The tension from the last few days hadn't subsided. In fact, it had only grown thicker, like an oppressive fog that clung to every corner of Sophie's life. She couldn't shake the feeling that something dangerous was just beneath the surface, waiting to explode.
Victor, Leo, and Derek—each of them wanted a piece of her, but Sophie couldn't understand why she felt like she was losing herself in the process. She had spent years building a career, focusing on her independence, yet now, she was caught in a whirlwind of emotions and betrayals. And worse still, her past seemed to have followed her home like an unwanted shadow.
But tonight, everything would reach its breaking point. Tonight, the floodgates would open.
Sophie was sitting alone at her apartment, scrolling through her phone. Her thoughts drifted between the men in her life, each of them more complicated than the last. Victor was always the steady, calculating force—his cold demeanor never wavered. Leo, on the other hand, was unpredictable, intense, and dangerously close to unhinged. And then there was Derek, who seemed to always find a way to turn up when she least expected it.
The doorbell rang.
Sophie hesitated before standing up. Who could it be now?
She opened the door, and standing there was Mia, her best friend.
Mia's expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes that made Sophie uneasy. They hadn't spoken much since Sophie started getting involved with Victor and Leo. It had been a mix of concern from Mia and distance from Sophie. Sophie had been so caught up in everything that she had neglected the one person who had always been there for her.
"Can we talk?" Mia asked, her voice cold. "You've been avoiding me."
Sophie stepped aside, letting Mia in. "I haven't been avoiding you. I've just… been busy."
But Mia wasn't fooled. "You've been avoiding everyone. Especially me." She threw her bag onto the couch and sat down with a sharp exhale. "What's going on, Sophie? You've got this… mess around you. Victor, Leo, and now Derek? What's happening?"
Sophie took a deep breath, fighting the urge to defend herself. "It's not what you think. I don't need to explain myself to you, Mia."
Mia shot her a look, her eyes flashing with something darker. "No, you don't need to explain. But I deserve to know. Because I'm your friend. And right now, I'm the only one who can see what's happening here."
Before Sophie could respond, there was a knock at the door. She froze. Who else could it be?
As she opened it, her stomach dropped.
Leo stood there, his posture rigid, his eyes intense. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Mia shot to her feet, her face suddenly stormy. She'd clearly been caught off guard by Leo's appearance. Sophie watched, confused. The tension between them was palpable, like there was some unspoken history that Sophie didn't understand.
"Mia," Leo said, his voice even colder than before. "You're still here?"
Mia crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "I was just leaving. But if you want to talk, go ahead."
Leo glanced at Sophie, his eyes narrowing, before turning and leaving without another word. Sophie felt a chill settle in her bones.
"What was that about?" Sophie asked, finally turning to Mia.
Mia's expression darkened. "It's not what you think. Don't get involved with him, Sophie. He's bad news." Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and concern.
But before Sophie could say anything, a loud crash came from outside the apartment, followed by shouting. The sound of glass breaking echoed down the hallway, and Sophie's heart skipped a beat.
"Stay here," Mia said quickly, grabbing Sophie's arm and pulling her towards the window. They peeked out, and Sophie's blood ran cold.
Down below, Victor was standing in the middle of the street, facing off with Derek.
Victor's hands were clenched into fists, his face contorted in rage. Derek was standing his ground, a smirk on his face as he taunted Victor, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"I told you to stay away from her," Victor snarled, his voice thick with anger. "She's mine."
Derek shrugged nonchalantly. "She doesn't belong to you, Victor. She never did."
Before Sophie could react, she saw Leo rush down the stairs, pushing through the crowd that had gathered. He immediately ran to stand between Derek and Victor.
"This ends now," Leo said, his voice dangerously calm. But there was a hint of something darker in his eyes—a flash of violence.
Sophie's breath caught in her throat as she watched the scene unfold below. This wasn't just a confrontation. It was a war.
Victor lunged at Derek, but Leo stepped in between them, catching Victor by the wrist and twisting it back. Derek, sensing the opening, took a swing at Leo's jaw. The punch landed with a sickening thud, and Leo staggered back, but his eyes never left Derek's.
Sophie's pulse pounded in her ears as Mia pulled her back from the window. "This is exactly what I was talking about, Sophie!" she hissed. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."
Before Sophie could respond, the apartment door burst open, and Leo stormed back in, his expression enraged.
"Get out," he snapped at Mia, his eyes flashing with fury. "This is between me and her. You have no part in it."
Mia stood her ground, not backing down. "You think you can control everyone, Leo? You're no better than Victor. No better than Derek. You're all the same."
Sophie felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she stood there, caught between them. This was getting out of hand.
"Mia, just leave, okay?" Sophie said quietly, her voice trembling. "I need to figure things out on my own."
Mia hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Sophie and Leo. Then, with a sharp look, she turned and stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.
Sophie was left standing in the middle of the room, her thoughts a chaotic mess. Leo stepped closer to her, his anger still palpable, but there was something else in his eyes now—a trace of concern.
"I don't want you involved with them," Leo said, his voice softer now. "Victor, Derek… they'll only hurt you."
Sophie shook her head, her eyes burning with frustration. "I'm not a damn possession to be fought over."
But Leo's gaze softened, his hand reaching out to touch her cheek. "You don't understand. They've never cared about you the way I do."
And then, the door burst open again.
This time, it was Victor.
The scene that followed was like an explosion.