Peter sat at the edge of the table, staring at the documents in front of him. He had been going over the details of the Turner family tragedy for days now, but something didn't sit right. The pieces just weren't fitting together. The Turner family had been wiped out in a mysterious tragedy, and Sophie, his niece, had been imprisoned for attempting to kill the second miss of the Castellano family. But Peter knew there was more to the story than what the authorities had led everyone to believe.
As he leaned back in his chair, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his phone buzzing. It was Steve, his old mentor and best friend. Peter pressed the answer button quickly.
"Peter, it's time," Steve's deep, calm voice filled the room. "They're arriving soon. Sophie and Alex Jr. are on their way. Are you ready?"
Peter's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't seen Sophie in years, and the last time he had heard from her was when she was just a young innocent child, without the worries of world, playing with her older sister.
"I'm ready," Peter said, though his voice was tinged with uncertainty. He was about to meet the niece he barely knew—one who had been through unimaginable pain and suffering. "But we don't know the full story yet, Steve. There's a lot I need to understand."
Steve's voice softened, almost as if he understood the weight of Peter's words. "I know, Peter. But once Sophie's here, we'll get answers. For now, just focus on getting her and Alex Jr. settled. They've been through enough."
Peter nodded, though it felt like the world was closing in around him. He had heard nothing of Sophie since her arrest years ago, and now she was showing up at his doorstep with Alex Jr., her grandnephew, in tow.
As the door opened, Peter stood up, trying to steady his breath. The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
There stood Sophie, looking so different yet so familiar. Her eyes were tired, her face hardened by the trials she had endured, but the kindness that had once defined her was still there—buried deep beneath the surface. She wasn't the carefree girl he remembered, but Peter saw the faintest spark of the woman she could have been.
Behind her stood Alex Jr., his young face shadowed by the weight of loss and grief. He held onto Sophie's side, his small hand clutching hers with an innocent determination. Peter's heart clenched as he realized that this was his family now—broken and battered, but still standing.
"Sophie…" Peter's voice faltered as he looked at her, the niece he hadn't been able to protect. She had been so young when he last saw her, and now she was a woman forged by pain.
Sophie didn't say anything at first. She simply nodded, her face emotionless but her eyes betraying a mixture of sadness and regret. The truth was, Peter didn't know what to say either. There was so much to unpack.
"Uncle" Sophie finally whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Peter stepped forward, his hand reaching for her shoulder instinctively. "We'll figure this out together, Sophie. You're safe now. No one will hurt you anymore."
But as he looked at Alex Jr., his heart sank further. The boy was just a child, and yet, he had been through things no child should have to endure. Peter kneeled down to meet his eyes.
"You don't have to worry, Alex Jr.," Peter said gently. "You're with family now."
Alex Jr. didn't respond immediately, but after a long pause, he nodded. "I know," he said, his voice quiet but steady. "I'll protect Aunt Sophie. She's the only family I have left."
Peter couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. He knew that this wasn't just about saving Sophie; it was about saving Alex Jr., too. They had both suffered unimaginable losses.