Ex-Lover as My Divorce Lawyer? This Train Wreck Just Got Scorching! - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Nathan's words were like a mixing rod, turning Sophia's thoughts into mush.
Just thinking about mumbling Ethan's name while drunk made her feel humiliated.
Seeing her silence, Nathan's eyes flashed with triumph as he picked up his jacket. "This marriage was doomed from the start—we were sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams. So yeah, my affair was pretty normal."
"I'm leaving now. Think about the lawsuit—don't waste your money for nothing."
The door opened and closed.
In the spacious living room, Sophia slowly sat down.
The bright lights revealed the dejection and sadness in her eyes.
Long after the porridge had stopped steaming, Sophia raised a hand to cover her face, her voice bitter.
"So... I'm the one who couldn't let go..."
The next day, Sophia had barely stepped into her office when her assistant, Lily, rushed up to her.
"Ms. Reed, someone's here to see you. They're in the reception room."
Sophia paused briefly, nodded, and walked directly to the reception room.
Opening the door, she found Victoria scanning the room.
Sophia stood in silence for two seconds before walking over to sit down. "What brings you here, Ms. Lang?"
Victoria smiled at her. "I came to deliver the wedding invitation and return something to you."
She took out a small box from her bag and pushed it across to Sophia.
"This belonged to you and Ethan. He was going to throw it away, but I thought it would be better to give it to you."
Sophia stared at the box without speaking.
Victoria continued. "As a qualified ex, you should fade into the background. I hope you two won't have any further contact."
With that, the room fell silent.
Sophia's hand clenched tightly under the table as she slowly replied, "I hired Stellar Law Firm for a fee—this is just a normal business transaction."
Victoria's eyes filled with contempt.
"Anyone can say pretty words, but do you really think others can't see through you?"
Just one sentence was enough to tear through Sophia's facade.
Embarrassment, shame, and bitterness crashed over her like waves.
Only after Victoria left the reception room did Sophia feel the suffocating pressure ease.
She clutched the solitary box in her hand, letting its sharp edges dig into her skin.
The pain penetrated deeply, but emotional wounds cut deeper.
That evening, after finishing her last document, Sophia's phone suddenly buzzed.
She had barely answered when a boisterous voice came through.
"Sophia, you haven't forgotten about tonight's alumni gathering, have you?"
Sophia paused—if not for Zoe Hudson's call, she truly would have forgotten.
She pressed the computer's shutdown button. "Send me the address and I'll head over now."
Without waiting for a response, she hung up.
By the time she arrived, the gathering was already underway.
As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw Ethan and Victoria sitting at the center of the room, surrounded by classmates.
"So Stellar Law Firm is yours? Man, you've really made it!"
"Ethan, don't you dare turn down my company's business in the future."
"I can't believe you're already getting married while I'm still single..."
Sophia watched the two people being celebrated in the spotlight and suddenly felt her eyes sting.
Ethan had once said: "Sophia, whether it's club activities or future gatherings, the only person standing beside me will be you."
She struggled to suppress the memories surfacing in her mind when she heard someone mention her name.
"Hey, you know Sophia Reed, right? Her wedding was this huge event, but now I hear she's getting divorced."
"With that cold, rigid personality of hers, what man could stand it? She deserves to be divorced!"
Sophia stood in the shadows, lingered for a few seconds, then quietly withdrew from the private room.
She spent a long time on the outdoor terrace before finally reaching into her pocket and pulling out a ladies' cigarette case.
Just as she took one out, Ethan's voice came from beside her.
"Pregnant women shouldn't smoke—isn't that common knowledge?"
Sophia turned to see him standing at the entrance, extinguishing a freshly lit cigarette in the ashtray.
Such a natural gesture made Sophia's heart tremble.
Ethan smoked occasionally, but when they lived together, he would either go to the balcony or wait a long time after smoking before coming back inside.
Seeing his indifferent gaze now, Sophia instinctively explained, "This isn't a cigarette..."
But Ethan interrupted her. "Victoria went to see you today. If she offended you, I apologize on her behalf."
Such obvious protection made whatever Sophia was about to say die in her throat.
Her heart felt like it was stuffed with a rotten lemon—sour to the point of bitterness.
She opened her mouth, but Zoe peeked through the glass door.
"Sophia, your husband's here looking for you."
Nathan? What was he doing here?