Sophia arrived at the restaurant five minutes early. She stood outside the place for a moment, before eventually walking in after a while.The moment she entered, her eyes traveled across the expanse of the place.The atmosphere was warm, with golden lights casting a soft glow over the polished wooden tables and deep red leather booths. She glanced around, her gaze sweeping over the guests until she spotted a man at the far end of the room. He was waving subtly, with a relaxed posture and an easy grin that drew her attention.She took it to be Lucas, and walked over to the booth he was sitting, slipping into one of the seats, "Hi," she mumbled, giving him a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.She wasn't certain on how to feel about this setting yet, and she was quite tired after spending her whole day going through a couple of files."You are early," she told him as she placed her bag beside her on the table."I arrived just a couple minutes back," his voice was deep and lo
Sophia stared at Lucas for a while, before she eventually nodded. The air between them settled into a comfortable silence as they both focused on the food before them. Lucas broke the silence when he suddenly asked, "Although, she never mentioned their names," he sounded interested in the topic about her kids, she realized and glanced up at him. "Aiden and Adeline," she told him, and he smiled, his eyes brightened the slightest. "You love kids?" Sophia couldn't help but ask him. Lucas nodded with a smile curving up his lips, "I love kids," the smile on his lips was so warm, and genuine. "Do you have a sibling?" She asked him, taking a small sip from the water on the table before her. Lucas looked up from his plate, "Oh, I do," he answered, "Two younger sisters," he told her, she noticed a subtle flash of hurt glint in his eyes, "Initially, three. I lost one of them last year to an accident," he had a small smile on his face. And she quickly noticed it was a forced smile. Not
Did you try to get in again today?” Sophia asked, pressing the phone between her cheeks and her shoulder as she typed something on her laptop. Her shoulders felt tense, and her eyes were drowsy. Her gaze flicked to the table clock beside her, and a frown curved up her brows when she realized it was already late at 11 P.M., yet she was still awake, despite knowing she had a morning shift the next day, which would start by nine. She couldn’t sleep knowing that her hands were still tied to her back because she had no idea what to do about the issue with Patricia’s husband.It’s been almost a week since Patricia’s husband and mother-in-law barged into their hospital with threats on their lips.At first, she was confident they wouldn’t be able to do anything. She had taken their threats as empty threats only. Because she was confident in the beginning that the moment she got the chance to have a conversation with Patricia, then everything would be alright.But, it’s been days now, and an
Sophia’s eyes fell on the wet towel in his hand; she raised a brow at him and stepped out of his way so he could enter the room and shut the bathroom door close.“What’s that for?” she asked.“It’s a wet towel," he answered, raising it up so she could see it clearly.“I know. But what’s it for?” she asked him softly.Aiden didn't answer her question; rather, he avoided her sharp stare at him. When he didn’t respond immediately, she asked him instead, “First of all, why are you still awake by this time? It’s almost midnight.”He didn't answer, and that made her feel uneasy.Sophia crouched down to his length, kneeling in front of him, “Are you going to answer my questions? Or will you prefer to get punished for staying up late till this time?” She turned him to face her, but instead of looking straight into her eyes, he stared down.“Aiden, what’s wrong?” A frown curved up her brows. He didn’t respond to her until she added, “Please can you talk to me instead of being quiet with me? I’
The next morning, Sophia was woken up by the soft knock on her door. Her eyes fluttered open as the door was slowly opened from outside.A small smile played on her lips when she heard the soft footsteps; from how fast the steps sounded, she knew it was definitely Addie. Because while Addie was always in a rush to get somewhere, Aiden was never in a rush. His footsteps were usually low and not so hard on the floor.The edge of the bed dipped, and she turned around to meet Adeline’s warm eyes on her as she climbed up the bed to meet her.“Good morning, Mommy!” she exclaimed softly as she nestled into Sophia’s arms and pressed a wet kiss on her cheeks. A low laugh rippled through Sophia’s chest, and she pulled Adeline in. “Is this some sort of ruse?” she asked.“Oh no, mommy,” Addie was quick to answer, which only made Sophia laugh. “Then I believe Aiden mentioned it to you already that he told me what happened. And now you feel bad for hiding it, right?” She could already see through
