Is this destiny?

~ New York ~

Sophia and Felix are in the apartment.

It's almost noon on the East Coast and they are getting ready to go to office. Well, Felix is getting ready. Sophia is sitting on the edge of the bed and fidgeting her fingers nervously.

JoAnna called Sophia in order to remind her to tell Felix story about Mark and Katherine because he will find out about it one way or another. She knows she needs to tell him, but the question is how.

She is thinking how to tell him about Katherine and the role she played six years ago. She needs to tell him, because later in the evening they will have a virtual conference call, and she does not want him to find out about that in front of everyone else.

"We will be late at this rate. Don't you have meeting at one o'clock?", Felix reminded her.

'Oh, yes. I have meeting…', Sophia sighed.

Felix watched Sophia as he buttoned up his shirt. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Sophia patted the bed next to her, indicating for Felix to sit.

Felix sat next to her and observed her. He was waiting for Sophia to start talking.

"Do you remember that woman, buying slushie? I said that she looks familiar."

He confirmed that he remembers. "You also said that she should be dead."

Sophia was surprised how he remembered that small detail, but then, Felix always paid attention to details. "She looked like someone I met six years ago. I spoke with JoAnna and she said that Sarah looked her up, and she is not dead. I don't know all the details, I guess we will find out tonight during virtual conference."

"That woman not being dead… is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Sophia was not sure how to answer that question. Of course, it's good that woman is alive, but she is supposed to be dead. Anyway, it's time for Felix to find out the whole story. He will find out anyway when Sarah gives details of her investigation. Sophia thought that she might as well be honest and tell him everything that happened.

"Let me start from the beginning… Six years ago, I broke up with Mark. Reason for break up was that one day a woman showed up. She introduced herself as Katherine and said that she is pregnant with his child. Mark admitted that he was drunk at some party and that he blacked out. He woke up in the bed, next to her. He also said that he suspected that he was drugged, but it was too late to confirm that. He insisted on a DNA test, but before test was performed, Katherine killed herself. Mark wanted to do the DNA test regardless if she is alive or not, to confirm if the child was his, but her body was cremated already. At the end, he was not able to obtain firm evidence if she was even pregnant. That woman who said that she is pregnant with his child, and who killed herself is the same one who bought slushie few days ago."

"What a story…" Felix could not hide his surprise mixed with discomfort.

Hearing Sophia talk about her previous relationship is not easy. And the man in question is Mark, so that makes the whole situation much worse. Felix told himself to calm down. He also has few girlfriends in his past as well. He should not judge Sophia for what she did before they met, even if that includes a scoundrel like Mark. The important thing is that two of them are now together. And that she loves him. But he is not happy because she didn't tell him right away. It's obvious that this is something that is causing her stress, and he wishes to be able to share it with her. Additional unnecessary stress is present because she was not sure how he will react. Even now when he looks at her, he can see that she is anxiously looking at him. Oh, this woman… always wanting to take care of everything by herself.

Just as Felix thought, Sophia was observing him. "I hope you are not upset."

He almost rolled his eyes at her. "I am upset. Why didn't you tell me right away?"

"I'm not comfortable talking about… Mark. And I know that you are not either. I thought that if Sarah came back saying that it's a twin sister or some crazy case of lookalike then I can just forget about all of that. I'm sorry."

Felix contemplated for some time and decided not to make a big fuss about it. She is pregnant and he does not want to give her additional stress. And it does not matter. Mark is in the past, and he should stay there.

"It's OK." He hugged her. "Next time tell me. Especially if it's upsetting in any way. OK?"

Sophia agreed. "Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?"

"For being so understanding." Sophia was very grateful that he didn't make an issue out of this. She knows that she should have told him right away, but she wanted to spare both of them from thinking about Mark. And honestly, if she gets a do-over, she will do the same thing again.

"Do you have any ideas what Sarah found related to that woman?" Felix was hoping that Sophia knows more details. After all, the story is fascinating.

"No. But I know that there is something strange going on. She claimed to be pregnant with his child, faked her death… Why would she do that to him? His family is well-to-do, and even if she did it for the money, she didn't get any. I mean, who will pay a dead person? … I'm really eager to find out the truth behind all this. For now, I will try not to think about it. Sarah will give us details later."

"OK. Do you want to rest more, or are we going to office now?" Felix looked at the time. "If we don't leave in next fifteen minutes, you will need to move your meetings."

"You are right. Let me see if I can get ready by then." Sophia stood up. "Oh, Sarah texted asking if Aiden and she can stay with us for a night or two in few days."

"Sure… there is a guest bedroom. How come they are coming here?"

"I don't know. We can ask during the virtual conference." Sophia went to the closet to get ready. She was happy that this talk with Felix went much smoother than expected.

Sophia smiled at the thought that she is lucky to have such a great and understanding husband.