"So what are the reasons?" Luca , my new layer, asked as he sat on a leather chair in front of his black desk. The man in front of me the epitome of mystery; his black pitch eyes and dark hair, his fancy suit, small smile that didn't reach his eyes and professional tone made me shiver. Usually lawyers try to encourage their clients to talk by owing their trust and being a bit nice but Luca Felton looked cold and detached but I cannot deny the wall of degrees behind him or his professional stances. 

My heart kept on pounding painfully at his words but what I should do should be done. It is been ten long days but Axel still didn't find me. I even found a small apartment far away from the Williams's mansion and soon enough I will be moving to it. I will be free and living on my own soon. For the moment, I need to focus on the final step in my journey of freedom; that is to free my heart once and for all from Axel.

"He cheated." Adam's voice echoed making my pain triple

"Don't " I dismissed Adam's comment " Can't the divorce be uncontested ?" I continued to ask 

" Mrs.Williams." Luca started 

"Miss.Lewis, or just call me Sophia please." I cut him because anything related to Axel is making my small steps of progress slower and harder 

"Sophia, you surely know that An occurs when there are no disagreements between you and your spouse over any financial or divorce-related issues" Luca explained and I nodded because I already knew that 

"I was thinking of a way to convince Axel to sign the papers. I don't want to go through courts and stuff. I don't need his money or anything. I just want to be freed to get my life back." I explained back

"Then talk to him." Luca suggested and offered me a weak smile

"I cannot do that." I refused. I cannot just reappear so suddenly. I cannot go back to the mansion and face Olivia and Mitchell. Yes, I did nothing wrong but I still ran away and left them to worry...Also Axel, I cannot just bring myself to tell him the news of losing the company

"Be a strong woman, Sophia. A divorce is not easy, never was, never will be. You need to face it and be brave about it. You are also lucky because you do not have a kid till now or else you will have custody problems and must explain such fragile issue to a little kid. It is not easy to explain to a kid why he or she is living away from their other living parent" Luca said and his dark black eyes went darker if it is even possible. He just looked fragile for a second then brushed such fragility away and hid it behind a small smile.

"But he will lose the company." I argued remembering how my dad kept on talking to me about his company. It was his best achievement. He and Axel' s dad spent their life building it. Even Axel grew between its walls. He grew dreaming of making the company bigger and now he is doing so. So is it not purely cruel to take it away from him?

"There is a solution for that." Luca said as he lifted the contract again studying it 

"For real?" I questioned in a rush and Adam nodded my way offering me a small smile

"Yes, Adam said that his uncle wanted to trick you out of your wedding. The contract says that , once any part of the contract , the parts sharing the company I mean, tries to find an illegal way to do so, they lose the right to own it. Mr. Black here has proof of his uncle doing so. He already showed me the e-mails and texts sent by his uncle to encourage him to break you apart and to cause problems between you. He even promised Adam a share of the company." Luca informed me and offered me the same hopeful smile as Adam

"So, he get to keep the company." I repeated a bit happy

"You both do." Adam replied 

"I don't want it. I will give my share to him. I need to move away from him, cut all ties, start all over again." I informed and Adam just nodded at me again

 "I advice you to talk to Mr.Williams. Informe him about the divorce, so when he gets the papers it won't be a surprise and he won't overreact."Luca advised

"I will" I promised 

Leaving the office of Luca, I had two things to think about; Firstly, meeting Axel again and secondly my new job. I got a job in the business or Commercial law branche in Luka's company. Surprisingly, after the consultation he asked me some questions and rapidly went through my certificates and CV then congratulated me for becoming a part of his company. You know a good thing when you see it, he said as he shacked my hand making me slightly blush.

"Drop me off by the William's mansion, please." I asked Adam and he stopped singing to Frank Sinatra and nearly froze but thanks to the sounds of cars behind us he didn't 

"Are you sure?" He questioned and tried to eye me but he needed to keep his eyes on the road so he just stole glimpses of my expressions

"Sooner is better than later or else I will get cold feet." I explained and for the millionth time today he nodded in accord

"Should I come with you?" He offered but I shook my head in refusal

"Thanks for everything A, but this problem is mine only and I should solve it alone. " I told him and offered him a sincere smile.

One knock, the guards were eyeing me with surprise, two knocks, memories are rushing through me, three knocks, maybe I should just leave. Four knocks, that's it I am leaving.

