Chapter 10 - THE MARRIAGE OF SIX HOURS
Sofia and Javier separated the night of the wedding.
Legally, the marriage existed.
Emotionally, it had lasted six hours.
Javier asked whether annulment was possible.
Sofia’s attorney explained grounds vary and humiliation alone does not erase a valid marriage.
So Sofia filed for divorce.
No fantasy legal shortcut.
The prenuptial agreement she had signed remained relevant.
Ironically, it made financial separation easier.
Carmen had insisted on protecting Javier’s family assets.
Now the document also prevented long financial warfare.
Sofia wanted nothing from them beyond what law and immediate expenses required.
Then Javier offered to pay for the damaged dress.
She refused.
Not as symbolism.
Adrian had already paid the medical and replacement-clothing costs after asking permission.
Javier’s payment felt like trying to make the wedding an invoice.
Then Javier asked for one meeting.
Sofia agreed.
He looked exhausted.
“I loved you.”
“I know.”
That surprised him.
Then she said:
“Love wasn’t the missing part.”
He stared.
“Courage was.”
His face crumpled.
Sofia continued:
“You kept waiting for a moment when protecting me wouldn’t cost you anything.”
Silence.
“There isn’t one.”
Javier nodded.
Then he said:
“I thought if I told Mom about Adrian, she’d become fake-nice.”
“She would have.”
“I didn’t want that.”
Sofia stared.
“So you preferred honest cruelty?”
“No.”
“Then what did you prefer?”
He had no answer.
May you like
Because he had built his entire strategy around postponing the moment when two loyalties collided.
The wedding simply made delay impossible.
