SOPHIE THE HEIRESS

THE CONFESSION OF A LIFETIME

THE CONFESSION OF A LIFETIME

It had been two agonizing weeks since the night Avery wished he could forget. The memory of his mistake with Margo haunted him relentlessly, gnawing at his every thought.

Despite his guilt, Avery couldn't bring himself to confess to Sophie. Their relationship had been strained since the fight, and he didn't have the courage to tell her the truth—how could he admit to making the worst mistake of his life?

Sophie, on the other hand, had been holding out hope. She knew their relationship was in trouble, but she didn't know why Avery seemed so distant. She had tried to reach out, suggesting they meet to talk things through, but Avery had dodged her every attempt. They hadn't seen each other in person since the fight, communicating only through short, awkward texts. Sophie was frustrated, but she still believed they could fix things—if only Avery would open up.

One morning, as Avery sat at his kitchen table staring blankly at his phone, a notification popped up. It was a message from Margo. His heart skipped a beat, dread tightening in his chest. He hadn't heard from her since that night, and part of him had hoped it would stay that way. With shaking hands, he opened the message.

Hi Avery, this is Margo. I'm not sure if you've forgotten what happened between us, but I need to let you know something. I'm not feeling well and went to the hospital. They told me I'm pregnant.

Avery's eyes widened in disbelief as he read the words over and over again, hoping they would change. Pregnant? He couldn't breathe, his mind racing in all directions. How was this even possible? His hands trembled as he quickly typed a reply.

Are you sure you're pregnant? he asked, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

Margo's response came almost immediately. She sent an image of an ultrasound, the black-and-white grainy image confirming what she had just told him.

The doctor says I'm two weeks pregnant, she added, with a firmness in her words that made Avery's stomach churn.

Avery's world spun. Two weeks. It matched up with the night of the party. Panic surged through him as he fired back a response.

Are you sure I'm the father of that child?

He felt sick as he sent the message, the weight of his actions finally crashing down on him. He waited anxiously for Margo's reply, his heart pounding. It came just as he feared.

What the fuck, Avery? Margo snapped back. Of course you're the father! Whether you like it or not, you have to be responsible for this!

Avery dropped his phone onto the table, his head falling into his hands. He felt trapped, suffocated by the enormity of what Margo had just said. He wasn't ready to be a father, and he definitely wasn't ready to face Sophie. How could he explain any of this? His mind scrambled for answers, but there were none. He was caught in a web of his own making, and there was no way out.

He stood up from the table, pacing back and forth in his small apartment, trying to make sense of the impossible situation. He thought of Sophie, how she had been patient with him, waiting for him to talk, waiting to heal their relationship. Now, with the news from Margo, everything was worse. He couldn't even begin to fathom how Sophie would react if she found out—not just about the cheating, but about the baby.

Panic clawed at his chest as he collapsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling, his mind a whirlwind of regret and fear. What was he going to do? How could he fix this? How could he be responsible for a child with Margo when he was still in love with Sophie?

Margo's words echoed in his head, and the truth of the situation weighed him down. He had no choice. He was the father, whether he liked it or not, and he would have to face that reality sooner or later.

But how would he explain any of this to Sophie?

And was there any way she could ever forgive him?

For the first time in his life, Avery felt truly lost.

Avery stood outside Sophie's apartment, his heart pounding in his chest. The weight of his mistake bore down on him, but he knew he couldn't keep it from Sophie any longer. His fingers hovered over his phone as he typed the message: "I'm coming over. We need to talk. I'm so sorry, Sophie."

After sending the text, Avery stood frozen, staring at the door of Sophie's building. His legs felt heavy, and his mind was clouded with fear and regret. But he knew he had to face this. He had to face her. He couldn't run anymore.

Inside the apartment, Sophie read Avery's message. Her heart sank as a wave of dread washed over her. She didn't know what to expect, but deep down, she felt the enormity of what was coming. She skipped her classes that day, her thoughts consumed by the fight they had, the distance between them over the past two weeks. She sat by the window, waiting anxiously, feeling as if her entire world was about to change.

When Avery finally arrived, Sophie opened the door to find him standing there, his face pale, his eyes red-rimmed. It was as if he had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and now, he was crumbling under it.

"Sophie..." Avery's voice cracked, and before he could say anything else, the tears began to fall. "I'm so sorry, Sophie. With all my heart, I'm sorry."

Sophie's breath hitched in her throat as she saw Avery's vulnerability for the first time. His tears, the pain in his voice—it was a side of him she had never seen before. Despite the confusion and the fear swirling in her, she instinctively pulled him into her arms, hugging him tightly. For a moment, they stood there, holding onto each other as if time had stopped.

Avery broke the silence, his voice barely a whisper. "I made a mistake, Sophie. A terrible mistake. I don't know how to fix it..."

Sophie pulled back slightly, her brows furrowing. "What happened, Avery? Tell me."

Avery's body shook as he confessed. "Sophie... Margo and I... I don't remember it all. I was so drunk that night. I didn't mean for it to happen, but... I woke up, and she was in my bed. And now... she says she's pregnant. She's insisting I'm the father."

Sophie felt the ground shift beneath her feet as Avery's words sank in. Her chest tightened, and tears welled in her eyes. "Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why did you do this, Avery?"

"I don't know," he sobbed. "I don't know. I was lost. I was drunk, and I—" His words broke off as guilt choked him. "Sophie, I love you. I love you, not her. This wasn't supposed to happen. I don't want Margo—I don't want to be with her. I only want you."

But Sophie was already crying, the pain too much to bear. She pushed him away, her tears streaming down her face. "You messed up, Avery," she said through sobs. "You ruined everything."

Avery felt like his heart was being ripped from his chest as he saw the devastation in her eyes. "I'll be responsible for the child, Sophie," he pleaded. "But I don't want to be with her. I want to be with you. I don't want to lose you."

Sophie shook her head, her voice breaking. "Do you think it's that easy? All these years we've been together, everything we've been through... and now, you've thrown it all away. You've made this so complicated, Avery."

"I know," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I know I did. But I can't lose you. Please, Sophie."

But Sophie's heart was shattered. She looked at him, her eyes filled with anguish, and whispered the words she never thought she'd have to say. "I'm breaking up with you, Avery."

Avery's world collapsed in that moment. "Sophie, no, please—"

"I don't want to," she said, her voice trembling. "But there's a child involved now, and I can't be part of this mess. I can't be in a relationship that's so... broken."

Avery reached for her hand, but Sophie pulled away, tears still falling. "I love you, Avery, but I can't be with you anymore. It hurts too much."

Avery stood there, his hands trembling, his heart aching. He had lost her. He had lost everything. As Sophie turned away, he realized the gravity of what he had done. His mistake had cost him the person he loved most in the world.

"I'm sorry," Avery whispered one last time, his voice cracking.Were done! I cannot do anything about it!

But it was too late. Sophie walked away, leaving Avery standing in the doorway, broken, with nothing but regret and the weight of his mistakes.