Behind Prison Walls: A Second Chance at Love

Six years ago, I went to prison for Ethan's accidental assault.

Six years later, I stood at the prison gates and watched Ethan ride past in a wedding car.

And his bride was the very person who had landed me in jail all those years ago.

The officer escorting me out handed over my belongings and asked casually:

"You got out two years early for good behavior. Didn't you call your family to pick you up?"

I looked away and took the bag, my voice hoarse:

"My mom's health isn't good. She's in the hospital."

"What about your husband?" the officer added.

I paused, then fished out the marriage certificate from the bottom of the bag, revealing the seal that had long since faded.

"This?"

I pulled at the corner of my mouth in something like a smile.

"It's fake. Three bucks for a rubber stamp."

Chapter One

This was the certificate she and Ethan had obtained before her imprisonment.

Back then, his eyes had been calm as he promised that no matter how long it took, she would be his only wife.

She had always believed what he said, until the stamp gradually faded and peeled away over these six years.

The officer looked embarrassed and turned to watch the luxurious convoy disappear into the distance, changing the subject:

"What a spectacle. I heard it's a merger between the Pierce and Taylor families. The groom is the young master the Pierces found a couple years ago."

"Apparently he spent years struggling in the slums. Who would've thought? One day he's nobody, the next he's a wealthy heir."

Sophia Bridge lowered her eyes gently.

Yes, who would have thought that a guy who had to deliver packages to save up for tuition a few years ago was the Pierce family's lost heir?

And who could have imagined that after returning to his birth family, he would marry Clara Taylorthe woman he once despised most?

In college, Clara had used the Taylor family's influence to pursue him relentlessly.

And because she was his supposed childhood friend, she constantly made trouble for Sophia.

So Ethan had hated Clara with a passion.

Until Clara was publicly rejected by Ethan yet again. Humiliated and furious, she called people to corner him.

When Sophia arrived, she threw herself in front of him without hesitation, blocking the blows and shoving someone away.

But that person fell down the stairs and ended up in a vegetative state.

Afterward, Clara sued her for intentional assault. She was sentenced to eight years in prison.

At first, Ethan came almost every day. Even when he couldn't see her, he would stubbornly stand outside the prison.

Later, Ethan could only make it once every few months. On visiting days, she could only stare out the empty window, though she understood his life was difficult and his work demanding.

Then for two full years, he never appeared again.

And in her day-after-day waiting, she had actually been preparing herself.

Seeing him get married today with her own eyes finally shattered that last sliver of hope.

She picked up her bag, said goodbye to the officer, and headed toward a slum area well-known throughout River City.

The alley was narrow and cramped, but it had been home for her and Ethan for several years.

But when she reached the entrance, she stopped abruptly.

The rows of dingy low houses had vanished, replaced by a massive shopping mall.

She stood there almost dazed, not knowing where to go.

The lady running a food stall by the road saw her and exclaimed:

"Sophia? You're back!"

It was Mrs. Wilson, who used to live next door.

Sophia's throat felt tight as she pointed at the mall:

"When... when was this demolished?"

Mrs. Wilson sighed and looked up at the mall's sign, her tone complicated:

"Two years ago. Right around when that Pierce heir returned to his family."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat.

"If you ask me, your mom shouldn't have been so soft-hearted and taken him in back then. Such a beautiful childyou could tell he wasn't from an ordinary family."

"Look, once he grew up and went back to his wealthy parents, he thought living here was embarrassing. He bought up everything and had it demolished, said he wanted to give his fiance a new mall."

"This place was run-down, sure, but a lot of people could only afford to live here. Even with compensation, it wasn't enough to survive on. So plenty of folks didn't want to leave. In the end, a construction crew came and forced everyone out. Those who refused were driven away anyway."

It was summer, but Sophia felt cold all over. Instinctively, she didn't want to believe Ethan could do such a thing.

But Mrs. Wilson's words were crystal clear, leaving no room for disbelief.

Mrs. Wilson packed up her stall, shook her head, and said wearily:

"I don't know where you've been these years, but take my adviceeven though you two grew up together, he's a Pierce heir now. Not someone people like us can reach anymore."

With that, she pushed her cart away, leaving Sophia standing alone.

