Chapter 5 Echoes of the Past

• Michael scoffed, "Do I really need to attend that birthday celebration?"
• "Why wouldn't you?"
• Sophia's voice on the other end suddenly sharpened, raising several octaves. "If you skip it, others would ridicule me! They'd probably say that I can't even control my live-in husband, that you dare to defy me!"
• Then, with authority, Sophia commanded, "Michael, I don't care what you're doing; you must come over!"
• With that, Sophia abruptly hung up.
• Listening to the dial tone, Michael felt a surge of frustration.
• It had been five years since he became Sophia's live-in husband.
• During these years, he had diligently cared for Sophia and her mother. Yet, in return, he endured endless insults from the Lewises. They never treated him like a human being.
• And now, because Sophia was involved with another man, she wanted him to file for divorce.
• And before that, she insisted he attend some birthday celebration!
• It was simply unbearable!
• "Sophia, how did you become like this?"
• Michael couldn't help but recall a girl in a school uniform with a ponytail ...
• Back then, after his mother passed away, Michael and his sister arrived in Goldspire. For several days, they struggled to find work.
• The siblings, looking all disheveled, resorted to begging on the streets.
• During those tough times, whenever Sophia passed by on her way to school, she would share her snacks with them.
• Perhaps Sophia didn't remember those acts of kindness, but Michael remembered them vividly.
• He remembered Sophia!
• It was Sophia who had helped them survive those difficult days.
• At that time, Sophia became a heroine in Michael's eyes.
• Years later, when Sophia's father fell seriously ill, he sought a live-in husband for Sophia in Goldspire.
• Michael approached the opportunity casually and unexpectedly won the approval of Sophia's father.
• That was how Michael became the Lewises' live-in son-in-law.
• Michael pledged to treat Sophia well and ensure her happiness.
• To console Sophia's grief over losing her father, he took meticulous care of her daily life.
• He laundered clothes, cooked meals without complaint, and attended to her every need.
• Yet, everything he did was scorned by the Lewises ...
• And Sophia remained indifferent towards him.
• But Michael believed that his efforts would eventually touch Sophia's heart ...
• Instead, what he received was a request for divorce!
• Sophia had another man!
• That man even used his sister's serious illness and financial needs to coerce Michael into divorcing Sophia!
• Recalling another incident, Michael suddenly remembered something from the past ...
• Shortly after marrying Sophia, she disappeared for nearly a year.
• Later, Sophia would occasionally be absent from home for several days.
• At the time, he didn't think much of it, assuming Sophia was on business trips...
• Now it appeared that during those absences, Sophia was likely meeting with that other man!
• And now Sophia wanted him to file for divorce because their marriage had been arranged by Sophia's father before his death.
• At that time, Sophia had personally promised her father that she would spend her life with Michael.
• Initiating a divorce would deeply disrespect her father's wishes.
• In an instant, as if a revelation struck him, Michael's gaze hardened.
• "Sophia, I refuse to divorce you. Clearly, you're the one at fault here. Why should I bear this humiliation and divorce you?"
• Michael clenched his fists. "Lewises, over these years, I will reclaim every insult you've hurled at me! You will regret it!"