Chapter 122 One Hundred And Twenty Two
Kennedy had been staring at the same document on his laptop for nearly fifteen minutes.
He hadn’t read a single word of it.
The numbers on the screen blurred together while his mind replayed the past forty-eight hours like a broken recording.
Antonia’s voice.
Cold. Controlled.
“The only thing connecting us is our son.”
He leaned back slowly in his chair and rubbed his temples.
The office was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Normally he liked the silence. It helped him think.
Today it only made the weight in his chest more noticeable.
His phone buzzed on the desk.
Another notification.
Another gossip site reposting the same story.
Another speculation about him and Sofia.
He didn’t even bother opening it.
The damage had already been done.
Antonia had seen the pictures.
She had drawn her line.
And no explanation seemed to matter.
A knock sounded lightly on his office door.
“Come in,” he said distractedly, assuming it was his assistant.
The door opened.
But the person who stepped in was the last person he expected to see.
Kennedy blinked.
“Mom?”
Priscilla Walton stood in the doorway like she had walked straight out of a courtroom instead of a long flight.
Tall.
Elegant.
Composed.
Her silver-streaked hair was neatly pinned back, and her eyes held the same sharp intelligence that had made her a formidable figure in every room she entered.
Kennedy straightened immediately.
“What are you doing here?”
She closed the door behind her slowly.
“I could ask you the same question.”
His brows furrowed.
“This is my office.”
“Yes,” she said calmly. “Which is why I came here instead of your house.”
He stood up.
“I didn’t know you were coming to the city.”
“That’s because I didn’t tell you.”
Her tone was measured.
Controlled.
Which was exactly how she sounded when she was about to lecture someone.
Kennedy already felt the headache forming.
“When did you arrive?” he asked.
“An hour ago.”
“You flew all the way here without telling me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Priscilla walked toward the chair across from his desk and sat down gracefully, placing her handbag beside her.
Then she looked directly at him.
“Because of this.”
She pulled out her phone and placed it on the desk.
Kennedy glanced at the screen.
The same headline.
The same photos.
The same story that had already ruined his week.
He sighed heavily.
“Mom—”
“Don’t,” she cut in.
Her voice wasn’t loud.
But it was firm.
“I woke up this morning to three different people sending me this article.”
Kennedy leaned against his desk.
“It’s gossip.”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“It’s not true.”
“Then why does it look true?”
He ran a hand through his hair.
“It's not true though.”
Priscilla’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Explain.”
Kennedy inhaled slowly.
“I had lunch with her yesterday.”
Her expression hardened immediately.
“You what?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?”
“She came to my office. Said she wanted to talk.”
“And you agreed.”
“Yes.”
Priscilla shook her head slowly.
“Kennedy.”
“I and Sofia aren't enemies, Mother.”
“You didn’t think it was suspicious that she suddenly wanted to have lunch with you?”
“I thought she wanted to be civil.”
Priscilla leaned back in her chair.
“That woman has no scruples.”
Kennedy couldn’t argue with that.
“So you had lunch,” she continued.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And apparently someone saw us and took pictures.”
Priscilla frowned.
“You’re sure about that?”
“No.”
“Then it’s just a theory.”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
She studied him carefully.
“Did you confront her?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She denied having any involvement.”
“Of course she did.”
Kennedy sighed.
“I can’t prove it.”
Priscilla tapped her fingers lightly on the desk.
“And Antonia?”
His expression changed instantly.
“What about her?”
“Have you spoken to her?”
“Yes.”
“And how did that go?”
Kennedy hesitated.
Which told his mother everything she needed to know.
Priscilla exhaled slowly.
“Not well.”
“She thinks I went running back to Sofia.”
“And you didn’t help your case by having lunch with your ex.”
“I know.”
“She’s hurt.”
“I know.”
“And now she doesn’t trust you.”
Kennedy looked away.
“She set boundaries.”
Priscilla frowned.
“What kind of boundaries?”
“Co-parenting only.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“That’s… serious.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
Priscilla shook her head slowly.
“I leave you alone for a few months and everything falls apart.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You allowed Sofia back into the picture.”
“She invited Austin too.”
“What?”
Kennedy opened his mouth to respond.
But before he could—
A knock sounded at the door.
Both of them paused.
Kennedy frowned.
“I told my assistant not to disturb me.”
The knock came again.
More insistent this time.
“Come in,” he called.
The door opened slowly.
And the moment Kennedy saw who stepped inside—
His entire body went rigid.
Sofia.
She walked in like she belonged there.
Elegant.
Composed.
Dressed in a navy dress that fit her perfectly.
Her eyes flicked briefly to Kennedy.
Then to the woman sitting across from him.
She stopped.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face.
“Oh.”
Priscilla Walton.
Of course.
Sofia recovered quickly.
But not before Priscilla noticed the reaction.
Kennedy stared at her.
“What are you doing here?”
Sofia offered a small, polite smile.
“I came to see you.”
His voice hardened.
“You should have called.”
“I did.”
“I didn’t answer.”
“So I came anyway.”
Priscilla watched the exchange carefully.
Then she stood up slowly.
Her presence filled the room with quiet authority.
Sofia turned her attention toward her.
“Mrs. Walton,” she said smoothly.
“It’s been a while.”
Priscilla didn’t return the smile.
“Yes,” she said coolly. “Not long enough.”
The air in the office immediately grew colder.
Kennedy rubbed his forehead.
This day was getting worse by the minute.
Sofia glanced between them.
“I didn’t realize you had company.”
“I didn’t realize you had nerve,” Priscilla replied.
Kennedy shot his mother a look.
“Mom.”
“What?” she said calmly. “I’m simply stating facts.”
Sofia’s smile remained intact, but her eyes sharpened slightly.
“I see you’re still very protective of your son.”
“I’m protective of common sense.”
Kennedy stepped forward slightly.
“Okay, that’s enough.”
But Priscilla wasn’t finished.
“I thought you moved on with your life,” she continued coolly.
“I did.”
“Then why are you here?”
Sofia tilted her head slightly.
“I came to talk to Kennedy.”
“About what?”
“That’s between us.”
Priscilla gave a quiet laugh.
“No.”
Kennedy sighed.
“Mom—”
“I flew here because I saw those ridiculous photos online,” she continued. “And now the woman responsible for them is standing in my son’s office pretending she’s innocent.”
Sofia’s gaze shifted slowly to Kennedy.
“You told her that?”
“I told her the truth.”
She folded her arms calmly.
“And the truth is you think I set it up.”
Kennedy shook his head.
Priscilla stepped closer.
“You did set it up.”
Sofia met her gaze coolly.
“Do you have proof?”
Silence.
Because that was the problem.
There wasn’t any.
Sofia’s smile returned slightly.
“I thought not.”
Kennedy felt the tension in the room rising rapidly.
And somehow—
He had the sinking feeling this confrontation was only just beginning.