Sophia didn't know how long she stood under the blazing sun until someone shoved a flyer into her hand, snapping her back to awareness.

The glossy paper showed a photo of Ethan and Clara together.

The man wore a tailored suit, his features refined and distantnothing like the green boy in her memories.

Below was a line of gold text:

"Celebrating the Pierce-Taylor union. Our hotels offer three days of complimentary stays and meals."

Sophia clutched the flyer tightly.

She knew she and Ethan now lived in two different worlds.

She had no intention of disturbing his bright future, but she was worried about her mother.

Before going to prison, she had entrusted her chronically ill mother, who had been hospitalized for years, to Ethan's care.

Following the address, she found the hotel. One glance told her it was luxurious beyond measure.

And all she had was a six-year-old outfit, washed until it was nearly white, standing out awkwardly.

She also saw Ethan coming downstairs.

Money really did transform people. His perfectly tailored suit accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, his bearing aloof and distant.

When he saw her, Ethan paused briefly, as if encountering an insignificant old acquaintance.

He stepped forward and spoke unhurriedly:

"Why didn't you let me know you were getting out early? I could have arranged for someone to pick you up."

Sophia was speechless, momentarily unsure what to say.

Ethan paused, then spoke again.

"What happened back thenI owe you for that."

"I'll compensate you. But I hope you won't disrupt today's wedding."

Sophia took a deep breath. She lifted her head, meeting his gaze directly.

"No need to go to such trouble. I only came to ask which hospital my mother is in now."

As if not expecting this reaction, Ethan paused, but quickly replied:

"She's at a nursing home under the Taylor family. The environment is excellent."

"Assistant Chen will take you there."

With that, he called someone over and turned to leave.

But Assistant Chen approached with an embarrassed expression, stammering:

"Miss Bridge... your mother actually passed away a year ago."

"As for the body, it was donated to the medical school according to her wishes."

Chapter Two

A roar, like something exploding in her head.

Sophia stood frozen, her ears ringing.

A year ago? She died?

Then why did Ethan say her mother was still at the nursing home?

Her legs went weak. She could barely stand, stumbling as she pushed through the glass door.

"Miss Bridge! You can't go up! There's a ceremony in progress!"

Assistant Chen tried to stop her but was shoved away hard.

"Move!"

Sophia's mind went blank. She had only one thought: to demand answers from Ethan.

From the time she could remember, her father had died of illness. Her mother raised her alone.

When she was four, on a stormy night, her mother brought home six-year-old Ethan.

She'd meant to hand him over to the police, but Ethan was traumatized and wouldn't let go, so she brought him back.

Unable to find his birth parents, Ethan stayed.

From age six to sixteen, Ethan was treated like her mother's own son.

They shared childhood bonds and a sibling-like connection.

After her mother fell ill, it was Ethan who ran back and forth handling payments and prescriptions, working with herattending school by day, working nights to save for her mother's medicine.

No matter where things stood between her and Ethan now, she couldn't believe he would abandon her mother.

Inside the revolving door, the banquet hall door stood ajar. She could faintly hear the emcee's passionate voice.

Sophia charged forward without thinking, shoving the door open.

The room fell silent. Every gaze turned toward her.

Ethan on stage turned his head as well.

When he recognized her, his expression darkened. He strode down and stood before her.

"Sophia, I told you I would compensate you, but only if you didn't disrupt today's banquet."

"I thought you knew better."

Sophia stared at him, her voice raw.

"Ethan, didn't you promise to take good care of my mom?"

Curious guests cast nosy glances. Ethan frowned at her appearance, his words tinged with anger.

"The nursing home under the Taylor family has top-tier resources. Clara wouldn't be petty enough to mistreat Aunt Bridge because of you. What's wrong with her being there?"

Without another glance at Sophia, he gave the security guards a cold order.

"Lock her in a lounge. Don't let her out without my say-so."

Security rushed forward and forcibly dragged Sophia out.

Sophia struggled desperately but was eventually shoved into an empty room.

Bang. The lock clicked.

She slid down the door and sat on the floor, trembling all over.

Voices came from outsidethe guards talking.

"Who is that woman? She looks pretty pathetic."

