Chapter 11

~Sophia

The engine of Nathaniel's black Ferrari purred smoothly as I sat in the plush leather seat, my fingers lightly tracing the contours of the interior. It was a gift from Nathaniel, something temporary, he had said, until he surprised me with a car of my own. His idea of spoiling me was excessive, but I wasn’t complaining. The sleek, powerful car was impossible to ignore as it turned heads with its glossy black finish. I didn’t even have to pay for gas, much less parking. It was his world, and I was just living in it.

But it was never just about the material things with Nathaniel. It was the way he looked at me, like I was something worth having—something he wanted to keep. That possessive nature of his both thrilled and unsettled me. I still didn’t know if I was ready for everything he was offering, but I was starting to understand the world I had stepped into.

Charles, the ever-efficient driver Nathaniel assigned to me, exited the car and opened the door. “Ma’am,” he said politely.

I slid in, the soft leather cool against my skin. “Café Milano, Charles,” I said, crossing my legs as I settled into the seat.

“Yes, ma’am.” He pulled away, the car moving smoothly through the streets of the city.

I let out a sigh, pulling my phone from my purse. Ethan’s cryptic message stared back at me: Meet me at the usual place.

The “usual place.” As if he still had any claim to that term when it came to me. I scoffed, tossing the phone onto my lap. What could Ethan possibly want now?

The car pulled up to Café Milano, and I stepped out, straightening my dress as I scanned the quaint café’s interior through the large glass window. The place was as charming as ever—elegant but not pretentious.

I walked in, my heels clicking against the polished floor. My eyes flicked to the corner booth. Empty.

Of course. Ethan wasn’t here yet.

I checked my watch and let out a frustrated sigh. I hated waiting.

Pulling out my phone, I sent him a message: If you’re not serious about meeting, let me know. I have better places to be.

I hit send, my irritation rising, when the door swung open. Ethan walked in, wearing that smug smile that had once charmed me but now only fueled my annoyance.

“Always in a rush, aren’t you?” he drawled as he approached.

I tilted my head, unimpressed. “And you’re always late.”

He smirked, taking the seat opposite mine like he owned the place. “What did you order? Hope you haven’t paid yet. I’ll cover it—just like old times.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “I didn’t order anything,” I replied coolly. “And this isn’t about old times, Ethan. What do you want?”

He leaned back, stretching his arms over the back of the seat like we were catching up over coffee. “Straight to the point. I like that about you, Sophia.”

I folded my arms, waiting for him to cut to the chase.

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. No, not just any slip—a check. He slid it across the table toward me, his arrogant smile growing wider.

My eyes fell to the amount written on it, and my breath caught. Half a million dollars.

“Take it,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “It’s yours.”

I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly.

“That’s half a million dollars, Sophia,” he continued, leaning forward now. “Enough to change your life. You won’t need to hang onto my father’s wallet anymore. No more waiting for him to throw his card at you so you can go shopping.”

My blood boiled at his audacity. “And what exactly is this supposed to be, Ethan?”

“A way out,” he said simply, his tone infuriatingly nonchalant. “Take the money, and leave my father. Leave us. For good.”

I stared at the check, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Memories of the past clawed at the edges of my mind—his rejection, the cruel things he’d said when I caught him in bed with my best friend, Sarah.

“You’re unbelievable,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“What’s unbelievable is that you’re still here,” he shot back. “Don’t tell me you actually believe my father loves you. This”—he gestured around us—“is just a game to him.”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his words affected me. Instead, I picked up the check, holding it between my fingers like it was the most precious thing in the world.

For a moment, I let him think he’d won. His smirk grew, and he leaned back, arms crossed as he watched me.

My eyes met Ethan’s, and my breath caught for a moment. I let the check dangle from my fingers, letting the weight of his offer settle in the air.

Without saying a word, I ripped it in half. Then again. And again. The sound of the paper tearing was satisfying, almost therapeutic.

Ethan’s eyes widened, his jaw clenching as the torn pieces fluttered onto the table.

“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded, his voice rising.

I stood up, adjusting my sunglasses as I looked down at him. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Ethan. Trying to buy me off with your daddy’s money?” I shook my head, my voice icy. “The account—” I tapped the table where the check had once been—“was from Nathaniel’s company, wasn’t it? Daddy’s little boy couldn’t even use his own funds.”

Ethan’s face turned red with anger. He opened his mouth to say something, but I wasn’t finished.

“Oh, and one more thing,” I said, leaning in just enough for him to hear. “You might want to start warming up to me. Because once I become Mrs. James, it’s over for you. I’ll be the one making the decisions in the house. My husband’s house.”

His eyes flared with rage, and I could see the anger building inside him, but I wasn’t intimidated. Not anymore.

I gave him one last look, my smile vanishing completely. I leaned in, tapping his cheek in a mock gesture of affection. “See you around, step-son.”

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, my heels clicking on the marble floor, louder than ever.