Chapter 147

The moment Sophia stepped into the dimly lit hospital corridor, her pulse quickened.

The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, sharp and unforgiving.

Her fingers trembled as she clutched the strap of her purse, her knuckles turning white.

She had been here before—too many times.

But this time was different.

This time, Liam was inside that room.

Her son.

The thought sent a fresh wave of panic crashing through her.

She forced herself to take a deep breath, but it did little to steady her nerves.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind her.

She turned to see Ethan Blackwood striding toward her, his expression unreadable.

His presence was both a comfort and a complication.

"Sophia," he said, his voice low. "You shouldn’t be here."

Her jaw tightened. "He’s my son."

Ethan’s gaze flickered to the closed door before returning to her. "I know. But this isn’t the time."

She shook her head. "I don’t care about your rules. I need to see him."

A tense silence stretched between them.

Then, the door creaked open.

A nurse—Charlotte—stepped out, her face weary. "Mrs. Blackwood?"

Sophia’s breath hitched. "Yes?"

Charlotte hesitated. "He’s asking for you."

Ethan’s hand shot out, gripping Sophia’s arm. "Wait."

She yanked free. "No."

Without another word, she pushed past him and stepped into the room.

The sight that greeted her shattered what little composure she had left.

Liam lay in the hospital bed, pale and fragile, his small frame swallowed by the sterile white sheets.

His eyes—so much like Ethan’s—fluttered open.

"Mom?" His voice was barely a whisper.

Tears blurred her vision as she rushed to his side. "I’m here, sweetheart."

She reached for his hand, but he flinched away.

Her heart stuttered.

"Liam?"

His lower lip trembled. "Why did you leave?"

The question struck like a blade.

She had no answer.

Not one that would make sense to a child.

Not one that would ease the betrayal in his eyes.

Behind her, the door clicked shut.

Ethan had given them privacy.

Or perhaps he simply couldn’t bear to watch.

She swallowed hard. "I never wanted to."

Liam’s gaze dropped to his lap. "Dad said you didn’t love us anymore."

Her breath caught.

Ethan had told him that?

Anger flared, hot and sudden, but she forced it down.

This wasn’t about Ethan.

This was about Liam.

She reached for him again, slower this time. "That’s not true. I love you more than anything."

He didn’t pull away.

But he didn’t respond either.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Then, faintly, the sound of monitors beeping filled the room.

A reminder that time was slipping away.

She had so much to say.

But words had never been enough.

Not then.

Not now.

So she did the only thing she could.

She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"I’m sorry," she whispered.

And for the first time in years, she meant it.

Truly.

Deeply.

But would it be enough?

The door opened again.

Charlotte cleared her throat. "Visiting hours are over."

Sophia straightened, her heart aching.

She didn’t want to go.

But she had no choice.

Not anymore.

She forced a smile for Liam. "I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?"

He didn’t answer.

She turned and walked out, her steps heavy.

Ethan was waiting in the hallway, his arms crossed.

She met his gaze. "We need to talk."

His expression darkened. "Not here."

She nodded. "Your office. One hour."

Without waiting for a response, she walked away.

The hospital doors slid open, revealing the stormy night outside.

Rain lashed against the pavement, mirroring the turmoil inside her.

She had come back for Liam.

But now, she realized, she might lose him all over again.

And this time, it would be her fault.

Entirely.

The only reason I remained in her life was because I was Liam's father—and because I refused to let go. Otherwise, Sophia would have discarded me like she had everyone else.

"Maybe next time," Victoria offered him a sorrowful smile.

She was on the verge of breaking down. Tears shimmered in her eyes, barely contained. Liam, blissfully unaware of the tension, didn’t need to witness his grandmother’s emotional collapse. If he ever discovered the truth—how cruelly Sophia had been treated—he would explode.

Liam’s loyalty to his mother was absolute. If he learned what we’d done, we’d instantly become his enemies. And he wouldn’t hesitate to cut us off.

"Let’s go," I murmured, stepping forward and guiding them inside. "I’m sure the others are waiting."

Victoria excused herself, disappearing toward the bathroom, while Liam and I made our way to the backyard.

I suppressed a groan when I saw the full gathering. Liam darted ahead, leaving me behind.

He greeted everyone—except Isabella. He didn’t even glance in her direction. His dislike for her was blatant, and he made no effort to hide it.

"So glad you finally decided to join us, son," my father said, clapping me on the back.

He knew it annoyed me. He did it anyway.

"Yep," I muttered, already counting down the minutes until this was over.

"You sound thrilled to be here," Sebastian remarked dryly.

I shot him a glare. Unlike everyone else, he didn’t flinch. Being my twin, he was immune to my usual intimidation tactics.

"Come here, Ethan," my mother said, opening her arms. "I’ve missed you."

I wrapped an arm around her waist in a brief hug. "Missed you too."

We pulled apart just as Victoria returned, her eyes red and cheeks blotchy.

Liam was already seated at the table, chatting animatedly with Nathan while piling food onto his plate.

Nathan had invited Amelia, but she’d refused. She wanted nothing to do with people who had hurt Sophia.

Her fierce loyalty to Sophia was straining their relationship. Nathan was terrified of losing her—especially since he had been one of the worst offenders.

"Can we talk, Ethan?" Isabella’s voice cut through my thoughts.

Damn it. I hadn’t even noticed her approach.

"There’s nothing to talk about," I said flatly, turning to face her.

I’d been avoiding her. I was still furious about the things she’d said about Liam. But more than that, I just didn’t want her near me. Not when my mind was consumed with thoughts of Sophia.

I had loved the woman standing before me. I’d cherished her, even when I was married to her sister. I’d been so certain that no one else could ever compare.

All I’d wanted was for her to come back. I’d sworn that if she ever gave me another chance, I’d leave Sophia and build a life with her.

But now?

She’d been back for months, and yet… I felt nothing. The love I’d believed was eternal had vanished. The passion I’d sworn no other woman could inspire had faded.

I was a fool. One moment, I was proclaiming my undying love for Isabella. The next, I couldn’t stand her presence. One moment, I was convinced I despised Sophia. The next, I couldn’t stay away from her.

The two sisters were driving me insane.

"Ethan—"

"What?" I snapped, suddenly suffocated by the weight of it all.

Tears welled in her eyes, but for the first time, I didn’t care. Not like I used to.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

For years, I’d played the "what if" game. What if I could finally be with the woman I’d always loved? What if we got married, started a family? What if everything had gone the way it was supposed to?

Those questions had haunted me—until Isabella returned. I’d thought it was our second chance.

I’d been wrong.

We were too different now. Even if we’d gotten together years ago, there was no guarantee we would’ve lasted.

She would always hold a piece of my heart as my first love. But it was time to face the truth.

My love for her was dead.

And maybe it had been for a long, long time.