After the Divorce, My Ex-Husband Begs for My Return

Episode 4

The Global Brasil Group building was always cold.

Glass, steel, silence.

Sofia stepped out of the elevator with measured steps. The phone was still warm in her palm. Bruno's message was short, urgent, and too vague to ignore.

"Come to the office. It's serious. It involves a life."

Life.

The word still echoed in her head when the office door opened.

And, in the next instant, everything made sense — in the cruelest way possible.

Bruno was sitting behind the desk.

And Isabela was there.

Not passing through.

Not as a casual visitor.

She occupied the leather sofa on the side, legs crossed naturally, like someone who had known that space for a long time.

Sofia felt her stomach sink.

"You said it was urgent." she said, controlling her breathing. "That it had to do with life."

Bruno raised his eyes slowly.

His gaze was indifferent. Assessing.

"Sit down." he said.

Sofia remained standing.

"I prefer to stay like this."

Bruno didn't insist. He just pushed a document across the table.

"The divorce agreement." he explained. "We need to adjust a few points."

Sofia's eyes widened.

"Adjust?"

She approached, picked up the paper.

Recognized it immediately.

"I already signed it." she said, her voice low, but firm. "And I made it clear: I'm leaving without taking anything."

Isabela let out a soft giggle.

"Some people like to play the proud ones..." she commented, feigning delicacy. "But, in the end, they always want something more."

Sofia turned to her.

Her gaze was direct. Cutting.

"I'm not talking to you."

Isabela blinked, surprised for a second. Then, she recomposed her smile.

Bruno frowned slightly.

"Sofia, be reasonable." he said. "There are joint assets. You can't just—"

"I can." she interrupted. "I already did."

She tapped her finger on the handwritten passage.

"It's here. My handwriting. My signature. I don't want a cent."

Bruno watched her for a few seconds.

"Are you doing this to pressure me?" he asked. "Do you want me to give in first?"

Sofia felt a stab in her chest.

"Do you really believe that?"

Before Bruno could answer, his phone rang.

He answered without asking permission.

"Yes." he said. "I'm already taking care of it."

He stood up.

"Wait." he ordered. "I'll be right back."

The door closed.

The silence fell like a blade.

Isabela was the first to get up.

"You know, Sofia..." she began, walking slowly to the window. "I really didn't expect you to be like this."

"Like what?" Sofia retorted.

"To send your own mother to cause a scene." Isabela turned, with false indignation. "Going to his house, crying, accusing... that's so ugly."

Sofia felt the blood rush.

"My mother never..."

"Oh, sure." Isabela sighed. "Always the victim. Always above everything. Pretending to be pure while making others look like villains."

She approached.

"But you know what?" she continued. "You've already lost. So why do you still insist on playing the legitimate wife?"

Sofia laughed.

"Playing?" she repeated. "Funny to hear that from someone who barely waited for the marriage to end to sit on that sofa."

Isabela paled.

"Watch what you say."

"Watch what you do." Sofia replied, without backing down. "Some people barely see the door open and already think they own the house."

Isabela's smile disappeared.

For a second, her gaze hardened.

Then, it changed completely.

Her eyes filled with tears.

Her body shrunk slightly.

"I just wanted everything to be resolved peacefully..." she murmured.

The door opened.

Bruno entered.

"What's going on?"

Isabela ran to him.

"I... I tried to talk..." she said, her voice trembling. "But she humiliated me."

Bruno held her shoulder.

"It's okay." he said, in a tone that Sofia hadn't heard in a long time. "I'm here."

Then, he turned to Sofia.

His gaze was cold.

"Apologize."

Sofia blinked.

"What?"

"To Isabela." he repeated. "You were unnecessary."

"You're asking me to apologize..." she took a deep breath "...for reacting to the mistress who provoked me?"

Bruno's jaw tightened.

"Stop using those words." he said. "You're getting bitter."

Sofia felt something break inside her chest.

"Bitter?" she laughed, incredulously. "You bring the other woman to your office, call me with the excuse of"life at risk", accuse me, humiliate me... and I'm bitter?"

Bruno took a step forward.

"Careful."

"No." she replied. "Enough."

"You betrayed me." he snapped. "And now you want to pose as wronged?"

Sofia felt her head spin.

"You're embarrassing me in front of strangers." she said, her voice failing. "Is this still a marriage to you?"

Bruno's face darkened.

He advanced.

His hand rose too quickly.

His fingers closed on her jaw.

He forced Sofia's face up.

"Apologize." he growled.