"Phiaaaaaaaa" The cry was sudden and then a familiar body hugged me or crushed me between its arms. Mitchy, dear god how I miss him!

"Mitchy." I greeted back ignoring the slight lack of air because of his strong hold

"I , no we, we all miss you and Bless is going to kill you for running away. Her hate for Axel got worse since you left. She will bite his head of soon." Mitchell blamed as he allowed me to step out of his hold

"I miss you all too." I honestly said and a little voice in my head said even Axel

"Mitchell why were you yelling?" A husky voice that I knew too well came out then Axel followed and blood froze in my vines again. What am I doing here? I am not prepared for a confrontation

"Sophia..." Axel hushed, not gem, not sweetheart, just my name. He then stood frozen at the door step his eyes studying me from head to toe. 

"Hi" I greeted awkwardly

"I...I" Axel tried to speak but his voice seemed to be lost 

"I will leave you two alone." Mitchell said then walked inside leaving us alone

"Sophia, I missed..." Axel tried to say as he seemed to get his voice back

"Don't. I just came to tell you that I filed for a divorce." I informed with all the strength that I mastered 

"I am done with Liza. I promise." He said back and took a step my way

"That's your business. Also the company is yours. My lawyer found a loophole." I continued ignoring his little promise

"I...I love" He tried to say but I raised my hand to stop him. I don't want to hear those words. Those will only break me. Those will only make this harder.

"Don't you dare. Not when I am trying to get my life back. Where were you a week ago? Mending Liza's heart because she is more important to you? But I cannot rot in hell for all you care. I cried too. I suffered too from a broken heart but you didn't care...I had enough Axel so please just sign the papers when you get them. I already informed my lawyer that I don't want anything from you too." I said then turned and started to walk away but a strong warm hand grabbed mine stopping me and rotting me in my place

"I am not signing anything. I had to mend her heart because she helped me when my dad died. I was returning a favor. I tried to keep her sober without resulting to professional help but she was already a heavy drinker before and with the loss of her brother her situation worsened. She is in rehab now you can go and ask her if I even allowed her to kiss me. Whenever she tried to, an image of you popped in my mind. I moved on from her..." Axel promised and his tone tangled in pain 

"I am tired of us, Axel. I cannot be in a relationship with you when I am not your first priority. What if something bad happened to me last week you would have never knew. I could have even been injured, left the country or died...Anything could have happened." I said pulling my hand out of his

"I knew your news from Mitchell." Axel promised and followed my steps

"Mitchell tried to search for me but you didn't." I blamed ignoring his nearing steps 

"I hired a private investigator. You lived with Adam and now you are thinking of buying a new appartement. You stayed in his appartement for seven days without leaving it. I wanted to brag in and pull you out of his house but what right did I had? I was the one who pushed you away because of Liza's issues. I had no right. I am sorry." Axel apologized and I felt him nearing me so I walked faster out of the mansion's land 

"I was never important enough for you to claim me back that's why you didn't brag in and pull me away." I argued back

"You were and are...I swear that I love you." Axel said those three words making me freeze but remembering the pain of the past few days made my blood boil again

"If that was true...Why didn't you tell what was really going on. I could have helped you with Liza you know? But no you wanted us both to need you , weighed your options, had your time with her and now you want some time with me ?" I questioned rudely 

"I had no time with her." Axel defended 

"I don't care just sign the papers. Now if you excuse me, I have more important stuff to do" I said as I spotted an empty cab and stopped it

"I will not sign those papers." Axel rumbled at me 

"You got to keep the company what else do you want?" I mocked 

"You" Axel bluntly said capturing my elbow and turning me around. Once again his hand circled my waist sending shivers down my spine. We were face to face, chest to chest and eye to eye. My heartbeats accelerated and my body welcomed the so familiar heat. Only my heart ached and mind screamed. I tried to push Axel away but to avail. He started to lean in while his eyes focused on mine. They held specs of tears and that shocked me. He studied my face like usual with an intensity making me blush. Finally, his eyes fell on my lips making me gasp and fight harder for my freedom. I served punches at his hard chest but nothing. I yelled at him but nothing. He still looked at me with undeniable intensity.

"I love you." He repeated and leaned closer to capture my lips but to my relief the cab driver honked at us making us jump apart

"You will receive the papers soon. Mr. Felton said that they will reach you in three days, just sign them." I said harshly at Axel and rapidly jumped into the taxi trying to calm my racing heart.