Chapter 51: Chapter 51

"Are you fu*king kidding, Me? Don't be crazy, Tristan Quartararo!"

The words flowed freely when Sophia heard what Tristan had just asked. The man, still her husband, was willing to sign their divorce papers on conditions that he thought were unreasonable or seemed to benefit only one party.

Even if it's just pretending, Sophia still doesn't want to. She struggles to escape toxic relationships and even stays away from a creature named Tristan. So now? She had to work hard first. Bothered followed the man for a week's service in Dubai to get divorce approval. How good, she thought!

If there were another way, Sophia would prefer another way to get a divorce rather than having to go back to pretending to be a happy wife. Not to mention that this request seemed far-fetched and only took advantage of him.

"I'm serious, Sophia. This is not the mode let alone take advantage of the moment as you think."

Tristan looked at Sophia intently. Constantly trying to convince the woman to accept the offer he previously made.

"I'm sure you must be thinking different things right now. But I swear, once this is all over, I'll sign the divorce papers as you requested."

What had just been said by Tristan still made Sophia doubt. A look of anger and disappointment suddenly appeared in his eyes. At first glance, he felt sad because the more he came here, the more confident he was that Tristan didn't have the slightest feeling for him. The man did not try to maintain their household as it should be.

If Tristan had been sensitive and had some feelings, he should have pleaded or asked Sophia to stay in this relationship. Not even using frills of all kinds. And now? Instead, he took advantage of Sophia's position for the business interests that Tristan was doing.

Damn her husband! The man had apologized and even asked not to be separated from Sophia since yesterday. However, Tristan uses it not because he loves his wife. But because he felt so guilty and wanted to make things right to atone for his sins. Of course, this made Sophia even more embarrassed.

"What if you don't keep your promise?" Sophia squinted. Her expression looked very doubtful.

Tristan, who understood his wife's suspicious attitude, immediately chuckled. He was even excited to see Sophia's behavior.

"If I break my promise, you can report me to the police station on charges of fraud, molestation, non-violence, or whatever so that I can be jailed. Besides, you don't have to be afraid. immediately keep my promise to marry Aurora."

"Marry Aurora?" Sophia's heart almost stopped beating when she heard this news. Instead of being defended, she got a reality that made her hurt again. She thought it was only natural that Aurora never felt uncomfortable being treated affectionately. It turns out that this couple has been in a relationship for a long time.

"So you seriously want to marry Aurora?" Sophia had to ask again to confirm what she had just heard.

"Yes." Tristan nodded casually. "If you can marry Edward, why can't I marry Aurora? That's why you don't have to worry about me breaking my promise."

Sophia smiled wryly. From this, he convinced himself that Tristan tricked him entirely during the approach.

"I just realized, it turns out that the expression that says the relationship between the two of you is nothing more than brothers is just bullshit. In fact, you do like each other. Or maybe during your separation from me, you have slept together many times like what I saw last night. that?"

"Oh come on, Sophia. Don't accuse me of nothing. Why are you talking about my and Aurora's wedding now?"

Tristan kept a smile on his lips. Which only adds to the level of handsomeness in the man. "From the first, I did think of Aurora as just a brother. Yes, even before we met you, we were already set up to get married. However, until this moment my feelings for Aurora remain the same. I married her because I had promised her. That's why, I beg you once again, please accept my request. I will not break my promise after all this is over."

Sophia chuckled a little. For a moment, she seemed silent. Preferring to get up from her seat while staring intently at Tristan. Fixing her gaze on the blue ocean bead for a while before finally speaking again.

"Don't expect me to grant your wish. I will never want to get back together with you even if it's just pretend!" Sophia said emphatically. Taking a deep breath, the woman continued to speak. "Now, hurry up and get out of my house. If you don't want to sign the divorce papers I gave you, that's fine. I'll get the Cullens' lawyer to take it to court. Make an appeal or something so they can separate from you as soon as possible."

"Sophia..." Tristan called softly.

"Stop calling my name in such a gentle voice! Now, hurry up or I'll call security to kick you out." Tristan sighed. Choose to give up, then nod. Raising one hand, asked Sophia to calm down while speaking carefully.

"Ok, Fine. I'll be leaving right now. But whatever it is, I beg you to consider this request of mine just once. If you change your mind, you'll know where to contact me."

Tristan then reached for the files he had previously brought with him. Seconds later walked out, leaving Sophia's residence with mixed feelings. As soon as he got home, the man immediately walked to the reading room. There, before sitting down, Tristan seemed to reach for his cell phone from the pocket of the jacket he was wearing. Search for someone's contact, then call them immediately.

