59

SOPHIA

I grabbed my phone, anxiety churning in my stomach like a turbulent sea. The weight of the situation had settled heavily on my shoulders, and I needed a lifeline. Kylie, my confidante in all things chaotic, would be the perfect sounding board.

I dialed her number, the phone ringing a series of ominous tones before she finally picked up.

"Hey, Sophia! What's up?" Kylie's voice, usually bubbly and full of energy, now carried a hint of concern.

"Kylie, you won't believe what happened," I began, my words tumbling out in a rush. "Henry's ex-wife, Catherine, showed up out of nowhere, and she's trying to blackmail us."

"Wait, what?" Kylie's response crackled through the phone. "Blackmail? Are you serious?"

I let out a heavy sigh. "Dead serious. She knows about us, about Henry and me, and she wants money to keep it quiet. If we don't pay up, she's threatening to spill the beans to her dad."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and I could almost sense Kylie processing the in