Chapter 142

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. Sophia stretched lazily, her body still humming with the remnants of last night’s passion.

Beside her, Ethan Blackwood lay sprawled across the sheets, his muscular frame relaxed in sleep. The sight of him sent a thrill through her.

She traced a finger along his jawline, marveling at how different he was now compared to the cold, distant man she’d once known.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Sophia reached for it, frowning at the notification. A message from Daniel Carter.

"We need to talk. It’s urgent."

Her stomach twisted. Daniel had been her lifeline during the darkest days of her divorce. But now, with Ethan back in her life, things were… complicated.

She bit her lip, debating whether to respond.

Ethan stirred beside her, his arm sliding possessively around her waist. "Who’s texting you this early?" His voice was rough with sleep.

Sophia hesitated. "Daniel."

Ethan’s grip tightened slightly. "What does he want?"

She exhaled. "He says it’s urgent."

Ethan sat up, his expression darkening. "Tell him to back off."

Sophia met his gaze. "It’s not that simple."

A knock at the door interrupted them.

"Mom?" Liam’s voice carried through the wood. "Are you awake?"

Sophia quickly pulled on a robe. "Just a second, sweetheart!"

Ethan smirked, watching her scramble. "You’re adorable when you’re flustered."

She shot him a glare before opening the door.

Liam stood there, his eyes darting between her and Ethan. "Uh… breakfast is ready."

Sophia smoothed his hair. "We’ll be right down."

Once Liam left, Ethan pulled her close. "We’re not done with this conversation."

She sighed. "I know."

Downstairs, the scent of pancakes filled the air. Isabella was already at the table, sipping coffee. "About time," she teased.

Sophia ignored her, focusing on Liam. "Did you sleep well?"

He nodded, but his gaze kept flicking to Ethan.

Ethan took a seat, his presence commanding as always. "So, what’s the plan for today?"

Isabella smirked. "Well, since someone kept you two up all night—"

"Isabella," Sophia hissed.

Liam looked confused. "What does that mean?"

Ethan chuckled. "Nothing, kid. Eat your pancakes."

Sophia’s phone buzzed again. Daniel.

"I know about Ethan’s past. Meet me at noon. Don’t tell him."

Her blood ran cold.

What the hell did Daniel know?

And more importantly—what would Ethan do if he found out?

The morning air was crisp and refreshing. With nothing pressing on my schedule, I found myself lounging at home, savoring the rare moment of peace.

Liam had already left for school, leaving the house quiet. After my recent emotional breakdown, I’d made the decision to step back from work. My students weren’t thrilled, but they understood—I hadn’t been myself lately.

I planned to return after the baby arrived. For now, my focus was on my children and the Hope Foundation.

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind. Everyone’s behavior had shifted—except for Isabella, who remained as spiteful as ever. The others? It was like they’d woken up with entirely new personalities.

Shaking off the thought, I grabbed my phone and dialed my mother. She answered instantly.

"Hey, Mom," I greeted, still adjusting to calling her that.

"Sophia!" Her voice was bright with excitement. "Alexander, darling, our girl is on the phone!"

There was a rustling sound before the line filled with a faint echo—she’d put me on speaker.

"Hi, Dad," I added.

Their love story was something out of a fairy tale. Together since they were thirteen, still inseparable after thirty-five years. If I still believed in love, theirs was the kind I’d want.

But I didn’t. I’d accepted that love wasn’t in the cards for me. My future was my children, and that was enough.

"How are you, sweetheart?" Dad asked.

"Good. Just wanted to check in," I replied, avoiding the topic of my pregnancy.

I hadn’t told them yet. Even as my bump grew, oversized shirts hid it well. The real issue was Daniel—he still refused to let them visit. It hurt them, though they’d never admit it.

As for Daniel… I understood his guilt. He couldn’t face them, convinced he didn’t deserve their kindness.

I’d sent him the latest ultrasound. His response had been heartfelt—grateful, eager to meet the baby. He’d even agreed to wait until birth to learn the gender.

"Sophia?" Mom’s voice snapped me back.

"Sorry. Got lost in thought," I murmured.

"It’s fine, darling. Are you still coming this weekend?"

"Yes, but Liam won’t be there. It’s his weekend with his father."

The Sharp and Blackwood families used to have monthly gatherings. I was rarely invited, and when I was, I might as well have been invisible. The only one who ever acknowledged me was Liam. Most times, I left early or hid in the bathroom, fighting tears.

It had been months since the last one. Now that my parents were back, the tradition had resumed.

"Shame he can’t make it, but we’re happy you’re coming," Dad said.

I opened my mouth to respond when a noise interrupted me—a bark, then scratching. At first, I thought I’d imagined it. Then it happened again.

"Dad, I’ll call you back. Something’s up," I said distractedly.

"Alright, honey."

Hanging up, I followed the sound to the backyard.

And froze.

A massive Siberian Husky stood in the middle of my kitchen garden, everything I’d planted torn to shreds. The soil was a mess, not a single sprout left.

My jaw dropped.

"Do you have any idea how long that took me?" I hissed.

The dog—definitely a male—dropped to the ground, giving me the most pitiful puppy eyes.

"Oh no. Don’t even try that," I snapped. "I wanted organic food, so I put in hours of work. And you just destroyed it all."

He whined, but I wasn’t budging.

"How are you going to fix this, huh?"

The longer I stared, the harder it was to stay mad. He was enormous, fluffy, and ridiculously cute—thick black-and-white fur, piercing gray eyes that reminded me of Ethan and Liam’s.

Great. Even the dog had their eyes.