For a long ti, I just sat there, watching her. My throat tightened, not knowing how to explain everything to her.
I looked at her, like really looked at her, and for a mont, I saw the worry that had always been there since the day I showed up at her door with Emma.
Sophie had been my anchor when everything else fell apart, and now, I was about to tell her sothing that could shake even her strongest patience.
Taking a deep breath, I started slowly explaining to her while recalling everything from the start.
"I t him in his study," I said, my voice steady though my chest ached.
"He had this folder waiting for . IT carried so information about Dave, his family, and everything that’s been happening lately. At first, I thought he was helping out of so twisted sense of duty or maybe guilt, but..."
I took in a deep breath realizing how foolish I sounded yet I continued, "I should have known better. Matteo never does anything without a price." I shook my head as I disappointed with myself.
Sophie’s eyes darkened. She crossed her arms, listening without interrupting, though I could tell she was holding back her words.
"He told things about Dave that..." I swallowed hard, rembering that sinking feeling when Matteo revealed the truth.
"Things that made my skin crawl. That whole façade of him losing his mory it wasn’t real. It was just another one of his manipulations."
Sophie frowned but stayed quiet. I know it was not the truth, and I knew this one before hand hich only revealed by one and only Matteo.
But I did not want her to get included in my ss when she already dealing with hers and other things which God knows what, as she rarley shared any problems with others. She was the supporting system, but never seen her with one. Like Caroline.
She already knew how toxic Dave had been, but hearing it again seed to sicken her.
"And then," I continued, "Matteo ntioned my grandfather’s will, and said that he got his hands on it sohow. I don’t know what that man doesn’t have access to."
Sophie leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "And?" She knew what was coming and it made my stomach twist badly.
"And then he made his offer." I let out a shaky exhale, almost as if saying it aloud would make it less real.
"He said he wanted Emma. That if I let him introduce her as his daughter, he would give her everything...his na, his protection, his entire empire if needed."
Sophie’s eyes widened, disbelief flashing across her face, "You are joking."
"I wish I was," I whispered as I shook my head in no.
"But he was serious. You should have seen the way he said it. Hi voice was so calm, like he was asking for a business deal, not a child."
For a mont, the room went utterly still. The ticking clock on the wall beca painfully loud.
Then, in one swift motion, Sophie stood up so abruptly that her chair screeched across the floor.
"That arrogant bast..." She stopped herself, fists clenched tightly at her sides.
Her face was flushed, her chest heaving as she paced across the room. "How dare he? How can he even think of sothing like that? Emma’s not so token he can use!"
Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and that was when I realized how deeply she cared for Emma too.
She had been there for her, comforted her, fed her, played with her when I couldn’t.
Emma had beco part of her life just as much as she was part of mine.
Watching Sophie lose her composure like this was sothing I had never seen before. It almost startled .
"I know," I said softly trying to calm her down.
"I told him the sa thing. I told him Emma already has a na...which was mine. And she has a family..." I looked at her and seeing her reaction, I quickly omitted the words, "Also, you and Edward."
Her expression a bit...and when I say a bit. It was just a vanishing of one crease on her forehead. Then I continued, "He said he could give her an empire, but I asked him if he could give her a safe life. A happy one. He couldn’t answer that."
Sophie turned sharply, her eyes burning with protective fury, "And then what? What did he say after that?"
I shook my head as I replied to her, "He didn’t actually. He just looked at , and that look..." I took a pause glancing at her.
She was still staring at with intent so I continue, "It was the kind of look that tells you you have crossed a line, but I didn’t care. Of course, I did not and I walked out that instant. I also told him to forget this idea before he does sothing he will regret."
Sophie’s nostrils flared as she muttered sothing under her breath that sounded a lot like a curse. She grabbed her phone suddenly and started scrolling, her thumb moving fast, her jaw tight.
"What are you doing?" I asked, confused.
"Calling soone," she said sharply, "He can’t just—" With this, she just kept mumbling a string of words under her breath which I could not comprehend.
"Sophie, stop," I cut in, reaching for her arm. "You can’t go up against soone like him. He’s dangerous."
She looked up at , eyes blazing. "And you think I’ll just sit here while that man even thinks about taking Emma? No way, Elena. I don’t care who he is. He’s not touching that child of ours. Ever"
I could feel my throat tighten. Hearing her say that made sothing inside break...not from sadness, but from relief. Soone else finally understood the storm in my heart.
I was relivied but on the sa ti, I also knew Sophie was acting out of anger, not strategy, and anger against Matteo Romano could get her killed.
I squeezed her arm gently. "Sophie, please. I already told him no. He will not try again..." Before I could completed as she snapped her head in my direction giving that ’are-you-sure’ plus ’you-must-be-kidding’ looks.
I gulped down as I chose so other set of words carefully, "I an at least not imdiately, but if you confront him, he will see that as a challenge. You don’t want that."
Sophie stopped, breathing hard. After a long mont, she sat back down heavily, her hands covering her face.
"I just..." her voice cracked, "I just can’t believe this is happening. First Dave and his lies, now this monster trying to claim Emma like she’s a possession."
I nodded slowly, tears welling in my eyes despite my efforts to stay composed. "I know. It feels like every ti we try to find peace, sothing new cos to destroy it."
We sat there in silence for a long ti. The only sound was the faint hum of traffic outside and the clinking of the clock hands moving forward...indifferent to the chaos in our lives.
Sophie eventually lowered her hands and looked at , her expression softer now but still fierce. "Elena... what are you going to do now?"
I hesitated, not knowing how to respond to her, but I could not let my silence give her so wrong impression, so I honestly let out the words, "I don’t know yet, but I will protect Emma. No matter what it takes."
Sophie nodded firmly. "Then we will do it together."
Her words brought a small warmth back into my chest...maybe a flicker of strength in the middle of fear.
I smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "You don’t know what you’re getting into, Sophie. We both know that Matteo doesn’t lose easily."
"Neither do mothers," she said simply.
That line hit harder than she probably realized.
I glanced toward the small bedroom where Emma was sleeping. I could almost hear her soft breathing from here. My chest tightened as I whispered, mostly to myself, "She’s all I have left."
Sophie placed her hand gently on mine. "And that’s why he won’t win."
The rest of the night passed in silence, but neither of us slept. Every creak of the floor, every car passing by outside, made my heart jump.
Because I knew, sowhere out there Matteo Romano was already thinking.
Planning.
Calculating his next move, but so was I.
And this ti, I wasn’t running.
I was preparing.
For Emma.
For both of us. For all of us. Even If it was Matteo Romano or Dave Morris I would fight back with all my strength. I will not let anything happen to Emma, Sophie or Edward.
I stared at the dark ceiling while the apartnt kept breathing around us.
Outside, the city moved on as if nothing had happened to us;
But inside, every second felt loud and important and I will not waste another second overthinking about the consequences but this ti I will take action, and will play this ga on my terms.
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