Chapter 137 One Hundred And Thirty Seven
The next morning arrived with a quiet calm that felt almost deceptive.
Antonia moved quietly around the kitchen, rinsing a mug in the sink.
But her mind was nowhere near the dishes in front of her.
Austin’s words from the day before still echoed in her thoughts.
I came back because I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
She had asked for time.
Time to think.
Time to sort through the mess of emotions tangled in her chest.
And yet thinking had only made things more confusing.
Kennedy’s angry face in the park.
Austin’s calm patience.
Ernest’s strange insistence that Kennedy and Sofia would probably end up together again.
The pieces refused to settle neatly.
She dried her hands on a towel and leaned against the counter, exhaling slowly.
Just then—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound startled her slightly.
She glanced toward the bedroom instinctively, making sure the baby hadn’t woken up.
The apartment remained quiet.
She walked toward the door, frowning.
She wasn’t expecting anyone.
When she opened it—
Her expression instantly hardened.
“Sofia.”
Standing in the hallway was the last person Antonia wanted to see.
Sofia leaned casually against the doorframe, dressed in a sleek cream blouse and fitted trousers. Her makeup was flawless, her hair styled perfectly.
And on her lips—
A smug, unmistakable smirk.
“Well,” Sofia said lightly, “aren’t you going to invite me in?”
Antonia crossed her arms.
“What do you want?”
“Such hostility.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Sofia tilted her head slightly.
“Relax. I’m not here to fight.”
Antonia’s eyes narrowed.
“That would be a first.”
Sofia gave a soft laugh.
“May I come in, or are we going to have this conversation in the hallway?”
Antonia hesitated for a moment.
Every instinct told her to slam the door.
But curiosity got the better of her.
Finally, she stepped aside.
“Make it quick.”
Sofia walked in slowly, her eyes scanning the apartment with casual interest.
“Cozy.”
Antonia shut the door behind her.
“Say what you came to say.”
Sofia turned toward her, the smirk still firmly in place.
“I actually came to do you a favor.”
Antonia scoffed.
“I doubt that.”
“Believe it or not, I’m trying to spare you some embarrassment.”
Antonia folded her arms tighter.
“What are you talking about?”
Sofia stepped closer.
“Let’s talk about Kennedy.”
The name immediately sharpened the tension in the room.
Antonia’s expression remained guarded.
“What about him?”
Sofia smiled slowly.
“You should probably stop hoping he’ll come back to you.”
Antonia’s jaw tightened.
“I’m not hoping for anything.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Sofia’s smile widened slightly.
“That’s good.”
“Because he’s already coming back to me.”
The words hung in the air like a match dropped onto gasoline.
Antonia’s eyes flashed.
“What?”
Sofia shrugged lightly.
“Didn’t he tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“That we’ve been spending time together.”
Antonia’s heart gave a sharp, unpleasant jolt.
But she forced her expression to remain calm.
“As you saw yesterday, we came to the park together.” Sofia continued.
“So?”
Sofia stepped even closer, lowering her voice slightly.
“You didn’t see what happened afterward.”
Antonia stared at her.
“What are you implying?”
Sofia leaned casually against the edge of the couch.
“Well… after that awkward scene in the park, Kennedy and I went back to his office.”
Antonia’s fingers curled slightly at her sides.
“And?”
Sofia sighed dreamily.
“He was so upset.”
The tone in her voice was deliberately soft.
Almost intimate.
“He kept saying he hated how he spoke to you.”
Antonia swallowed.
“But you know Kennedy,” Sofia continued smoothly.
“He doesn’t like showing vulnerability to just anyone.”
“So he showed it to you?”
Sofia’s smile turned slow and knowing.
“Yes.”
Antonia’s chest tightened.
Sofia crossed one leg over the other casually.
“I calmed him down.”
Her voice dropped lower.
“Reminded him that not everyone abandons him.”
Antonia felt heat rising in her chest.
“And then?”
Sofia looked directly into her eyes.
“And then he kissed me.”
The words landed like a slap.
Antonia’s breath caught slightly.
Sofia tilted her head, watching her reaction carefully.
“It wasn’t planned,” she continued, her tone deliberately romanticized.
“It just… happened.”
Antonia forced out a dry laugh.
“How touching.”
“Oh, it was.”
Sofia placed a hand lightly against her chest as if reliving the moment.
“He looked at me like he used to.”
Antonia’s patience snapped.
“Stop.”
Sofia raised an eyebrow.
“Stop what?”
“This performance.”
“It’s not a performance.”
“Yes, it is.”
Sofia’s smile faded slightly.
“You don’t believe me?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because Kennedy isn’t stupid.”
Sofia leaned forward slightly.
“Well, kissing me is not a stupid thing for him to do.”
Antonia stepped closer.
“So what exactly are you trying to say?”
Sofia’s voice hardened just a little.
“I’m saying Kennedy and I are getting back together.”
Antonia stared at her.
“And you should accept that.”
Silence filled the room.
Sofia continued calmly.
“You had your chance.”
Antonia’s eyes burned now.
“I was never competing with you.”
“Weren’t you?”
“No.”
Sofia laughed softly.
“That’s adorable.”
Antonia’s fists clenched.
“You think having a baby with him means you’ve won something.”
“I never said that.”
“But let’s be honest,” Sofia continued coolly.
“A child doesn’t guarantee a man’s love.”
Antonia’s voice dropped dangerously low.
“You should leave.”
Sofia ignored her.
“Plenty of women have babies with men who don’t choose them.”
“That’s enough.”
“You really think that baby will make him stay?”
“Get out.”
Sofia stood slowly.
“I’m just being realistic.”
Antonia took a step forward.
“I said get out.”
Sofia smiled again.
“You can keep telling yourself whatever makes you feel better.”
Antonia’s temper flared.
“You manipulative—”
Before she could finish—
The front door suddenly opened.
“Antonia?”
Helen stepped inside, carrying a grocery bag.
She froze instantly.
Her eyes moved between the two women standing dangerously close to each other.
“What is this homewrecker doing in your house?”
Antonia turned toward her, breathing hard.
“Sofia was just leaving.”
Helen’s eyes narrowed.
“Good for her.”
Sofia picked up her handbag calmly.
“If I was truly a homewrecker your marriage would already be over.”
She walked toward the door with unhurried confidence.
But just before leaving, she paused and looked back at Antonia one last time.
Her smile returned.
Soft.
Triumphant.
“You’ll see soon enough,” she said quietly.
Then she walked out.
The door closed behind her.
The silence she left behind felt explosive.
Helen slowly set the grocery bag on the counter.
Then she looked at her sister.
“Antonia…”
Antonia stood frozen in the middle of the room.
Her heart pounding.
Her chest burning with anger.
"...why was Sofia here?"