Chapter 125

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawns of the Blackwood estate. Sophia stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, her fingers tracing the condensation on the glass. The weight of the past few weeks pressed heavily on her shoulders.

Liam’s laughter echoed from the garden, where he played with Thor, Lucas Montgomery’s energetic husky. The sound was a balm to her frayed nerves.

Ethan Blackwood’s presence loomed behind her before she even heard his footsteps. His cologne—something dark and woodsy—wrapped around her like an unspoken question.

"You’re avoiding me," he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Sophia didn’t turn. "I’ve been busy."

A beat of silence. Then, his hand brushed against hers, sending an electric jolt up her arm. "Liar."

She exhaled sharply. "What do you want, Ethan?"

"Answers." His grip tightened slightly. "Why did you leave that night without a word?"

The memory of their last encounter—heated whispers in the dim light of his study—flashed through her mind. She had fled before dawn, unable to face what it meant.

Before she could reply, her phone buzzed. A message from Daniel Carter lit up the screen: We need to talk.

Ethan’s gaze dropped to the phone, his jaw tightening. "Still seeing the cop?"

Sophia slipped the phone into her pocket. "That’s none of your business."

His laugh was humorless. "Everything about you is my business, Sophia. Always has been."

The intensity in his eyes made her breath hitch. She took a step back, but he followed, closing the distance between them.

Then, a crash from the hallway shattered the moment.

They turned just in time to see Gabriella, Liam’s nanny, stumbling into the room, her face pale. "Mr. Blackwood—someone’s here. They’re demanding to see you."

Ethan’s expression darkened. "Who?"

Before Gabriella could answer, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Hello, brother."

Sebastian Blackwood stood in the doorway, his smirk as sharp as a blade. "Miss me?"

Sophia’s blood ran cold.

Ethan stepped in front of her, shielding her instinctively. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Sebastian’s gaze flicked to Sophia, lingering just a second too long. "I heard there was a family reunion. Wouldn’t want to miss it."

The air thickened with unspoken threats.

Liam’s voice piped up from the garden, oblivious to the storm brewing inside. "Mom! Thor dug up the roses again!"

Sophia forced a smile. "Be right there, sweetheart."

Sebastian’s grin widened. "Cute kid."

Ethan’s voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "If you so much as look at him—"

"Relax," Sebastian interrupted, holding up his hands. "I’m just here to talk."

But Sophia knew better.

Nothing with Sebastian was ever just anything.

"You forget I know you better than you know yourself, brother." Sebastian drops into the chair across from me, his gaze sharp.

"Sophia." Her name escapes my lips like a wounded whisper.

"You care about her."

"Of course I fucking care about her. She's the mother of my son," I snap, frustration boiling over.

Everything about this situation was infuriating. She was unraveling, and I had no idea how to pull her back. Years of pushing her away left me clueless about what she truly needed.

"It's more than that, Ethan. You're just too stubborn to see it," Sebastian drawls, swirling his drink.

He kept harping on the same damn point—that my concern for Sophia ran deeper than I admitted. We'd argued about it endlessly. Love? No. I cared about her, felt things I couldn't name, but love? Impossible.

"How is she?" he asks when I stay silent.

"She's pregnant."

His eyes widen, jaw slack. "Daniel's?"

"Who else?" I grit out.

When I found out yesterday, something inside me fractured. The reality of her carrying that bastard's child hit like a sledgehammer. I'd been in denial about her sleeping with Daniel, but this? This was undeniable proof.

A primal rage had surged through me—the urge to rip Daniel apart for touching what was mine. Then I shut it down. Pretended it never happened. Because if I didn't, I'd lose control.

Now, knowing she'd moved on enough to let another man claim her? It fucking gutted me. I couldn't explain it, but it felt like part of me had died.

"So what's she going to do?" Sebastian pulls me back to the present.

"I don't know," I murmur, staring into my whiskey.

I consider telling him about the cliff but stop myself. She'd been through enough. That moment of despair was hers alone. She deserved protection, and I'd make sure she got it.

"Sir, this came for you." Xavier, my bartender, slides a small envelope across the table before retreating.

"What is it?" Sebastian leans forward, curiosity piqued.

"No idea." I tear it open.

A single sheet of paper falls out. I unfold it, and the words ignite a cold fury.

[I don’t target children, so your son is safe. But the rest of your loved ones? Fair game. I’m coming for you, Ethan Blackwood—and everyone you care about.]

The Reaper’s insignia marks the bottom.

Fear should grip me, but it doesn’t. Only one thing matters: Liam is safe.

The terror I felt seeing her on that cliff? Never again. It was time to bring Liam home. He’d always been Sophia’s lifeline. Now, more than ever, she needed him.