Sabotage

SOPHIA POV 

Darcy's next scheme was bolder… a family game night at her mom's hotel suite. "Neutral ground," she said. "Board games, wine, old memories."

I agreed to help, feigning enthusiasm even though every moment with her planning this wrecked my heart.

But as we planned, I subtly undermined. I suggested Monopoly, knowing Eric hated it—too cutthroat, he had once confessed during our affair. And wine? I ‘forgot’ to buy non alcoholic for Emily, who I learned from Darcy had a sensitivity.

I was cruel, too cruel but at this point I cared less about everything.

The night arrived. Emily's suite was elegant, overlooking the city lights. Darcy buzzed with excitement, setting up the board. Eric arrived first, his eyes locking on me immediately. "Sophia," he murmured, voice husky. "Good to see you."

I ignored the shiver, focusing on Darcy. Emily came next, hugging everyone. That familiarity hit again—her smile, the way she tilted her head. It gnawed at me.

We started playing and tensions rose fast.

Eric landed on Emily's property, grumbling. "This game is rigged."

Emily laughed. "You always say that. Remember our honeymoon? You bankrupted me in Atlantic City."

Nostalgia flowed, but I steered it wrong. "Hey Darcy, tell them about your art show," I said, diverting the attention from them as I was getting fucking pissed.

She beamed, but Eric's foot brushed mine under the table. Was it accidental? I doubt it. 

Pursuit in action trying to get a reaction from but I shifted away, heart pounding against my ribs cage. 

Wine was poured—alcoholic, as planned. Emily sipped, then coughed. "This is strong. I thought we said no booze."

"My bad," I said. "I grabbed the wrong bottle."

She waved it off, but her cheeks flushed unnaturally. Allergic? Darcy fretted. "Mom, you okay?"

"Fine," Emily insisted, but the game soured. Arguments erupted over rules, old grudges surfacing. "You always controlled everything," Emily snapped at Eric.

"And you ran away without saying anything about it," he retorted, I was startled seeing him losing his cool for the first time ever.

Darcy looked devastated. I comforted her, but triumph flickered in my heart- another backfire.

As the night ended chaotically as planned, Eric pulled me aside in the hall. "You sabotaged again."

"Did I?" I challenged, pulse racing.

He leaned in, breath warm. "You want me free from Emily and you have been trying to sabotage everything from Day 1. Just admit it."

The bond surged. I refused intimacy, but his proximity weakened me. "No," I whispered, but my voice lacked conviction.

He pursued relentlessly after that. School hours became ambushes—flowers on my desk, whispered confessions. "I can not stop thinking about you," he said one afternoon, after lectures. 

"Stop," I begged. "Darcy..."

"Forget her. Be with me,” he begged for the umpteenth time, but I fled. I couldn't do this to Darcy, not after she had begged me.

“I don't know what happened in there but I can't give you. We have to do something to bring them back together. It breaks my heart to see them apart and not perfectly together as they were meant to be.”

“So what's your plan?" I asked, and she smiled while handing me a piece of paper.

Darcy's third plan was a picnic in the park where they first dated. I read it and she squealed.

"Romantic," she gushed. "I'll set it up, you handle invites."

I nodded, then ‘accidentally’ scheduled it during Emily's work meeting. Don’t ask me how I know… I have my ways. She canceled last minute and Eric showed up alone, picnic basket in hand. He spotted me nearby—had I lingered on purpose?

"Sophia," he called.

I approached warily. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, apparently." He spread the blanket, unpacking sandwiches. "Sit."

I did, against better judgment. We talked—about books, dreams, the mess we were in. Laughter came easy, the bond reigniting. His hand covered mine. "I love you."

Tears stung as I tried holding them back in ‘I can not.’

But as sun set, our lips met. Brief, intense and sinful. Yet so overwhelming that I couldn't find what was wrong with it while our lips were still locked.

I pulled back, guilt crashing. "No more. Please, for Darcy's sake. She's your daughter for crying out loud!" 

He smiled sadly. "You say that, but here we are."

“A mistake.” And I stood up running out into my car before he could get to me. I had driven faster with tears blinding my sight as I couldn't hold back the pain.

Once I was back in my room, I let it all out on my bed. First time wanting something and I couldn't have it. 

Broken and tired, I drifted to sleep in no time. 

Emily called me the next day. "Sophia, can we meet? Alone."

Curious, I agreed without saying anything to Darcy who was suspiciously quiet and aloof.

At the cafe, she stirred her tea in silence for more than 30 minutes before saying. "You remind me of someone."

My eyes nearly popped out of its sockets as I snapped my head up with fear. Had she seen me entering or leaving Eric's office? Or maybe she had heard my moans? 

"Who?"

She sighed as she took a sip gently while maintaining her piercing gaze on me like she was trying to read my expressions and thoughts…. 

"Me, years ago. And.. .Eric's type." Her eyes sharpened. "Are you involved with him sexually?"

I panicked choking on my ice tea “What? No. No! I'm with Darcy and I wouldn't do something like that to her"

She studied me before smiling. "Darcy adores you. Do not hurt her. She has been hurt a lot , I'm asking this of you as a mother." 

“I won't. Trust me." Another lie.