Three years ago, Sophie fled back to TWAN like a refugee—a sight Ava hadn't witnessed. However, in the two years since Sophie married into the family, Ava, her sister-in-law, had become her closest confidante. They were of similar age, which helped Ava understand Sophie's struggles.
"Relationships require one side to give a little more for them to continue," Ava said softly.
Sophie sniffled. "But we never really started."
"Is that so?" Ava pointed to a magazine on the table. "Isn't this an opportunity right in front of you?"
Sophie looked at her sister-in-law, startled. "Are you saying…"
"France is too far, but Taipei is close. Since he's already come to TWAN, why not give yourself a chance?"
A glimmer of hope lit up in Sophie's heart but quickly faded. She shook her head. "Thank you for the encouragement, but he and I are worlds apart. It's impossible." If there had been any hope, she wouldn't have left three years ago.
Ava held Sophie's hand. "No love story is smooth sailing. It's the challenges that make it worthwhile. Give it a try!" She gazed into Sophie's conflicted eyes. "Think about Vivian. He needs a father."
"I've already let An-An down…" Sophie's eyes reddened. She couldn't hold anyone else in her heart except for the father of her child. Yet the chasm between their lives seemed insurmountable.
Ava wiped her tears with a sigh. "Just try. How will you know if it's impossible unless you do? Even if you fail, at least you'll have tried."
Sophie hesitated, torn by the weight of Ava's encouragement and her own fears.
She wanted to give herself one last chance, but she was terrified of deeper heartbreak. For three years, she had been unable to forget him. The memories of him gnawed at her fragile heart every day and night.
Ava nodded silently, offering her unwavering support.
Sophie finally made up her mind. "I'll go to Taipei and see him." She emphasized, as if convincing both Ava and herself, "Just to take a look, and then I'll come back."
If he hadn't come to TWAN, she might have stayed quietly by her son's side for the rest of her life. But now that he was here, she could no longer suppress her emotions.
Just a look, she told herself. That wouldn't cause any trouble.
"I forbid it!" Alex roared.
Olivia shot her husband a disapproving glare and spoke gently to their daughter. "Ling, have you really thought this through? We've seen how lost you've been these past few years. We know you haven't let go. But you have to think carefully—his status is so far from ours."
"There's nothing to think about. I said no, and that's final!" Alex, the Sha family patriarch, was still fuming.
Olivia handed their grandson to Alex. "Vivian, tell Grandpa not to be so angry."
Vivian patted Alex on the arm. "Grandpa, don't be mad anymore." His big, round eyes darted between his mother and grandfather. "Are you mad at Mommy? If so, An-An won't like you anymore!"
Alex lovingly patted his grandson. "No, Grandpa's not mad at Mommy. It's just that your mommy isn't behaving."
Vivian turned to Sophie. "Mommy, are you being naughty? That's bad!"
Sophie smiled at her son, then turned to her father with a pleading look. "Dad, I just want to see him from a distance. That's all."
Alex knew his daughter's heart too well. "You silly girl!" His tone softened with the affectionate nickname he hadn't used in three years. Ever since Sophie had returned home unmarried and pregnant, the family had accepted her, but the atmosphere had grown strained. Her parents stopped using terms of endearment, unsure of how to express their concern.
Alex sighed. "You had a child out of wedlock, and we didn't say anything. You even turned down Roman's proposal, and I still didn't interfere. But are you sure about going to Taipei? What if you get hurt again?"
Sophie knelt before her father. "Dad, I'm sorry."
In this traditional community, her actions had already disgraced the family. She had never considered how much the gossip weighed on her loved ones and had stubbornly focused only on herself.
Lucy gently helped Sophie up. "Don't apologize. Look at how much happiness Vivian has brought us. Your father just doesn't want to see you hurt again."
"Did Mommy do something wrong?" Vivian asked, looking back and forth between the adults.
Sophie touched her son's chubby cheek. "Yes, Mommy made a mistake. And now, Mommy wants to make another mistake. What should I do?"
Vivian stared at her. "Does Mommy want to cry?"
This smart little boy! Sophie sniffed and forced a smile. "No, Mommy's not crying."
She turned back to her father, pleading. "Dad, I know what I'm doing. I just want to see him one last time. France is so far away…"
Axel and Lucy exchanged a troubled look, unsure of how to respond.
This child had always been impulsive. Since her return from France, she had been melancholy and withdrawn. Now, seeing a glimmer of hope on her face, they couldn't bear to refuse her. But what if seeing him only made things worse?
Ava stepped in to help. "Dad, Mom, everyone has their own fate. Let Ling decide for herself. At least give her a chance. Can you really let Vivian grow up without a father?" Ever the optimist, Ava believed that true love would find a way.
Andrew, however, was more skeptical. "How do you know he'll even acknowledge Vivian?"
Lucy scolded her son. "Stop pouring cold water on her!"
Andrew sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
"It's okay. I know you're just worried about me." Sophie forced a weak smile. Looking at her parents, siblings, and Ava, she said, "I'm not trying to become a Cinderella. He might not even remember me. I just want to see him one last time and put an end to my regrets. After that, I'll stop reading about him in magazines and stop caring about his news. Please, I need your support."
Ava wrapped an arm around Sophie's shoulders, offering silent encouragement.
Alex and Lucy couldn't help but recall the lost, heartbroken girl who had returned home three years ago.
Back then, no one knew why she had abruptly dropped out of school after returning from France. Even Roman, who had fetched her from a castle in southern France, knew little of what had transpired there.
Later, when Sophie found out she was pregnant, the news shocked everyone. But the discovery seemed to ignite a newfound courage in her. That day, she was resolute, pleading, "Let me have this child. Please, I need your support."
