Batman x Arc Reactor

Ch: 176 [Interlude- Anne’s Diary]

AN: Some might say, a filler chapter. But I think it was a necessary addition.

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[Three days later]

It's been three days since that day. Sophia began her training at the Wayne Enterprise. Her mom's condition improved rapidly thanks to Pamela's universal healing medicine. With everything sorted out, Sophia decided to focus on working hard. She closed the bakery temporarily due to the longer training hours. As for what happened after that night, well, Bruce and Sophia decided to give their new relationship a go.

Bruce told her to focus on learning her work-related things for now, not dating or anything. Once she holds her helm, they can begin dating like normal people. Sophia was happy with this arrangement. Besides, she needed some time to get accustomed to her new job, house, and life.

She went to work every morning and then returned in the evening.

It was a busy life, but she was happy. Life threw a good curveball at her this time.

On the third day, Sophia shifted all her old stuff from her apartment to her new home. Then, while arranging her stuff, she came across her photo albums and photo frames where she was with her mother and brother, but her dad was missing from the photo. She asked about her father but her mother always dodged the question.

She never met her dad before and didn't have any photos of him. However, due to their harsh living condition, she became more mature at an early age and realized certain facts about life. The main reason was that her mother would get sad whenever she brought up her dad's topic. She didn't want to see her mom cry.

Sophia remembered that one day her mother had drunk alcohol and fell asleep early, but she heard her mumble about something like it was a mistake and that she shouldn't have left him. Sophia took advantage of her mom's intoxication and asked about her father. She was told that they were young and during prom night, they got drunk and one thing led to another and they ended up sleeping with each other.

She ended up pregnant from that one-night stand. She wanted to have an abortion but couldn't. When her parents found out, they kicked her out and left her alone. By the time she went to find that man, she learned that he had gone abroad for studies. So, she had to fend for herself. Luckily she won a big jackpot and got a huge sum of money that night. With that, she rented a small apartment and bought everything to take care of her child, who was on the way.

However, things got even more complicated when she went to market, and on her way home, she found a newborn baby on the park bench. abandoned. It was a cold winter day and it was snowing. The baby was barely alive. She couldn't just leave her out to die. So she picked up the baby and nursed it.

She named her Sophia.

In short, Sophia wasn't her biological daughter. She didn't tell her this because she didn't want to burden her with that truth. However, Sophia always knew this and accepted it. She still loved her mom as her biological mother. She was more than just a mom, she was her best friend. She worked day and night to take care of them and even sent her to the best school and college. If not for her, there would be no Sophia today.

She never looked for her dad again. It was her mom who raised her and her brother. For that, she was grateful and would work hard to repay her kindness. Although she didn't care about her own biological parents anymore, she wanted to know about her brother's biological father, but that's the answer she never got till now...

[Present time]

Sophia shook off those old thoughts with a wry smile on her face and resumed arranging those things. While arranging her mother's things, she found an old diary. She was curious to find out what her mother wrote in this diary.

'Hmm... Let's see...'

Sophia sat on the floor, surrounded by her mother's belongings, the old diary in her hands. The evening sun cast a warm glow through the windows, illuminating the room with a golden hue. Her fingers traced the worn leather cover of the diary, feeling the texture of the aged material beneath her touch. She opened the first page, revealing faded ink on yellowed pages, and began reading the entry dated several years ago.

[Dear Diary, it began, I never thought I would resort to writing my feelings down, but sometimes, it's the only way to keep my sanity.]

Sophia smiled softly, imagining her mother sitting alone in their small apartment, pouring her heart out onto these pages. As she continued reading, she found herself transported back in time, to the days when her mother was just a young woman facing challenges.

The diary detailed how Sophia's mother, Anne, had faced the world alone after being kicked out by her parents. Pregnant and scared, she wandered the streets, wondering how she would survive. The jackpot win was what gave her hope, providing her with enough money to secure a small apartment and prepare for the baby.

Although, Sophia knew about that, reading it in her mother's handwriting gave it an entirely different feeling. The emotions behind each word made her feel like she was right there with her, sharing in her struggles. She could almost hear her mother's voice as she read the words, bringing her to tears at times.

[It was a bitterly cold night. I remember the snowflakes landing on my cheeks, melting away like the remnants of my old life. And then I saw her, a tiny bundle on a park bench, barely breathing. I couldn't leave her there. I took her in, and in that moment, I knew I had to be strong for both of us.]

Sophia felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had always known her mother was a strong woman, but reading about these struggles made her appreciate her even more. She turned the pages, eager to learn more about her mother's journey.

Anne's diary entries painted a vivid picture of a life filled with sacrifices. She had used the jackpot money wisely, investing in a somewhat nice apartment and essential supplies for the babies. But as the years passed, the money dwindled, and she had to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet.

[I worked as a waitress during the day and a janitor at night. There were times I didn't sleep for days, but I had to keep going. I had to provide for my children. Sophia and Jacob deserved a better life than the one I had. The nanny was doing a good job keeping an eye on them when I wasn't there. I couldn't let them down.]

Sophia paused, taking a deep breath. Her heart ached for the young woman her mother had been, struggling alone to provide for her children.

One entry, dated several years later, caught Sophia's attention. It described a time when Sophia had fallen seriously ill.

[Sophia was just eight years old when she got sick. It started with a fever, but soon she was bedridden, unable to move. I took her to the hospital, and the doctors said it was a rare infection. They didn't know if she would survive.]

Sophia's hands trembled as she read the words. She had vague memories of being in the hospital, of the sterile smell and the constant beeping of machines. But she had never known how close she had come to death.

[I was terrified. Every night, I sat by her bed, praying she would get better. I used up all my savings on her medical bills. I didn't care about the money; I just wanted my little girl to live.]

Sophia wiped away tears, overwhelmed by the depth of her mother's love and determination. She had always known her mother loved her, but this was a new level of understanding. Her mother had given up everything to save her.

The diary entries continued, detailing Anne's relentless fight to provide for her children. She had worked tirelessly, sacrificing her own happiness and well-being for the sake of her family. And despite all the hardships, she had never once regretted her decision to take in Sophia and raise her as her own.

[Sophia is my world, Anne wrote. She and Jacob are the best things that ever happened to me. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.]

Sophia closed the diary, holding it close to her chest. She felt a renewed sense of gratitude. Her mother had given her so much, and now it was her turn to make her proud.

.

.

The next morning, Sophia woke up with a new sense of purpose. She dressed in her professional attire and headed to Wayne Enterprises. She was going to make the most of this opportunity, not just for herself, but for her mother. Then maybe one day, her brother will turn his life around and then they could all be a big and happy family.

Right now, she's going toward Bruce's office with the old diary and the photo of Thomas Wayne. She wasn't angry with Thomas because he never knew he had a son. But the truth must be revealed. She stopped before her office as she remembered that dinner with Martha and Maggie.

'If I reveal the truth, a happy family might get ruined. Can I really do that? I know it was just a one-night stand, but... I...' She was hesitating. 'I don't want to be the reason their family gets destroyed. Thomas Wayne is happily married and the past... Both mom and Thomas were at fault.'

Then Sophia remembered Bruce's words, telling her to stop living in the past and move forward. He was right. She couldn't keep clinging to the past. She needed to make a decision and move on.

'I'll think about it later. First, I'll talk with mom, then I'll decide.' She put the diary into her bag and took a turn to her office.

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AN: Time to move to the main storyline. 

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Next Ch: 177: Diana and Hippolyta- The Truth

Ch: 178: Bruce meets Aquawoman

Ch: 179: Fish in a barrel

Ch: 180: Harley's not so peaceful life

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