Chapter 10: I Only Know His Name

Raphael's face hardened into a mask of unreadable emotion. "You're not meant to understand," he replied curtly. "Just know that Sophia's place in this family was deliberate. And now, you've jeopardized everything with your selfishness."

Marcus's fists clenched at his sides, shame and resentment burning in his veins. He wanted to argue, to protest, but he felt like a child, chastised and powerless under Raphael's gaze.

"You will fix this," Raphael said, his tone as cold as steel. "Find a way to get Sophia back. Do whatever it takes."

A mixture of defiance and fear simmered within Marcus. He had always been his grandfather's puppet, forced to dance to his whims, but this command stung deeper than the others. Yet part of him couldn't deny the appeal of having Sophia back, reclaiming her as something that belonged to him.

"Yes, Grandpa," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I'll bring her back."

"Good," Raphael replied, a faint flicker of approval crossing his face. "Do not fail me again, Marcus. My patience is wearing thin."

Dismissed, Marcus left the study, the weight of Raphael's words pressing down on him like a suffocating shroud. He made his way out of the house and into the cool night air, taking a deep, steadying breath as he grappled with his swirling emotions.

With a grim resolve, he took out his phone and dialed Sophia's number, listening as it rang. For the first time, he felt the sting of regret. He had pushed away the one person who had shown him genuine warmth, and now, she was slipping beyond his reach.

As he waited for her to answer, he made a silent vow to himself. He would win her back, not just for his family, but for himself.

****

Sophia wrapped a towel around herself, stepping out of the steaming shower into the soft light of her new bathroom. The room was pristine and modern, with sleek marble surfaces that caught the moonlight pouring in through the frosted window. Valmere was quiet, almost dreamlike, a complete contrast to the tense, grandiosity of the Hawthorne estate. She'd been here just a few days, yet she was already finding a semblance of peace.

After drying her hair, she slipped on her favorite robe, soft and warm against her skin, and then walked barefoot through the spacious halls to her bedroom. Valmere had a serene quality that felt like a balm on old wounds, and she welcomed the silence. Alexander was still an enigma to her, a cold man of few words who kept his distance. But for now, that suited her. Her mind was far too tangled with the past to delve into new mysteries.

As she sat on the bed, folding her legs beneath her, her phone buzzed from the nightstand. Sophia picked it up, her heart stopping when she saw the name flashing on the screen: Marcus.

She froze, staring at the screen. It was as if he'd reached through time, dragging her back to everything she wanted to leave behind. She had been ignoring his calls. Her thumb hovered over the decline button again, the temptation strong to silence him forever. But curiosity and a flicker of something deeper held her back this time. Why was he calling her now? What could he possibly have to say?

With a sharp inhale, she answered, keeping her voice cool. "What do you want?"

There was a pause on the other end, a sound like someone struggling to find the right words. "Sophia," he finally said, his voice subdued, "I… I want to apologize. For everything."

The words hit her harder than she'd expected, stirring a tangled mess of emotions she thought she'd buried. Anger flared up first, then a bitter sense of betrayal. She had waited years to hear something like that, a flicker of remorse, a sliver of acknowledgment for what she'd endured. And now, when she had finally given up, he offered it to her like a hollow gift.

"Apologize?" She bit back a scoff, clutching the phone tighter as she steadied herself. "You think I need your apology now, Marcus?"

There was a hint of desperation in his tone, and she almost felt pity. Almost. "Please, Sophia. Can we just talk? I want to see you. Just once."

Sophia let the silence settle between them, weighing his words carefully. But the memory of Lila's smug smile, the way Marcus had discarded her, flooded back in a painful rush. She couldn't trust his apology any more than she could trust him.

"Go see Lila," she said icily, her voice unwavering. She didn't give him a chance to respond, ending the call with a quick tap. A wave of relief washed over her as she turned her phone off, refusing to give him any more power to disrupt her peace.

That night, she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as moonlight filtered through the curtains. The thought of Marcus's pitiful voice lingered, but she shook it off. This was her new life, she reminded herself, a life free from his manipulation and his family's cruelty. She wasn't going to let him ruin it.

The next morning, as she finished her breakfast, her phone rang again, but this time the name on the screen brought a smile to her face. It was her best friend Amelia.

"Sophia! It's been ages!" Amelia's voice was warm, bubbling with excitement. "I miss you. Coffee? Dawn Coffee House?"

Sophia laughed, grateful for the chance to catch up. "Of course. I'll be there in an hour."

The Dawn Coffee House was nestled on a quiet street, a little gem with mismatched chairs and soft, pastel decor. Amelia was already seated when she arrived, her bright smile widening as she waved Sophia over.

"Oh, finally! I was starting to think you'd run off to some secret island," Amelia teased, her brown eyes sparkling with mischief as she hugged her.

Sophia laughed, a real, full laugh that felt like a release. "Trust me, it feels like I have."

They settled into their seats, ordering coffee and pastries. Amelia leaned back, studying Sophia with a look that was both appraising and delighted.

"So," she began, crossing her arms with a sly grin. "Are you going to tell me what's been happening? I've heard… things."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Oh? What kind of things?"

"Let's see… first, there's the divorce from Marcus. Which, honestly? Good riddance to bad rubbish," Amelia said, her tone filled with such animated disdain that Sophia had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.

Sophia's smile softened, glancing down at her coffee. "It wasn't easy, you know? Walking away… it's not as simple as just signing papers and moving on."

Amelia reached across the table, squeezing her hand. "I get it. But look at you now. I can tell you're lighter, freer. Marcus was such a scumbag. He was a storm cloud over you, Sophia."

Sophia nodded, feeling a swell of gratitude for her friend's understanding. "I know. I just… I finally realized I couldn't keep fighting for someone who didn't want to fight for me. He never saw me, Amelia. Not really."

Amelia's face softened with empathy. "And I'm glad you saw yourself, even if it took time. And now…" She leaned forward, lowering her voice as if sharing a delicious secret. "Now, tell me where have you been? I went to your apartment, and you weren't there or in the hospital. I visited your mom, so don't lie to me. Is there someone new?"

Sophia felt a blush creeping into her cheeks, caught between annoyance and amusement at Amelia's nosiness. "You don't miss a thing, do you?"

"Of course not!" Amelia shot back, winking. "So, are you going to tell me who this mysterious someone is, or do I have to keep hounding you?"

Sophia shrugged, her expression carefully unreadable. "Let's just say… he's different. Very different."

"Oh, come on, Soph! That's all I get?" Amelia pouted, though her eyes were dancing with excitement.

"Be patient," Sophia replied, laughing. "Not that I don't want to tell you, I don't know him either. I only know his name."

"What? You don't know him?" Amelia almost screamed.