Sophie sat cross-legged on her couch, surrounded by a chaotic pile of notes, old maps, and cryptic messages that had led nowhere. Her head was pounding, her patience was gone, and the only thing she felt was an overwhelming sense of defeat.
"I'm done," she declared, pushing the pile onto the floor with a frustrated groan.
Mia, perched on the edge of the couch with a bowl of popcorn, didn't even flinch. "Finally. I was wondering how long it'd take you to realize that chasing mystery clues like you're in a budget detective movie isn't sustainable."
Sophie glared. "Thanks for the pep talk."
Mia grinned. "You're welcome. Now, let's focus on something more productive—your social life. You need to get out, Soph. Dress up, have fun, and, dare I say it, maybe meet someone new?"
"Meet someone new?" Sophie scoffed. "Have you met my exes? They're a walking advertisement for staying single."
"Then don't go for a guy," Mia said dramatically. "Go for the cocktails, the dancing, and the thrill of life. You're a woman, Sophie! A vibrant, single, independent woman!"
Before Sophie could protest, Mia was already rifling through her closet, pulling out dresses that were either too tight, too short, or too sparkly.
---
Meanwhile, at the D'Angelo Mansion...
"Mom, for the last time, I don't need you to find me a wife," Ethan growled, dodging a folder of résumés that Martha was waving at him.
"You clearly can't find one on your own," Martha retorted. "You're thirty-one, Ethan. Thirty. One."
"Do you have to say it like that?" Ethan snapped, slumping into a chair.
Zoe walked into the room, a bag of chips in hand, and smirked. "What's today's flavor of disaster? Oh, let me guess. Blind date number six?"
Martha huffed. "It's number seven, actually. And she's perfect—smart, beautiful, and family-oriented."
"She also has a pet parrot that mimics curse words," Ethan muttered, rubbing his temples. "I Googled her."
Zoe burst out laughing. "You're kidding."
"I wish I was," Ethan replied dryly.
Grandma Vivian, sitting in her usual corner with a knitting project, chuckled. "You know, Ethan, if you stopped being so picky, you might've been married by now."
Ethan groaned. "I'm not picky, Grandma. I just... I don't want to settle."
"Settle for what?" Vivian teased. "A woman who isn't Sophie?"
Ethan shot her a sharp look, but she just winked.
---
Back to Sophie...
Mia had outdone herself. Sophie was decked out in a little black dress, red heels, and enough confidence to almost forget about her failed search for her mother and the mess that was her love life.
The party was already in full swing when they arrived, music blasting and the room buzzing with energy. Mia dragged Sophie straight to the bar, ordering two margaritas before Sophie could protest.
"To new beginnings," Mia said, clinking her glass against Sophie's.
"To questionable life choices," Sophie replied, taking a sip.
As the night went on, Sophie started to loosen up. She danced with strangers, laughed at Mia's terrible jokes, and for a moment, forgot all about Ethan, Liam, and the endless mystery of her past.
That was until a guy with way too much cologne and an awkward dance move tried to hit on her.
"Hey, beautiful," he slurred. "Wanna dance?"
Sophie gave him a tight smile. "I'm good, thanks."
"Aw, come on. Don't be shy."
Before Sophie could respond, Mia swooped in like a protective hawk. "Buddy, she said no. Move along before I introduce you to my heel."
The guy backed off quickly, and Sophie burst out laughing. "You're my hero."
"Always," Mia replied with a wink.
---
Meanwhile, at the D'Angelo Dining Table...
"Ethan, darling, meet Candace," Martha said, gesturing to the elegant woman seated across from him.
Candace was polite, charming, and completely uninterested in Ethan. She spent the entire dinner talking about her ex-boyfriend's yacht and how she missed her pet iguana.
Ethan stared blankly at his plate, wondering how his life had come to this.
"Isn't she lovely?" Martha whispered to him.
Ethan shot her a look. "She's talking about lizards, Mom."
Zoe, barely containing her laughter, chimed in. "Maybe she's into reptile guys. You could try hissing."
Grandma Vivian nearly choked on her soup from laughing so hard.
---
Back to Sophie...
By the end of the night, Sophie and Mia were sitting on the curb outside the club, eating greasy street food and laughing like teenagers.
"I needed this," Sophie admitted, taking a bite of her taco.
"Told you," Mia said smugly. "Now, all you have to do is keep living your life and stop obsessing over the past."
Sophie nodded, but a small part of her couldn't let go of the nagging feeling that there was more to discover.
As they got up to leave, Sophie noticed something odd—a man in a trench coat watching her from across the street.
She froze, her heart racing.
"What's wrong?" Mia asked, following her gaze.
The man tipped his hat and disappeared into the shadows.
"Nothing," Sophie said quickly, shaking it off. But deep down, she knew this wasn't over.
---
Final Scene
Ethan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His phone buzzed with a message from Zoe: "Heard you hissed at your date. Classic move, bro."
He groaned, tossing his phone aside.
Somewhere, Sophie was probably laughing, dancing, and moving on without him.
And that thought hurt more than he cared to admit.