You Feel No Remorse for What You Did?”

“Then you have nothing to lose by calling her out here to prove me wrong,” Cedric shot back.

The guards exchanged hesitant glances. Finally, the first one nodded. “Alright. Let’s settle this.”

One of the receptionists hesitated before picking up the phone. “I’ll call her office,” she said, her voice uncertain.

As the call rang through, Cedric stood rigid, his hands clenched at his sides. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing like a war drum.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Cooke’s office,” a voice answered on the other end.

The receptionist cleared her throat. “Sorry to disturb you, ma’am, but there’s a man here claiming to be your husband. He’s demanding to see you.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before a familiar voice— one Cedric hadn’t heard in years— responded, shaky and disbelieving. “What did you say?”

Cedric stepped closer to the desk, raising his voice so it could carry through the phone. “Tell her Cedric is here. Tell her I’m here to take back what’s mine.”

Another pause. Then, faintly, Sophia’s voice came through, barely above a whisper. “Cedric?”

Her tone broke, a mixture of shock and something else— fear.

The line disconnected abruptly, leaving everyone in the lobby staring at Cedric.

“She’ll come,” Cedric said, his voice hard, his eyes locked on the elevators as if willing her to appear.

The guards stood on edge, uncertain whether to act or wait. The tension in the lobby was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Minutes stretched into eternity, each second weighed down by Cedric’s simmering fury and the collective unease of everyone present. Finally, the soft ding of the elevator drew all eyes toward the sliding doors.

Sophia stepped out, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She was impeccably dressed, her tailored suit accentuating her graceful figure, but her face was pale, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and dread.

“Cedric,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she approached him.

“It’s been a long time, Sophia,” Cedric replied, his voice cold, his gaze unwavering.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her composure faltering as she came to a stop a few feet away from him.

Cedric’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “What am I doing here? I’m here for my son. And I’m not leaving without him.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of his words sinking into everyone present. Sophia’s breath hitched, her carefully constructed facade beginning to crumble.

“We need to talk,” Cedric said, his voice firm but laced with a raw edge. “Alone.”

Sophia hesitated, glancing around at the onlookers. “Fine. My office,” she said, her voice trembling.

Without waiting for her to lead the way, Cedric strode toward the elevators, leaving a trail of tension in his wake. The confrontation had only just begun.

\--------------------

The moment the doors slid shut, Cedric turned to Sophia, his jaw tight, his voice barely contained. "How dare you?" His words were laced with venom as he leaned in, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. “How dare you steal the most important years of my son’s life from me?”

Sophia stiffened, her expression momentarily faltering. Her lips parted as though to speak, but no words came.

"Answer me!" Cedric’s voice rose, his anger boiling over. His fists clenched at his sides as he stepped closer to her, his imposing frame casting a shadow over Sophia.

Finally she summoned her courage and responded. “Hey! Mind how you talk to me!” her voice was sharp, breaking her silence. Her eyes, which were softened, now hardened with defiance. “I’m no longer the naive girl you could push around years ago.”

Cedric’s brows furrowed as he glared at her. “What?” he hissed through gritted teeth. “What did you just say?”

Sophia straightened her back, refusing to cower. “You heard me.” Her tone was even, her eyes meeting his without flinching. “Stop screaming and let’s talk like civilized people.”

“Civilized?” Cedric scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “What’s civilized about this? You stole six years of my son’s life from me, and now you’re telling me to act civilized? You should be thanking the good Lord I’m not suing your ass right now.”

"I dare you," Sophia shot back, her voice sharp as a blade. She stepped closer, her eyes blazing with fury. "You’re talking as if you cared about us— about me— when we were together. You’re talking as if you didn’t reject him the moment you found out I was pregnant."

Her words hung in the air, cutting through the tension like a whip.

Sophia took a steadying breath before continuing, her tone colder now. "We’re both responsible for the fallout of our union, Cedric. So don’t act like it was all on me."

Cedric's jaw tightened, his face a storm of anger and frustration. "Fuck you, Sophia. I’m going to fucking sue you."

"Do it," Sophia fired back, her voice unwavering. "Let’s see who comes out on top."

For a moment, the elevator was silent except for the soft hum of its ascent. The tension was palpable, a storm ready to break.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, revealing a corridor lined with opulent gold and cream décor. Sophia stepped out first, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She glanced over her shoulder at Cedric, her expression unreadable.

“Is that all you have to say for yourself?” Cedric called after her, his voice raw with emotion. “You feel no remorse for what you did?”