Chapter 135 One Hundred And Thirty Five
The drive back to Kennedy’s office was silent.
Heavy.
The tension that had exploded in the park seemed to follow them into the car like an invisible storm cloud. Kennedy gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles pale against the dark leather.
He barely noticed the traffic lights.
Barely noticed the cars around him.
His mind kept replaying the same image over and over again.
Antonia walking beside Austin.
Laughing.
Relaxed.
And the part that bothered him the most—
Austin standing in front of her.
Protecting her.
The memory made Kennedy’s jaw tighten again.
Beside him, Sofia sat quietly, watching him from the corner of her eye.
She didn’t rush to speak.
She had learned long ago that Kennedy’s temper burned hot but fast. If pushed too quickly, he would shut down.
Better to let the storm rage for a while.
The car finally pulled into the underground parking garage of his office building.
Kennedy parked harder than necessary, cutting the engine abruptly.
The silence that followed felt thick.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Kennedy pushed open the door and stepped out.
Sofia followed calmly.
The elevator ride up to his floor was just as tense.
Kennedy stood stiffly with his arms crossed, staring at the glowing floor numbers as they climbed.
Sofia leaned lightly against the wall of the elevator, her posture relaxed.
But her eyes studied him carefully.
When the elevator doors opened, Kennedy walked straight to his office without slowing.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The moment he was alone in the room, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
“What the hell was that?”
Sofia closed the door gently behind them.
“What part?”
“The park.”
His voice was tight with irritation.
“Everything.”
He paced across the room, restless energy radiating from him.
“I shouldn’t have gone there.”
Sofia tilted her head slightly.
“Why not?”
Kennedy stopped near his desk.
“Because I lost my temper.”
His jaw clenched again.
“The way I spoke to Antonia…”
He shook his head faintly.
“That wasn’t right.”
Sofia walked slowly farther into the office.
“You were upset.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“You saw her with another man.”
“That still doesn’t give me the right to act like that.”
He turned away slightly, looking out the large window that overlooked the city.
“I sounded jealous.”
Sofia’s voice came softly from behind him.
“Maybe you were.”
Kennedy didn’t respond immediately.
Because the truth was—
He had been jealous.
Furious, actually.
The thought of Antonia moving on with someone else had stirred something ugly and possessive inside him.
And seeing Austin standing there beside her had pushed every one of his buttons.
“She’s choosing him,” Kennedy muttered under his breath.
Sofia stepped closer.
“You don’t know that.”
“It looked pretty obvious.”
“She was just walking.”
“With him.”
“Yes.”
Kennedy exhaled sharply.
“She laughed with him.”
Sofia studied his expression carefully.
“You sound hurt.”
He scoffed.
“I’m not hurt.”
“Then what are you?”
Kennedy didn’t answer.
He simply stared out at the skyline.
The truth was far more complicated than he wanted to admit.
Sofia moved a little closer.
Close enough that he could feel her presence behind him.
“Kennedy,” she said softly.
He turned slightly.
“What?”
“You’re being too hard on yourself.”
“I was rude to her.”
“You were emotional.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
Sofia’s eyes softened.
“You care about her.”
Kennedy hesitated.
“She’s the mother of my son.”
“And more than that.”
He looked away again.
Sofia closed the remaining distance between them.
“Look at me.”
Reluctantly, Kennedy turned back toward her.
She was standing much closer now.
Close enough that he could see the faint shine of her lipstick and the soft curve of her smile.
“You’re allowed to feel things,” she said quietly.
“I’m not allowed to lash out because of them.”
“You didn’t lash out.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I accused her of replacing me.”
“You reacted.”
“And embarrassed her.”
Sofia reached out gently, placing her hand lightly against his arm.
The touch was soft.
Comforting.
“You’re human.”
Kennedy’s gaze dropped briefly to where her fingers rested on his sleeve.
“You always know what to say.”
“I know you, you didn't do any of that with the intent to hurt her.”
Her hand slowly slid down his arm.
Barely noticeable.
But deliberate.
“You take everything onto your shoulders,” she continued softly.
“Every mistake.”
“Every moment.”
Kennedy sighed.
“Maybe because I keep making them.”
“You’re not perfect.”
“I should know better by now.”
Sofia stepped even closer.
Her voice lowered.
“You’re allowed to lose control sometimes.”
Kennedy looked down at her.
Her face was only inches away now.
“I didn’t like seeing her with him.”
“I know.”
“And I hated how calm she looked.”
Sofia’s thumb brushed lightly against the back of his hand.
“That must have been difficult.”
“It was.”
Her gaze held his steadily.
“You’re not the only one who felt something back there.”
Kennedy frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t enjoy seeing you upset.”
He studied her face.
“You didn’t?”
“No.”
Her voice softened further.
“I hate seeing you struggle.”
Something about the way she said it felt familiar.
Comforting.
Dangerously familiar.
Sofia’s hand slid slowly up his arm until her fingers rested lightly against his chest.
“Kennedy…”
He didn’t move.
Didn’t pull away.
For a brief moment, the memory of the park faded.
The anger.
The jealousy.
The frustration.
All of it blurred beneath the warmth of her presence.
“You’re carrying too much right now,” she murmured.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“And you don’t have to carry it alone.”
Kennedy’s breathing slowed slightly.
“Sofia…”
She lifted her face toward his.
Their eyes locked.
The distance between them had disappeared completely now.
“You deserve to feel wanted too,” she said softly.
Something in his chest tightened.
And before his mind could fully catch up with what was happening—
Sofia leaned in.
Her lips brushed against his.
The kiss was soft.
Brief.
But unmistakable.
Kennedy froze for a split second.
Then his senses returned all at once.
He pulled back slightly, his eyes widening in surprise.
The room suddenly felt very quiet.
Sofia looked up at him calmly.
As if nothing unusual had just happened.
But Kennedy knew something had shifted.
And he wasn’t entirely sure whether it had been a mistake, or the beginning of something he wasn’t ready to face.