Chapter 73
My mind reeled from the shocking realization. I'd always believed my love for Isabella was unshakable. Discovering it wasn't... that revelation was tearing me apart.
I moved swiftly, dropping onto the bench beside Liam. More than anything, I wanted this nightmare to end. My skin prickled with unease, my pulse erratic.
"What were you talking about with Isabella?" Liam demanded the second I sat down.
The venom in his voice was unmistakable. No one needed to be told twice—the woman I'd once vowed to spend my life with was the person he despised most.
That hatred was part of why I'd hesitated with Isabella. How could I be with her when my son loathed her? How could I consider a future when she clearly didn’t like him either?
From the things she'd said, it was obvious she resented him—for being Sophia's son, for being the reason I married her. Maybe both.
"Nothing important," I muttered, lost in thought.
Silence stretched between us until he spoke again. His words made my fists clench.
"I have a best friend now. Like you and Uncle Sebastian have Uncle Nathan," he announced.
"That's good."
I wasn’t in the mood for conversation. My mood had soured. But Liam, oblivious, kept talking.
"His name is Oliver. They moved in next door last week."
I nodded absently. It wasn’t that I didn’t care—I just had too much on my damn mind. And at the center of it all was his mother.
"You know," he paused, smirking, "his dad is really good-looking."
That caught my attention. I turned to him, finally noticing the mischief in his grin.
"They’ve been over to our house. While Oliver and I played, Mom and Mr. Montgomery were downstairs talking and eating cupcakes. He even promised to help her plant the vegetable garden."
What the hell? Who was this Lucas guy? Why would Sophia invite a stranger into her home, knowing the Slades were still a threat?
He continued, smirking triumphantly, as if he hadn’t just unleashed a storm inside me.
"He made her laugh. A lot. When we came down for dinner, they were standing close while setting the table."
Every word fueled my fury. My jaw locked to keep from snapping at my own son. My heart pounded, rage crashing over me in waves.
"I was worried about Mom when you married Isabella," he said casually. "But now that Lucas is around, you can go ahead. I still don’t like her, but you can marry her, and Mom can marry Lucas. He makes her happy, and Oliver would be my brother—bonus."
Then, with a devilish grin, he delivered the final blow.
"Maybe we can get more siblings. We’ll have to ask them first, but I’m sure they’ll agree."
I snapped.
"Liam!" I slammed my hand on the picnic table.
Everyone turned, confusion on their faces. This was the first time I’d ever yelled at him.
"What?" he asked innocently, as if he hadn’t just lit a fire inside me.
Instead of cowering, he stood, flashed me a smug grin, and walked away—straight toward my mother and Victoria.
"What was that about?" Sebastian asked, dropping beside me. Nathan joined seconds later.
I was still seething. The image of Sophia laughing with another man burned in my mind, tearing at me in ways I didn’t understand.
When I was around her, she barely smiled. If she did, it was cold. The thought of someone else making her laugh? Unbearable.
"Yeah, what did Liam say to piss you off?" Nathan asked, curious.
"Just that their new neighbor is cozying up to Sophia. Making her laugh," I ground out, fists tightening.
Sebastian and Nathan exchanged glances before laughing. I didn’t care. My mind was chaos.
I needed to hit something. All I saw was red.
A primal part of me roared that she was mine. That no other man should dare touch her.
The intensity shocked me. I’d never thought of her as mine. She was just Sophia—the woman who’d ruined my life.
"He’s trying to make you jealous," Sebastian said once their laughter faded. "He wants you and Sophia back together. Your reaction just proved you care. A lot."
I glared at him. I wanted to deny it, but I couldn’t. If I was honest, I was jealous. Brutally so.
I wanted Sophia to smile at me. To laugh with me. I wanted to be the one in her house, setting the damn table. Hell, I wanted to kneel in the dirt beside her, planting that garden.
The realization froze me. I was Ethan Blackwood. Yet here I was, willing to grovel just to be near her.
"Are you in love with Sophia?" Nathan asked seriously.
The question stunned me. I had no answer. How could I explain this confusion? These feelings were foreign, overwhelming.
Why now? Why not years ago?
The questions pounded in my skull. And I had no answers.
I stood abruptly, ignoring the questioning looks from my parents, Liam’s triumphant smirk, and Victoria’s confusion.
I needed air. Space to think.
But inside, I found no peace.
Isabella sat alone in the living room.
She jumped up when she saw me.
"Please, Ethan, talk to me. Tell me how to fix this," she begged.
I hated hurting her. But giving her false hope was worse.
"You can’t fix it, Isabella," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I don’t want to hurt you, but our love ran its course."
"Are you saying you don’t love me? That you love Sophia instead?" Her face shattered.
Just like with Nathan and Sebastian, I walked away.
As night fell, one question haunted me.
If I didn’t love Isabella... did that mean I loved my ex-wife?