Steven is jealous of Liam
**SOPHIE MADSON'S POV**
I looked at the wooden door closing, confirming his exit from the room. I took steps back with difficulty, making sure the bed was right there because my legs felt like jelly. I brought my hands to my mouth, fingers trembling over it as if not believing everything that happened there.
But before that, I look at the beautiful white box on the dressing table and slowly make my way there, almost dragging myself, opening the small box and taking out two incredible white shoes I had bought for the baby.
I collapse on the floor, sitting there, and bring the shoes to my lips, kissing them slowly, even wetting them with my tears.
"If your father doesn't want you, I do, my son. I want you so much!" I whisper amidst the tears. "I'll be waiting for you."
That moment was mine and his, just the two of us, regardless of any events or what everyone said. I already felt like a mother; that's what matters.
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**STEVEN WOLKER**
My eyes open; I am lying on the couch at Sophie's house, my head hurts, and the bitter taste in my mouth reminds me of the amount of alcohol I drank. What I also recall is my conversation with her, neither the pain nor the discomfort in my stomach I felt compared to the pain in my chest. Remorse absurdly consumes me, I sit on the couch and run my hand over my face, asking myself:
"What the hell did I do?"
I take a deep breath and stand up, thinking of countless ways to undo all the mess I had made. Maybe it was impossible. But I didn't do it intentionally; I was worried about her. I couldn't bear to see her die even though I understood that her motherly feelings went beyond anything else, but many sessions needed her, too. Did that not matter? Yes, it was very complicated.
"Sir, do you need help?" the maid offers.
"I need a shower and to brush my teeth."
"Some clothes are still here, and I'll also arrange everything in the bathroom of the third room for you to use. Excuse me."
She leaves, and I wait there, still waiting. I would regain some of my dignity by at least talking to her calmly and explaining better what I meant.
When the maid returns and enters the room, I take a cold shower. I finish all my morning hygiene and return to the living room. From the voices, I can tell Sophie must already be having her breakfast, so I cautiously make my way there. But when she sees me approaching, she stands up, grabs her bag, and leaves, passing me as if I were invisible. I take a deep breath and throw my head back; it wouldn't be easy.
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I return to my grandmother's house, and as I step through the door, she rushes towards me, visibly worried, and scrutinizes my face as if she wants to ensure that nothing happened to me.
"I was apprehensive, Steven," she breathes deeply.
"I slept at Sophie's house."
"Did you two patch things up?" A broad smile spreads across her lips.
"No, actually, it was worse. I ended up drinking and saying some things without being able to explain properly."
"What did you say?" She looks suspicious, and I see no other alternative but to reveal in detail everything that happened. She widens her eyes, incredulous, and even her face starts to turn red when I recount that I suggested she terminate the pregnancy for her health.
"What did you do? What kind of upbringing did I give you?"
I feel a slap on my face, lower my gaze, and feel more slaps coming at me. I couldn't do anything; she was my grandmother, and practically my mother, and I had to respect whatever she did.
"I don't want her to die, Grandma!" I try to explain.
"Our family has a lot of money; you have a lot of money. We can move heaven and earth to try to make everything right, and is that how you win her over?"
I observed a look of disappointment on her face that I had never seen at any other moment in her life. I take a deep breath, even more remorseful and ashamed.
"We'll find a solution; I have faith we will!"
She turns away, and for the first time in my life, I see that strong-as-a-rock lady cry as if she were a child again. I was impulsive and temperamental; that was one of my most significant flaws, but at that moment, I learned that I should never act that way again.
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As I have breakfast alone and in silence, I recall one of the times Nathaly recounted how we truly fell in love with each other; when did that happen?
I leave home hurriedly, wanting to meet Nathaly at her apartment this morning. I confirmed my identity at the entrance, and she let me into her apartment. When I appear at the door, she opens it with that broad smile, and I enter right away, turning to face her. She gives me a half-smile, tucking some hair strands behind her ear.
"Can you detail how we fell in love for real?"
She looks confused, staring at me with wide eyes, and seems to become somewhat nervous.
"Why now?" she asks nervously.
"Is there a specific time for me to answer something?" I find it strange.
I didn't quite understand her reaction, but she put her hand on her forehead and claimed to have a headache, not feeling very well, and needed to leave as she hadn't been feeling well lately.
"Can I answer you some other time, honey?"
I couldn't even say anything; she touched my shoulder. I didn't have any compelling argument, and I would keep that for another moment, but it wouldn't be forgotten.
"While you're here, let's cuddle up. I'll feel much better!" she asserts.
I removed her hands from my shoulders, faked a smile, and said it wouldn't be the right moment, as I had to return to the company immediately for a crucial meeting. She looked at me, clearly unhappy, and I immediately hurriedly left her apartment.
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**SOPHIE MADSON’S POV**
I arrived at the company, the only place where I could disappear. Being in that office made me feel like I was in a refuge where unpleasant people usually didn't enter; well... sometimes they did.
It was precisely at that moment that something unpleasant happened. The knocks on the door were frantic, and I authorized the entry so they wouldn't make more noise. When the door opened, my father appeared; I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath, closing my eyes and silently thinking.
"Why so much ordeal, God?"
I had the feeling that everything I was going through would result in good outcomes in the future, and it was with this foundation that I managed to live day after day.
"What are you doing here?" I ask irritably.
"Look at your position; how can you let your father work as a deliveryman abroad? What an ungrateful child you are; I'm the one who brought you into this world."
I was at a point in my life where I wished I were the defeated sperm and that some other sibling who was competing had arrived first. But no, it had to be me.
"This is much more than you deserve. Are you still complaining?" I stand up.
I lean my hands on the table, leaning forward, and without taking my eyes off that man, the one I never wanted to encounter again in any way. If I already had many problems, this one would be completely ridiculous.
"You are so much like your mother, Sophie."
"Shut up, don't you dare talk about my mother."
"She plays the good Samaritan, nibbling around the edges, and suddenly... " He makes a gesture. "She strikes."
"I told you not to talk about my mother!"
I walk around the table, heading towards him with a lot of accumulated anger, when I hear only the sound of someone entering, running towards me, and hugging me!
Liam was there, holding me back so that I wouldn't do anything foolish and warning me that it wasn't good for me or the baby.
"Don't give him what he wants."
When he finishes that sentence, I try to compose myself. His visits had only one purpose: to harm and undermine my credibility, and I couldn't take it anymore.
Liam pulls me out, and as we pass through the corridor, he tells the security guard that an intruder is in my office and to go there immediately to throw him out. I feel relieved because I am not in a condition to deal with anything at that moment.
When we leave the company, stopping at a spot in the visitor's parking lot, I take a deep breath, feeling the wind hitting my face. I am relieved to leave and not have to listen to any more nonsense constantly coming out of that mouth. If he continued doing that, he would get what he wanted because I would only get worse.
"Feeling calmer now?" Liam asks, concerned.
"A little."
"Next time, I'll bring my work ID for you to sign. The new position: 'Sophie's Protector'."
I can't hold back my laughter; he was so silly. I chuckle and shake my head negatively amidst the laughter. I touch my now slightly protruding belly, knowing these moments would please my little one.
However, what I didn't expect was that I noticed Liam being pulled away by the arm with force, and I was taken by surprise. When I paid more attention to what was happening, Steven was pulling him away from me. My breathing momentarily stopped.
"Steven, no!" I shout.
But he takes a deep breath, looks at Liam with tremendous hatred, and stands by my side. I had never seen his jealous side, and now I notice how intense it was. But I couldn't allow him to harm Liam because he was a good friend, a brother I never had the opportunity to have.