Chapter 6 SIX
The following morning, Sophie could not stop the nervous flutter in her chest as she stood in front of her suitcase in the quiet room of her rented New York apartment. Los Angeles already felt like a distant memory, and soon she would return to the city she had once fled, a city filled with memories she had tried to bury. Her son Ethan tugged gently at her sleeve, his small eyes filled with curiosity and worry.
“Mom, are you sure this is necessary?” he asked, tilting his head.
Sophie crouched to his level, brushing back his hair. “It is, Ethan. Richard Steele… he passed away. His funeral is in a few days, and we have to be there. This is part of our past, and it is time we faced it.”
Ethan frowned, unsure what part of the past she meant. Sophie hugged him tightly. “I promise it will be okay. I will be with you the entire time. You are safe with me.”
He relaxed slightly in her arms but still held her hand tightly as they made their way to the car. Sophie had arranged everything meticulously. She could not allow herself to appear flustered, not now. Every step of the journey back to New York was measured, calculated. She needed to present herself as composed, strong, and in control.
Even so, a lump sat heavily in her throat. The thought of seeing Dominic again, after seven long years, made her pulse quicken in a way she had tried desperately to ignore. She had grown into herself over the years, raised Ethan alone, and built a thriving career as an interior designer. She was confident, professional, and self-reliant. Yet nothing could erase the memories of that one night in the garden, nor the child she carried within her who bore his blood.
When they arrived in New York, the city felt both familiar and foreign. The streets were crowded, the air smelled faintly of winter frost, and the sounds of car horns and distant sirens reminded Sophie of everything she had left behind. She had not returned since the scandal that Camille and Vivian had orchestrated to drive her away. She had built a new life, and she had no intention of letting the past shake the foundation she had laid.
Yet the memory of Dominic’s eyes, the intensity that had never left them, haunted her every thought. She knew he had avoided her all these years, but now that the funeral demanded her presence, there was no escaping him.
At the Steele estate, the halls were familiar in a way that made Sophie’s stomach knot. The towering ceilings, the polished marble floors, the ornate paintings lining the walls—they all reminded her of a time she had wished to forget. And yet, Dominic’s presence was undeniable even before she saw him. She could feel the pull, the subtle energy that marked him as her fated mate.
Ethan clung to her side as she stepped into the foyer. A few familiar faces nodded politely, though most simply stared, curious about the woman who had once been a scandal in the Steele household. And then she saw him.
Dominic Steele.
He stood in the center of the room, tall, imposing, his sharp features framed by carefully combed hair. His eyes, a piercing blue, swept across the room, and when they landed on Sophie, a subtle flicker crossed his face. Not surprise, not shock, but recognition—the kind that went deeper than words.
Sophie took a breath and stepped forward, trying to maintain a composed facade. Dominic’s eyes never left hers. Camille, predictably, was by his side, her smile flawless, but Sophie could see the tension in her posture.
“You’re here,” Dominic said quietly, his voice carrying only for her to hear. He did not move closer, did not reach for her, but the words themselves seemed heavy with unspoken emotion.
“Yes,” Sophie replied, keeping her tone steady. “I had to be. Richard Steele was… important to me.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened, and he looked away, nodding once. There was a brief silence, filled only by the low hum of conversations around them. Sophie wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap, but she held back. Her pride and the memory of his cold avoidance over the years demanded caution.
The funeral itself was somber, the air thick with grief and obligation. Sophie maintained her composure, but every glance toward Dominic made her pulse race. He moved through the crowd with measured control, shaking hands, offering polite words, and yet Sophie could feel the intensity in his gaze whenever he passed her. It was a silent acknowledgment that neither of them could ignore.
After the service, in the private study where Richard’s will was to be read, tension hung like a tangible thing. Sophie stood quietly, Ethan at her side, watching Dominic interact with the lawyer. Camille lingered near him, her expression one of practiced concern, but Sophie noticed the way her hands twitched subtly, as if ready to react at any provocation.
The lawyer cleared his throat. “Mr. Steele, Miss Hart, may I proceed with the reading of Mr. Steele’s will?”
