Chapter 100 Sparkles
Sophie sank onto the rug, carefully picking up a delicate bracelet she had bought in Paris. Margarete was nearby, holding up a sparkling necklace in front of the mirror, tilting it this way and that, completely absorbed in trying it on. The room was scattered with jewelry boxes, velvet linings spilling chains and bangles in a rainbow of gold and silver. The soft clinks of the pieces filled the space as Margarete hummed, completely unaware of Sophie's shifting excitement.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and Sophie's heart leapt when she saw the name flashing across the screen. Without thinking, she picked it up, thumb swiping to call.
"Hugo! I was going to call you as soon as I got home," she said, her voice bright and unrestrained.
"Hey dear ," Hugo's voice rumbled warmly on the other end. "You sound tired but happy. Are you back safely?"
"Yes, all safe," Sophie replied, grinning. "Paris was... well, a whirlwind. I tried to see as many pastry shops as possible. I think I've sampled half the macarons in the city."
Hugo chuckled. "Half? That sounds like serious work. Did you keep a ranking?"
"Of course," Sophie said, laughing softly. "Some were incredible, others... not so much. And I even ended up buying a few for Margarete. She's obsessed with trying every piece of jewelry we brought back.
"Sounds like you were busy," Hugo said. "And you're back before things got too hectic?"
"Exactly," Sophie said, nodding even though he couldn't see her. "I made the most of the trip, but rushed back immediately things started piling up "
They shared a few more laughs over the little details of her trip, the long lines at patisseries, the confusing metro maps, and a street performer who kept trying to include her in his act. Sophie gestured animatedly even though Hugo couldn't see her, and she could hear the warmth in his chuckle on the other end.
"I'm glad you're back," Hugo said finally. "I missed you dearly, it's really nice to hear all the little things you got up to."
"Me too," Sophie replied, smiling. "It's good to be back. And now I can properly tell you everything in person."
"Looking forward to that," Hugo said with a laugh . "See you soon, Sophie."
"Tomorrow then," she said, her cheeks warm, "I can't wait."
Sophie ended the call and set her phone down on the rug, still smiling, her heart light.
Sophie pushed herself up from the rug, intending to join Margarete and admire the necklaces more closely. She took a step toward the mirror, but suddenly froze.
Margarete had stopped mid-adjustment, one delicate bracelet dangling from her wrist. Her eyes were fixed on Sophie with a sharp intensity Sophie hadn't seen before. There was a strange stillness in the air, a quiet that made Sophie's pulse quicken.
"Sophie," Margarete said finally, her voice slow, measured, almost distant, "I didn't know you had... a boyfriend."
The words hit Sophie like a cold gust of wind. Her smile faltered, her hands tightening around the edge of the rug as the memory of her phone call with Hugo rushed back, the laughs, the stories, the way she had completely forgotten her mother was there. She felt her chest tighten, realizing the secret she had worked so hard to protect had likely been heard.
Her mind raced. She could feel the weight of Margarete's gaze pressing down, expectant and unwavering. Sophie's lips parted in a nervous, awkward laugh, her voice faltering slightly.
"H-Hugo?" she stammered, forcing the tone light, casual, almost flippant. "Oh, he's... he's just a friend."
Sophie's awkward laugh faltered completely as Margarete's voice cut through the room, calm but knowing.
"He didn't sound just like a friend, Sophie," Margarete said softly, her tone firm yet gentle.
Sophie opened her mouth, then closed it again, speechless. Her mind scrambled for something, anything, to deflect, but no words came.
"There's no need to lie," Margarete continued after a pause. "You're old enough to have a boyfriend. If that's the case, you shouldn't feel ashamed."
Sophie eased back a little, the tension in her shoulders loosening fractionally, though she still didn't say anything.
Margarete tilted her head, her eyes sharp but kind. "Isn't Hugo... Ethan's friend?"
"Yes," Sophie replied quietly, almost a whisper.
Margarete studied her for a long moment, then added thoughtfully, "He's... the tall guy with wavy hair that is always by Ethan's side, isn't he?"
Sophie blinked, caught off guard by how accurate and simple Margarete's observation was. She swallowed, a small, almost guilty smile tugging at her lips, but she still didn't answer further.
The warmth that had lingered in Sophie's chest drained away like water from a bucket. Her smile faltered, and her hands tightened around the edge of the rug. She knew Margarete well enough, knew her strictness, her short temper, and how when she said no to something, it meant absolutely no.
Margarete's sharp eyes didn't miss a thing. She studied Sophie for a long moment, then spoke in a calm, measured tone that carried an unmistakable edge.
"Sophie," she said slowly, "Hugo is your boyfriend, isn't he?"
Sophie froze, mouth opening slightly, no words coming. She had hoped a vague denial or a shrug would be enough, but Margarete's gaze held her in place.
Margarete continued, her voice steady, almost thoughtful. "I noticed it back in Paris too. The way you kept updating him about everything you were doing... every little detail. I couldn't help but notice. Sophie, I'm not a child. I'm old enough to understand these things, and I can tell when someone is in love."
Sophie's chest tightened, she felt a cold knot of panic coil in her stomach.
Margarete's eyes softened only slightly, but the weight of her words pressed down. "Tell me," she said quietly but firmly, "why would you go after Ethan's friend, knowing how strict he is?"
Sophie forced a small, awkward laugh, her voice trembling slightly. "I... it's not what it looks like," she said. "We're... we're just friends."
Margarete didn't blink, didn't soften. "Sophie," she said calmly, "I've known you long enough to know when you're lying. And I can see it, this isn't just friendship. You're in love."
Sophie bent her head, letting the weight of Margarete's words sink in. There was no escaping the truth, she couldn't lie her way out. Her fingers twitched slightly against her knees as the heat rose in her cheeks.
Then Margarete spoke, calm but deliberate. "Invite him over for dinner. I want to meet him for myself. Only then can I form an opinion."
Sophie's head snapped up, eyes wide, her breath catching. "Invite him... over?"
Margarete met her gaze evenly. "Yes. I need to see him. I want to know the man who's caught your attention before I say anything more."
Shock froze Sophie for a moment. She hadn't expected this. Her mother wasn't saying no, she wasn't shutting Hugo out entirely. She was giving them a chance, a subtle opening.
A flicker of excitement stirred in Sophie's chest. She pressed her lips together, trying to steady her racing heart. Margarete hadn't accepted him fully, not yet, but she hadn't rejected him either. At least... there was a chance to win her over.
Sophie exhaled slowly, the tight knot in her stomach loosening just a fraction. She still had a lot to navigate, but for the first time since the conversation with Hugo, she felt a spark of hope.