Chapter 68
SOPHIA’S POV
I stood at the stove trying to focus on the soup, but my mind kept replaying what had just happened.
Damien’s hands on my back, zipping up my dress. His arms around me when he pulled me away from the pot. I could still feel the warmth of his body against mine. I remembered the way my wolf had responded to his touch like we were still mated, still together, still in love.
My hand shook as I reached for the ladle. I wasn’t paying attention. I was too lost in thoughts of him. I wasn’t paying attention. I was so absent minded that I touched the edge of the hot pot and pain shot through me.
“Ah!” I jerked my hand back. The burned finger already turned red.
Franca appeared immediately. “Mrs. Sophia! Are you alright p>
“I’m fine. Just careless.” I ran my finger under cold water from the sink.
The burn wasn’t terrible but it hurt.
“Let me see.” Franca gently took my hand and examined the burn. “Oh no. This needs ointment. Wait here p>
She disappeared and I heard her voice in the hallway, speaking to someone. A moment later, Damien appeared in the kitchen doorway. His eyes went to my hand under the water.
“How bad is it?” His voice was flat.
“It’s nothing. Just a small burn p>
He didn’t respond. He just turned to Franca who’d come back with a first aid kit. “Take care of it properly. Make sure she doesn’t get an infection.” Then he walked away without another word to me.
I stared after him, confused. He’d sounded so cold just now, so indifferent, but he’d sent Franca to help me. He made sure I was being taken care of. The contradiction made my head spin. One moment he was touching me gently, the next he was acting like I didn’t exist.
What was I supposed to make of that?
Franca cleaned the burn and applied ointment, then wrapped my finger in a light bandage. “There. All better. But please be more careful p>
“I will. Thank you, Franca p>
I finished making the soup, being extra careful this time. As I worked, I heard voices from the living room.
It was Damien and Tiffany. They were talking and laughing about something. I could hear the sound of their from the kitchen.
My wolf whined at the sound. That used to be us. Damien and I used to laugh together like that, before everything went wrong, before the distance and the affairs and the coldness that had slowly killed our marriage.
I remembered early days when Damien would come find me in the kitchen just to talk and when he’d wrap his arms around me from behind while I cooked.
Now that comfort, belonged to Tiffany. She got the version of Damien that smiled and laughed. I got the cold, distant version who only spoke to give orders or make demands. The loss of it hit me hard. It felt like a physical ache in my chest.
My marriage had failed so completely that my husband had become a stranger. He was even worse than a stranger. He was an enemy to me now.
I was lost in these painful thoughts when Damien’s phone rang. I heard his voice change. His tone got all businesslike. A minute later he appeared in the kitchen, already putting on his jacket.
“I have to go. There’s an emergency at the office.” He looked at me. “You’ll need to take Ashley to school. Make sure she eats breakfast first. Her backpack is already packed p>
I nodded “Of course. I can handle it p>
He paused like he wanted to say something else. He looked at my bandaged finger for a moment, then he just nodded and left. I heard the front door close, then his car starting up and driving away.
Tiffany appeared in the kitchen a moment later. She looked disappointed that Damien had left but I saw the satisfaction in her eyes.
I pouted “I guess it’s just us now p>
“I need to get Ashley ready for school.” I turned back to the stove, not wanting to talk to her. I didn’t have time for her stupid games.
“Of course. I’ll just get going then.” But she didn’t move. “You know, Sophia, Damien seems so much happier lately. He’s more relaxed. It’s nice to see him like that p>
The words were supposed to hurt me and they did but I didn’t let her see it. “I’m glad he’s happy. Ashley deserves to see her father in a good mood p>
Tiffany left after that. I heard the door close behind her too. Then it was just me in the big house.
I went upstairs to wake Ashley. She was still sleeping, curled up with her favorite stuffed bear. My heart ached looking at her. This was what mattered, not Damien’s confusing behavior or Tiffany’s hurtful words.
What mattered was just this little girl who needed her mother.
“Ashley, sweetheart. Time to wake up.” I sat on the edge of her bed and gently stroked her hair.
She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw me. “Mommy! You’re still here p>
“Of course I am. I promised I’d take you to school today, remember p>
I helped her get dressed and brushed her hair.
We went downstairs together and I made her favorite breakfast while she chattered about school and her friends.
These moments made everything worth it – The deal with Damien. Coming back to the villa. Facing Tiffany.
All of it was bearable because I got to be here with Ashley.
After I dropped Ashley at school, I drove to a coffee shop to get something to calm me. My phone rang just as I was ordering. Zade’s name appeared on the screen.
I was confused. Why was he calling me? Well, I did promise him dinner.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Sophia. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important p>
“Just getting coffee. What’s up p>
“There’s an auction this weekend. It’s high-end art and jewelry. Very exclusive.” He paused. “I’d like you to come with me as my guest p>
My first instinct was to say no. Going to a public event with Zade would fuel more gossip. It would give Damien more ammunition against me but then I thought about Damien laughing with Tiffany. I thought about how he was building a new life while expecting me to just fade into the background.
I deserved to go out to do things that made me happy too, right?
“Okay. I’ll go p>
“Excellent. I’ll send a stylist to your place soon. She’ll bring dress options and handle your hair and makeup. All you have to do is show up and look beautiful. Which won’t be hard p>
“Zade, that’s too much p>
“It’s not too much. It’s what anyone accompanying me to these events gets. Consider it part of the package. Just say thank you and let me handle the details p>
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“See you soon. I’ll pick you up at seven p>
After we hung up, I sat there with my coffee wondering what I’d just agreed to.
An auction with Zade Harrington in public, where people would see us together and draw conclusions. Damien would definitely hear about it.
My wolf was uncertain. She was torn between wanting to move forward with our life and feeling like we were betraying our mate. But Damien had made his choice. He had Tiffany.
I deserved to have my own life too, even if that life included accepting invitations from handsome, powerful men who made my ex-husband furious.
Maybe especially because of that.