Chapter 146
SOPHIA’S POV
As I leaned against Zade’s chest, the first thing I noticed was his heartbeat.
I felt it drumming against my cheek where Zade had pressed my face to his chest. His warmth spread through his shirt and into my skin, and for one weak moment, I let myself stay there.
Stop it, I told myself. He’s good with words. He’s good with everything. That’s the problem.
Zade had always known exactly what to say, exactly how to hold someone to make them feel like the only person in the world. I had watched him do it. I had almost fallen for it almost.
I pushed against his chest. He didn’t move.
I pushed again. “Let go of me, Zade p>
“You’re bleeding,” he said. “Stop fighting me for five minutes p>
“I said I’m fine p>
“And I said you’re bleeding.” His arms tightened on me “So stop lying p>
I hated that he was right. The bandage on my arm was soaked through. I could feel the dampness against my skin.
After a long moment, I exhaled. “The professional first aid kit is in the coffee table drawer p>
Zade went still. Then, slowly, he loosened his hold. He didn’t release me immediately. His hands slid from my back to my arms, and his eyes dropped to my face, reading me the way wolves always did.
“No one actually takes care of you,” he muttered. It wasn’t soft. It came out rough and almost angry, like the words cost him something. “Not one person in your life p>
I looked away. I didn’t answer because I didn’t have one.
He turned toward the coffee table and retrieved the kit. When he straightened and looked back at me, his expression had turned into something unreadable.
“Sit p>
It wasn’t a request. His Alpha energy filled the room. My wolf instincts responded before my pride could stop them. I moved to the sofa and sat, extending my injured arm without a word.
He knelt in front of me.
I watched him work. He dressed the wound, more properly this time. I watched as he gently applied ointment then rewrapped it again.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said quietly.
“I know.” He didn’t look up. His thumb smoothed down the bandages.. “I’ll never be abl to be indifferent to you, Sophia. No matter how many times you push me away p>
My chest tightened. I hated that it did.
“Zade p>
“Don’t.” He finally looked up, and his eyes met mine “Don’t say whatever you’re about to say p>
So I didn’t. I sat in the silence and let him finish.
When he was done, he stood, set my phone on the table beside me, and looked at it for a moment. Then he looked at me.
I saw something in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something but was fighting it inside.
Then, he reached for the rope by the window. He didn’t say goodbye. He never did. He just swung himself out and disappeared into the dark, as quietly as he had come.
I sat for a moment in the silence he left behind.
Then my phone rang. I checked who was calling.
Damien.
I answered immediately, already assuming it was about the divorce papers. My voice was flat when I said, “Yes p>
“Sophia.” His voice was tired How do you usually handle Ashley’s stomach pain? She’s been crying for an hour and nothing I do is working p>
I blinked. Of all the things I had expected, it wasn’t that.
The image came immediately. I imagined Ashley curled up, looking pale, clutching her stomach. My chest clenched before I could stop it. Whatever was broken between me and Damien, Ashley was still my daughter.
“Warm your hands first,” I said “Then press gently on her abdomen and massage in slow circles. Don’t press too hard, just enough that she can feel the warmth. It usually settles within ten minutes p>
“Got it p>
“And check what she ate today. If it was anything heavy or p>
“Got it, Sophia. Thank you p>
He was about to hang up.
“Damien.” The word came out before I decided to say it.
“What p>
I kept my voice calm. “After this, don’t call me unless it’s about the divorce. We’re adults. There’s no reason to keep dragging this out. Whatever Ashley needs, you handle it p>
The silence was a bit longer this time. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. “Desmond called. The agreement is nearly finalized. We can meet at the villa tomorrow evening and settle everything p>
I felt so relieved.
I sighed “Fine. I’ll be there p>
The line went dead.
I set the phone down and looked at my freshly wrapped arm. The room was quiet. Zade was gone. Damien had called about Ashley.
Everything was exactly where it was supposed to be.
So why did the silence feel so heavy?