Chapter 154

The moment Sophia stepped into the dimly lit hospital room, her breath caught in her throat.

Liam lay motionless on the bed, his small frame swallowed by the sterile white sheets.

The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the suffocating silence.

She reached out, her fingers trembling as they brushed against his cold hand.

This is all my fault.

The thought clawed at her chest, relentless and unforgiving.

Footsteps echoed behind her, heavy and deliberate.

She didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Ethan Blackwood’s presence was like a storm rolling in—dark, inevitable, and impossible to ignore.

"You shouldn’t be here," he said, his voice low and rough with exhaustion.

Sophia clenched her jaw.

"I have every right to be here."

Ethan’s gaze burned into her, a silent challenge.

The air between them crackled with tension, thick enough to choke on.

Then, a weak voice cut through the silence.

"Mom?"

Sophia’s heart shattered all over again.

Liam’s eyes fluttered open, glassy with pain but unmistakably aware.

She dropped to her knees beside the bed, clutching his hand like a lifeline.

"I’m here, baby. I’m right here."

Ethan exhaled sharply, his fists tightening at his sides.

The door creaked open again.

Daniel Carter stepped inside, his police badge glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights.

His eyes flickered between Sophia and Ethan, assessing the situation with practiced calm.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Sophia hesitated, torn between staying with Liam and facing whatever new nightmare awaited her.

Liam squeezed her hand weakly.

"Go," he whispered. "I’ll be okay."

Her throat tightened.

She pressed a kiss to his forehead before standing, her legs unsteady beneath her.

As she followed Daniel out, she could feel Ethan’s gaze boring into her back.

A silent promise—or a threat.

She wasn’t sure which.

And right now, she didn’t care.

Because one thing was certain.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

I whirl around, my breath catching in my throat.

Ethan Blackwood stands there, his piercing gaze locked onto me.

Just my luck.

"Ethan?" My voice comes out sharper than intended. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Of all the places, of all the moments—why here? Why now?

I’m standing right in front of Passion & Desire, its neon sign flashing provocatively, the window display leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination.

This is officially the most humiliating moment of my life.

He tilts his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "I could ask you the same thing."

Heat floods my cheeks. There’s no way to spin this. No clever lie that could erase the fact that I’m standing in front of a sex shop.

I glance back at the store, then at him, nerves twisting in my stomach.

"I was just… shopping for maternity clothes," I blurt. "And baby stuff."

His eyebrow arches. "In that store? Unless you’re looking for something very specific, I don’t think they carry onesies."

The smirk on his lips tells me he’s enjoying this.

I don’t dignify that with a response. Instead, I pivot on my heel and march away.

But of course, he follows.

"I didn’t peg you as the type to use toys," he muses, falling into step beside me.

I stop dead in my tracks.

What the actual hell?

"First of all," I snap, whirling on him, "you don’t know anything about me. You never did, because you were too busy acting like I was beneath you. And second—" I lower my voice, furious. "There’s nothing wrong with a woman taking care of her own needs. So back the hell off."

His eyes darken, but I don’t wait for a reply. I speed-walk away, my pulse roaring in my ears.

The audacity of this man.

"Sophia."

I ignore him.

"Sophia."

I stop, glaring. "What?"

He nods toward a store a few feet away. "There’s a maternity shop."

I grit my teeth.

Fine. I do actually need to shop for baby things.

Grudgingly, I stomp toward the store—only to spin around when I realize he’s still following.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping you shop."

"I didn’t ask for your help."

He steps into my space, so close I can feel the heat radiating off him. "Too bad. I’m staying. And you’re going to try on every damn outfit until you find what you need."

My jaw drops.

Before I can unleash the fury bubbling inside me, a cheerful voice interrupts.

"Hi there! Can I help you two?"

Ethan answers before I can.

"My wife needs maternity clothes."

Wife?!

I nearly choke.

We are divorced.

This man has officially lost his mind.