Chapter 151

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 back the silk sheets. The scent of his cologne lingered faintly on the pillow, a cruel reminder of his absence.

Downstairs, Liam was already at the breakfast table, his small hands wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate. Gabriella, his nanny, stood nearby, slicing fresh fruit.

"Morning, Mom," Liam chirped, his smile bright.

Sophia forced a smile in return. "Morning, sweetheart."

She poured herself a cup of coffee, the bitter taste grounding her. The house was too quiet. Too empty.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Daniel.

"Still on for lunch today?"

She hesitated.

Part of her wanted to say no. To retreat into the safety of solitude. But another part—the part that craved warmth, connection—whispered otherwise.

"Yes. See you at noon."

She set the phone down, her fingers trembling slightly.

Was she making a mistake?

The doorbell rang.

Gabriella moved to answer it, but Sophia waved her off. "I'll get it."

She opened the door to find Natalie standing there, her arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"We need to talk," Natalie said.

Sophia's stomach twisted. "About what?"

Natalie stepped inside, lowering her voice. "It's about Ethan."

Sophia's breath hitched.

"What about him?"

Natalie hesitated, then sighed. "He’s been meeting with Vanessa. Frequently."

Sophia’s grip on the door tightened.

Vanessa.

The woman who had humiliated her at the charity gala. The woman who had once been Ethan’s secretary—and possibly more.

Her vision blurred.

Was history repeating itself?

Liam’s laughter echoed from the kitchen, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her.

She had to know the truth.

No matter how much it hurt.

"Hold up, I never agreed to this insane plan!"

Scarlett completely ignores my protest. "We need thorough market research. Since Sophia has zero experience with adult toys, she should purchase all the premium brands and test them. Her fresh perspective will help us identify flaws and improve our own designs."

Natalie nods eagerly, her grin widening. I could practically see the excitement radiating off her. Meanwhile, I felt like a lab rat about to be experimented on.

"Do I get any say in this?" I snap, irritation creeping into my voice.

"Not really. We're about to make you filthy rich, so..." Scarlett trails off with a dismissive wave.

"You do realize I’m already loaded, right?"

She shrugs, brushing me off. "Doesn’t matter. Weren’t you the one complaining about needing a new challenge? Well, here it is. It’ll keep you entertained without exhausting you."

I exhale sharply, considering it. How bad could it really be?

"Fine," I mutter in defeat.

They both squeal, crushing me in a suffocating hug. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and for the first time in ages, I feel a spark of excitement. Maybe this will bring some color back into my dull life.

Once we pull apart, Scarlett’s expression turns serious. "Now that that’s settled, I have a question for you, Sophia."

I raise a brow. "Go ahead."

"Who’s Lucas?"

The question catches me off guard. I haven’t mentioned Lucas to them, and after that one encounter, I haven’t seen him again. Hunter drops by almost daily, but his father? Nowhere in sight.

"He’s my new neighbor. How do you know about him?"

"Tristan told me," she says, and my frown deepens. How does Tristan know Lucas?

"Apparently, at the gathering, Liam brought him up. And not just casually—he told Ethan that Lucas made you happy and he wouldn’t mind if you two got married and gave him and Lucas more siblings. Tristan said Ethan nearly lost it."

"Seriously?" Natalie gasps, eyes wide.

"Yep. Tristan said he was so jealous he almost smashed the table in half," Scarlett adds with a smirk.

I burst out laughing so hard my stomach aches.

This is ridiculous. Liam trying to make Ethan jealous? And Ethan actually getting jealous? That’s beyond absurd. If there’s one man who wouldn’t care if I slept with every guy in the city, it’s Ethan Blackwood.

"Tell me this is a joke," I wheeze once I catch my breath.

It has to be. The only person Ethan has ever been jealous over is Isabella. Not me. Never me.

"It’s not. Tristan’s even questioning Ethan’s feelings toward you now," Scarlett insists.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" Natalie asks curiously.

"Because I know him. Jealousy isn’t in his vocabulary. He was probably just pissed that Liam keeps pushing us back together." I turn to Scarlett. "And tell Tristan there’s nothing going on. When Isabella returned, he asked me not to interfere with their 'happily ever after,' and I haven’t."

"I don’t think that’s it," Scarlett murmurs. "I think he’s starting to realize he might’ve been wrong about you and Ethan. That maybe Ethan does have feelings for you."

I remember Tristan’s warning at the hospital after Isabella came back. He was terrified I’d ruin their fairytale ending.

"The only thing Ethan Blackwood has ever felt for me is hatred. Nothing will convince me otherwise. This whole conversation is insane. You don’t despise someone for nine years and suddenly develop feelings. That’s not how it works."

"Unless the feelings were always there, and he just refused to acknowledge them," Natalie suggests.

I shake my head, frustration bubbling up. "Scarlett—"

"No. Drop it. I don’t want to hear another word about Ethan, okay? Even if—magically—he developed feelings for me, don’t you think it’s too late now?"

Scarlett stays silent. Natalie stares at the table. The mood plummets, and suddenly, all I want is to go home and forget this entire conversation.

Why won’t they let this go? Why insist on something that doesn’t exist? If they truly believe this nonsense, they’re delusional. I know Ethan. And I know there’s nothing but resentment in his heart for me.

I shake my head, forcing the thoughts away. My focus is on my kids, my foundation, and this absurd new business venture.

Ethan is in the past. And that’s where he’ll stay. Nothing will ever change that.