Chapter 171 One Hundred And Seventy One

Chapter 171 One Hundred And Seventy One
Kennedy set the receiver down slowly and rubbed a hand across his face.
He already knew Sofia would try to twist this conversation.
That was what she always did.
But this time he wasn’t going to allow it.
Not after last night.
Not after Antonia’s tears.
About thirty minutes later, a knock sounded at his office door.
Kennedy didn’t look up from the documents in front of him.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly.
Sofia stepped inside looking effortlessly elegant in a fitted navy dress and heels.
Her perfume reached him before her voice did.
“I came as fast as I could.”
Kennedy finally looked up.
Coldly.
No warmth.
No softness.
Immediately, Sofia noticed the difference.
Her smile faltered slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
Kennedy leaned back in his chair.
“We need to establish boundaries.”
That caught her off guard.
“…boundaries?”
“Yes.”
Sofia slowly closed the office door behind her.
Then she approached the desk carefully.
“Kennedy—”
“You do not call me late at night anymore.”
Her expression changed subtly.
Ah.
So Antonia saw the message.
Interesting.
Sofia folded her arms lightly.
“Was that really necessary?”
“Yes.”
“I was only checking if you got home safely.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
The coldness in his tone made her jaw tighten slightly.
Kennedy continued firmly.
“And you do not send messages like that again.”
Sofia stared at him for several seconds.
“This is about Antonia.” She said finally.
“Yes.”
The blunt honesty surprised her.
Kennedy leaned forward slightly.
“She saw your message.”
Sofia pretended to look concerned.
“Oh no.”
“Stop.”
Her eyes flickered briefly.
“I mean it, Sofia.”
The warning in his voice became sharper.
“We are working together because of the company situation.”
“That’s all.”
Sofia tilted her head slowly.
“So formal.”
Kennedy’s expression didn’t change.
“I’m serious.”
“And what exactly did Antonia think?”
Kennedy’s jaw tightened instantly.
“That’s not your concern.”
“But it clearly became a problem.”
“She’s my wife.”
The words landed harder than he intended.
Sofia felt it immediately.
The reminder stung.
Kennedy stood up from his chair slowly.
“I should have made this clearer from the beginning.”
Sofia’s chest tightened.
“We are not rebuilding anything.”
Silence.
Heavy silence.
“You and I are done.”
Sofia forced out a small laugh.
“Kennedy—”
“No.”
He cut her off firmly.
“I still haven't forgotten what happened.”
“But I apologised.”
Anger flashed briefly across his face.
“Yes.”
Sofia noticed it instantly.
“But that doesn't take away what you did.”
Those words hit like a slap.
Her expression hardened slightly.
“So, you will never forgive me?”
“I didn't say so.”
Kennedy walked toward the windows, his back facing her now.
“I love my wife.”
Sofia’s fingers curled slightly at her sides.
“And yet your wife spends the day frolicking with her ex.”
Kennedy turned sharply toward her.
“What are you talking about?”
“You heard me right,” Sofia said calmly, "I have seen them together, not once."
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Watch yourself.”
But Sofia wasn’t intimidated.
Instead, she walked closer slowly.
“You’re under pressure.”
“You’re overwhelmed.”
“You’re emotionally exhausted.”
“And your wife chooses not to be by your side at this time.” she held his gaze, "It must be heart breaking."
Kennedy’s voice dropped lower.
“You don’t get to speak about my wife.”
Sofia stopped in front of him.
“But I speak the truth, and you know it.”
For a brief second a deafening silence ensued.
Sofia spoke first, breaking the silence.
“I’m helping you save your company while your wife is growing closer to another man.”
Kennedy’s face darkened instantly.
“Enough.”
The jealousy in his eyes betrayed him despite himself.
Sofia softened her voice carefully.
“You can deny it all you want, Kennedy… but you’re losing her.”
That sentence struck directly into the insecurity already tormenting him.
Daniel.
The thought alone made his blood boil again.
But Kennedy forced himself to stay calm.
“No,” he said firmly.
“I’m fixing my marriage.”
Sofia’s expression chilled.
“And what if she doesn’t want fixing?”
Kennedy stepped closer now.
Towering over her.
“She’s my wife.”
The intensity in his voice made even Sofia pause.
“And I won’t let anyone come between us again.”

\---

The soft afternoon sunlight poured through the windshield as Daniel drove carefully through the city streets.
Inside the car, Antonia sat quietly in the passenger seat, her fingers resting lightly over the curve of her stomach as she stared outside the window.
Daniel glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road.
“You’ve been quiet.”
Antonia gave a faint smile.
“I’m thinking.”
“That usually means trouble.”
She let out a soft laugh.
“You still say that.”
“You still do it.”
The familiarity in his tone made her chest tighten slightly.
There was comfort in being around someone who knew old versions of her.
Someone who remembered who she had been before marriage.
Before motherhood.
Daniel slowed the car at a traffic light and looked at her again.
“You feeling okay?”
Antonia nodded lightly.
“A little tired.”
“You shouldn’t be stressing yourself.”
“I know.”
“But you still do.”
She sighed softly.
“Yes.”
The light turned green again.
Daniel continued driving.
“I’m glad you called me last night.”
Antonia looked down briefly.
Part of her still wasn’t sure she should have.
Helen’s warning continued echoing in her head.
A man that cheated on you.
A man that wasted six years of your life.
But somehow Daniel no longer felt like the reckless younger man who had once broken her heart.
Or maybe loneliness was simply blurring her judgment.
Either way, being around him felt easy.
And right now, easy was comforting.
About twenty minutes later, Daniel pulled into the parking lot of a quiet café.
Antonia blinked in surprise.
“This place is beautiful.”
Daniel smiled softly.
“You used to love places like this.”
She looked at him carefully.
“You remembered that?”
“I remember a lot about you.”
Something about the way he said it made her look away quickly.
Daniel stepped out first and hurried around the car to help her.
Inside the café, the atmosphere was warm and quiet.
Soft music played overhead while the scent of coffee and pastries filled the air.
Daniel chose a table near the windows overlooking the water.
Once seated, Antonia immediately relaxed slightly.
“This really was a good idea.”
“I know.”
She rolled her eyes lightly.
“Cocky.”
“Confident.”
They ordered breakfast and for a while the conversation stayed light.
Old memories.
Funny stories.
People they used to know.
Daniel made her laugh several times.
Real laughter.
The kind she hadn’t felt in weeks.
And every time she smiled, Daniel noticed.
Carefully.
Intentionally.
The waitress brought their meals, and for a few minutes they ate quietly.
Then Daniel leaned back slightly in his chair.
“So…”
Antonia looked up.
“So?”
“How bad are things really?”
Her fork paused midway to her mouth.
She already knew what he meant.