Chapter 118

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. Sophia stretched lazily, savoring the rare moment of peace.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

She reached for it, blinking at the unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. A cold knot formed in her stomach.

"Hello?" Her voice was steady, but her fingers trembled.

A deep, unfamiliar chuckle sent chills down her spine. "Miss Blackwood. Did you really think you could hide forever?"

Her breath hitched.

The line went dead.

Sophia stared at the phone, her pulse roaring in her ears. Someone knew. Someone had found her.

Downstairs, Liam’s laughter floated up from the kitchen. The sound grounded her, but only barely.

She forced herself to move, throwing on a robe before descending the stairs.

Ethan stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with an ease that contrasted sharply with the tension coiling inside her. He glanced up, his smile fading when he saw her face.

"What’s wrong?"

She hesitated.

Then the doorbell rang.

Both of them froze.

Ethan wiped his hands on a towel, his expression hardening. "Stay here."

Sophia clutched the counter, her nails digging into the marble.

The front door creaked open.

Silence.

Then—

"Mom?" Liam’s voice, confused.

Sophia’s heart stopped.

A familiar, mocking laugh echoed through the house.

"Long time no see, darling."

Her blood turned to ice.

Sebastian.

He was here.

My blood boils as fury surges through my veins. Despite Gregory's words, I still haven't crossed Damien Slade off my list of suspects.

Seriously, what kind of man kidnaps Sophia unless he has a twisted agenda? And Gregory's explanation? It makes zero sense. Why abduct her just to force my hand if he truly didn’t intend to harm her?

"What the hell are you doing here?" I snap, my voice dripping with venom.

His cold gaze sweeps over me, then the others. Everyone tenses, ready for a fight, but Damien remains unfazed.

That’s what makes him so dangerous—he’s unhinged. I may be ruthless, but Damien? He’s on another level. A sociopath wrapped in a lethal package.

"Here to see Sophia. Why else would I waste my time on you?" His smirk is pure arrogance.

I clench my jaw, forcing myself not to throw the first punch. Starting a brawl in a hospital? Fastest way to get kicked out.

"And you expect us to believe that?" Sebastian challenges. "You kidnapped her months ago."

Damien’s eyes lock onto my brother, and even I feel the chill. His gaze is empty—like a man who sold his soul long ago.

"Couldn’t care less what you think," he says smoothly. "Now, are you going to tell me how she is, or do I have to hunt down her doctor myself?"

His condescension grates on my nerves. What the hell is he even doing here?

"Why would we tell you anything?" I hiss. "For all we know, you’re the bastard who put a hit on her."

Damien stares at me, then throws his head back and laughs—a sound so cold it raises goosebumps.

He stops abruptly, his gaze sharpening.

"Trust me, if I wanted Sophia dead, she would be."

"Then why are you here?" Eleanor demands. "Her health is none of your concern."

His eyes flick past me, lingering on someone behind us. I turn slightly—Natalie.

She’s staring at him like he’s a storm she can’t look away from.

Interesting.

Damien finally drags his gaze back to Eleanor. "She’s carrying my niece. Of course I’d be concerned."

Silence.

Did he just say—?

"That’s impossible," Amelia stammers.

Eleanor and Alexander’s reactions confirm Damien isn’t their son. So if he’s telling the truth…

Then it clicks.

"You’re Daniel’s brother," I say.

"Bingo."

Eleanor’s voice is barely a whisper. "When we adopted Daniel, we were told he had no family left."

"I was in juvie at the time," Damien admits. "One of my father’s men told me Daniel was in foster care. I had his records altered so it looked like our father was his only family." He pauses. "I wanted him to have a normal life. Not end up like me."

"And yet he still went to prison," I mutter.

Damien laughs—a sound almost warm, if such a thing were possible for him.

"Sophia said the same damn thing."

The room falls silent until Alexander speaks.

"From your tone, you’ve been in contact with my daughter."

"Not in person. We’ve been… communicating."

He lays it all out—his original plan, how he later approached Sophia, asked to be part of the baby’s life. And Sophia, with her dangerously kind heart, agreed.

Natalie frowns. "You realize if the police find out you’ve been in contact with her, she’ll be in trouble?"

Damien smirks. "Don’t worry. I have a plan."

"Did she mention anything to you?" I press. "Any threats? Anything at all?"

He tells us about the notes—three in total. The last one arrived the day she was shot.

The thought of her going to him instead of me burns, but I shove it aside. Right now, none of that matters.

"I should’ve dug deeper," Damien mutters, guilt flashing in his eyes—an emotion I never thought I’d see from him.

We’re all drowning in the same regret when Isabella walks in.

Damien’s warmth vanishes.

Before anyone can react, he lunges, slamming her against the wall, his hand around her throat.

"What the hell?" Nathan shouts.

Isabella gasps, terror in her eyes.

"Let her go, Damien," I order.

He tightens his grip.

Nathan tries to pull him off, but Damien doesn’t budge.

"If I find out you had anything to do with this," he hisses, "I’ll make your favorite serial killer documentaries look like fairy tales. Understood?"

Isabella nods frantically, tears streaming.

Damien releases her with a final warning glare.

Nathan swings at him, but Damien dodges effortlessly.

"Try that again, and you’ll be buried beside your father within the week."

Nathan backs off. He knows Damien doesn’t make empty threats.

A nurse enters, cutting through the tension.

"Hello, I’m Elizabeth, the head NICU nurse—"

"Is the baby okay?" I interrupt.

She smiles gently. "She’s stable. We’re monitoring her closely, but we’re confident she’ll pull through."

Relief floods me—and, surprisingly, Damien.

"We need to name her," Elizabeth says. "Do you know what her mother chose?"

Silence.

Then a small voice speaks up.

"Lily."

I turn. Liam stands there, holding my parents’ hands.

He walks over, takes my hand, and looks at the nurse.

"She didn’t know if it was a boy or girl, but she said if it was a boy, his name would be Julian. If it was a girl… Lily Claire Howell."

Elizabeth smiles. "And her last name?"

Liam doesn’t hesitate.

"Howell. Her name is Lily Claire Howell."