Chapter 152
The moment Sophia stepped into the penthouse, she knew something was wrong.
The air was thick with tension, the kind that made her skin prickle.
Liam wasn’t in his room.
His bed was neatly made, his toys untouched.
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she rushed to Ethan’s study.
The door was slightly ajar.
She pushed it open, her breath catching in her throat.
Ethan stood by the window, his back rigid, his phone pressed to his ear.
His voice was low, dangerous.
“Find him. Now.”
Sophia’s stomach twisted.
“What’s going on?” she demanded.
Ethan turned, his eyes dark with fury.
“Liam’s missing.”
The words hit her like a physical blow.
Her knees nearly buckled.
“What do you mean, missing?”
Ethan’s jaw clenched.
“He was supposed to be at his piano lesson. The instructor never showed. The driver said someone else picked him up.”
Sophia’s blood ran cold.
“Who?”
Ethan’s grip on the phone tightened.
“Someone claiming to be from the school.”
Her mind raced.
This wasn’t an accident.
Someone had taken their son.
And she had a terrible feeling she knew who.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
An unknown number.
Her fingers trembled as she answered.
A familiar, chilling voice filled her ear.
“Hello, Sophia. Miss me?”
Her breath stopped.
It was him.
The man who had haunted her nightmares.
And he had Liam.
My fingers tap nervously against the desk as Harrison flips through the business proposal Natalie sent over.
I have to give her credit—the woman works at lightning speed. Less than twenty-four hours since we discussed the idea, and she already had a full proposal ready.
Either she’s incredibly efficient, or she had this drafted long before and was just waiting for Scarlett and me to agree.
Harrison’s expression is unreadable. He’s been more than just my lawyer since my first million—he’s been my most trusted advisor. I never enter a business venture without his approval.
And he’s never been wrong.
Every venture he endorsed thrived. Every one he warned me against collapsed. His opinion isn’t just important—it’s vital.
“Well?” I finally ask when the silence stretches too long.
He scans the document one last time before looking up.
“It’s a solid concept. The potential is undeniable.”
I know him too well. There’s a but hanging in the air. His hesitation is palpable.
“What’s the catch?” I press, my pulse quickening.
He studies me, weighing his words carefully. The longer he stays silent, the tighter my chest feels.
“Just say it, Harrison.”
“It’s… unconventional,” he finally admits.
“I know that.”
“And there’s another factor.” He hesitates. “Have you considered how this might impact your role at Hope Foundation?”
My smile fades. He notices and backtracks quickly.
“I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. It’s brilliant, actually. But as the founder of a children’s charity, you have a reputation to uphold. If word gets out that you’re co-owning a sex toy company—”
I drop my gaze to the desk.
Since I had extra space in the house, I converted one room into a home office. Now, surrounded by soft lighting and the faint scent of lavender, his words sink in.
He’s right.
I’m the face of an organization dedicated to children. Associating with this kind of business could be seen as morally conflicting.
A defeated sigh escapes me. At first, I’d been hesitant, but the excitement had grown. The idea of building something bold with friends had been exhilarating.
“You’re right,” I murmur. “The socialites who donate would pull their funding the second they find out.”
He nods. Silence stretches between us.
My mind races, trying to figure out how to break this to Natalie and Scarlett. They’ll be disappointed, but they’ll understand. That’s what friends do.
“This is a huge opportunity,” Harrison says, pulling me from my thoughts. “I don’t want you to lose it. Would they consider having you as a silent partner?”
A spark of hope flickers in my chest.
I’ve been a silent investor before—owning shares, advising on major decisions, but remaining anonymous. Only the CEOs and boards ever knew.
“That could work,” I say slowly, a smile tugging at my lips. “I’ll talk to them, but I doubt they’ll object.”
“Good.” He stands. “Let me know once you’ve spoken with them. I’ll draft the necessary documents.”
“Thank you, Harrison. Really.”
He smirks. “Don’t thank me. You pay me an obscene amount to solve your problems.”
I laugh as he heads for the door.
“See you, Sophia.”
“See you.”
The moment he’s gone, I grab my phone. I’ll call Scarlett first, then Natalie.
She answers on the first ring.
“Scarlett, I’ve got—”
“I’m so sorry, Sophia,” she blurts before I can finish.
Her voice is thick with regret, so heavy it makes my chest ache.
I frown. “What are you talking about? What do you have to apologize for?”
Staring blankly at the opposite wall, I wrack my brain. We haven’t fought. She hasn’t done anything that would require forgiveness.
So why does she sound like she’s about to cry?