Close to two hours later, they arrived at the hospital. Sophia led them into her office and picked up her white coat from the hanger before wearing it. She turned back to the duo sitting on the couch, “Would you prefer I take you to him myself, or actually... I’ll call Arielle to help me—” before she could complete her sentence, she noticed Aiden and Adeline spare each other a glance, and the latter interrupted her. “Why don’t you just take us there, Mummy?” Adeline’s eyes twinkled, and her lips tipped up into a bright smile. The overly bright attitude caused a frown to curve Sophia's brows. It was suspicious enough. Adeline dropped herself from the couch and pulled her small brown bag, sliding it up her shoulders. “What are we waiting for?” she asked, heading to the door. Aiden spared his sister a look, and then turned to glance at his mom before he dropped from the couch also. Unsure what to say anymore since Adeline had already taken the lead, Sophia just nodded s
Sophia felt her throat tighten as her gaze slid to each and every one of them. She contemplated taking a step back and just leaving, but that wouldn't make any sense. Her gaze fell on Alex, who was staring at her. Alex had a blank expression on his face, and he was reading through a file in his hand, but as soon as he saw the twins and Sophia enter the room, his eyes lit up in surprise, and he kept the files away. Adeline didn't like how quiet the room was; neither did she like the way they were being stared at. She stood on her toes and settled down again before her lips pulled into a big smile. “Hi daddy,” she pursed her lips and turned her attention to her father, whose gaze fell on her; a small smile tipped his lips. Even Aiden was also feeling off with the air in the room. He realized that this wasn't exactly the right time to have come around. “Hi, princess,” Alex greeted Addie back, and her expression immediately lit up; a gummy smile tipped up her lips, and sh
Sophia hesitated. Why was he asking her that? Her eyes slid to Mrs. Carter, who had a visible frown on her face. Her fingers tightened around her coat; her intention had been to bring Aiden and Adeline here, then leave and come back later. She hadn’t planned to stay. Staying would feel too much like letting Alex back in completely, and she wasn’t ready for that. She glanced at the twins, who both seemed eager for her to agree to stay, though Aiden hid it way better than Addie. He was only glancing at her, while Addie didn't hide her feelings. Her big, pleading eyes were impossible for her to ignore, practically begging Sophia to stay. Her fingers loosened from her coat, and she pressed her lips into a thin line. “Okay,” she said softly, taking a step closer. “I’ll stay.” Addie
Feeling suddenly suffocated on the tight space of the hospital room, Sophia breathed.She couldn't hold back anymore, she was full blown putting her emotions out.“We were married, but you hardly slept at home. And I was always alone at every moment, wondering how to make things better with you.” She choked out a sob and stiffened, immediately wiping the tears off her eyes. Why was she crying? She had already convinced herself to this point that she didn't care anymore and that she wouldn't be vulnerable in anyone's presence, and especially not his. But soon as the memories crashed into her head, she felt like her heart had been split into two, each part filled with nothing but pain. “I was young, naive, and in love with you, yet you tore me apart so much and left me all alone.” She turned fully to him, and Alex stared at her, just as ready to face all her words. She pointed at his chest, “We were remarried for one year. We had one year to get to know each other, and I waite
“You never what?” Sophia asked again, completely baffled as she stared deeply at Alex. She couldn't comprehend his words. What exactly did he mean by he never submitted the divorce papers? Why didn't he submit them? Why? Why! In her state of utter shock, she hadn't realized how close Alex had gotten to her. Alex’s gaze was on her, gauging through her reaction; she didn't seem pleased at all, and he wasn't certain how to feel about that. But there was a deep pang of hurt that seeped through his heart. “I never submitted them,” he repeated, feeling the air between them grow tenser than it had been earlier, “I couldn't,” he added. Sophia didn't say anything at all; she just stared at him. Her expression was just as conflicting as she was feeling. Shocked? Confused? her emotions were all over the place. Alex continued, “I wanted to take my words back, but I couldn't. I've been trapped with regret and guilt ever since that night. I shouldn't have treated you that w
Alex's gaze snapped to Sophia, his warm, pale green eyes widened subtly in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to remember that. Realization hit Sophia as his gaze burned through her. She bit her tongue lightly and immediately added, “Just like a lot of people out there are.” Alex swallowed; his Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he tried to hold back the rush of emotions that her words stirred up inside him. “You remember?” His voice was low, almost as if he couldn’t believe it. Sophia didn't respond to that; instead, she quickly changed the topic, “You should eat your fruits. Your meal might be brought in anytime soon.” He didn't comply immediately; he kept his gaze on her and watched as Sophia walked over to the couch. Without another word, Alex nodded slowly and glanced at the plate of peeled fruits, his eyes pierced through the apples, and he released
