The Wife He Never Touched

(Sophia Parker POV)

The moment my husband—Daniel Cooper—was photographed checking into a hotel with his first love, I had just submitted my work application to another country—Eldoria.

It wasn't a coincidence. I did it on purpose.

Years ago, I promised Daniel's grandmother—Avery Cooper—and Daniel that I would be his wife for three years. Now, there were less than three months left.

After three months, I would completely disappear from his world—no one would care, and of course, I hadn't told anyone about it.

In Daniel's eyes, I was just a decoration he could do without.

In three years of marriage, he had never had sex with me, never touched me, and the words he'd spoken to me could be counted on one hand.

We were like strangers living under the same roof.

Now his first love was back, and his whole heart was with her. I had even less reason to stay.

Just then, my husband's mother—Emily Cooper—called: "Sophia, about Daniel and Ella going to the hotel, you go handle it. Don't let it blow up."

I frowned, feeling so tired.

Ella Price was Daniel's first love.

Her father had been close to the Cooper family before he died, and after his death, the Cooper family adopted her.

Three years ago, Avery discovered Daniel and Ella were secretly dating and got so angry she sent Ella abroad. Daniel was depressed for a long time because of it—I only found all this out after we got married.

"I understand," I said softly.

"Sophia, don't be too upset, and don't fight with Daniel," Emily comforted me on the phone. "Men, you know, they all have old flames. You're his wife, be generous about it."

I didn't say anything, but my heart felt like a piece had been carved out, empty.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't hurt at all.

When I married Daniel, I really liked him.

As for fighting? That wouldn't happen.

Avery had been good to me. Before she died, I promised her I would take good care of Daniel as his wife for three years.

For three years, I tried desperately to please him, did everything Mrs. Cooper should do with all my heart, but I just couldn't warm his cold heart.

Now, I was tired. I couldn't love anymore.

After hanging up, I changed clothes, grabbed my car keys, and drove to the hotel.

When I reached the presidential suite on the top floor where Daniel and his lover were, I hesitated for a moment, then rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly—it wasn't Daniel who answered.

Ella was wearing a white bathrobe, her wet black hair draped over her shoulders. When she saw me, she immediately smiled warmly: "Sophia, you're here!"

I glanced inside the room and asked coldly: "Where's Daniel?"

"Daniel's taking a shower." She stepped aside to let me in.

Just as she finished speaking, the bathroom door opened.

Daniel walked out wearing a bathrobe matching hers, drying his hair. When he saw me standing at the door, his expression immediately turned annoyed: "Why are you here?"

Before I could speak, Ella rushed to explain: "Sophia, don't misunderstand. I accidentally spilled juice on myself at the airport, so I had to come to the hotel to wash up and change."

Daniel let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of mockery as he looked at me: "Do you love following me around that much?"

My chest felt tight and painful.

I wanted to say Emily sent me, but the words felt pointless even as they reached my lips.

In his mind, whatever I did was wrong, had ulterior motives.

Holding back my hurt, I said calmly: "Emily asked me to pick you up and bring you home. Photos of you and Ms. Price checking into a hotel have already been taken by reporters, it might affect the Cooper Group's stock price—"

Before I could finish, he cut me off coldly: "Sophia, all you ever care about is the Cooper family's money. You encouraged my grandmother to force me to marry you for the money back then, didn't you?"

Every word was like a knife stabbing into my heart.

Yes, Avery did force him to marry me back then.

But what he didn't know was that before marrying him, I had secretly loved him for seven whole years.

On our wedding day, I foolishly thought it was my happiest moment.

I never imagined it was the beginning of a nightmare.

"Daniel, don't talk to Sophia like that." Ella tugged at his arm, saying softly, "Sophia's just worried about you. Just go back with her, so your mom won't worry."

Daniel's expression softened a bit. He glanced at me coldly and turned to walk into the bedroom: "Wait while I change."

The moment the bedroom door closed, only she and I were left in the living room.

The innocent, warm expression on Ella's face instantly vanished, replaced by a contemptuous sneer: "You see? The person Daniel loves will always be me. So what if you've occupied his wife's position for three years? You still can't have his heart."

I looked at her coldly: "Really? Too bad I'm the legitimate Mrs. Cooper right now. No matter how much he loves you, you're still just the other woman."

Ella's face turned ugly, biting her lip, unable to say a word in response.

The bedroom doorknob moved.

A flash of malice crossed her eyes. Suddenly, she swayed and fell toward the coffee table nearby, letting out a scream at the same time.

I instinctively reached out to catch her, and my hand slammed hard into the coffee table.

Daniel had just finished changing and came out, seeing exactly this scene.

He rushed over and helped Ella up from the floor.

"Ella, what happened?"

Ella's face was pale with pain, tears streaming down immediately.

She covered her right wrist, glanced at me with grievance, then lowered her head, choking up: "It's not Sophia's fault, I just didn't stand steady..."

Her acting made me sick. Probably only Daniel would fall for this.

Daniel whipped his head around, glaring at me: "Sophia! Are you crazy? Ella's a painter! If her hand is injured, how can she paint?"

His scolding killed something in my heart.

I didn't even bother to explain, just quietly watched him—watched him carefully hold Ella's hand, his face full of anxiety and concern.

That tenderness was something I had never seen in three years.

He only cared about Ella's painting hand, but didn't care at all that I had given up my dream of being a designer for him.

"Don't worry, I'll take you to the hospital right away." Daniel's voice was incredibly gentle. He picked up Ella and rushed toward the door.

From beginning to end, he never looked at me again.

I stood there alone in a daze, looking down at my hand that had turned blue from hitting the coffee table while trying to catch Ella.

No one cared. Daniel didn't even notice.

Whatever, I only had three months left anyway.

I tilted my head back, forcing the tears back down, trying hard to comfort myself.

But what I didn't know was—someone wouldn't let me wait until that day.