Her parents couldn't help but wonder—when did their carefree daughter, the one they fondly called their sweet and naive little girl, lose her innocent spark? As parents, their hearts ached, but all they could do was silently offer her their unwavering support.
When the baby was born and his features became more distinct, they finally realized the truth. Vivian's father was none other than the wealthy baron whose photos adorned the magazines Sophie kept hidden in her room.
Knowing this, they also understood that Vivian's father was a notorious playboy and that his status and wealth were worlds apart from their family. Seeing their daughter's quiet, unrequited love filled them with nothing but sadness and helplessness.
They had hoped time would dull her feelings. Even as Roman, over the years, showered Sophie and Vivian with care and devotion, her parents had quietly encouraged the possibility of their union. But now, the baron had come to TWAN, reigniting their fears—that Sophie might once again lose herself to her emotions.
Sophie's pleading and her parents' internal struggle cast a heavy silence over the room. Even young Vivian, sensing the tension, stayed quiet, his wide eyes darting between the adults' somber faces.
"Let me talk to her, alright?" All heads turned toward the door, where Roman stood.
Roman stepped inside and greeted the family, "Uncle, Aunt." Alex and Lucy exhaled, relieved to have his intervention. Vivian, however, clamored for Roman to pick him up.
Roman lifted Vivian in his arms with a warm smile. "Have you been a good boy, Vivian?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small Pikachu toy. "Here's a Pikachu for you. Do you like it?"
"I love it! I love it!" Vivian chirped excitedly.
"Now, why don't you stay here with Grandpa while I have a talk with your mommy, okay?"
"Okay!" The child's attention was already captured by his new toy.
As Alex took Vivian, he muttered pointedly, "Your uncle spoils you so much—just like a real father would."
Sophie stiffened but followed Roman as they left the family's guesthouse.
The two walked in silence down the familiar village roads. Occasionally, neighbors greeted them warmly, with some teasingly asking, "When will we get to attend your wedding?"
Roman responded with his usual hearty laugh, while Sophie kept her head bowed.
Was she being selfish? She knew Roman's feelings yet couldn't bring herself to draw a firm line. She was afraid—afraid of losing his friendship if things went awry. He was her dearest friend, and she couldn't risk that.
Breaking the quiet, Roman sighed. "Do you know what I admire most about you?" His deep eyes fixed on hers. "When we were kids, the neighbor kids once dared everyone to cross the suspension bridge. I was scared but too proud to admit it, so I lingered at the back."
Sophie nodded. She remembered. Back then, some of the mischievous kids had shaken the bridge and jumped up and down, trying to scare everyone.
Roman continued, "I wanted to give up, but you stood up to those troublemakers, scolding them for their antics."
"Yeah, I've always been impulsive," Sophie said with a faint smile.
"No," Roman said, shaking his head. His eyes were filled with tenderness. "You were brave and kind. Even when they made you cross the bridge alone as punishment, you did it without hesitation—to protect the rest of us."
He still remembered that moment vividly. Though he was older than Sophie, he had stayed silent out of fear of exposing his acrophobia. She had saved him that day. "That's when I decided I'd spend my life protecting you."
The emotion in his gaze was too much for Sophie. She lowered her head, whispering, "I don't deserve you..."
"No," Roman said firmly, stepping closer to place his hands on her shoulders. "Vivian doesn't change how I feel about you. You know how much I care for him."
It was time to be honest. Sophie raised her eyes and spoke softly but resolutely, "You're my best friend..." She trailed off, unsure of how to soften the blow.
Roman closed his eyes, unable to face her hesitation. After a moment, he opened them again and asked, "If I had confessed sooner, would things have been different?"
Back then, he had wanted to finish his studies before declaring his feelings. But that delay had changed everything. He had thought being by her side silently would win her over. Now, he wondered if there was still a chance.
Sophie's heart ached, knowing she was hurting him. "Feelings are intangible. They can't be controlled, nor forced... Can you forgive me?"
Roman managed a faint smile, though his voice carried a trace of bitterness. "You have your path, and I have mine. Let's stick to our choices."
"Roman..." Sophie didn't know what else to say. She felt like a foolish moth, drawn to the flame despite having a safe refuge.
Roman regained his composure and smiled, masking his disappointment. "So, tell me—what do you need my help with?" She had called him back, saying it was urgent.
"I want you to help me get a job at the Imperial Hotel—just temporarily," Sophie said cautiously.
Roman raised an eyebrow. "May I ask why?"
"In two weeks, one of your hotel's VIP guests will be arriving. I want to see him. Just one look—from a distance."
Roman's brows furrowed. "Nathan Tino?" His mind raced, recalling everything he knew about Nathan—the baron, his château in France, and the unsaid truths surrounding Sophie's past. Carefully, he weighed his options.
He didn't like this plan. It was risky, another adventure he didn't want Sophie to undertake.
As he considered, Sophie wrung her hands nervously, watching his conflicted expression.
"You're the only one who can help me," she pleaded.
Roman finally asked, "Just a look? No contact?"
"Yes!" Sophie nodded vigorously. "I promise. I won't approach him. There are so many staff members at the hotel—he won't even notice me."
After a long silence, Roman sighed deeply. "Alright. You're the new PR manager at the Imperial Hotel."
"What?!" Sophie blinked, surprised. She hadn't asked for such a high-ranking role.
"With the Tino Distillery executives visiting, I was considering asking the foreign ministry to send a French-speaking translator. Now, I don't need to. You're the perfect fit."
"Thank you!" Sophie beamed and threw her arms around him. "Thank you so much!"