Mr. Chairman’s Devious Wife by Brey Mitchylle
Chapter 46

Chapter 46

"You have been very secretive lately—just where are you taking me?" Sofia inquired as Daniel used his hand to cover her eyes. She could smell the salty air and hear the distant sound of seagulls.

As they walked, the echoes of footsteps surrounded her, mixed with the creaking of wooden boards beneath their feet. The air carried a hint of fish, a mix of sea breeze, and the lively hum of people going about their business.

"It's a secret for a reason," he mused.

"I hate secrets..." she pouted. She thought she heard him laugh, but she was honestly too angry to even say another word right now. "Okay, you can open your eyes now," Daniel said with excitement in his voice.

Sofia uncovered her eyes to a breathtaking sight. The harbor stretched out before her, filled with colorful boats bobbing on the water. The sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over everything.

"I thought you might enjoy a surprise boat ride," Daniel grinned, pointing to the horizon. Seagulls swooped and danced, their calls blending with the gentle lap of waves against the boat.

Sofia couldn’t help but smile. The sea breeze tousled her hair, and the faint taste of salt on her lips made her feel alive. Angry yet alive.

However, what caught her attention was naturally Charlotte’s smiling face. "Surprise!" Charlotte held both of her hands up. Soon enough, Sofia spotted a few other people on what looked like a yacht. So, Daniel took her to the harbors of Chicago so he could propose in front of their families? Sofia sneered inwardly as she beamed.

"Hey... what are you guys doing here?" She tried to look for Alexander and was a little disappointed when he was not there. Alexander had already told her about his numerous meetings today, so she already knew he was not coming. Still, a part of her wished that he was.

"Shall we?" Daniel held his hand towards her, and she accepted it with glee. Soon, the two of them boarded the yacht. Sofia could feel the warmth of the sun on her face, and the gentle sway of the boat as they stepped onto it. The scent of the ocean lingered in the air, and the rhythmic slapping of water against the hull told her they were setting sail.

"What is this?" Sofia asked Daniel.

"Just a little surprise. I want to enjoy the sunset with you and our family." Daniel sounded so sweet, she wanted to puke right then and there. How could someone be this shameless? Still, she chose to endure, as all of this would soon be over.

The yacht glided through the water, leaving the harbor behind. Sofia gazed at the open sea, captivated by the endless expanse of blue. The sun dipped lower, casting a warm glow on the horizon. Seagulls trailed the yacht, their calls joining the rhythmic melody of the waves.

Everyone on board was dressed casually, wearing beach attire that reflected the carefree atmosphere. Flowing sundresses, shorts, and flip-flops added a touch of ease to the occasion. The yacht itself was simple yet elegant, with white sails billowing in the wind and a wooden deck that felt smooth beneath Sofia’s feet.

Charlotte, still wearing her infectious smile, approached Sofia. "Surprised, huh?" she said, giving her a playful nudge. Sofia beamed.

"How is it?" Charlotte handed her a glass of champagne, but Sofia immediately shook her head.

"Don't tell me you're..." Charlotte’s eyes widened, but she immediately saw the anger in Sofia's. This time, Charlotte found it hard to mask her emotions. "Are you—"

"Why would you even say that?" Sofia leaned closer. "I just want to be sober for my engagement. Don't worry, I can always have my team edit these images."

Charlotte pouted but stayed away until the sunset. "You know, I've been waiting for this moment for years. I don’t want anything to ruin it," she mumbled, turning her head away. Until now, she did not know how she was able to stay sane. With all the things that she just discovered and the cruelty that these people did to her, it would be logical for her to finally break. But she did not. Instead, she maintained a calm facade.

Soon enough, the music, food, and drinks started flowing. This time, Daniel chose to stay by Sofia’s side, simply talking about the past and the things they had gone through since they became a couple. To Sofia’s surprise, Daniel actually had a lot to say. It was as if he really treasured the moments with her.

But then again, she knew all too well that these were all fake. If he truly treasured her, then why hurt her? Why betray her like that?

"I want two kids," Daniel uttered. "One would be boring. How about you?" he asked.

"I don’t know," Sofia shrugged. Daniel pursed his lips, but he did not say anything to antagonize her. Instead, he nodded.

"I apologize for what happened yesterday. I know I said some things—"

"It's alright."

"No. I wanted to apologize for what happened. I was muddle-headed. I—I did not expect that Alexander would ruin the moment and cause a scene. I didn’t think he would ruin everything," Daniel continued.

"Until now, my father never did praise me. To him, I am the weaker version of Alexander, and I realized that I was fine with that."

Bullshit! Sofia wanted to curse. How could this man say such words while hiding those dark thoughts inside his head? How could he blatantly lie to her?

"What are you trying to do?" Sofia asked. "You can’t cry here... everyone is..." Sofia turned and noticed that everyone was indeed looking at them as if they were watching a show. The moment Sofia turned towards Daniel, he was already on his knees, a large diamond ring in his hand.

"Sofia Lockhart, will you marry me?"

For a few seconds, Sofia was puzzled. She stared into his eyes, wondering if there was a part of him that truly loved her. She wondered if there was a small part of him that only wanted her.

However, she quickly realized that this was all for naught. This was a liar and a cheat. Still, she smiled and nodded. "Of course," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.