SOPHIE THE HEIRESS

BROKENNESS 💔💔

Brokenness

Sophie collapsed into the driver's seat of her sleek sports car, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. Her body shook with each sob, the heartbreak still fresh, raw, and cutting through her like a knife. She wanted to drive, to get away from the painful reality she had just faced with Avery, but her hands trembled so badly she couldn't even grip the steering wheel.

Without thinking, she reached for her phone and dialed her brother, Clyde. After three rings, his voice came through the line, casual and light as always. "What's up, Sophie?"

Sophie didn't even get a word out before she started crying again, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Clyde's tone immediately shifted, concern washing over him. "Sophie? Are you okay? What's going on? Where are you?"

I'm... I'm in the parking lot of my apartment..." she managed to choke out, her words barely discernible through the sobs.

"Stay there. I'm coming. Don't move, okay?"

Sophie couldn't even answer, just held the phone tightly to her ear as Clyde hung up, the familiar warmth of her brother's voice the only thing grounding her. She leaned back against the seat, tears blurring her vision as she tried to steady her breathing, but the weight of what had just happened felt suffocating.

In what felt like an eternity but was actually only twenty minutes, Clyde's car pulled into the parking lot. He spotted her immediately, slumped in her car, still sobbing. Without hesitation, he rushed over, opened her door, and slid into the passenger seat next to her. "Sophie, are you hurt? What happened?" His voice was soft, but his worry was palpable.

Without saying a word, Sophie turned and collapsed into his arms, hugging him tightly as if he were the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely. She clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt, as she cried harder than she ever had.

Clyde..." she finally whispered, her voice broken, "Avery and I... we broke up."

Clyde's body tensed at her words. His protective instincts kicked in immediately, his mind racing with possibilities of what Avery could have done to hurt his sister like this. "What? What did he do to you?"

Sophie pulled back, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand, though they kept falling. "He... he got another woman pregnant."

Clyde's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing with anger. "Who the hell is this guy? Are you kidding me, Sophie? Good job breaking up with him. You don't need someone like that in your life. He's not worth your time, not worth your tears."

Sophie shook her head, the ache in her chest growing as she tried to explain. "But... I still love him, Clyde. He swore to me he's not the father, but that woman, she's insisting he is. He's a mess, he kept crying... I didn't know what to do."

Clyde exhaled slowly, his fists tightening as he listened to his sister's pain. "Sophie... he messed up, big time. And if this woman is insisting it's his kid, then he's going to have to deal with it, one way or another. But you? You don't deserve to be dragged into this mess. I know you love him, but you can't let him ruin your life."

Sophie sniffed, leaning her head against the steering wheel, feeling torn. She didn't want this. She didn't want her relationship with Avery to end like this. "It hurts so much, Clyde... I don't know what to do."

Clyde gently placed a hand on her back, rubbing it soothingly. "Let's get out of here, okay? I'll drive. You don't have to think about it right now. We'll figure this out, but first, you need a break from all of this."

Sophie nodded weakly, grateful for Clyde's calm presence. She slowly slid over to the passenger seat, and Clyde took the driver's side. As they pulled out of the parking lot, Sophie's thoughts raced, her heart heavy with everything she had just lost.