Chapter 82
SOPHIA’S POV
I woke up the next day to a notification on my phone.
I opened it.
The first thing I saw was a video. Ashley’s face filled the screen. She looked excited. She was wearing a sundress I didn’t recognize – something new that Tiffany must have bought her.
“Daddy! Daddy, look at all the stars!” Her voice was pure joy, the kind of happiness I hadn’t heard from her in years.
The camera moved up to show a night sky absolutely covered in stars. The kind of view you could only get far from the city lights. Then it shifted, and Damien and Tiffany, standing close together on a beach. Ashley was between them holding both their hands.
My daughter was jumping up and down, pointing at the sky. Tiffany was laughing and Damien… Damien was smiling. He was really smiling.
“This is the best night ever!” Ashley said. “Can we stay here forever p>
“We have to go home eventually, sweetheart,” Damien said. “But we can come back. Would you like that p>
“Yes! And next time we can bring-” Ashley paused, and for one stupid, hopeful moment, I thought she might say my name, might remember that she had a mother who would love to stargaze with her.
But she didn’t.
“Next time we can bring a telescope!” she finished instead. “Miss Tiffany says she knows where to get a really good one p>
The video ended. I stared at the black screen, waiting to feel something. Anger, maybe, or the pain that usually came when I saw them together like this.
But there was nothing. I felt empty.
I scrolled down and saw the comments from the pack members. There were dozens of them, all gushing about how beautiful the family looked together.
No one mentioned me. Not once.
It was like I didn’t exist.
Downstairs, I could hear voices in the dining room. it sounded like George and Helen. My stomach sank.
The last thing I needed this morning was another confrontation with my mother-in-law. But I’d promised George I’d have breakfast with him, and I wasn’t going to disappoint the old man.
I walked into the dining room with my head high.
George sat at the head of the table, Helen to his right. There was a place set for me on his left, and another beside mine that was empty.
“Sophia, dear!” George’s face lit up when he saw me. “Come, sit. I was just telling Helen how grateful I am that you brought Declan home safely p>
“It was nothing, sir.” I took my seat. I could feel Helene’s eyes on me.
“Where’s Damien?” George asked. “I thought he’d join us this morning p>
My mind went blank for a moment. I couldn’t tell George that Damien had sent his daughter off on vacation with his mistress and had gone to meet them.
“He had an early meeting,” I lied “Something urgent came up with one of the company’s overseas partners p>
George frowned. “He works too hard.” He patted my hand. “Good thing he has you to keep him grounded p>
The irony of that statement almost made me laugh. Instead, I just smiled and reached for my coffee.
George spoke to me as we ate. He asked about my work at the hospital, about my family, clearly trying to include me. Helen said nothing, just picked at her food and watched me with cold eyes.
When George excused himself to take a phone call, I knew what was coming. The moment he left the room, Helen’s mask dropped.
“Where is my son really?” she demanded.
“I told you. He had a meeting.” I said flatly, cutting my pancakes.
“Don’t lie to me.” She leaned forward. “I saw the pictures. Damien and Tiffany and Ashley, on that beach, looking like a real family p>
I sighed. “I’m not discussing this with you p>
“You should be grateful I’m even talking to you. You’re an embarrassment to this family. Can’t even give my son a heir after all these years p>
“Ashley is p>
“Ashley is a girl,” Helen cut me off. “Useless for carrying on the Stone name. We need a son, a strong alpha male to lead this pack after Damien p>
I set my cup down carefully. I was afraid I might throw it at her if I held it any longer. “Is there a point to this conversation p>
“The point is that you need to get pregnant now and this time, it better be a boy, or I’ll make sure Damien divorces you and marries someone who can actually fulfill her duty p>
Something inside me snapped. Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe it was the pain from last night. Maybe it was just that I’d finally reached my limit.
I laughed. I actually laughed. It probably sounded a little unhinged.
Helen’s eyes widened. “What’s so funny p>
“You,” I said, still laughing. “You threatening to make Damien divorce me. Like I’m desperately clinging to this marriage, like I have anything left to lose p>
“You p>
“I want a divorce, Helen.” The words came out clear and strong. “I’ve wanted one for months. The only reason I’m still here is because your son won’t sign the papers p>
Her mouth fell open. For the first time since I’d known her, Helen Stone looked genuinely shocked.