Chapter 87

The boredom was crushing me. Absolutely suffocating. Weekends were bearable with Liam around, but weekdays? Pure torture.

Scarlett and Natalie were busy running their businesses all day. My parents were occupied too. I'd hired Elizabeth to manage The Hope Foundation's daily operations. Even if I dropped by, there'd be nothing for me to do except sign a few documents.

Over the past week, we'd grown close with Lucas Montgomery. He owned a thriving construction company, started just two years ago. Naturally, he was also unavailable during the day.

I was so bored that returning to work crossed my mind. At five months pregnant, I still had time before the baby arrived. Instead, I grabbed my phone and dialed.

"Mrs. Delaney, how are you?" I asked.

We lived in the same neighborhood, and she'd called me days ago. Her high school daughter was failing biology, and she'd asked if I could tutor her.

"I'm wonderful, dear! So glad you called. How are you holding up?" Her cheerful voice made me smile.

"Great, thanks." I hesitated. "I was calling about the tutoring. Are you still interested?"

I prayed she hadn't found someone else. Even if she had, other parents had reached out too.

"Oh, absolutely! It's been stressing me out. I admit, I prayed you'd change your mind."

When she first asked, I'd just started my leave. I'd refused, not realizing how mind-numbing staying home would be.

"Perfect. How about after school? She can come to my place."

Afternoons worked for me. Maybe I could even help with the adult toy business discreetly.

"That sounds wonderful. Weekly or per session?"

"Free of charge," I said. "I need something to do during this leave."

Silence. For a moment, I thought she'd hung up.

"Are you... sure?" she finally stammered.

"Positive. Send her over today, and we'll start immediately."

Money wasn't an issue. My liquid assets alone could sustain three generations comfortably.

Teaching was a passion, not a paycheck.

"O-okay. Thank you! She'll come straight after school." Her shock was palpable.

"You're welcome."

After hanging up, I called three more parents who'd requested tutoring. Their reactions mirrored Mrs. Delaney's—stunned disbelief that I wouldn't charge.

By the third call, I realized they knew nothing about me beyond my teaching background. Living in a middle-class neighborhood shielded me from the gossip that plagued the elite. These people were too busy working to care about tabloids.

That anonymity thrilled me. I wanted to be treated normally, not like some wealthy pariah.

After the calls, I sank onto the couch, grinning. For the first time since everything fell apart, I felt purposeful. Light. Hopeful.

A sudden urge to dance hit me. No reason—just pure, bubbling joy.

I showered, letting the hot water ease the last of my tension. Then I rifled through my closet—new clothes, purchased after purging everything Ethan had bought.

A cream bodycon dress caught my eye. Slipping it on, I admired my reflection. Pregnancy had blessed my curves, especially my backside.

I did my makeup—soft nudes—and curled my hair instead of leaving it straight. Ballet flats completed the look.

Just as I grabbed my purse, my phone rang. Unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Sophia. It's Daniel."

His gruff voice sent a jolt through me. I'd have recognized it anywhere. Those months of delirious happiness had etched his tone into my memory—every tender word, every lie.

I shoved the ache aside.

"Daniel. How are you?" My voice stayed steady.

We hadn't seen each other since his arrest. Just letters—mostly pregnancy updates from me.

"Fine." Silence stretched.

Once, we could talk for hours. Now, every second was suffocating.

"Have you spoken to Mom and Dad?" I asked, desperate to break the tension.

It felt strange calling them that to him. They'd raised him. They were his parents too. Now we were having a child. The absurdity wasn't lost on me.

"No."

"Why? They're desperate to see you. Don't they deserve that?"

They hid it well, but I saw their pain. Furious as they were at his betrayal, twenty years of love didn't vanish overnight.

"You know why."

"Your reason is bullshit," I snapped. "You're hurting them. Haven't you done enough? Do you even love them?"

Silence.

"Just talk to them. Please. I've never asked you for anything else. Watching them pretend they're okay kills me."

A sigh. "You know I can't refuse you. I'll see them."

"Thank you." I smiled, relief warming my chest.

"That's not why I called."

"Okay..."

"I heard what happened. Are you and the baby alright?" His voice softened, dragging up memories I'd buried.

God, if only he hadn't lied. We could've had a future.

I didn't ask how he knew. This was Daniel. He had eyes everywhere.

"We're fine. I have an appointment today—was just leaving."

"Is it weird that I already want to hold her?" For the first time since everything collapsed, he sounded... happy.

"Her? You think it's a girl?"

"Yeah. I'm sure of it." Sheepish now. I could picture him rubbing his neck.

I laughed. "Guess Liam isn't the only one rooting for a girl."

"Guess not. Do you want another boy?"

I considered it. "Gender doesn't matter. I already love this baby."

And it was true. When I'd first found out, I'd been a wreck. But I'd fallen in love. Ethan's sins didn't change that. Rowan had hurt me worse, and I still adored Liam.

"I should go. Don't want to be late. I'll write after the appointment."

"Sophia—about Damien Slade. Don't worry. He won't touch you. You're safe from his revenge. Take care."

He hung up before I could respond.

As I headed out, his words haunted me. Safe from his revenge? What had Daniel done? Threatened him? Killed him?

The questions followed me all the way to the clinic.