Chapter 173

The crisp morning air carried the scent of freshly brewed coffee as Sophia stepped onto the balcony of her penthouse. Below, the city hummed with life, but her thoughts were elsewhere—on the man who had once been her everything.

Ethan Blackwood.

Even the mere thought of his name sent a shiver down her spine.

She tightened the silk robe around her, the fabric whispering against her skin. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions—anger, regret, and something dangerously close to longing.

Her phone buzzed on the glass table. A message from Isabella.

"Heard from Liam. He’s asking for you."

Sophia’s breath hitched. Liam, her son, the one bright spot in the wreckage of her marriage. She hadn’t seen him in weeks, not since the explosive argument with Ethan that had left them both raw and bleeding.

She typed back quickly. "Tell him I’ll call tonight."

But the guilt gnawed at her. She should be there. She wanted to be there.

The doorbell rang, startling her.

She frowned. No one visited this early.

Padding barefoot across the marble floor, she peered through the peephole—and froze.

Daniel Carter stood on the other side, his dark eyes intense, his jaw set. The man who had been her solace in the storm, the one who had promised her a fresh start.

But why was he here now?

She opened the door slowly. "Daniel?"

His expression was unreadable. "We need to talk."

Her pulse spiked. "About what?"

He stepped closer, his voice low. "Ethan’s in trouble."

The words struck like a physical blow.

Sophia’s hands trembled. "What kind of trouble?"

Daniel’s gaze never wavered. "The kind that could get him killed."

The world tilted.

She gripped the doorframe for support. "Tell me everything."

And as Daniel spoke, the carefully constructed walls around her heart began to crumble.

Because no matter how much she tried to deny it, Ethan still owned a piece of her soul.

And now, he might be lost to her forever.

"Please," she murmurs, her voice drained as her weary eyes meet mine.

Without hesitation, I scoop her into my arms, cradling her against my chest as I start toward the car.

"I only asked for help standing, not a full escort," she protests weakly, lacking her usual sharpness. The exhaustion in her tone speaks volumes.

I ignore her complaint, tightening my hold. Having her this close feels unnervingly right—like the stars themselves had shifted to make this moment possible. If eternity meant holding her like this, I'd surrender to it without hesitation.

As we near the car, a thought claws at me. I've never let myself be this vulnerable with her before—never allowed embraces, never lingered in her touch. Always holding back. Would it have always felt like this if I had? Like she was the fragment of myself I'd been searching for?

Just as I reach the car, Gregory steps into my path.

"What?" I snarl, barely restraining the urge to lash out. Couldn't he see what—who—I was carrying?

"We took down most of the Reapers, but Damien slipped away again," he reports grimly.

Rage simmers under my skin. That bastard's evasion is a personal insult. Every second he remains free is another threat to everyone I love.

"Find him," I bite out before turning away.

Gently, I lower Sophia into the passenger seat, buckling her in before sliding behind the wheel. The hospital isn't far.

"Where are we going?" she asks around a yawn.

"You need to be checked. For you and the baby."

She nods, leaning back against the seat. By the time we arrive, she's already asleep.

Parking, I brush a hand over her cheek to wake her. "We're here."

Before she can move, I lift her again, carrying her through the doors. Nurses swarm us instantly, pushing a wheelchair forward.

"Sir, we'll take care of her. We'll update you soon," one assures me when I hesitate to let go.

Reluctantly, I set her down.

"Call my parents," Sophia whispers before they wheel her away.

The second she's out of sight, I do exactly that—short, clipped, demanding their immediate presence. Next, I check on Liam. The moment Sebastian alerted me, I'd sent my parents to retrieve him. Confirming his safety, I head to the waiting area where Nathan, Victoria, and Sebastian sit.

"Any updates?" I ask, dropping into a chair.

"Not yet," Nathan answers.

"How is she? Where is she now?" Victoria frets.

"They're running tests to ensure everything's stable," I explain.

Silence settles over us. Being here drags up memories—the aftermath of William's death, the hurricane of emotions when Isabella reappeared after nine years. For a heartbeat, I'd been transported back to when she was my entire world. So lost in the past, I hadn't even noticed Sophia walking away.

This place also reminds me of the gunshot—Sophia standing beside me, yet I'd lunged for Isabella instead. That night birthed a different Sophia. The woman I knew had vanished, replaced by someone colder, harder. I don't blame her. I'd have done the same. That moment was her awakening—proof I wasn't worth her heart.

Pushing to my feet, I pace.

Somewhere along the way, everything changed. Now, she wants nothing from me. Every past decision I'd believed justified now stands as a wall between us. My every move is suspect in her eyes. Every effort I make crumbles. And trust? That bridge is ash.