"Alexius, keep an eye on Sophia. If you see anything suspicious, let me know immediately. Especially if you see Edward stop by my wife's parents' house." Ever since Sophia decided to stay at her parents' house, Tristan had asked his bodyguard to keep an eye on Sophia secretly.

Always give a report every four or five hours about what things his wife is doing out there. As soon as the call was cut off, Tristan immediately threw the cellphone and the files he had brought everywhere. Raphael, who was passing in front of the room, when he heard a little noise, went straight in and approached his son.

"What's the matter, Tristan? Why are you scattering these files?" asked the confused man as he bent down, picking up the papers scattered on the floor. Tristan immediately sat himself down on the sofa. Rubbing his face angrily, the man soon replied in a tone full of frustration.

"Looks like there's no hope for Foxtail to be at Alabbar's show next week. Pa. Sophia turned me down when I went to her house," he said in a tone of extreme disappointment.

"Sophia turned you down?" Raphael repeated, slightly surprised. He didn't even know that his son was desperate to visit his wife.

Tristan nodded. After removing the tie wrapped around his neck, the man took off his coat and threw it in any direction.

"I've offered to comply with all requests, including signing the divorce papers he's been asking for. But still, Sophia refused. Papa knows for himself that there are many fates of workers in my hands."

Raphael could see how the son's face darkened. He was sure that, apart from thinking about the Foxtail issue, which probably wouldn't be there next week, another problem seemed to be bugging the man's heart that he didn't want to reveal.

"What am I supposed to do, Pa?" Tristan asked again in a low voice. Raphael himself could only smile faintly. Preferring to approach the position where Tristan was sitting, he patted his son's shoulder lightly. Trying to calm down. Then join in the words.

"That's it. Then, you don't need to worry about it. Tonight, you should get enough rest. Tomorrow, we'll think about how we can still attend Emaar's invitation without having to force Sophia." Tristan complied. The man lazily got up and dragged his feet to go to the room quickly.

***

"What did you say? Tristan asked you to go to Dubai in a week?"

Edward was annoyed after hearing what Sophia had just told him. This afternoon, during the break from work, Edward had deliberately visited Sophia at the agency building where the woman worked. Deliberately bringing lunch so it can be eaten together with the woman he loves.

However, while chatting, Sophia suddenly told her about Tristan, who had visited last night and even invited Sophia to go abroad.

"Tristan even gave the lure that he would soon divorce me as long as he would comply with his request this time," Sophia said while chewing the sushi in her hands. Edward shook his head hard. Of course, he wasn't the least willing that Sophia would agree to go with Tristan even though the man has the right to take his wife anywhere because of their legal status in the eyes of the law.

"I'd go crazy if you agreed to this ridiculous request, Sophia." Sophia nodded. "I'm not stupid either, Ed. After what Tristan did to me all this time, he just came and asked me to agree to a request that didn't even bring me any profit."

"Thank God you're not tempted. Regarding your divorce, later after this, I will directly contact the lawyer tomorrow to discuss what other way should be taken if Tristan takes time or doesn't want to sign the divorce agreement. I will do anything for you, Sophia," said Edward earnestly. He grabbed her wrist and squeezed it gently.

"I'll do anything, so you and Tristan can separate soon. Then after that, I'll get you engaged and then married."

Seeing the sparkle of sincerity and sincerity reflected in Edward's eyes made Sophia's heart warm up instantly. He kept reassuring himself that his choice this time would not be wrong. After all, why wait for Tristan to change? He doesn't love her at all.

That's why, when Edward offered to propose and marry her, Sophia didn't refuse. She knew very well that Edward was a sincere man. The man was always there when she was happy, sad, or even in big trouble. Edward never intended to leave her for a second. It would be a loss if, this time, she refused or just let it go.

"Let's hope everything goes well. Whether you're engaged or even married, I'll leave it all to you, Ed."

Edward smiled sheet. Stretching out his free hand, the man ruffled Sophia's hair as he rose from his seat. Get ready to say goodbye because you have to continue with work. "Then I'll go first. See you later this afternoon. If there's anything or you need anything, just let me know."

Sophia nodded. The woman also stood up. Then gave a brief peck on both the cheeks of the brown-eyed man. Seconds later took him to the lobby of the building and made sure the man's shadow disappeared from view. Just as she turned around to walk into the elevator, Sophia heard a man's baritone voice calling her name from a distance. Stopping her steps, she immediately turned to the source of the voice that sounded slightly familiar to his ears.

"Uncle Olivier."

The one with the name immediately gave a friendly smile. He took quick steps to approach Sophia, who was silent in her position immediately.

"Is Uncle interrupting your time? There's something Uncle wants to talk about."

