethan?"

"I even slapped you at the auction! Thank God the baby's okay, or I'd never forgive myself!"

Their laughter twisted like a knife in Sophia's ribs.

Before marrying, she'd told the Vanderbilts her career came first—she feared childbirth, and a star's prime was short.

Back then, Richard and Margaret had clasped her hands, insisting they only wanted her. Emily had chirped, "Just stay pretty, sis!"

Later, when she was ready, pregnancy never came. Emily had flown home to console her…

Now, Sophia felt drenched in ice. She staggered away, only to collapse—her stitches splitting, blood pooling around her.

Ethan mobilized Oceanview City's blood banks, then drained himself pale to save her.

The second she opened her eyes, he crushed her in a desperate embrace.

"Sweetheart, if you'd died, I would've followed."

His voice cracked, his grip bruising.

Sophia stared blankly. "Really?"

"Yes."

She closed her eyes. "I'm hungry. Get me Sunshine Street's pan-fried buns. You go."

He kissed her forehead. "Wait for me."

As he left, she whispered, "But I won't."

Fifteen minutes later, Olivia entered with a team.

"It's done. Your new identity in Hollywood is ready. As for Ethan? All he'll get is an urn."

Sophia nodded, leaving her phone and "suicide note" on the nightstand.

"Give him these too."

Let him taste the despair he gave me.

Whether he'd truly join her in death? She couldn't care less.

Through a private exit, she fled to the airport. Only as Oceanview City shrank below did she feel alive again.

Meanwhile, Ethan clutched his chest mid-errand, struck by sudden dread.

Parking hastily, he found Isabella waiting—her hospital gown artfully disheveled.

"Dr. Vanderbilt~ Don't I deserve a check-up?"

He hesitated.

Emily, tasked with delivering the buns, tossed them in the trash and lit a cigarette.

An hour later, she caught Ethan leaving Isabella's room.

Like siblings, like sins.

"Don't smoke near Sophia," he muttered.

Emily rolled her eyes. "Drama queen."

"But really, Ethan—knocking up your mistress while your wife's hospitalized?"

His face paled. "What pregnancy?"

"Isabella's. You didn't know?"

"Impossible. I got sterilized for Sophia." He glared. "And she's my only wife."

Emily's cigarette tumbled to the floor.