Chapter 224

Chapter 224
Sophia

"At least you have someone!" Mia shot back, her voice rising. "Not all men are like Blake, you know. Just because you got screwed over by his family doesn't mean I'm going to get screwed over too!"

"That's not what I—"

"Where was Mateo during the kidnapping?" she mimicked my voice, cruel and mocking. "I don't know, Sophia, where were you when I was getting high with strangers in college because I felt so goddamn alone?"

into a billion-dollar fortune. I'm just a broke art student!"

"Mia, please, I'm just trying to protect you." My voice cracked, raw emotion bleeding through. "Jasper just got out of the hospital, and I can't—I

That stung like a slap across my face. I'd been building my career, yes, but I'd always tried to be there for Mia. The guilt I carried about not protecting her better was a weight I carried every day. "That's not fair," I said quietly, my voice barely audible over the roaring in my ears.

"You know what's not fair? You treating me like I'm some naive idiot who can't make her own decisions!" Mia was practically shouting now, her face flushed with anger. "What would Mateo even get out of dating me? I'm not like you—I didn't marrycan't handle losing anyone else right now. It would fucking destroy me."

"Well, you're going to lose me if you keep this up," she threatened, tears welling in her eyes. "Mateo is a victim in this too. Someone was trying to manipulate both of us."

I looked at my sister—really looked at her—and saw the hurt in her eyes, deep and raw. This wasn't helping either of us. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to back down, swallowing my pride even though it tasted bitter.

"You're right. I'm sorry," I said softly. "I've been so stressed with Jasper and everything... I'm not handling things well. My brain is a complete disaster zone right now."

Mia's expression softened slightly. "I get that you're worried. But you have to trust me sometimes, okay?"

I nodded, reaching across the counter to squeeze her hand, desperate to bridge the gap between us. "How about we take the kids to the park tomorrow? Get some fresh air, let Lily and Emma run around?"

"That sounds good," she said, the tension between us easing like a slowly deflating balloon. "Lily's been begging me to take her to the playground with the big slide."

Our conversation was interrupted by Blake entering the kitchen, his tie loosened and hair slightly disheveled from a long day at work.

"Hey," he said, grabbing a glass of water. "Jasper asleep?"

"Finally," I confirmed, forcing a smile that felt like it might crack my face. "He fought it for an hour, but exhaustion won in the end."

Blake leaned against the counter. "I need to talk to you about something. I'm going to London next week for that merger. It's going to be about a month."

My stomach dropped like a stone, and for a moment I couldn't breathe. "A month? Blake, we just brought Jasper home. And what about the girls?" My mind was already spiraling, imagining a month of sleepless nights and endless days without support.

"I know, the timing isn't great," he acknowledged, rubbing the back of his neck. "But this deal is crucial for the company's European expansion."

Mia cleared her throat. "I'm gonna head to bed. Night, guys." She slipped out of the kitchen, leaving Blake and me alone.

I waited until I heard her bedroom door close. "So what the fuck am I supposed to do with three kids by myself for a month? Especially with Jasper still so fragile?" I could hear the edge of panic in my voice, sharp and unmistakable.

"I'll hire the best nanny we can find," Blake promised. "I'll personally interview each candidate to make sure they're qualified."

"It's not just about having help," I said, frustration building inside me like a pressure cooker. "I was actually thinking about going back to work. Hamilton reached out about a position at their investment bank."

Blake's eyebrows shot up. "Going back to work? We've talked about this, but... now that there's an actual opportunity..."

"I know," I sighed, running my hands through my hair, tugging at the roots. "The timing is terrible. But I miss it, Blake. I miss using my brain for something other than memorizing feeding schedules and diaper brands. I feel like I'm losing myself in all this domestic shit."

"What about Elizabeth? Won't she help?"

"She's going back to Boston next week. I can't ask her to stay longer—she's already put her life on hold for us."

"I'll find the best nanny in New York," Blake repeated. "And we can set up video calls with Jasper's doctors. I'm sure we can make this work."

I nodded, trying to convince myself, even as anxiety crawled up my spine like a spider. "I guess so. Those Wall Street moms manage to have careers and kids, right? I should be able to handle it." Or I'll have a complete fucking breakdown trying.

Blake pulled me into a hug, and I rested my head against his chest, inhaling his familiar scent, letting it calm me even as my mind raced with all the ways this could go wrong. "Are you still going to call Dr. Harriman about Jasper's checkups?" I asked.

"Already did," he confirmed. "He'll see Jasper weekly to monitor his progress. And I've got the family pediatrician on speed dial."

I pulled back to look at him, my eyes searching his face. "I just want him to have a normal childhood, you know? Not constant doctor visits and medical tests. I don't want him to grow up feeling like he's made of glass."

"He will," Blake promised. "He's getting stronger every day."

"And what about you?" I asked quietly, fear coiling in my gut. "You're already working sixteen-hour days. How are you going to be present for the kids when you're drowning in work?"

Blake looked guilty, a expression I was seeing too often lately. "I know I've been absent lately. This merger is just taking everything I've got. Once it's done, things will calm down."

I'd heard that promise before, from my own workaholic father. It never came true. The work never ended; there was always another deal, another crisis. But I nodded anyway, too exhausted to argue, the fight draining out of me like water down a drain.

"We should get some sleep," I suggested. "Jasper will be up in three hours for his next feeding."

As we headed to our bedroom, I couldn't shake the feeling that our carefully balanced life was about to tip over. Between Blake's work, my career ambitions, three kids with different needs, and a still-recovering Mia, something had to give.

I just hoped it wouldn't be me. Because I was hanging on by a fucking thread, and I wasn't sure how much more I could take before I completely fell apart.