Chapter 131

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the bedroom floor. Sophia stretched lazily, savoring the rare moment of peace.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

She reached for it, squinting at the screen. A message from Ethan Blackwood.

Her breath hitched.

"We need to talk."

Three words. That was all it took to send her heart racing.

She typed a reply, fingers trembling. "About what?"

The dots appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared again.

Her stomach twisted.

Finally, his response came. "Liam."

Sophia’s grip on the phone tightened. What now? Had something happened?

She threw off the covers and hurried to get dressed.

Downstairs, the scent of coffee filled the air. Isabella was already at the kitchen counter, scrolling through her tablet.

"You look like you’ve seen a ghost," she remarked, glancing up.

Sophia grabbed her keys. "Ethan wants to talk. About Liam."

Isabella’s expression darkened. "What does he want?"

"I don’t know. But I’m not waiting to find out."

The drive to Ethan’s penthouse was a blur. Sophia barely registered the city passing by.

When she arrived, the elevator ride up felt endless.

The doors slid open.

Ethan stood in the foyer, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable.

"You’re here," he said.

Sophia stepped forward. "What’s going on? Is Liam okay?"

Ethan hesitated. Then he exhaled sharply. "He asked about you. Again."

Sophia’s chest tightened.

"He wants to see you," Ethan continued. "And I... I don’t know if that’s a good idea."

Sophia’s nails dug into her palms. "You don’t get to decide that."

Ethan’s jaw clenched. "I’m his father."

"And I’m his mother."

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Then, a small voice called from down the hall.

"Mom?"

Sophia’s heart stopped.

Liam stood there, eyes wide.

For a moment, time stood still.

Then he ran toward her.

Sophia dropped to her knees, arms outstretched.

And just like that, everything else faded away.

I shrug. "Sure, if that’s how you want to take it."

"One word from me, and Ethan will be on your ass. We’ve played this game before, Sophia. You know how it ends."

Cassandra smirks. "All I have to tell Ethan is that you’ve been disrespectful, and he’ll lose it on you."

Before, that threat would’ve made me crumble. I used to be terrified of stirring up more trouble with Ethan, so I’d let her walk all over me. She loved it—the power trip of reducing me to nothing.

But not today.

I flash her a cold smile. "Go ahead. Honestly? I don’t give a damn. In fact, why don’t you call him right now?" I tilt my head, daring her.

"You think I won’t?"

"I’m counting on it," I shoot back, my voice dripping with defiance.

Piece by piece, the self-respect I thought I’d lost after Daniel’s betrayal is stitching itself back together. No man—no one—will ever drag me down like that again.

"What’s going on here?" A sharp voice cuts through the tension.

I glance up to see Natalie studying us with narrowed eyes. We’re not exactly friends—more like business associates. Her family’s construction firm handles all my Hope House projects. This restaurant? Hers. The construction company is a family legacy, but the restaurants? All her empire.

"This woman is causing a scene. I suggest you remove her," Cassandra jumps in, playing victim. "We were just sitting here when she started hurling insults."

I cross my arms, smirking as she digs her own grave.

Everyone knows who Natalie is. What they don’t know? That we’ve worked together for years. Unlike Ethan, Natalie isn’t easily fooled.

"Is that so?" Her voice is dangerously calm.

I’d always kept her at arm’s length. She’d tried to befriend me, but back then, I was convinced no one would want a wreck like me as a friend. Business only.

Cassandra nods eagerly, signaling her little clique to back her up. Pathetic.

"Do I look stupid to you?" Natalie snaps. "You realize this place has cameras, right? I saw everything. And you still have the nerve to lie to my face?"

The color drains from Cassandra’s face. Panic flickers in her eyes.

"It—it was just a misunderstanding," she stammers, scrambling for an excuse.

"Get out."

Natalie’s voice is ice. "I said get the hell out of my restaurant. I won’t tolerate some entitled brat with no manners humiliating my friend under my roof."

Friend? The word catches me off guard, but I don’t have time to dwell on it.

"Are you leaving, or do I need security to drag you out?"

Cassandra scoffs, trying to save face. "Fine. The food here is overrated anyway."

A bold-faced lie. This place is legendary.

As she spins to leave, I finally notice the crowd watching. Before she can escape, Natalie calls after her.

"Oh, Cassandra?"

"What now?" she snaps.

"You and your little entourage are banned. Permanently."

The look on her face is priceless. She storms off, her so-called friends cursing her for getting them blacklisted.

"Thanks for that," I say, exhaling. "She was grating on my last nerve."

Natalie offers a small smile. "Don’t mention it."

I open my mouth to say more when a voice freezes me in place.

"Sophia?"

I turn slowly.

Standing there, with tears in her eyes, is the woman who once called me her daughter—and treated me like I was nothing.

Ethan’s mother.

And beside her?

My so-called mother.