CHAPTER 248

Daniel’s POV

I hadn't slept well the past few nights. Every time I closed my eyes, the image of Sophia's face, tinged with that faint sadness, kept appearing in my head.

The text she sent—"It's fine, just busy lately"—felt like a dismissal, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I had messed things up beyond repair. It had been three days since our encounter at her place, and I was desperate to make things right.

Today, I was at the development site, pacing around the place as if that would make time pass faster.

We’re supposed to have a meeting here today, and I really hope she shows up and things get back to normal between us.

When Sophia finally walked through the gate, my heart skipped a beat. Her presence triggered an electric charge inside me. I tried to calm my nerves, but seeing her standing there, with her hair falling perfectly over her shoulders and that confident stride of hers, made it hard to concentrate.

“Hi, Daniel,” she said, offering a polite but reserved smile.

“H