Chapter 16

"Mommy, I missed you so much. Why didn't you call?" Liam's voice trembled with sadness.

My heart ached to hold him, to reassure myself that I was still here for him—that I wouldn't leave him motherless.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I lost my phone and had to borrow your dad's."

"Can we video call? I need to see you," he demanded.

I knew he sensed something was wrong, but I couldn’t let him see me in a hospital bed. If he panicked, he’d beg to come home. And with someone possibly targeting me, I couldn’t risk putting him in danger.

The idea that I might be a target still felt surreal. Who would want me dead?

"Not right now, baby. They don’t allow video calls here," I lied.

"That’s a dumb rule! Who makes rules like that?" His frustration crackled through the phone.

I let it slide. He was upset, and I understood.

"Liam—"

"I just want to see you, Mommy. Can’t Dad make them let you? He can do anything!" His voice wobbled, close to tears, shattering my heart.

I glanced at Ethan, who smirked like an idiot. Liam knew exactly how his father operated—one word from Ethan Blackwood, and the world bent to his will.

"Not this time. How about I call you tomorrow, and we’ll Skype?"

"You promise?"

"I promise."

I was being discharged today, giving me time to prepare for the call.

"Okay, Mommy. Talk to you tomorrow. I love you."

"Bye, baby. Love you too."

"Grandma wants to—"

I hung up before he could finish. Guilt gnawed at me, but I couldn’t face her right now.

Ethan stared at me, one brow arched, an unreadable expression flickering across his face. I’d begged him to leave, even asked the nurse to kick him out—but he’d threatened to shut down the entire hospital.

Now, my unwelcome shadow was here every day. His constant presence suffocated me, especially after waking up to find Isabella and Nathan in my room. Nathan had left to grab food, and the moment he did, Isabella pounced like a starving predator.

Three Days Ago

"Your little stunt won’t work, Sophia," Isabella sneered the second Nathan was gone.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

I wasn’t in the mood for her drama. She was determined to pick a fight, and I was too weak to play her games.

"This 'accident'—I bet you planned it to get Ethan’s attention. But I won’t let you near him."

I laughed, then winced as pain shot through my ribs.

"Let me get this straight. You think I blew up my own car to land in the hospital… just to get Ethan’s attention?"

She was delusional. Everyone thought I was the dim one in the family—they should hear their precious Isabella spouting nonsense.

"Of course. Who’d want to kill you? What’s the point? Ethan doesn’t love you. He wouldn’t care if you lived or died. None of us would. You’re nothing." Her scornful gaze raked over me.

I’d never wanted to hit someone so badly.

"So you came here to insult me? Kick me while I’m down?"

Why was she even here? Who let her in? I wanted her gone before she did something worse.

"I’m just stating facts. I hope that gang doesn’t kill you first—I want you to watch as I take everything from you. Including your son. Soon, he’ll call me Mom."

How were we even related? Yes, I’d wronged her—but hadn’t I suffered enough?

"You’re vile, Isabella. But remember—Liam will never see you as his mother. Recall how he ignored you at the airport? You’re nothing to him. You always will be."

Her triumphant smirk twisted into rage.

"Fine. At least it’s my name Ethan screams at night. I’ll make sure he fills me with his cum until I’m pregnant. Once I am, he’ll forget about you and that brat. His only children will be mine. Face it—he’s never loved you. Every time he touched you, he was imagining me. How often did he moan my name in bed?"

I tuned her out, though her words stung. My only concern was Liam. But when she called him a brat, I saw red. Grabbing the nearest vase, I hurled it at her head. She ducked with a shriek, and it shattered against the wall just as Nathan walked in.

"Are you insane?!" Isabella screeched.

"Get out! Both of you!" I screamed back.

The nurse rushed in, eyes wide.

"Sophia, what’s wrong?" Nathan asked gently, but I didn’t want his fake concern.

Not after years of him treating me like garbage, rubbing his love for Isabella in my face while acting like I was nothing.

"Ask your darling sister," I spat, glaring at them before turning to the nurse. "Make them leave. Now."

My head throbbed, the heart monitor beeping erratically.

The nurse squared her shoulders. "You need to go. You’re stressing her."

"She’s my sister! You can’t kick me out!" Nathan growled.

I scoffed. Since when?

"Security will escort you if you refuse," the nurse snapped, all politeness gone.

"Sophia, please," Nathan begged.

But I had nothing left to give. They’d taken everything and thrown it back in my face.

"Leave, Nathan. And keep your sister away from me."

I turned away, shutting my eyes until they were gone. After a heated argument with the nurse, they finally left—only for Daniel to arrive and make me laugh for the first time in days.

Present

"What did you say?" Ethan’s voice snapped me back to reality.

"I asked if you’re ready to leave," he repeated.

I studied him, wondering if Isabella was right. Would Ethan really abandon Liam? I wanted to believe he wouldn’t—but I wasn’t sure. Isabella meant everything to him. Did that outweigh our son?

"Why are you here, Ethan?" I asked instead.

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"We both know I’m your least favorite person. Shouldn’t you be with Isabella, enjoying your reunion?" Bitterness laced my words, her taunts still echoing in my mind.

He sighed. "You’re looking for a fight. Let’s just get you home."

"I don’t need help from a man who hates me! Leave, Ethan. You’d rather be anywhere else."

"Really? Who’ll help you check out? You have no one, Sophia."

"Daniel. He’ll take me home." It was true—I had no friends. But Daniel would come if I asked.

Ethan’s face hardened, fists clenching. "Over my dead body. You have two choices: I take you home, or you stay here longer. Either way, he isn’t touching you."

"Seriously, Ethan? You couldn’t wait to be rid of me—now you’re glued to me like a bad rash. I don’t want drama with Isabella. I just want peace."

He needed to back off. I refused to be accused of using this mess to seduce him.

"Speaking of, what happened between you and Isabella the day you were attacked?"

"I’m sure she’s already told you." Lies, I added silently.

"I want your side."

Slowly, I slid off the bed and shuffled to the bathroom. "No point. You’ll believe her, like always."

"Sophia—" I shut the door before he could finish.

Dressing drained me. By the time I finished, I was breathless, vision blurring. Leaning on the wall for support, I shrugged off Ethan’s offered hand and collapsed into the wheelchair.

"Let’s go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’re apart." Exhaustion dragged at me.

He sighed but wheeled me out. The discharge process blurred together. My eyelids grew heavy—then everything went black.

I woke in Ethan’s arms as he carried me up a familiar staircase.

"What are you doing?" I mumbled.

"Putting you to bed. You passed out before we reached the car."

His warmth, his deep voice—I nuzzled closer without thinking. He chuckled, but I didn’t care. He smelled divine, his body solid and safe. My eyes fluttered shut as I drifted, weightless.

He laid me on something soft, then joined me. I turned, resting my head on his chest as his arms curled around my waist, pulling me close.

As sleep claimed me, one thought lingered: This feels right. In this dream, Ethan didn’t push me away. In this dream, I was exactly where I’d always wanted to be.