Chapter 78

The moment my parents appeared on my doorstep, I knew they’d seen the damn article.

Amelia had sent me the link minutes after I got home. It infuriated me more than I already was. I hadn’t been ready to share the news, and those vultures had plastered it across the entire internet.

I wasn’t worried about the public’s reaction. My only concern was my parents. I hadn’t found the right way to tell them I was pregnant. The situation was already complicated enough with Daniel still refusing to speak to them.

The article vanished just before my parents arrived. I had a strong suspicion Ethan had something to do with it.

Just thinking his name ignited a fury like no other. I shook off the memory of what happened in the changing room and focused on my parents, who were staring at me with unspoken questions.

"You saw the article, didn’t you?" I asked, stating the obvious.

The house was quiet, mostly because Liam wasn’t back from school yet.

"Yes," Dad answered, his gaze piercing.

"Sophia, we know we haven’t spent much time together lately, but why didn’t you tell us?" Mom whispered, her voice fragile. "A baby is a blessing. I thought we were past the point where you felt you couldn’t talk to us."

Her hurt cut deep. It pained me to know I’d caused them pain. They’d been nothing but incredible to me—the kind of parents I’d always dreamed of. How could I explain that I wanted to tell them, but the words just wouldn’t come?

"You have to believe me—I wanted to tell you so many times. I just didn’t know how," I murmured, staring at my trembling hands.

"Why would you struggle to tell us?" Dad’s brows furrowed in confusion. He was searching for a reason, but none seemed to make sense.

"Because of who the father is."

Mom gasped sharply. "You mean Ethan isn’t the father?"

Why did everyone assume Ethan was the one who got me pregnant? We’d been divorced, for God’s sake.

I nodded, still avoiding their eyes. Back then, I hadn’t known the truth, but the fact remained—I’d slept with my adopted brother. I was sure Daniel had never shared those details with them, which made this confession even harder. And it was even more twisted that Daniel had known the truth the whole time and still went through with it.

"Sophia, we would never judge you," Mom said softly, seeing my hesitation. "Whoever the father is, it doesn’t matter."

"Even if the father is Daniel?" The words choked out of me.

It still felt like a sin. Daniel and I weren’t related by blood, but in every other way, he was their son.

The silence that followed was suffocating. They both stared at me in stunned disbelief, mouths opening and closing without sound.

Damn it. I knew this was a mistake. What if they hated me? What if they hated Daniel? I exhaled shakily. But I couldn’t keep this secret forever.

"D-Daniel is the father?" Mom stammered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Yes. I didn’t know he was my adopted brother when we got involved."

"But he knew!" Dad roared, surging to his feet, his face flushed with anger. "Is this why he refuses to see us? I never thought he’d sink this low—seducing you when he knew you were our daughter!"

I was stunned. I’d never heard Dad curse before.

"He didn’t seduce me. I entered the relationship willingly," I said, my cheeks inexplicably heating.

Sure, I wouldn’t have gotten involved if I’d known the truth, but he hadn’t manipulated me. Everything between us had been consensual.

"He deceived you, Sophia," Mom sighed. "Your father’s right. Daniel knew the truth, but you didn’t. He took advantage of that. What he did was wrong. So wrong."

"I know," I whispered, disgust coiling in my stomach. "He won’t be in prison forever. And I did give him a chance to explain himself, but he refused. Now I have to live with this—with the fact that my child’s father is my adopted brother. How do I explain that to my baby one day?"

Mom stood and pulled me into a tight embrace. Tears pricked my eyes.

Damn hormones.

"It’s okay, sweetheart. Don’t worry. We still love you, and we’ll love this baby just as much," Dad said, joining us.

We stayed like that for a long moment before finally pulling apart.

"Another grandbaby!" Mom suddenly beamed, her entire face lighting up. "This is wonderful! I need to start shopping!"

She bounced on her toes like an excited teenager.

"Who else can say they’re a grandmother at forty-three? I’m young, stylish, and still energetic enough to chase after my grandkids!"

Dad and I laughed as she twirled around the living room like a ballerina. Dad caught her, spun her in his arms, and kissed her, making her giggle.

I smiled, but a pang struck my heart. This was the kind of love I’d always wanted. The kind of marriage I’d dreamed of. But I’d let go of those fantasies. I’d accepted that kind of love wasn’t meant for me.

