Chapter 131 One Hundred And Thirty One
Morning arrived slowly over Antonia’s apartment.
She stood in the kitchen preparing a bottle for the baby.
She had barely slept.
Her mind had been too restless after Kennedy left the previous night.
Even after the dishes were cleared and Helen and Priscilla had gone home, the silence of the apartment had felt heavy.
Too many thoughts.
Too many questions.
She had replayed the dinner in her mind over and over again.
The phone calls.
Sofia’s message.
Kennedy standing up from the table.
And the way he had looked at her before leaving.
I’ll come see my son tomorrow.
She hadn’t asked where he was going.
She already knew.
The thought made something inside her chest tighten again.
Antonia shook the feeling away as she screwed the cap onto the baby bottle.
“Not today,” she murmured quietly to herself.
The baby stirred softly in the living room crib.
She carried the bottle over and lifted him gently into her arms.
His tiny fingers curled around the fabric of her shirt as he began feeding peacefully.
Moments like this always grounded her.
Reminded her what truly mattered.
Still, the quiet was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
Antonia frowned slightly.
She hadn’t been expecting anyone.
Helen was at work.
Kennedy had said he would come later.
Balancing the baby carefully in one arm, she walked to the door and opened it.
Her eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.
“Ernest?”
He stood in the hallway holding a small paper bag.
“Morning.”
She stepped aside to let him in.
“I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Last minute decision.”
He entered the apartment and glanced around briefly.
“You look tired.”
Antonia gave a small shrug.
“New mothers don’t sleep much.”
“That’s true.”
He held up the bag.
“I brought pastries.”
“That’s nice of you.”
Ernest placed the bag on the kitchen counter and looked toward the baby in her arms.
“How’s the little man doing?”
“Hungry, as usual.”
He smiled faintly.
“Well, that’s a good sign.”
Antonia settled into the couch with the baby, while Ernest sat across from her in the armchair.
For a moment, the conversation remained light.
He asked about the baby’s sleeping schedule.
She mentioned the constant diaper changes.
But underneath the casual conversation, Ernest’s mind was racing.
Sofia’s voice echoed in his memory.
If you refuse to help me, those pictures will find their way onto the internet.
His stomach tightened slightly.
He hated what he was about to do.
But he had convinced himself it was temporary.
Just until he could figure out a way out of Sofia’s trap.
He cleared his throat.
“Helen told me about dinner last night.”
Antonia looked up slightly.
“She did?”
“Yeah.”
“She talks too much.”
Ernest chuckled lightly.
“That’s kind of her thing.”
Antonia gave a small smile.
“She told you everything?”
“Pretty much.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“Sounds like it was… awkward.”
“That’s one way to describe it.”
“Your cooking was apparently excellent though.”
She rolled her eyes.
“That’s the one thing Helen focused on?”
“Well, she also mentioned the tension.”
Antonia’s smile faded slightly.
“There wasn’t tension.”
Ernest raised an eyebrow.
“Helen said Kennedy and Sofia were calling all through dinner.”
Antonia’s fingers adjusted the baby’s blanket slightly.
“She was calling him.”
“And he went to see her afterward.”
Antonia didn’t respond.
But the silence confirmed it.
Ernest leaned forward slightly.
“Antonia… can I ask you something honestly?”
She glanced at him.
“Sure.”
“Are you thinking about giving Kennedy another chance?”
Her eyes flickered with surprise.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Just a feeling.”
She looked down at the baby again.
“I told him things between us are about the baby now.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Antonia hesitated.
“I don’t know what I’m thinking.”
Ernest nodded slowly.
“That’s fair.”
Then he sighed quietly.
“But if you want my honest opinion…”
She looked up again.
“What?”
“I don’t think Kennedy is done with Sofia.”
The words landed softly.
But heavily.
Antonia’s expression tightened slightly.
“You don’t know that.”
“I might.”
“How?”
Ernest leaned back again.
“I'm not proud to say it, but I know Sofia. And I’ve seen this kind of thing before.”
“Seen what?”
“People like Kennedy, who can’t fully let go.”
Antonia’s voice remained calm.
“He broke up with her.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
“But she’s still calling him.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“Doesn’t it?”
Antonia’s silence returned.
Ernest pressed on carefully.
“Helen said the call during dinner changed the whole atmosphere.”
“It didn’t change anything.”
“She said he left right after.”
Antonia shifted slightly on the couch.
“He had something to discuss with her.”
Ernest nodded slowly.
“Exactly.”
The implication hung in the air.
Antonia didn’t like it.
“I’m not hoping for anything,” she said quietly.
“Good.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you shouldn’t wait around for Kennedy.”
“I’m not.”
“Because if I’m being honest…”
Ernest paused deliberately.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Sofia end up together again.”
Antonia’s chest tightened slightly.
“You really believe that?”
“Yes.”
He shrugged lightly.
“They have history.”
“So do we.”
“True.”
“But history doesn’t always win.”
The baby finished his bottle and began drifting back to sleep.
Antonia gently adjusted him in her arms.
Ernest watched her carefully.
Then he delivered the next part of Sofia’s plan.
“You know who I do think is serious about you though?”
Antonia frowned.
“What?”
“Austin.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“Austin?”
“He came all the way to this city for you.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means something.”
“Austin and I can never work. A lot happened between us to make sure of that.”
“He clearly wants to change that.”
Antonia shook her head slightly.
“That’s not happening.”
“Why not?”
“Because my life is complicated.”
Ernest gave a small shrug.
“That didn’t stop him.”
Antonia looked unconvinced.
“He obviously came down here to see if he could get another chance with you.”
“I never encouraged that.”
“But maybe you should consider it.”
Her voice sharpened slightly.
“You want me to date someone while Kennedy is still involved in my life?”
“I want you to move forward.”
“That sounds like advice.”
“It is.”
She studied him carefully.
“You’re unusually invested in my love life today.”
Ernest forced a small smile.
“Just trying to look out for you.”
Antonia remained quiet for a moment.
Then she said softly—
“I don’t think Kennedy and Sofia will get back together.”
Ernest held her gaze.
“I hope you’re right.”
But inside—
His stomach twisted with guilt.
Because he knew he had just planted a seed of doubt in her mind.
Exactly the way Sofia wanted.