Sophia sat frozen, her mind spinning with dark thoughts. The possibility of Ethan leaving her gripped her, and she couldn't shake the fear that everything was slipping away. Her hand gripped the edge of her gown tightly, her nails digging into the fabric as if trying to control herself.
She couldn't believe this was happening. She thought she had won; stealing Ethan from Aneira had been her triumph, her ultimate move. But now, it felt like the universe was destroying her victory piece by piece.
Was it karma?
Her lips tightened as she dismissed the thought.
No, she didn't believe in such superstitions. But why did everything seem to be falling apart?
Straightening her back, Sophia forced herself to push the thoughts aside. She needed to focus, to take control of the situation. She got up and walked towards Ethan, who was busy arranging the plates on the table. The sound of her soft steps reached him, but he didn't turn.
Standing behind him, she hesitated for a moment, then gently wrapped her arms around his waist. Her touch startled Ethan, and he froze mid-motion. Slowly, he looked down at her hands interlocked around him.
"Baby," Sophia whispered, her voice unusually tender. She leaned her head against his back. "I miss you."
Ethan stiffened, guilt flashing across his face. He set the plate down carefully and turned to face her. His hands cupped her cheeks, and his thumb brushed her skin gently. "I miss you too, darling."
Sophia looked into his eyes, her own beginning to glisten. "Do you hate me?"
Ethan frowned, confused. "Hate you? Why would I hate you?"
She lowered her gaze, her voice trembling. "Because… I'm not the real daughter of the Grigoras family anymore. I'm not good enough for you. I thought…" Her words faltered, and she swallowed hard, trying to suppress the sob rising in her throat.
Ethan's heart tightened painfully. He had thought about it. Sophia, no longer being the Grigoras heir, had changed things. But seeing her like this, so vulnerable and scared, he couldn't bring himself to admit it.
Lifting her chin, he kissed her forehead softly. "I don't care if you're not their real daughter. You're still the woman I love."
Sophia's teary eyes brightened with a flicker of hope. "Really?"
"Really," Ethan said, his voice steady. He smiled, but the guilt inside him gnawed harder.
Sophia smiled back, her hands clutching at his shirt again. But deep down, she wasn't convinced. A part of her still feared that she would lose him and if that ever happened, she knew she wouldn't let Aneira win again.
—
The dimly lit office was silent, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning. A phone buzzed, the sound sharp against the stillness. Aiden answered without hesitation, his voice calm but firm.
"It's done," came a woman's voice on the other end, laced with confidence. "Mission completed."
"Send the pictures," Aiden instructed simply, ending the call.
A moment later, his phone chimed with a notification. He unlocked it, his sharp gaze fixed on the screen as he opened the images.
"Did she send the real stuff?"
The voice startled the stillness. Aiden turned his head, revealing Jaxton seated directly across from him. The calm intensity in Jaxton's blue eyes was unmistakable.
"She did," Aiden replied, sliding the phone across the desk.
Jaxton took it, studying the images in silence before nodding in satisfaction. "Perfect."
Aiden leaned back in his chair, watching Jaxton closely. The air in the office shifted slightly as Aiden set the phone down and leaned forward.
"So," Aiden began, his voice taking on a more serious edge. "How's my sister doing? You better not be hurting her, Jaxton. If you are, you won't like the consequences."
Jaxton's lips twitched into a smile, though it was laced with amusement. He leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms as he met Aiden's gaze. "Relax. She's my wife now. I would never lay a hand on her. You can stop worrying."
Aiden's lips twitched slowly.
Aiden studied Jaxton for a moment, the tension in his body easing slightly. There was something in Jaxton's eyes, something more genuine. He saw it, the way Jaxton was protective, how deeply he cared, and it reassured him.
However, Jaxton thought back to the conversation with Aneira this morning and couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of his mind. He hadn't told Aiden, but her words had stung. The thought of him, her belief that he was no different than any other playboy. He clenched his jaw slightly, frustration gnawing at him.
If only she knew the truth. If only she knew that he wasn't just her husband, but also her brother's lawyer and ally.
How could she not see how much he wanted to protect her? How could she doubt him when he was so committed to her?
Jaxton let out a slow breath, pushing the thoughts aside for now. He could only hope that with time, Aneira would come to understand.
Aiden noticed the shift in Jaxton's expression. Something was off, and it didn't sit right with him. He wondered if there was trouble between Jaxton and Aneira. Though he hadn't spent much time with her, he was certain she wasn't the kind to cause problems.
His mind wandered back to the incident at work. The thought of her being accused of leaking the company's new recipe to their rival still fueled his anger. She had been wronged, and he couldn't shake it off.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the armrest as he stared across the desk at Jaxton. His mind was a storm of emotions; anger, frustration, and the lingering guilt of not stepping in earlier. He had been too preoccupied with work, too focused on other matters, while his sister's name was dragged through the mud. The memory of her arrest, the looks of disdain from her colleagues, and the whispers that followed her everywhere still burned in his chest.
"Jaxton," he finally said, his voice steady but heavy with determination.
Jaxton glanced up from the papers in front of him, his sharp blue eyes meeting Aiden's. "What is it?"
Aiden hesitated for a moment, his jaw tightening as he tried to find the right words. "I want to reopen Aneira's case. The one about her betraying her company."