Emily spared her a skeptical look; it looked like she wanted to say something, but decided not to when she felt the gazes on her. “I hope you stick to your words.“ She scowled. “I will.“ Sophia assured her with a tight smile. Without another word, Emily huffed a breath and walked to the door, stepping outside the room and not glancing back for once. The moment she left, silence filtered into the room. Sophia let out a deep sigh before turning around to find the three gazes on her. Aiden and Adeline were staring at her with worry, while Alex… His gaze was far too intense for her to comprehend. His expression was too deep to point out either. The only thing similar about the pairs of eyes
Sophia hesitated. Why was he asking her that? Her eyes slid to Mrs. Carter, who had a visible frown on her face. Her fingers tightened around her coat; her intention had been to bring Aiden and Adeline here, then leave and come back later. She hadn’t planned to stay. Staying would feel too much like letting Alex back in completely, and she wasn’t ready for that. She glanced at the twins, who both seemed eager for her to agree to stay, though Aiden hid it way better than Addie. He was only glancing at her, while Addie didn't hide her feelings. Her big, pleading eyes were impossible for her to ignore, practically begging Sophia to stay. Her fingers loosened from her coat, and she pressed her lips into a thin line. “Okay,” she said softly, taking a step closer. “I’ll stay.” Addie
Sophia felt her throat tighten as her gaze slid to each and every one of them. She contemplated taking a step back and just leaving, but that wouldn't make any sense. Her gaze fell on Alex, who was staring at her. Alex had a blank expression on his face, and he was reading through a file in his hand, but as soon as he saw the twins and Sophia enter the room, his eyes lit up in surprise, and he kept the files away. Adeline didn't like how quiet the room was; neither did she like the way they were being stared at. She stood on her toes and settled down again before her lips pulled into a big smile. “Hi daddy,” she pursed her lips and turned her attention to her father, whose gaze fell on her; a small smile tipped his lips. Even Aiden was also feeling off with the air in the room. He realized that this wasn't exactly the right time to have come around. “Hi, princess,” Alex greeted Addie back, and her expression immediately lit up; a gummy smile tipped up her lips, and sh
Close to two hours later, they arrived at the hospital. Sophia led them into her office and picked up her white coat from the hanger before wearing it. She turned back to the duo sitting on the couch, “Would you prefer I take you to him myself, or actually... I’ll call Arielle to help me—” before she could complete her sentence, she noticed Aiden and Adeline spare each other a glance, and the latter interrupted her. “Why don’t you just take us there, Mummy?” Adeline’s eyes twinkled, and her lips tipped up into a bright smile. The overly bright attitude caused a frown to curve Sophia's brows. It was suspicious enough. Adeline dropped herself from the couch and pulled her small brown bag, sliding it up her shoulders. “What are we waiting for?” she asked, heading to the door. Aiden spared his sister a look, and then turned to glance at his mom before he dropped from the couch also. Unsure what to say anymore since Adeline had already taken the lead, Sophia just nodded s
The next morning, Sophia was woken up by the soft knock on her door. Her eyes fluttered open as the door was slowly opened from outside.A small smile played on her lips when she heard the soft footsteps; from how fast the steps sounded, she knew it was definitely Addie. Because while Addie was always in a rush to get somewhere, Aiden was never in a rush. His footsteps were usually low and not so hard on the floor.The edge of the bed dipped, and she turned around to meet Adeline’s warm eyes on her as she climbed up the bed to meet her.“Good morning, Mommy!” she exclaimed softly as she nestled into Sophia’s arms and pressed a wet kiss on her cheeks. A low laugh rippled through Sophia’s chest, and she pulled Adeline in. “Is this some sort of ruse?” she asked.“Oh no, mommy,” Addie was quick to answer, which only made Sophia laugh. “Then I believe Aiden mentioned it to you already that he told me what happened. And now you feel bad for hiding it, right?” She could already see through
Sophia’s eyes fell on the wet towel in his hand; she raised a brow at him and stepped out of his way so he could enter the room and shut the bathroom door close.“What’s that for?” she asked.“It’s a wet towel," he answered, raising it up so she could see it clearly.“I know. But what’s it for?” she asked him softly.Aiden didn't answer her question; rather, he avoided her sharp stare at him. When he didn’t respond immediately, she asked him instead, “First of all, why are you still awake by this time? It’s almost midnight.”He didn't answer, and that made her feel uneasy.Sophia crouched down to his length, kneeling in front of him, “Are you going to answer my questions? Or will you prefer to get punished for staying up late till this time?” She turned him to face her, but instead of looking straight into her eyes, he stared down.“Aiden, what’s wrong?” A frown curved up her brows. He didn’t respond to her until she added, “Please can you talk to me instead of being quiet with me? I’