It Got Worse!

ERIC'S POV:

Several days had passed since the dinner with Darcy and Sophia, yet she still refused to answer my calls or appear in my classes. On the rare occasions she did show up, she wouldn’t even look at me. She’d sit there, head down, scribbling notes as if her life depended on it, then slip out before I’d even finished speaking.

I’d tried reaching out more than once, but she pushed me away convinced that whatever was between us would only hurt Darcy, who still wished her mother and I would reconcile. So I stopped trying. 

But the silence was unbearable.

So today, I'd dismissed all lectures for the day, claiming I needed to review the Kingdom’s financial records. In truth, I simply needed to keep my mind occupied and drown out the silence that Sophia had left behind.

Suddenly, the faint creak of the front door broke through but didn’t bother looking up; believing that Anna was here to ask if I needed anything, but then I heard the sound of heels clicking

“Still working yourself to death, I see.”

I froze mid-sentence, letting the ink pool into a dark blot on the parchment. I looked up to see that my ex-wife, Emily was standing at the doorway.

“Emily,” I called flatly, leaning back in my chair. “To what do I owe the intrusion?”

“Intrusion?” She repeated, stepping inside. “That’s not very hospitable of you, considering we used to share this house once.”

“Used to,” I reminded her, returning my gaze to the papers.

She ignored the dismissal, gliding toward my desk. “I came to talk, Eric.”

I exhaled slowly. “If this is about Darcy, I’ve already told her…”

“Darcy still believes her parents can fix everything if they just try again. But you…” She leaned closer, her perfume invading the air between us “...you’re too proud to admit you still need me.”

“I don’t,” I said immediately.

She tilted her head. “Oh really? Then why haven’t you remarried?”

“Leave, Emily!” I snapped, but she didn't leave. “Darcy’s life is her own and you're not doing her any favors by forcing the past back into her life.”

Emily scoffed. “The past? You mean me?”

Noting my silence, she scoffed. “I could easily tear you down in a minute if I decide to tell Darcy  the things that would make her despise you.”

I straightened my shoulders, meeting her gaze head-on. “And all I’d have to do is use my connection to push the blame on you and you’d lose your freedom.”

For the first time, she faltered. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I would,” I said simply. “Because unlike you, I don’t bluff.”

Finally, Emily stepped back, straightened her blouse, and chuckled. “You haven’t changed at all.”

She held my gaze for a second longer, then turned sharply and walked out. When the silence returned, I let out a long breath and sank back into my chair. My hands trembled slightly, but my mind wasn’t thinking about Emily anymore.

I was thinking about Sophia, and I really wanted to see her again. With that, I closed the folder in front of me, pushing my chair back slowly. 

I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to her but remembering the details of how to get to her room which she had given me, I grabbed my jacket, my car keys, slipped my identification card into my breast pocket, and left the house. 

When I reached the university gates, the guards straightened immediately. Being both a professor and an advisor to the Kingdom came with a face people remembered.

“Good morning, Professor Eric,” one of them greeted, stepping forward.

I nodded and the gates were opened, I drove in, and parked near the residential wing and walked up to the dormitory entrance. The dorm mistress at the front desk looked up from her clipboard, startled.

“Good morning, Professor,” she said quickly.

“Morning,” I replied, flashing my ID card. “I need to check on a relative. Won’t take long.”

She hesitated for a second, then nodded and gestured toward the elevator. “Of course, sir.”

The elevator doors closed and as it ascended, my reflection stared back at me in the mirrored walls and I told myself that I wasn’t crossing a line. I just needed to see her, and make sure she was alright. 

That was all.

The doors opened and I stepped into a quiet hallway that was lined with identical doors and I walked down slowly, counting the numbers until I reached hers and that’s when I noticed that the door wasn’t fully closed. 

It was slightly ajar, just enough for voices to slip through. I should’ve knocked, should’ve made my presence known, but hearing Darcy's voice stopped me mid-motion.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Darcy’s voice trembled.

“Did something happen?” I heard Sophia's worried voice. “You know that you can always tell me anything.”

“The second reason I wanted to introduce you to my dad was because I wanted to tell them both something about me, but the atmosphere felt off. So I didn't mention it,” Darcy responded.

“And that is?” Sophia pressed.

“I am actually a lesbian, Sophia.” Darcy replied, and my eyes widened when she added. “And I think that I’m in love with you.”

My daughter loves my mate?

Oh, Goddess! Spare me!