Dominic gave a short nod. Sophie felt her stomach tighten. She had expected confrontation, cold business decisions, perhaps even more schemes from Camille and Vivian, but nothing could prepare her for the weight of what was about to unfold.
As the will was read, Sophie’s heart hammered. Richard had left detailed instructions—not only regarding the estate, but also regarding Dominic and Sophie. He had known the truth about their separation, the mistakes, and the misunderstandings that had fractured their relationship.
“Miss Hart,” the lawyer read, his tone solemn, “it is my understanding that you have built a successful life independently, raising your son with strength and integrity. My client acknowledges the challenges you faced and, in his final wishes, requests that Mr. Dominic Steele provide support and guidance, both as a business partner and as a father to Ethan Hart.”
Sophie’s hands trembled slightly as she looked at Dominic. His expression was unreadable, but his jaw tightened. The lawyer continued, “It is further requested that both parties engage in reconciliation where possible, to honor the family legacy and to ensure the well-being of the next generation.”
The room was silent. Camille’s lips pressed into a thin line, her hands clenched subtly at her sides. Dominic’s eyes locked on Sophie’s, and for the first time in seven years, there was no mask. He saw her, fully, and she saw him.
After the reading, Sophie excused herself with Ethan, needing a moment to breathe. The corridor outside the study felt empty, a temporary reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere. She knelt down to Ethan’s level.
“Do you understand what just happened?” she asked gently.
Ethan nodded slowly. “Daddy has to help us now?” he asked, his voice small, hopeful.
“Yes,” Sophie said, her voice soft but firm. “He has responsibilities, Ethan. And we will face them together.”
Meanwhile, Dominic lingered behind, watching them leave. He felt the pull of the bond he had tried to deny. Ethan was his son, undeniably his blood. The realization hit him harder than he expected. He had avoided Sophie all these years, convinced that distance would heal the pain. Now he understood that the bond was irreversible. It demanded acknowledgment, responsibility, and action.
When Sophie returned to the estate for the evening gathering, she found Dominic waiting in the study. The door was closed, a quiet space away from the watching eyes of the household. He stood there, his posture still rigid, but his expression unreadable.
“Sophie,” he said quietly, not moving closer. “We need to talk.”
She nodded, holding Ethan’s hand firmly. “I agree. But not in front of everyone. This… this is between us.”
Dominic’s eyes softened slightly. “It has been seven years. Too long to continue this charade. I know I hurt you. I know I failed in every possible way. But I cannot ignore what we have now. What we created.”
Sophie’s breath caught. “Ethan… Dominic, he is our child. I have raised him alone, and he has no other family. He needs you, even if you do not understand yet.”
Dominic’s lips pressed into a thin line. He ran a hand through his hair. “I see that now. I cannot run anymore. I will not.”
Sophie took a step closer, her heart racing. “Do you understand what this means? You have a son. He will depend on you for everything, not just money, but love and guidance.”
Dominic nodded slowly. “I understand. I will not make the mistakes I made with you. I will not abandon my family again.”
Outside, Camille and Vivian watched from a distance, whispering among themselves. Camille’s face was tight with frustration. “He is too soft. He will bend to her again,” she hissed. Vivian’s eyes narrowed. “We must act quickly. The inheritance, the reputation… if we can frame them again, he will have no choice but to comply with us.”
Sophie and Dominic, oblivious to their plotting for the moment, finally had a private space. Dominic moved closer, his hand brushing against hers. The pull was electric, undeniable.
“I… I have missed you,” he admitted, voice low, almost a whisper.
Sophie’s eyes shimmered with tears. “I have missed you too. Every day for seven years.”
Dominic swallowed hard. “I will make this right. For Ethan, for you, for us.”
Sophie nodded, relief washing over her. For the first time in years, she felt hope. Their future would be difficult, filled with obstacles, family politics, and the remnants of past betrayals. But for the first time, she knew they could face it together.
The chapter closed with a quiet determination. Sophie, Dominic, and Ethan were united, facing the challenges ahead with strength, love, and the undeniable bond of family.