They stayed a little longer before leaving. A weight had lifted from my shoulders. My biggest fear had been their rejection, but seeing their excitement soothed something inside me.

Later, Liam came home, and I busied myself helping him with homework and making snacks. I liked staying organized, so I laid out his uniform and everything he’d need for the next day.

Just as I finished, there was a knock at the door.

I trudged to answer it.

"Sophia Sterling?" the deliveryman asked.

Ugh. I need to change my last name. Sterling didn’t belong to me anymore.

"Yes?"

"Delivery for you."

I rolled my eyes. Why did they always state the obvious?

"I didn’t order anything."

"Not my problem."

Rude. Maybe he’d seen my eye roll. Before I could respond, he shoved a box into my hands and walked away.

I stared after him, memorizing the company name. I hadn’t ordered anything, but I would be leaving a scathing one-star review.

Taking the box inside, I set it on the coffee table.

"What’s that?" Liam asked, eyeing it curiously.

"No idea."

I hesitated. With the Reapers still a threat, what if it was dangerous?

Before I could overthink it, Liam snatched the box and tore it open.

"Liam!" I shrieked, my heart leaping into my throat.

If it had been a bomb, we’d be dead. Did he have no sense of self-preservation?

"You never open unknown packages!" I snapped, trying to calm my racing heart.

He shrugged. "I was curious."

Peering inside, his face twisted in disappointment. "I thought it’d be something cool. It’s just a bunch of dresses."

Wait—what?

I took the box and pulled out the contents. One by one, I recognized them—the outfits I’d loved at the maternity boutique. The ones I’d wanted to buy before Ethan ruined everything.

How the hell—?

Then it hit me. Ethan. That bastard must have bought them.

"They’re pretty, Mommy. You’ll look beautiful," Liam said, just as the thought of burning them crossed my mind.

"Thanks, sweetheart," I forced a smile. "Go finish your homework. I’ll start dinner."

Leaving the clothes, I headed to the kitchen, unsure what to do with them. I didn’t want anything from Ethan. Honestly, this was the first gift he’d ever given me.

Thinking of the clothes brought back the memory of the changing room. I still didn’t understand what had gotten into him. He’d been acting so unlike himself.

I hated the hunger in his eyes. Hated how I’d felt his hardness pressed against me. Ethan had never found me attractive. Never looked at me like he wanted to devour me. So what the hell had changed?

"Sophia."

I spun around at his voice. He stood in the kitchen doorway, watching me.

"What are you doing here? How did you get in?" My anger flared.

"Liam let me in," he said, stepping closer.

I didn’t want him in my house. In my life. He didn’t get to treat me like garbage for years and suddenly have a change of heart. That’s not how this worked.

"Get out," I snapped.

"Sophia—"

"Get the hell out of my house, Ethan."

I tried to hold back, but the memories of his cruelty surged forward.

"Listen to me—"

"Like you listened when I told you I was drunk and you didn’t believe me? Or when I begged for a chance, and you ignored me?" I took a sharp breath, forcing myself to stay calm.

"I’ve heard enough from you to last a lifetime. I left you like you always wanted. Why can’t you do the same? Haven’t I suffered enough for loving you? What else do you want from me?"

Tears burned, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

"You’ve always thrown Isabella in my face. She’s here, Ethan. You can have the love of your life and leave me the hell alone. Don’t come to my appointments. Don’t take me shopping. Don’t buy me clothes. Just ignore me like you always have."

I slumped against the counter, exhausted. Something flickered in his eyes—pain? Regret? I didn’t care.

"Are you guys fighting?" Liam’s voice cut through the tension.

His expression was hard, lips pressed into a thin line.

"No," I sighed. "Your father was just leaving."

I glared at Ethan, silently demanding he go. Hopefully, he’d never step foot in my home again.

Liam nodded and left. Ethan turned to go but paused.

"I’m sorry, Sophia. So damn sorry," he said, his voice rough with emotion.

"Just leave. And take those clothes with you."

"No."

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to hurl a pan at his head.

"Fine. I’ll donate them."

"Do what you want. They’re yours." With that, he walked out.

A moment later, I heard murmurs, then the front door closed. Relief washed over me as his suffocating presence disappeared.

As I cooked dinner, I fortified the walls around my heart. Whatever game Ethan was playing, I wouldn’t fall for it again. I’d be damned before I let him hurt me one more time.