Chapter 186: The Confrontation
That single sentence ignited Sophia's fury completely. Just as she was about to unleash it, her mother's voice drifted up from downstairs, "Sophia, is that you home?"
Sophia took a deep breath, shot Lucas a withering glare, then turned and headed downstairs.
In the kitchen, Mary was preparing a fruit salad. Noticing Sophia's expression, she asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did Lucas upset you?"
"Mom, I made it crystal clear from the start, Snowball is not allowed in my room. But he was in there gaming, completely oblivious that Snowball got into my space. My bed is covered in dog hair. When I confronted him about it, he actually had the nerve to call me uptight." It was rare for Sophia to vent this much in one breath, clearly indicating just how furious she was.
Mary handed her a bowl of fruit salad, gently coaxing her, "Alright, alright, have some fruit and calm down. I'll talk to him, and we'll get housekeeping to deep-clean your room."
Sophia accepted the bowl, at least giving her mother the courtesy of not pressing further. She sat at the dining table in sullen silence. She'd barely touched the fruit when a startled cry echoed from upstairs, followed by frantic footsteps.
Lucas thundered down the stairs, made a frenzied loop around the backyard, then burst into the dining room, his face ashen. "Snowball's gone!"
Mary hung up the freshly washed cutting board. "That's impossible. He was in the yard when I left."
She'd only gone to the corner fruit market for half an hour. How could he have disappeared?
"I've searched the entire house, he's nowhere!" Lucas's voice trembled with panic. He'd just gone to check Sophia's room, intending to scold Snowball, only to find the dog missing.
Remembering their agreement, he whirled around, facing Sophia. "Did you get rid of him? Just because Snowball messed up your precious bed, you threw him out?"
Sophia nearly choked on her fruit, staring at Lucas in disbelief. "I just got home. I haven't even seen the dog, only the mess of fur he left behind."
"It had to be you!" Lucas's eyes reddened, unable to bear Sophia's continued composure. In one violent motion, he knocked the fruit bowl from her hands. "You can't even tolerate a dog now?"
The sound of shattering glass accompanied his roar, plunging the dining room into sudden silence.
Sophia froze for a moment, staring at the scattered fruit and shards on the floor, then raised her eyes to meet Lucas's hate-filled gaze. It felt like something heavy had slammed into her chest.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
"Lucas! How dare you!" Mary's voice rang out sharply. "Apologize to Sophia this instant!"
"Not unless she brings Snowball back!" Lucas glared at Sophia stubbornly.
A wave of exhaustion washed over Sophia. She grabbed her phone from the table and stood, heading toward the door.
"Sophia! Where are you going?" Mary called out anxiously.
"Out. Until certain people cool down." She didn't look back, slipping on a pair of mules at the entryway before walking straight out the door.
Standing in the front yard, she took a deep breath and made a call.
Less than ten minutes after hanging up, Amelia appeared on her motorcycle, tossing Sophia a helmet.
"Sophia, what brought on this sudden urge to hit the beach?"
Sophia smiled faintly, pulling the helmet on and swinging her leg over the back seat. "Haven't seen you guys in a while. Figured I'd take advantage of the day off and catch some ocean breeze."
Amelia kicked up the stand and waited for Sophia to wrap her arms around her waist before twisting the throttle and roaring off.
The helmets' bluetooth intercom crackled to life as Amelia responded to Sophia's earlier comment, "Riding along the coast is the best. You've never done it, right?"
"Mm-mm."
"There are beach bars at Golden Bay too! Sitting on the sand at night, drinking and talking, nothing beats it!" Amelia laughed just imagining the scene, then added, "I texted Wayne and Michael. They'll meet us there."
"Not Bruce?" Sophia raised an eyebrow. He was still in Emerald City, bringing him would definitely liven things up.
"Nah, two couples having a double date is perfect! Let's not torture the single guy."
Sophia let out a soft laugh. Fair point actually.
Hearing her laughter, Amelia finally dared to ask, "Sophia, what's got you feeling down today?"
Since it clearly wasn't a fight with Michael, it had to be family trouble.
"Lucas's dog went missing. He thinks I got rid of it." Sophia kept it brief.
"What?" At a red light, Amelia hit the brakes hard. Feeling Sophia's helmet bump against the back of her head, she pressed her lips together but couldn't contain her outrage. "Are they insane? They got a dog? In your house? Don't they know you hate dogs? And now that it's gone, they're blaming you? Jesus, Lucas needs a serious attitude adjustment!"
Amelia remembered Lucas as such a sweet, well-behaved kid. Was this some kind of rebellious phase?
Even though they loved dogs, she and the others never got one specifically so Sophia could visit comfortably. At most, they'd hit up a dog café now and then.
Yet here were the Johnsons—Sophia's own family—keeping a dog in the house?
Amelia was baffled and furious. She found it unforgivable.
Sophia remained silent. She had told them she hated dogs. That disgust was precisely why she'd laid down ground rules with Lucas. She'd thought tolerating the situation to that extent was more than generous.
But Lucas apparently hadn't taken her feelings seriously. And now, with the dog missing, his first instinct was to accuse her, to yell at her.
It was difficult to articulate exactly what she felt. Hurt at being distrusted, certainly. But more than that... disappointment.
Family had disappointed her yet again.
She'd bent over backward to accommodate them, worked tirelessly to support them, and this was the payoff; suspicion and interrogation.
Suddenly Andrew's words echoed in her mind, No one in this world deserves your accommodation.
The light turned green. Amelia gunned the engine, the motorcycle tearing down the road.
Sunset stained the horizon crimson, its dying light reflecting off the helmet's visor like a brilliantly colored oil painting.
Wind roared past Sophia's ears, whipping her hair and clothes; freedom made audible.
It swept away the sadness lodged in her heart.
For the rest of her life, she would put herself first. A proud black swan only cared whether her own crown sat straight.