Chapter 136
The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the bedroom floor. Sophia stretched beneath the silk sheets, her body still humming with the remnants of last night’s passion.
Ethan’s side of the bed was empty, but the warmth lingered.
She traced her fingers over the indentation his body had left, a small smile playing on her lips.
Downstairs, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air.
Sophia padded barefoot into the kitchen, where Ethan stood at the stove, his broad back to her. He wore only low-slung sweatpants, the muscles of his shoulders flexing as he flipped pancakes.
Liam sat at the island, swinging his legs, already dressed for school.
“Morning, Mom!” he chirped, mouth half-full of syrup-drenched pancakes.
Sophia ruffled his hair before sliding onto the stool beside him.
Ethan turned, his dark eyes softening as they met hers. “Sleep well?”
The memory of tangled limbs and whispered promises sent heat creeping up her neck.
Before she could answer, her phone buzzed violently on the counter.
An unknown number.
Her stomach twisted.
She hesitated, then swiped to answer.
A distorted voice hissed through the speaker.
“You think you’re safe?”
Ice flooded her veins.
The line went dead.
Ethan’s spatula clattered against the pan. “Sophia?”
She forced a smile. “Wrong number.”
But the lie tasted bitter on her tongue.
Because she recognized the voice.
It was the same one from her nightmares.
The one that belonged to a ghost.
A ghost who wasn’t supposed to be alive.
Liam’s laughter filled the car as Ethan dropped him off at school.
Sophia watched from the passenger seat, her fingers gripping the armrest too tightly.
Ethan’s hand covered hers. “Talk to me.”
She exhaled shakily. “I think… I think he’s back.”
Ethan’s jaw hardened. “Who?”
The name lodged in her throat like a blade.
“Victor Graves.”
The man who had tried to kill her.
The man who should be dead.
Ethan’s grip tightened. “Impossible.”
But the dread in his eyes mirrored hers.
Because if Victor was alive…
No one was safe.
The office was a flurry of activity when Sophia arrived.
Natalie rushed over, her face pale. “We have a problem.”
Sophia’s pulse spiked. “What now?”
Natalie handed her a tablet.
Security footage from the building’s lobby.
A figure in a black hoodie, face obscured, slipping something into the mail slot.
Sophia zoomed in.
A single white envelope.
No address.
No stamp.
Just two words scrawled in red ink:
For Sophia.
Her hands trembled as she tore it open.
Inside was a photograph.
Of her.
Asleep in her bed last night.
And written beneath it:
Sweet dreams, darling. See you soon.
"Mommy, where are we going?" Liam asks as I lock the front door.
This wasn’t part of my original plan, but I knew it was necessary. Eleanor and Alexander had been calling me relentlessly, desperate to reconnect. Yet, I’d kept them at a distance, too afraid to let them in.
But today, I decided to take a chance. How could I know if they truly cared if I never gave them the opportunity? Besides, my life could use more good people.
"You’re going to meet someone special," I reply, squeezing his small hand as we walk toward the car.
As we step outside, my gaze lands on a moving truck parked a few houses down.
"Looks like we’re getting new neighbors," I tell Liam. The house had been vacant for months, its structure similar to ours, though slightly larger.
"I hope they have a kid my age," Liam says excitedly. "No offense, Mom, but this place is full of old people."
I laugh. When I chose this neighborhood, I hadn’t realized how many retirees lived here—friendly, but very invested in everyone’s business. I’d picked it for the quiet streets and spacious yards, not realizing Liam would have to trek halfway down the block to find playmates.
"Fingers crossed, baby," I say, helping him into the car and buckling his seatbelt.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I take a deep breath. Nervousness prickles at me, even though we’ve barely left the driveway. Years of heartbreak have made me wary of anyone who tries to get close.
Shaking off the unease, I focus on the road.
"So, who are we meeting?" Liam bounces in his seat, impatient.
One thing about my son—he hates surprises. Just like his father. He needs to know everything in advance, which is unusual for a child his age.
"You’ll see soon," I tease. "They’ve been dying to meet you."
His little face scrunches into a frown, and for a moment, he looks exactly like Ethan. Same stubborn expression, same intensity.
"Just tell me," he grumbles. "You know I don’t like not knowing."
I chuckle. "Trust me, this is a good surprise."
He’s going to be thrilled when he realizes he’s gaining two more grandparents. Mostly because it means more presents and attention—he loves being the only grandchild, even if he won’t admit it.
After a quiet moment, Liam speaks again. "Mommy… is Dad going to marry Aunt Isabella?"
The question catches me off guard. My breath hitches, but the pain isn’t as sharp as it used to be.
"Probably," I murmur.
I’ve made peace with it. Ethan was never mine. Not really. His heart has always belonged to Isabella—body and soul. Sure, they’re fighting now because of her lies, but they’ll find their way back.
Their love has lasted over a decade. They will fix this.
"I don’t want that," Liam says quietly. "I don’t want a stepmom."
My heart aches at the sadness in his voice, but what can I do? Ethan and I were a mistake from the start. We never should have gotten married. I’ll always regret not fighting harder when he suggested it.
Life would’ve been simpler if I had.
Instead, we played house, pretending to love each other for Liam’s sake. Now, he’s struggling to accept anyone else in Ethan’s life.
"Liam…"
"I want you and Dad together," he insists, his voice small. "You were happy. You loved each other. Why can’t you just go back to that?"
How do I explain that none of it was real? That Ethan and I were never happy, never in love? That we were just acting for him? That Ethan has always loved Isabella, and my obsession tore them apart?
"You’re too young to understand," I say softly. "But one day, I’ll explain everything."
It kills me to see the hurt in his eyes, but the truth is unavoidable. There was never anything between Ethan and me. Our relationship burned to ashes before it even began.