Chapter 98

I turned slowly toward the familiar voice, my breath catching in my throat. There he was—Ethan Blackwood, sitting beside me as if my thoughts had summoned him. But that wasn’t the most shocking part. For the first time in all the years I’d known him, he wasn’t dressed in one of his signature tailored suits. Instead, he wore a fitted black V-neck and dark jeans, looking unfairly good.

“What are you doing here?” I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.

He shrugged, his expression casual, as if his presence here wasn’t completely absurd. “Liam mentioned you’d be here. So, here I am.”

I couldn’t take it. Without another word, I stood and walked away, ignoring him when he called my name.

The bathroom was my refuge. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to steady my racing heart. Why now? After all this time, why was he suddenly acting like this? Just when I had finally decided to move on, he decides to change? Life didn’t work that way.

I steeled myself. Whatever his reasons, it didn’t matter. We were over before we even began.

When I stepped back out, I collided with someone—someone whose cologne was unmistakable. I jerked away as if burned, my traitorous body reacting before my mind could catch up.

“Sophia,” Ethan murmured, his voice rough and deep.

“What do you want, Ethan?” I snapped. “What game are you playing now?”

I didn’t understand him, and part of me didn’t want to. All I knew was the pain he’d caused me. I refused to go through that again.

“No games,” he said, uncharacteristically hesitant. “I just need to talk to you. There’s something important I have to say.”

That caught my attention. Ethan Blackwood was many things—arrogant, ruthless, infuriating—but hesitant? Never.

I studied him. His gray eyes held mine with an intensity I’d never seen before. Something was different. Something had changed.

And then I noticed it—the way he shifted his weight, the slight tension in his jaw. He was nervous. Ethan Blackwood, nervous.

“What is it?” I folded my arms, tapping my foot impatiently.

Before he could answer, Lucas Montgomery appeared beside me, his stance protective as he glared at Ethan.

“Sophia, is he bothering you?” Lucas demanded.

Ethan sneered. “Of course it’s you. Always sniffing around what’s mine. First Isabella, now Sophia. Stay the hell away from her.”

Rage flared inside me. I wasn’t his. Never had been.

“You’re unbelievable,” Lucas snarled, fists clenched. “She’s not some damn trophy you can claim.”

The tension between them was suffocating. Lucas looked ready to lunge, while Ethan’s eyes burned with something dangerously close to jealousy.

“Stay out of this,” Ethan growled. “This is between Sophia and me.”

Lucas shoved him. Hard. Ethan barely stumbled, but the action was enough to ignite the fire between them.

“Guys, stop!” I pleaded, but neither listened.

A small crowd had gathered, phones already out, capturing the spectacle.

“Don’t touch me,” Ethan warned, stepping forward until they were nose to nose.

Lucas didn’t back down. “I’ve had enough of you controlling my life. Why don’t you just disappear?”

The venom in his voice stunned me. This wasn’t the Lucas I knew.

Ethan smirked. “Wishful thinking. Isabella never loved you, and Sophia won’t either. Her heart belongs to me.”

That did it. Lucas swung, his fist connecting with Ethan’s jaw. Ethan retaliated instantly, and within seconds, they were brawling like teenagers.

Security arrived, dragging them apart. We were escorted out, the boys trailing behind, their faces crestfallen.

“Come on, let’s go home,” I said softly, taking Liam and Oliver’s hands.

“Why were they fighting?” Liam asked, his voice small.

“Adults sometimes forget how to act like adults,” I muttered, my patience fraying.

Outside, Ethan was arguing with the manager, his arrogance in full display. “Do you know who I am? I could buy this damn place and fire every single one of you!”

Lucas paced nearby, glaring daggers at him.

I stepped in before things escalated further. “Enough!” I snapped. “You both embarrassed yourselves—and your sons—today. Was this really worth ruining their day?”

Ethan had the audacity to smirk at me. “I like this side of you. It’s—” He cut himself off, glancing at the boys.

I was done.

“I’m leaving,” I announced, turning away.

“Where are you going?” Ethan called after me.

“Anywhere far from the two of you.”

I hailed a cab, ushering the boys inside. The fare didn’t matter. I just needed to get away.

“Can we get ice cream?” Oliver asked quietly.

I exhaled, forcing a smile. “Of course.”

Anything to erase the disaster of today.