Sophia was flabbergasted. Of course, this is not uncommon. She had known Raphael all his life, and this was the first time she had bothered to come to her, let alone the building where he worked. From here, Sophia was sure there must be something important he wanted to tell her.

"No, Uncle. I'm not that busy. Let's go to the cafeteria at the front. Let's talk there."

Sophia then led Raphael to follow her footsteps towards the cafeteria she was referring to. As soon as they arrived, the two immediately took a position not far from the cashier desk.

After ordering a drink, Sophia immediately asked the man in front of her a question without further ado.

"What's really going on, that Uncle suddenly met me here?" she inquired.

Raphael returned a smile. To shorten the time, he chose to be direct without having to say small talk first.

"Before starting any further, Uncle would like to congratulate you Sophia for successfully recovering from the critical wound you had suffered. Uncle also wants to apologize for all the disgraceful things Tristan has done to you so far. Really, he is going too far. Revenge, really has darkened his eyes to the point where he can't tell what's good and what's right."

Sophia nodded slowly. Judging from the look in the eyes of the man in front of him, he knew Raphael was sincerely apologizing to him. After all, while still living in the residence of the Quartararo family, this man in front of her was always kind and even worried and paid attention when she tried to commit suicide.

So there was no reason for Sophia to hate Uncle Raphael. Moreover, this man has become a victim of vile slander from his father.

"Thank you, Uncle for your concern. What happened in the past, we'd better forget about it," Sophia said wisely. Seeing the waiter who had just served the drink that had been ordered, Raphael first took a sip of the espresso he had ordered.

Having had enough, the man put the cup back in its place. Pause for a moment while stringing words together, then speak to Sophia.

"Tristan must have met him recently, right?"

Sophia nodded. "Yeah, last night Tristan came to see me to ask for something."

"He asked you to come with him to Dubai?"

Once again, Sophia nodded, confirming the words of the man in front of her.

"Yes, Uncle. He forced me to go on a business trip to Dubai. Asked me to pretend to be a happy wife for a week until his business was done."

"And you agree?"

This time Sophia shook her head repeatedly. "Even if Tristan made an offer to give me anything. In fact, he agreed to sign the divorce papers that I filed some time ago, I still won't agree to this one request."

Raphael was silent for a moment. Staring intently at Sophia while flashing a smile. He understood why the woman refused her son's request.

However, Raphael still wanted to hear his son-in-law's reasoning directly.

"What made you turn down the request, Tristan? Didn't he offer to sign the divorce papers you've been asking for so many times?"

Sophia nodded immediately. "Uncle's right. But I don't like the way he's blatantly taking advantage of me. Can't Tristan just be sincere for once?"

Raphael sighed. Now he had gone awry. He could not blame Sophia when she was the victim here. Anyone would be upset when they used to be tortured, put down, or mistreated.

So now? Suddenly approached for help by being given the lure to seem taken advantage of. "Once again, Uncle apologizes for what Tristan did to you, Sophia. Maybe your husband really has run out of ideas. Honestly, it's not only Tristan who needs your help, but Foxtail and the other workers. We have our fates at stake in this meeting," said he. Raphael blatantly.

"What do you mean, Uncle?" Sophia asked curiously. "Whether you understand it or not, what is certain is that Emaar purposely invited the two of you specifically to attend the owner's wedding anniversary celebration. There are many big tenders they are preparing for the next meeting. Just imagine for yourself, Sophia. When Foxtail refuses to attend, what will What will happen next? Emaar officials will definitely be disappointed and it is possible that Foxtail will be added to the blacklist of the company and their partners. Of course this affects the credibility and stability of the company. Because of this, Tristan is forcing you. There are people he has to protect. Not purely pursuing ambition. However, Uncle believes his way of asking for help is the wrong one."

Immediately Sophia fell silent. She didn't know the reason for this one. As it turned out, a complicated thing made her husband force her to come along for a week. She was even willing to give whatever he asked if she agreed to his invitation.

"Besides..." Raphael continued. "If you really want a divorce, Tristan's signature and approval are still needed, Sophia. If I'm honest, Uncle doesn't want you to separate. But keeping you by Tristan's side isn't easy either. If you really want to separate from your husband, Uncle beg you very much, just agree to Tristan's request."

Raphael stared fixedly at Sophia's face. He grabbed his daughter-in-law's wrist and held it tightly as he said softly.

"Only a week, Sophia. Uncle promise, Tristan won't do anything bad to you. When it's all over, you're free to ask for anything. If you don't want to help your husband, think of us Foxtail workers who need your help."

Sophia was speechless. Chooses to remain silent as he continues to think whether, in the end, she will continue to refuse or even agree to Raphael's request this time.