Chapter 31

Sophia

“I’m not going to work today.” I declared upon entering the spacious kitchen where Kieran had his breakfast.

He cocked his head to the side and furrowed his eyebrows playfully. “Enjoying the perks of being the boss’s wife, I see.” But then his face suddenly changed, and it became the grim one I knew so well. “Will I find you here when I come back?”

I ignored the question as I advanced towards the coffee machine. “Sophia?” a warning growl echoed behind me, but I kept my cool.

Only when I got a much-needed drink and sat at the table in front of Kieran did I spare him a glance. I had to admit I liked his reaction. Seeing him try to control his anger was oddly satisfying.

“What would be the point? Public humiliation when you hunt me down like an animal and drag me back here as you did in Richmond?” Sarcasm was seeping from my every word, and I pulled my lips up into a fake smile.

Kieran’s eyes didn’t leave my face, not even when he continued to eat. What’s more, they scrutinized me like never before, giving me the illusion that they were reading my mind at that very moment.

“If you plan to find a lawyer to help you with our case,” I froze at the way he accentuated the word ‘case,’ giving it an ominous overtone. “You better save your time and money because there is no lawyer in this entire country stupid enough to go against me.”

I was right! He knew exactly what I had plotted to do. What was worse, as soon as those words left his mouth, I realized he had a point. No lawyer in the world would dare to help me.

“Then I suggest you start locking your door at night. If I can’t get rid of you legally, sure as hell I won’t mind becoming a widow.”

Contrary to my intention, Kieran started laughing so loudly that the entire house rang with his laughter. My lips were itching to curve upwards, and I had a hard time keeping them at bay.

I watched him closely as he gradually calmed down and reached for the briefcase placed on one of the chairs. He got up before he spoke: “See you in a few.” I shot him a wondering glance across the brim of the mug I was sipping coffee from. “We’re having dinner at my father’s this evening.” Kieran reminded me just before he disappeared from my sight.

Oh, right... It was Saturday, and I completely forgot about it. How wouldn’t I after the turmoil from yesterday?

After breakfast, I decided to pamper myself with at-home spa treatments, something I hadn’t done in so long. It helped me relax and think things through with a clear mind; reevaluate my life and how I got where I was today. More importantly, I reconsidered everything about Kieran and who he was to me.

The truth that I had such a hard time admitting to myself, the truth that was buried deep inside me for so long… the truth that scratched its way out to the surface and astonished me, shook me to my core when I realized it… I fell for Kieran. I fell hard, and I could never go back from there.

My initial plan was to get away from him and build a life for myself nowhere close to the man that caused my heart to bleed so many times. Well, that plan was no longer in motion. What was I going to do? I had no bloody idea! The only thing that was perfectly clear was that I didn’t want to imagine my life without Kieran in it.

Yes, I was aware of who he was and I never, not even for a second, forgot what he did to me. But none of those things mattered anymore.

I couldn’t say I loved him, exactly. No, I wasn’t there yet. But I wasn’t as ready to let him go as I was before. In fact, I found myself ready to fight for him. Even though the scales of his deeds were dangerously misbalanced, and I had no idea if we would ever be able to get them to equilibrium, I decided it was worth the trouble. The future with Kieran I failed to see before was now crystal clear. We could have it. There was a long way ahead of us, a bumpy and curvy road full of trials and temptations, no doubt, but I was ready for it. I had something to fight for, a goal to achieve.

We needed time, I knew that. We needed to open up to each other and voice the things we’ve been holding back, things that have been holding us back, so we could move on and build a future together. However, it was something I wasn’t willing to do any more than Kieran. And I kept accusing him of it. Maybe I could change the tactics…

My phone rang, and it snapped me out of my thoughts. I got it from the nightstand to see my sister’s smiling face on it, and I answered immediately.

“Hey, honey! How are you? How’s my nephew?” We talked a few days ago, and Ellie shared the news with me, proving my instinct was right. She was expecting a boy.

“Sophiaaaaa!” Ellie whined like a stray dog, taking me by surprise.

“Are you OK?” I was alarmed, scared that something might have happened to the baby.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Ha? Were you trying to get back at me for not telling you about Philip?”

I stared at the phone screen in confusion, not knowing what to say to her accusation, as I had no idea what she was talking about.

“I don’t unders...” But Ellie interrupted me quickly.

“Why didn’t you tell me you got married?” I closed my eyes and sighed, trying to rein in the storm that started in me before I lost control over it, and it destroyed everything on its way. “Philip’s brother? Seriously, Sophia? When were you going to tell me? Were you planning on telling me at all?! How did it come to that? Didn’t you say and I quote here: ‘I can’t stand the guy.’” Ellie blabbered, non-stop. She didn’t even take a breath in the meantime!

“How do you know?” Though the question was redundant. There was only one way she could’ve found out something I prolonged to inform her about. Kieran!

“Kieran called us earlier.” Jackass! “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me, sis!”

“Hold your horses, young lady,” I hailed out. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, but it slipped my mind. I’ve been busy and…”

“That’s not an excuse!” She yelled, startling me, but in the next second, her facial expression softened. “Are you happy?”

I sighed and faked a smile. “I am.” I wasn’t. But I knew she wouldn’t see through it.

It was disturbing how easy it was to lie to Ellie. It was almost impossible for a person with her IQ, a bright girl, to fall for any lie. She was so naïve, and I was glad she now had Philip to take care of her.

And what I said was my goal. One way or the other, I will be happy.

“I’m glad for you, I really am. You deserve to be happy, sis. I have to be honest, Kieran scares me, but I guess if you love him, then there’s nothing to say! Oh, we’re coming back in a few days!” Ellie screamed, and although I missed her like crazy and wanted to see her, I also had this need to prolong seeing her because I knew she would demand some answers, and I was tired of lying to her.

We talked some more, and when we were finished, I made lunch for myself and enjoyed it in the garden. In the meantime, I typed a message to Kieran to a number I still hadn’t saved my cellphone’s memory. ‘My sister? Really? That’s low, even for you.’

Unexpectedly, his response came within seconds: ‘You’re welcome, love.’

The bastard was doing everything he could to keep me here, making sure I had one more reason to stay.

I concluded I loved the time alone in the house, accompanied by my thoughts only, and that it helped me crystalize my conclusions - what I wanted and didn’t want. It helped me figure out my feelings and emotions, and now I was certain of some things.

I spent the rest of the day outside, enjoying the warm weather and the garden, relaxing. I heard a car pull up to the front hours ago, and I knew Kieran had returned from the office, but I paid it no mind. I stayed on a cozy bench until the sun began to set before I went inside to prepare for dinner with Mr. Alan King.