Chapter 166
The moment Sophia stepped into the dimly lit hospital corridor, her pulse quickened.
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled her lungs, sharp and suffocating.
Her fingers trembled as she clutched the strap of her bag, knuckles whitening.
She wasn’t ready.
Not for this.
Not for him.
Liam’s small voice echoed in her mind, his tearful plea before she left the house. "Mom, please don’t go."
But she had to.
Ethan Blackwood was awake.
And she needed answers.
The guard stationed outside his room gave her a curt nod before stepping aside.
Her breath hitched as she pushed the door open.
There he was.
Propped against the pillows, his face pale but alert, those piercing green eyes locking onto hers instantly.
A storm of emotions crashed through her—anger, betrayal, but beneath it all, an ache she couldn’t name.
"You came," he murmured, voice rough from disuse.
Sophia stiffened. "Don’t flatter yourself. I’m here for Liam."
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
Then, with a slow exhale, he spoke again. "I never meant for any of this to happen."
A bitter laugh escaped her. "Funny how that’s always your excuse."
His gaze darkened. "Sophia—"
"No." She cut him off, stepping closer. "You don’t get to say my name like that. Not after everything."
The heart monitor beeped steadily, the only sound in the room.
She forced herself to meet his eyes. "Who hired the hitman?"
Ethan’s expression shuttered. "It’s complicated."
"Uncomplicate it."
A muscle ticked in his jaw. "You’re safer not knowing."
Her nails dug into her palms. "I swear to God, Ethan—"
The door burst open.
Daniel Carter stood there, his police badge glinting under the fluorescent lights. His sharp gaze darted between them before settling on Sophia.
"We need to talk. Now."
Her stomach dropped.
Something was wrong.
Ethan’s voice was low, urgent. "Sophia, whatever he says—"
But Daniel was already pulling her into the hallway.
His grip on her arm was firm. "We found another body."
Her blood ran cold.
"Who?"
His next words sent a chill down her spine.
"Someone close to you."
The sole reason our company hadn't collapsed yet was because we still held power equal to the Prescotts. Their withdrawal and the subsequent departure of their loyal investors hadn’t crippled us—not entirely.
But I wasn’t naive enough to believe this was over. They might not have managed to destroy Blackwood Industries, but I knew damn well they’d find another way to retaliate. And I wouldn’t fight them. They had every right to come after me. After what I did to their daughter, I deserved whatever hell they planned to unleash.
"Is that what’s eating at you? That she refused to help?" Sebastian’s voice was laced with sympathy as he studied Nathan’s defeated posture.
Nathan exhaled, long and weary. "No. It’s what she said. She told me she doesn’t consider me family." His jaw clenched. "Meaning I’m nothing to her now."
I saw the raw pain flicker across his face, but I felt no pity. We had been monsters to her. The way Sophia treated us now was still kinder than we deserved.
"What the hell did you expect?" Sebastian muttered, frustration edging his tone. "I keep asking you all the same damn question."
"I know." Nathan slumped deeper into his chair, looking utterly broken. "I don’t know why I keep hoping she’ll be the same girl she was before. That version of Sophia is gone. The only time you see even a flicker of her now is when she’s with Liam."
My phone buzzed, cutting through the heavy silence. An unknown number flashed on the screen. For a second, I considered ignoring it—until instinct told me otherwise.
"Didn’t I promise I’d make you pay?" The voice on the other end was chillingly familiar.
My grip tightened around the phone. "What the fuck do you want, Damien?"
Damien Slade—better known as the Reaper—let out a low, mocking laugh. "Don’t you want to know who I have with me?"
I wasn’t easily rattled, but this bastard was unhinged. The smugness in his tone sent a cold dread creeping down my spine.
"Spit it out," I growled. "I don’t have time for games."
My voice stayed steady, but panic clawed at my chest. He had someone I cared about. And that realization alone was enough to push me toward the edge.
"Since you’re so eager," he drawled, deliberately dragging out the moment, "I’ll tell you. I’ve got two lovely ladies here. The love of your miserable life… and the mother of your child."
My heart stuttered. Then it kicked back to life, pounding violently against my ribs.
Nathan and Sebastian went rigid, sensing the shift in the air.
"What do you want?" My entire body had gone numb, as if encased in ice.
"It’s simple." His voice dripped with amusement. "You choose who lives and who dies. I’ll spare one and kill the other. Generous, don’t you think? At least you get to walk away with one of them instead of losing both."
Fuck. This was worse than I’d imagined. The bastard had completely lost his mind.
"Tick tock, Ethan," he taunted. "Time’s running out."
The line went dead.
Sebastian’s eyes locked onto mine. "What happened?"
"Damien has Sophia and Isabella." I forced air into my lungs, fighting to stay calm. "He’s making me choose."
"Goddammit!" Nathan roared, slamming his fist against the desk.
This was beyond fucked up.
I would move heaven and hell to get them both back alive. But if it came down to it—if I had to choose—I already knew who I’d pick.
The real question was… would I ever be forgiven for sacrificing the other?