CHAPTER 1
William and Sophia were known throughout the world as one of the richest couples in Lagos. They lived in a mansion so imposing that people stopped to admire its grand gates and glittering windows. Their wealth was legendary, but behind the marble walls of their mansion, things were far from perfect.
William and Sophia had been married for 15 long years, but it wasn’t love that brought them together. Their marriage was arranged by their wealthy families to strengthen business ties, and from the beginning, they treated their union as a contract rather than a relationship. They were both proud, stubborn, and reluctant to compromise. Each believed they were better than the other, and neither was willing to give in. From the outside, they seemed like the perfect couple, but at home they rarely spoke. And when they did, it was always to argue.
However, the true source of the conflict arose when William’s family began to pressure him to have something only he could provide: an heir. They wanted a son to carry on the family name, someone to inherit the vast wealth and empire they had built. William, too, began to feel the weight of expectation. He had it all: money, power, and a beautiful wife, but without a son, the family legacy felt incomplete.
One evening, sitting in the quiet, cold dining room, William worked up the courage to ask Sophia about having children. She had been avoiding the subject for years, and now, at almost 40, it was becoming urgent.
“Sophia,” William began, his voice hoarse with the weight of the conversation he dreaded, “it’s been 15 years. My family keeps asking when we’ll have a child. I think it’s time.” Sophia, distractedly flipping through a fashion magazine, barely looked up.
“A child? Now? Why should I go through all that stress just to ruin my body?” she mocked. “I want to keep my figure. I worked hard for this. I’m not going to let pregnancy change that.”
William was stunned by her cold response.
“But we need an heir, Sophia. You know how important he is to the family. Everyone expects us to have one.”
“Who cares what other people expect?” Sophia interrupted, staring at him. “Do you think I want to ruin my body just because your family wants a baby? I’m not stupid. I like the way I look, and I want to keep it that way.”
William’s frustration grew. He slammed his hand on the table, rattling his cutlery.
“Do you care more about your appearance than the future of this family? I can’t believe this!”
Sophia stood up from her chair, narrowing her eyes in anger. “Don’t raise your voice at me, William. I didn’t marry you for love. I married you for money, just as you married me for status. If you want children so badly, find someone else who will. I’m not interested.”
The coldness in Sophia’s words was like a slap in the face. William stood there, speechless, as she stormed off to her room. It was no secret that they hadn’t shared the same room in years. Their marriage was nothing more than a formality, an agreement to keep up appearances.
Over the next few weeks, the silence between them deepened. William was filled with anger and frustration, while Sophia remained indifferent. She spent her days shopping, attending parties, and boasting about her wealth to anyone who would listen. She cared little for the thought of family, motherhood, or the pressures weighing on William’s shoulders.
At night, William slipped out of the house and found comfort in the arms of other women. He justified his actions by telling himself that Sophia didn’t care, so why should she? Meanwhile, Sophia did the same. She had her own issues, her own secrets, and made no effort to hide them.
Their loveless marriage became a silent battleground. They both pretended not to notice how far they had drifted apart. They were two strangers, united only by wealth and pride, living under the same roof, but in completely different worlds.
As the pressure on William to produce an heir mounted, his frustration turned to despair. His family kept urging him to do so, and he could no longer hide behind excuses. However, every time he tried to bring up the subject with Sophia, it ended in a fight. She remained steadfast: she had no desire for children and was perfectly happy maintaining her figure and luxurious lifestyle.
One night, after another argument, William found himself alone in the large, empty living room of his mansion. He looked around at the vast space—the expensive furniture, the crystal chandeliers, and the marble floors—and everything seemed insignificant. “What good was all this wealth if there was no one to share it with? No children to bequeath it to? No love to make it feel like home?”
Meanwhile, Sophia decided
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