Chapter 269
Chapter 269
Sophia stood at the curb, arms folded.
Griffin stayed where he was—wanting to step closer, but not daring to.
Gerald turned and looked at the faint redness blooming at her temple.
"Get in. I'll take you to the hospital."
"No need." Sophia flagged down a cab, pulled open the back door, and slid in. "I'm going to the office."
The taxi merged into traffic. In the rearview mirror, she saw Gerald still standing at the curb. Something shifted in her eyes.
---
That afternoon, after her meetings, Sophia drove back to Palatial Gardens.
She was changing shoes in the entryway when footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Gerald stood on the third step, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"You're back."
Sophia didn't look up. She bent down and placed her shoes in the cabinet.
"For Milo."
Gerald came down and stopped two paces behind her.
"For him is fine."
Sophia straightened, brushed past him, and went upstairs.
---
That afternoon, Milo's voice carried in from the yard before he even made it through the door.
"Mommy!"
Sophia came out of the kitchen and crouched down. The little boy barreled into her arms and locked his hands around her neck.
"Mommy, are you gonna leave again?"
Sophia lifted him up. "Not leaving. Let's eat."
"Yay!"
At the dinner table, Milo gripped his fork and ate with fierce concentration, both cheeks stuffed full, crumbs clinging to the corners of his mouth.
Sophia pulled a napkin and wiped his face. Watching him eat so happily, the restless irritation that had built up all day dissolved without her noticing.
She leaned back in her chair. Maybe this was okay, just like this.
Everything else could wait until Milo was older.
Gerald sat across from her. His gaze drifted from Milo to her face. His lips curved for an instant, then flattened again.
No rush. One step at a time.
---
Milo's birthday arrived quickly. The main hall at Palatial Gardens blazed with light.
The Neville family elders came, along with Vaughn. From the Churchill side, Preston, Gemma, and Michael were all there.
Milo wore a tiny suit and raced around the room collecting presents, ripping one open and laughing before darting to the next.
Gerald walked up to Sophia carrying a document envelope.
"Birthday gift for Milo."
Sophia took it and opened it. Inside was a stack of share transfer certificates and property deeds. She skimmed through them—nearly two-thirds of every asset under Gerald's name, all transferred to her.
She looked up at him.
Gerald's expression was calm. "Keep them. They're all for Milo someday."
Michael leaned toward Gemma's ear, barely suppressing a grin. "Mom, looks like Sophia's the real powerhouse in this family now."
Gemma's smile froze. The corner of her mouth twitched. She turned away to sip her coffee, the lid clicking softly against the cup.
Internally, she cursed Gerald a hundred times over. Absolutely reckless with the family fortune.
Milo had no idea what the documents meant. He just saw Sophia holding something, ran over, and tilted his face up. "Mommy, what did Daddy give you?"
Sophia bent down and scooped him up with a smile.
"A present for you."
Milo cheered and squirmed free, running back to play with Vaughn.
---
Halfway through the party, Gerald held a glass of wine and leaned close to Sophia, his voice low.
"Five years from now—no more talk of divorce, right?"
Sophia turned to look at him. Her expression sharpened.
"Don't even think about it."
Gerald's fingers tightened around the glass. His throat moved. A thin smile pulled at his lips, but his voice held firm.
"Then I guarantee you won't get the chance to bring it up."
Sophia scoffed. "You're insane."
Across the room, Vaughn lifted Milo above his head and spun him in circles. The boy's laughter rang out bright and clear.
Michael clapped and cheered from the sidelines. The warm glow of the lights gilded every face in the room.
For one moment, the entire party was filled with laughter, warmth, and all the imperfect perfection of an ordinary, happy life.
THE END.