Chapter 100

"Is Liam coming?" my mother asks me.

"Not today, Mom. I forgot to tell Sophia, and I didn’t want to drop this on her unexpectedly," I reply as I step into Victoria’s house.

It was our monthly family gathering. Just like last time, I didn’t want to be here. The only reason I showed up was because I’d promised Mom I would.

"I’ve missed him so much, and so has Victoria. She was really looking forward to seeing him." She hesitates. "Now that she and Sophia aren’t speaking, these gatherings are the only chance she gets to see Liam."

I should feel sorry for her, but I don’t. Maybe that makes me a jerk, but I believe we’re all getting what we deserve. This is our punishment for how we treated Sophia.

"Maybe next time," I mutter, brushing past her.

Mom and Victoria have been best friends for decades. She’d do anything for her. The last thing I need is to stand there for half an hour listening to how Victoria is suffering.

I have enough of my own suffering to deal with.

She trails behind me as I head to the backyard. I know this house like my own. They’ve lived here forever. This is where Sophia and I got married. Where she tried to run when she found out she was pregnant with Liam.

I stop abruptly.

Mom, who was right behind me, bumps into my back.

"What the hell, Ethan?" she snaps, but I don’t turn around. I can’t.

She steps in front of me when I don’t respond. My gaze is distant, unfocused.

"Ethan? What’s wrong?"

I swallow hard, struggling to speak.

"I just remembered the day I caught Sophia trying to leave. Looking back now… I don’t know what my life would’ve been like if she’d gotten away."

"Ethan, sweetheart, don’t dwell on that. It didn’t happen, and we should be grateful."

I sigh, remembering how stupid I’d been.

"Sophia was eighteen and terrified, Mom. She begged me to let her go because she knew—somehow, she knew—that staying would destroy her. And I did. I broke her heart over and over. Now, I don’t know what to think. Part of me wishes I’d let her leave. Maybe she wouldn’t be this broken. The other part is glad I stopped her because I wouldn’t have Liam. Or gotten to know the incredible woman she is."

The crushing guilt hits me every time I remember what I put her through. I should’ve tried harder. Maybe then I wouldn’t be drowning in regret.

"You’re carrying too much blame, Ethan. Yes, you hurt her, but we all did. Both families played a part in breaking her. You’re not the only one responsible for the damage." Mom grips my arm, trying to comfort me.

"Your mother’s right." I turn to see my father standing by the sliding doors.

"We all hurt Sophia. We forgot she came into our lives as a baby. We forgot the joy she brought. We forgot she needed love. That’s on us. We were the adults. You kids followed our lead. We pushed her away, and you did the same. If anyone’s to blame, it’s us. We failed her." He clamps a firm hand on my shoulder.

Their words are meant to comfort me, but they don’t. The others ignored Sophia. I did worse. So much worse. And that’s entirely on me.

I force a small smile. I don’t want to linger on this.

Mom must take the hint because she tugs my hand.

"Come on, let’s go before everyone wonders where we are," she says, pulling me along as Dad follows.

I internally groan when I spot Isabella. I knew she’d be here, but knowing and seeing are two different things.

"Hey, Ethan. I’m glad you came." Victoria kisses both my cheeks.

"Yeah," I reply flatly, because I’m not glad to be here.

She gets distracted by my parents, giving me the perfect chance to slip away.

I head straight for Sebastian.

"How’s it going?" he asks after we exchange greetings.

"Terrible," I mutter, thinking about my fight with Lucas last weekend.

Not my finest moment, but he reminded me too much of how he used to chase Isabella. It scared me because I thought he might do the same to Sophia. Lucas is a good guy—that’s what terrifies me the most. It means he actually has a shot if he tries.

"Any progress?" he asks.

"None. Unless you count pissing her off even more."

Sebastian sighs. "What did you do?"

"I got into a fight with Lucas. Turns out he’s Hunter’s father."

I don’t need to explain who Hunter is. Liam talks about him constantly. He’s his new best friend.

"Wait, who’s Lucas?" Sebastian looks confused.

"Nerdy Lucas. Remember him?"

It takes a second, but then it clicks.

"You’re kidding me!" he exclaims. "That nerdy Lucas? The one who followed Isabella everywhere?"

"The same one."

I still can’t believe it. The coincidence is insane.

"What’s going on?" Nathan asks as he joins us.

I glance behind him, relieved Isabella isn’t following. In fact, now that I think about it, she’s been keeping her distance. If that means she stays away from Sophia, I’m fine with it.

"Just found out nerdy Lucas is Hunter’s dad, and Ethan got into a fight with him," Sebastian answers.

"Seriously?" Nathan turns to me. "Why? Because of Isabella?"

Before I can respond, the front door slams open. Moments later, Sophia’s furious voice echoes through the house.

"Isabella!" she shouts, storming into the backyard.

"What’s going on?" I ask Nathan.

"No idea."

We move closer, watching as Sophia marches toward Isabella, who’s standing with our parents. Before anyone can react, Sophia slaps her so hard she stumbles to the ground.

"What the hell, Sophia?" Nathan yells, rushing to help his sister.

Isabella, like everyone else, is stunned. Sophia, on the other hand, looks furious. Like she’s ready to tear someone apart.

"Shut the fuck up, Nathan," she hisses through clenched teeth.

"Sophia, what’s going on? Why would you attack your sister like this?" Victoria asks, tears in her eyes.

She’s torn. She doesn’t know which daughter to defend, so she’s waiting to see if Sophia has a valid reason.

This is how much she’s changed. The old Victoria would’ve taken Isabella’s side instantly.

"That’s what I want to know," Sophia snarls, glaring at Isabella. "I want to know why you’d abandon your child. Your own son."

We all freeze. Maybe we heard wrong. Maybe Sophia’s mistaken. There’s no way Isabella has a child. She would’ve told us.

"That’s bullshit. Isabella doesn’t have a kid, and she’d never abandon one," Nathan defends.

Sophia laughs, like she’s lost her mind.

"That’s what I thought too. But I’m not wrong."

Isabella clings to Nathan, trembling, tears streaming down her face. But she doesn’t deny it.

Sophia stares at her like she’s filth.

"You’re Hunter’s mother, aren’t you, Isabella? Or are you going to keep pretending?"

The final blow lands. One none of us saw coming. One none of us were ready for.