Another voice spoke sympathetically:

"She's the childhood friend from when Mr. Pierce was stuck in the slums! But damn, what bad luck, making a scene on his wedding day."

"Though her mom really did die horribly. She could've lived a few more years with proper treatment, but Miss Taylor interfered and stopped the medication."

"Even made the old lady clean to pay off medical bills. The woman could barely get out of bedhow could she survive that? In the end, even her body was put to use, donated to the medical school."

Sophia froze.

The other person asked in surprise:

"Mr. Pierce didn't do anything? She raised him, didn't she?"

"Hard to say. If Mr. Pierce hadn't gone over a year without visiting the old lady, Miss Taylor wouldn't have just killed her off."

The rest became a buzzing roar in Sophia's ears.

Chapter Three

Her mother hadn't died of illnessshe'd been driven to death by Clara Taylor. And after death, she couldn't even keep her body intact.

And Ethan, the man who once swore to protect her, either knew nothing about it or chose to turn a blind eye.

Sophia curled up on the floor, tears streaming down uncontrollably, but she couldn't make a sound.

At some point, the voices outside stopped.

The door cracked open quietly. An old cell phone was pushed inside.

A hushed voice came through:

"Miss Bridge, my condolences."

"This was your mother's belonging. Before she died, she asked me to give it to you if I could."

Sophia thanked them shakily, her hands trembling so badly she could barely unlock the phone.

Finally opening it, she saw a video file.

The camera showed her mother's gaunt, pale face. Anyone could see she was in terrible condition.

But her tone was as gentle as ever.

"Sophia, I might not be able to wait for you to get out."

"The doctor said I owe fifty or sixty thousand in medical bills. I thought about cleaning hospital rooms to offset some of it... but it's nowhere near enough."

"Ethan's been so busy he hasn't visited in over a year. Sometimes I think I've been too much of a burden on you both."

"If I'm gone, the weight on your and Ethan's shoulders will be much lighter. So I've decided to stop treatment."

"The young lady at this hospital told me that if I voluntarily donate my body to the medical school, she'll write off the debt."

"Sophia, when you learn about this, don't blame Ethan. He did his best. You two be happy together, okay?"

The video ended abruptly.

Sophia felt as though all the blood had been drained from her body. She was ice-cold.

Her mother chose to end her own life simply because she didn't want to burden the child she'd raised as her own.

Even in death, her mother had worried about Ethan.

But what was fifty or sixty thousand to Ethan after returning to the Pierce family? Less than the cost of a single meal.

The phone dropped to the floor. The emotional shock was too muchher vision went dark.

In the darkness, Sophia seemed to return to a rainy night many years ago.

She'd just started middle school. Her mother was working the night shift.

She woke up in the middle of the night with a fever, burning up.

Ethan hoisted her onto his back and ran to the clinic. Rain dripped from his hair, mixing with sweat and splashing onto her face.

He gasped for breath but still comforted her:

"Don't be scared, Sophia. I'm here."

Later, when she woke up, she saw him slumped over the bedside, fast asleep with dark circles under his eyes.

That was their poorest time, and the time when they thought they'd always be together.

When she opened her eyes again, tears had crusted in her lashes. She exhaled softly and picked up the phone again.

Sophia dialed a number she knew by heart.

It rang three times before an elderly voice answered: "Hello?"

"Professor Lewis, it's me."

Silence on the other end, then rapid breathing:

"Sophia? You're out?"

"Good girl," the old man's voice trembled with emotion. "You gave up your grad school recommendation to take the fall for that Pierce boy. Such a promising student, wasted... It's been eating at me all these years!"

"That aerospace materials project proposal you submittedI'm actually heading it up now. If you're interested, you're always welcome."

Chapter Four

Sophia lowered her eyes, her voice gentle.

"Not becoming your student back then is one of my regrets. I heard you mention this project last time, but didn't you say the team was full? And that Clara Taylor was on it too."

The professor's voice clearly grew heavy.

"She just wants to pad her resume. I hate people who fish for glory like that. If you agree to join, I'll have my assistant adjust the team roster immediately."

"Alright." Sophia's reply was soft. "Thank you, Professor Lewis."

After hanging up, Sophia closed her eyes.

During her six years in prison, it was Professor Lewis who visited her monthly and updated her on the world outside.

