SOPHIA’S POV
I didn’t sleep until almost four in the morning.
When I finally did, it was the shallow, restless kind - the kind that left you more tired than before.
I woke up twice. The second ti I just laid still for a long while.
When morning ca, I was exhausted.
"Aunt Sophia." Klara’s voice woke up. I heard the sound of my door opening.
I felt the edge of my mattress dipping as she sat on it. "Aunt Sophia, wake up. There’s sothing for you."
I opened one eye. Klara was sitting beside in her pajamas, holding sothing in her hands.
It was a stuffed bear, small and round, with soft brown fur and a yellow ribbon tied around its neck.
I pushed myself upright slowly "Where did that co from?"
"A boy brought it." Klara held it out to . "He ca to the gate about twenty minutes ago. He said he wanted to give it to the nice lady who wiped his tears yesterday." She paused. "I assud that was you."
Boris. It must be him.
His na ca along with the mory of his face. I had almost forgotten him. How did he know where I lived?
I took the bear from Klara and looked at it. The bear looked lovely.
The gesture made feel warm inside. A child had seen be kind to him for ten minutes and he had found a way to say thank you.
I held the bear in my lap with a smile.
"Who is he?" Klara asked, watching my face with interest.
"Soone I t at the event yesterday. He was upset and I helped him." I looked up at her. "Did he co alone?"
"His father brought him. They waited at the gate. The father didn’t co in. He just let the boy walk up and hand it over then they left." Klara tilted her head. "His father looked-" She paused, searching for the word. "Cold, like he didn’t want to be there."
That sounded right. I rembered the man in the dark grey suit and how he ignored .
But he had driven Boris here. Whatever else he was, he had done that.
"It’s ti for breakfast” Klara said, bouncing on my bed.
I looked at the bear one more ti, then set it carefully on my nightstand.
"Give ten minutes," I said.
-
Breakfast was simple. I had eggs, toast, a glass of orange juice that Klara gave .
When I was done, I kissed Klara’s forehead on the way out. When I stepped outside, I saw Marco standing at the gate.
He was leaning against the fence post with his arms crossed. His wolf energy was tight around him. I could feel his anger all the way from here.
His eyes went straight to my right arm.
"How bad?" he said.
I sighed "Marco-"
"How bad is the arm, Sophia."
I stopped in front of him. "It’s bandaged. It’s healing. The wound is clean. It’ll be fine in a week with proper rest."
"Which you’re not giving it."
"I had an ergency surgery last night that couldn’t wait."
His jaw tightened. "And before the surgery, Declan. He tripped you deliberately”
"Marco." I put my hand on his arm. "It’s over. It happened”
His eyes went dark “I’m going to teach him a lesson”
“Marco, no. If you go there and confront them, it becos sothing bigger. It gives them ammunition. It drags the family into it." I shook my head. "I don’t want that."
"I don’t care what they use it as"
"I care. I’m asking you, Marco. Let it go."
He looked at for a long mont. His wolf energy slowly settled. He let out a deep breath then looked away
"Next ti," he said, "anything happens, anything, Sophia, I don’t care how small - you tell ”
"Alright."
"I an it."
"I know you do." I smiled a little. "I’ll tell you. I promise."
He let out another long breath.
"I’m driving you," he said. It wasn’t a question.
"You don’t have to-"
"I’m driving you." He pushed off the fence post and gestured toward his car. "Co on”
I knew I wouldn’t win this argunt. So, I followed him to the car.
We drove in silence. We didn’t need to say anything. I looked out the window as the car moved.
We were three streets from the hospital when he spoke.
"The divorce," he said “What’s the update?”
I sighed "He still hasn’t signed."
“What? How long now?"
"Long enough. He says he’s been busy. The Stone Group lost a major project. There’s been a lot of damage control. I understand that." I paused. "But understanding it doesn’t make the waiting easier."
"Have you given him a hard deadline?"
"I’ve told him to stop delaying multiple tis."
After a mont he said, "You know it doesn’t matter how long it takes, right?"
I looked at him.
"The papers, the certificate, the courthouse - all of it." He kept his eyes on the road, "However long it takes, we’re not going anywhere. , Klara, the family. We’re here." He glanced at briefly. "You’re not doing this alone, Sophia. You haven’t been doing it alone this whole ti, even when it felt like it."
Sothing moved through my chest. His words made emotional. I could feel tears burning behind my eyes.
I didn’t trust my voice to say anything. So, I just nodded.
We pulled up outside the hospital. Marco stopped the car then looked at .
"Call tonight," he said. "Just so I know you’re ho."
"Marco, I’m an adult-”
"Call tonight, Sophia."
I looked at him for a mont. Then sothing in that had been held very tightly all morning finally let go.
"Okay," I said softly. "I’ll call."
He smiled at "Go save so lives."
I got out of the car, straightened my coat, and walked through the hospital doors with a smile on my face.
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