Chapter 149

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the bedroom floor. Sophia stretched lazily, her fingers brushing against the empty space beside her.

Ethan had already left.

Again.

She sighed, pushing herself up. The scent of his cologne lingered faintly on the pillow, a bittersweet reminder of his presence.

Downstairs, Liam was already at the table, shoveling cereal into his mouth with the enthusiasm only a child could muster. Gabriella, his nanny, gave Sophia a knowing smile.

"Morning, Ms. Blackwood."

"Morning," Sophia murmured, reaching for the coffee pot.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Daniel.

"Good morning. Just checking in."

Her fingers hovered over the screen. She should reply. But something held her back.

The doorbell rang.

Sophia frowned. It was too early for visitors.

She opened the door to find a courier holding a sleek black envelope.

"For you, ma'am."

Her name was written in elegant silver script. No return address.

A prickle of unease ran down her spine.

Inside, the envelope contained a single sheet of paper.

"You should have stayed gone."

The words sent a chill through her.

Liam’s laughter echoed from the kitchen, blissfully unaware.

But Sophia knew.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

She never smiled around me. Not genuinely. If she did, it was distant, like ice. But hearing that someone else could make her laugh? That burned like hell.

"So, what did Liam say to piss you off?" Nathan asked, studying me with raised brows.

"Nothing important," I muttered through clenched teeth. "Just that their new neighbor is cozying up in Sophia’s house, making her laugh like I never could."

Nathan and Sebastian exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. I didn’t care. My blood was boiling.

I wanted to hit something—hard. The image of another man standing where I should be, earning her smiles, her laughter—it made me see red.

A primal part of me roared that she was mine. That no one else had the right to be near her.

The thought shocked me. I’d never considered Sophia as mine. She was just… Sophia. The woman who’d turned my life upside down.

"Liam’s obviously trying to get under your skin," Sebastian said once their laughter faded. "He’s not subtle about wanting you two back together. Your reaction just proved him right—you still care. A lot."

I shot him a glare. I wanted to deny it, but I couldn’t. The truth? I was jealous. Brutally, irrationally jealous.

I wanted Sophia’s smiles. Her laughter. I wanted to be the one setting the damn table in her kitchen, helping her plant that ridiculous vegetable garden she always talked about.

The realization hit me like a punch. I was Ethan Blackwood—I didn’t kneel for anyone. Yet here I was, ready to get my hands dirty just to be near her.

Since when?

Since fucking when did I start wanting this?

"Do you want her back?" Nathan asked, serious now.

The question threw me. I didn’t have an answer. How could I explain this mess in my chest? The emotions were chaos, a storm I couldn’t control.

Why now? Why not years ago?

The questions pounded in my skull, relentless. And I had no answers.

With a rough exhale, I stood, ignoring the curious stares from my parents, Liam’s smug smirk, and Victoria’s confusion.

I needed air. Space. A damn minute to think.

But the house wasn’t empty.

Isabella sat alone in the living room. The second she saw me, she rushed over.

"Ethan, please," she begged. "Talk to me. Tell me how to fix this."

I hated hurting her. But stringing her along would be worse.

Running a hand through my hair, I sighed. "There’s nothing to fix, Isabella. It’s over. We both need to accept that."

Her face shattered. "Are you saying you don’t love me? That you love Sophia instead?"

Just like with Nathan and Sebastian, I walked away.

But as night fell, the question haunted me.

If I didn’t love Isabella… did that mean I was still in love with my ex-wife?