Chapter 95 Chapter 95
Sophia’s POV
Finally, I couldn’t stand being outside anymore. I stood and walked back toward the house, my steps heavy. I pushed through the kitchen door and immediately bumped into Isabella.
My grandmother stood at the kitchen counter, a cup of tea in her hands, her expression troubled in a way I rarely saw.
“Nonna,” I said, surprised. “What’s wrong?”
“I just had an argument with your father,” she said, her voice tight with frustration. “He’s being impossibly stubborn about that girl.”
I knew exactly which girl she meant.
“What happened?” I asked, moving to sit at the kitchen island.
Isabella sighed, setting down her tea cup with more force than necessary. “I tried to talk to him about the future. About what happens when this situation with the Morellis is resolved. I suggested it might be time for Hailey to move to her own place.”
“What did he say?” I asked, though I could already guess.
“He refused,” Isabella said, her jaw tight. “Said Hailey is staying. Permanently. That she’s part of this family now.”
The words hit me like ice water.
“He can’t be serious,” I said, my voice rising. “She’s just some girl he got pregnant. This isn’t permanent. It can’t be.”
Isabella looked at me, and I saw something sad in her expression. “Sophia, I think you need to prepare yourself. Hailey is here to stay.”
“No,” I said flatly. “No, she’s not.”
“She is, because your father has the spark again,” Isabella said quietly. “The one he had for your mother. I see it in his eyes when he looks at Hailey. He’s falling in love with her. Maybe already has.”
The words made me feel sick.
“I can’t just let her walk into my life and try to act like my mother,” I whispered, tears burning in my eyes. “I can’t let her replace Mom like she never existed.”
Isabella reached across the counter and took my hand, her grip firm.
“Sophia, listen to me very carefully,” she said, her voice stern. “Whatever thoughts you have about interfering, about trying to drive Hailey away, you need to quit them. Now.”
I stared at her, shocked. “But Nonna….”
“No,” Isabella interrupted. “Your plan might made us suffer great loss. Seventeen guards dead. Marco gone. Our home destroyed. All because you couldn’t accept reality.”
“That wasn’t my fault!” I protested. “I didn’t know Tyler was….”
“It doesn’t matter what you knew or didn’t know,” Isabella said sharply. “Your actions had consequences, and if you continue down this path, the consequences will be even worse.”
I pulled my hand away from hers, anger flooding through me. “So you’re on her side now? You’re just going to accept her as part of this family?”
“I’m on this family’s side,” Isabella corrected. “And right now, that means accepting that Hailey isn’t going anywhere. Your father has made his choice.”
“Well, I haven’t made mine,” I said, standing up abruptly. “I won’t just accept this. I won’t pretend everything is fine.”
“Sophia…..” Isabella started, but I was already walking away.
I couldn’t believe it. Even my grandmother, the one person who’d always understood my pain about losing Mom, was abandoning me.
Everyone was choosing Hailey over me.
I stormed down the hallway, my vision blurry with angry tears, and nearly collided with someone near the kitchen entrance.
Louis.
He stood there with a sandwich in his hand, leaning casually against the doorframe, his eyes fixed on something across the room.
I followed his gaze and saw Benita sitting at the far end of the kitchen, staring blankly at a cup of coffee, looking like a ghost of herself.
Louis was watching her with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Concern? Pity? Something else?
“What are you doing?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.
Louis turned to look at me, completely unfazed by my tone. “Just standing here,” he said simply, taking a step to the side for me to pass.
“Stop staring at her,” I said, gesturing toward Benita. “It’s creepy.”
“I’m not staring,” Louis said calmly. “I’m observing her, making sure she’s okay. That’s part of my job.”
“Your job is security, not babysitting,” I snapped. “Leave. Go patrol the perimeter or whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing.”
Louis looked at me for a long moment, “No,” he said simply.
I blinked, surprised by the direct refusal. “Excuse me?”
“I said no,” Louis repeated, his tone still calm and pleasant. “I have a job to do, and part of that job is making sure everyone in this house is safe. That includes Miss Benita, who’s clearly struggling.”
“I don’t care what you think you’re doing,” I said, my voice rising. “I’m telling you to leave. Now.”
“And I’m telling you that I report to your father, not to you,” Louis said, still maddeningly calm. “So unless you can get him down here to countermand my orders, I’m staying exactly where I am.”
I glared at him, fury making my hands shake. “I could get you fired.”
“You could try,” Louis agreed with a slight smile.
I stared at Louis, shocked that he’d just refused me so bluntly.
“What did you say?” I asked, my voice rising with disbelief.
“I said no I’m not going to leave and you can reg getting me sack but I know you won’t succeed,” Louis repeated calmly, “I’m not leaving.”
“I don’t need you in this kitchen,” I growled at him, feeling my anger spike. “I’m telling you to leave. Now.”
“And I’m telling you that I was stationed here by Kai,” Louis said, his tone still maddeningly patient. “He specifically assigned me to monitor the common areas, including the kitchen. So I’m staying.”
“You don’t get to….” I started.
But our scuffle had grabbed Benita’s attention. She looked up from her coffee, her eyes hollow and tired, then slowly stood from her seat.
She walked to the counter and picked up something I hadn’t noticed before a beautiful edible arrangement. Chocolate-covered strawberries, pineapple shapes, apple slices, all arranged artfully in a container.