So she knew Clara had been trying to join Professor Lewis's research team to polish her image and shed her "trophy wife" label.

Well, she'd take that away from herthis was only the first step.

After the wedding banquet noise died down, her door finally opened. The guard indicated she could leave.

Sophia took a deep breath, grabbed the old phone, and walked out.

She didn't look at the lavish venue or at Ethan in the distance.

She simply walked, step by step, back to her alma mater, waiting for next Sunday to head to South City with her research team.

Over the following days, she buried herself in the library and lab, slowly recovering what she'd lost over six years.

Until the university hosted an internal banquet to send off Professor Lewis's project team.

She saw Ethan and Clara again. The pair stood intimately together, radiant under the lights.

Their presence wasn't surprisingboth held PhDs from River University.

Sophia lowered her eyes, pretending not to see them.

She stood quietly behind Professor Lewis like a dutiful shadow.

Midway through the banquet, Sophia excused herself.

She'd just turned a corner when she saw Ethan. He leaned against the wall, blocking her path, a thin card pinched between his fingers and held out toward her.

"This is the compensation I promised you. The amount inside is enough for the rest of your life."

Ethan's tone was indifferent.

"I won't hold what happened last time against you. But after you take this, stop appearing in front of me and Clara."

Sophia looked at the card and almost wanted to laugh.

"Ethan, get this straight."

"I'm not trying to appear in front of you two. I'm just living my normal life."

She stepped back, creating distance, her voice calm:

"I don't need your compensation. I just want us to be even. Nothing more between us."

Ethan frowned, apparently not expecting this reaction.

He was about to say more when Sophia sidestepped him and walked forward without looking back.

After the banquet ended, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Sophia remembered she still had materials Professor Lewis had hastily compiled that needed to be delivered to a team member.

Following the room number from memory, she lifted her hand and knocked.

The door opened quickly. The next second, a powerful force struck.

Caught off guard, Sophia was yanked into the room by someone inside, her back slamming hard against the door.

Only then did she realize the person in the room was Ethan!

He was clearly not in his right mindskin burning hot, eyes tinged red.

He gripped her tightly, his scalding body heat seeping through and making her momentarily dazed.

But that daze vanished instantly.

She snapped alert and began struggling violently, shoving hard at his chest.

Chapter Five

But not only did Ethan not let go, he began tearing at her clothing, kisses falling on her neck.

In the struggle, Sophia could bear it no longer. All the humiliation and rage she'd accumulated erupted in that moment.

She raised her hand and slapped him across the face with all her strength.

Ethan's head snapped to the side, a red mark blooming rapidly on his cheek.

The slap seemed to restore some of his senses.

He shook his head and pressed his stinging cheek.

"Sophia Bridge, what are you doing here?"

His head throbbed. He looked down, and his expression darkened completely.

"...You drugged me?"

Before he finished speaking, Clara's voice came from the hallway.

"Sophia Bridge, what are you two doing?"

She stood in the doorway, taking in the scene, and shrieked.

"Have you no shame? Ethan just got drunk and came here to rest, and you take advantage to throw yourself at him?"

"Even if you were childhood friends, he's married to me now!"

The commotion immediately drew nearby faculty and students.

A crowd gathered outside the door, pointing and whispering like a rising tide.

"So that's the one who went to prison..."

"No way, Mr. Pierce is married. How shameless is she?"

"Throwing herself at him on campusmy God, I think I heard Mr. Pierce say she drugged him?"

Sophia bit down hard, suppressing the metallic taste in her throat.

"I didn't."

"I didn't do this. I only came to deliver a document."

Ethan's brow furrowed tightly, the last trace of warmth vanishing from his eyes.

"If not you, then who?"

"You refused the money, then turned around and pulled this stunt. Sophia Bridge, what exactly do you want?"

His words cut off any path for her to defend herself.

The surrounding gazes became tangible needles, piercing her densely.

Ethan cast Sophia a cold glance, his breathing still unsteady, then turned to face Clara:

"To the hospital."

The protagonists left, and naturally the crowd dispersed too.

But that very night, the incident exploded across the campus forum.

Someone had recorded video. Ethan's final words were captured clearly.

The comment section fell instantly, countless anonymous IDs launching personal attacks.

They dug up everything from her prison record to her background, saying she'd deluded herself into thinking she could marry into wealth just because her family took in Mr. Pierce, that money wasn't enough and she wanted more.

Someone even found Professor Lewis's project team and mocked him for being senile, recruiting anyone into his group.

The next morning, the dorm supervisor came to her door with a cold tone, telling her to pack up and leave.

The reason: bad influence.

Actually, she didn't need the university to kick her outshe knew she had to leave.

Professor Lewis couldn't keep her even if he wanted to, so he moved up her flight to South City by two days and pressed some cash into her hands.

Sophia first checked into a hotel near the airport, waiting for departure time.

But the fallout from public opinion far exceeded her expectations. She'd just grabbed her suitcase to head downstairs when someone blocked her path.

The man wore flashy designer clothes, his eyes raking over her up and down.

"Well, well, if it isn't the infamous bed-climbing Sophia? Why don't you have a drink with me?"

Sophia paused but didn't acknowledge him, gripping her suitcase and trying to walk around him.

But he grabbed her arm, his hand falling to her waist as he tried to drag her toward a nearby room.

Sophia tried to shake off his grip but couldn't break free.

"Get off me!"

People watched but no one intervened. The man snorted coldly and reached for her clothes.

Chapter Six

"Playing innocent? Aren't you just selling yourself anyway?"

"I'm not eating for free, sweetheart. I'll pay you, okay?"

Just then, a commotion came from the lobby downstairs.

She instinctively looked down and saw Ethan entering.

The hotel manager bowed and scraped at his side, holding a stack of documentsclearly they'd just finished a business meeting.

In that moment, Sophia had only the instinct to escape.

She couldn't care about dignity or appearances anymore. Across the railing, she shouted loudly:

"Help! I don't know him! He's harassing me, someone help me!"

Ethan, who'd been speaking to the manager, paused. Then he raised his eyes, his gaze landing on her.

But his eyes stayed only a moment before shifting to the man beside her.

The man grinned and waved casually downstairs:

"Brother-in-law! Is this the one who climbed into your bed?"

"She was just throwing herself at me, but the second she saw you she started acting, claiming I'm harassing her. I'm innocent here!"

Brother-in-law.

Sophia's whole body went rigid, her pupils contracting sharply.

He was Clara's brother.

Ethan's expression remained cold. He didn't even glance at Sophia, simply speaking flatly without a trace of warmth:

"You're saying a Taylor heir is harassing you?"

He paused, his gaze returning to Sophia's ashen face, a mocking edge entering his tone:

"Does he need to?"

Sophia stood frozen, her face burning hot.

He didn't believe she was being harassed. Instead, he believed she was deliberately trying to latch onto someone.

Seeing her silence, the subtle anger in Ethan's eyes intensified. He continued coldly:

"Can't climb into my bed, so now you're looking for another branch to climb?"

His words were clear, each one like a slap across the face, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.

Ethan stopped looking at her. He turned back to the hotel manager:

"Go over the contract details one more time. I'm going to check the site."

With that, he strode away, his figure quickly disappearing through the hotel entrance.

Seeing Ethan leave, the man grabbed Sophia's wrist with a sleazy grin:

"Come on, beautiful. My brother-in-law won't help you. He only likes my sister. You might as well come with me."

Sophia's limbs went stiff as he dragged her into the nearby guest room.

She closed her eyes. The instant he pressed down on her, she grabbed the water glass beside her and smashed it hard against the back of his head.

A dull thud.

The man screamed, clutching his head and rolling to the floor.

Sophia stumbled to her feet. Without thinking twice, she rushed to the window.

Without hesitation, she pushed it open, climbed over, and jumped.

Searing pain exploded from her ankle on impact. She even heard the horrible sound of bone displacement.

But she didn't dare stop.

Enduring the agony, she practically crawled to the roadside.

Fortunately, the airport was nearby, and a kind passerby helped her.

By the time Sophia sat in the airport, her ankle was already in a cast.

She took out the fake certificate she'd never gotten around to throwing away, studied it briefly, then tossed it in the trash.

The plane would depart for South City in two hours. In two hours, she would begin a new life.

Ethan had filled her first twenty years. He would not be in the rest of her life.