7. WE'RE HERE

SOPHIA

I stared at my phone, my heart heavy with thoughts of everything that had happened since Victor woke up from coma. It had been a whirlwind of confusion and betrayal. Now, this unexpected message sent my mind spinning.

Is this really from Victor?

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Why would he send me a message asking me to meet him at a hotel? If he wanted to talk, he could have spoken to me at home. What was so important that it had to be done privately?

'Maybe he just wants to clear the air,' I tried to convince myself. But doubt gnawed at me.

I needed to know if the message was really from Victor. If it was, then maybe going to him was the right thing to do. But I couldn’t act without being sure.

I grabbed my bag and decided to go back home. The maids or bodyguards might know Victor’s number. They could confirm it for me.

The cab ride back to the Sinclair mansion felt endless, my thoughts a chaotic mix of hope and fear. As soon as we arrived, I paid the driver and stepped out, hurrying toward the grand entrance.

Just as I pushed the door open, I almost bumped into Lucas. His carefree smile greeted me, but I didn’t have the desire to return it.

“Sophia,” he said cheerfully. “Are you okay?”

I wanted to brush past him, but then it struck me...Lucas could help me. He would know Victor’s number.

“Can you help me with something?” I asked, my voice hesitant.

“Of course!” he said eagerly. “What do you need?”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much I should tell him. “I need to call a number, but my phone isn’t recharged yet. Can you...”

“Oh, that’s easy,” he interrupted, already reaching for his wallet. “I can recharge it for you right now.”

“No!” I said quickly. “There’s no need to spend your money. I just need you to call a number for me.”

He shrugged and took out his phone. “Okay.”

I called out the number from my phone, watching him as he punched it in. Halfway through, he paused, his brows furrowing.

“This number…” he said, trailing off. “Why didn’t you just tell me you wanted to call Victor?”

I blinked. “Victor? It’s his number?”

He turned the screen toward me, showing me the name saved boldly as Victor Sinclair.

“Yes, it’s his. Why? Didn’t you know?”

I sighed. “I… I got a missed call from this number. I didn’t know who it was. So, this is Victor? I’m surprised he has my number.”

He chuckled lightly. “Don’t think too much about it. If Victor called, he probably wants to talk to you.”

I forced a small smile. “Maybe. Thank you for helping.”

As I turned to leave, a sharp voice cut through the air.

“What is going on here?”

I turned and saw Victor and Lucas’s mom, Evelyn, approaching us.

“Haven’t I warned you to stay away from Lucas? You won’t rest until you sink your claws into him, right? Listen to me, Sophia....I know girls like you very well. You will do anything to maintain a good position in a rich household.

Now that it is obvious that Victor knows your true colors and wants nothing to do with you, you keep throwing yourself at Lucas. Are you blind? Take a good look at my son, you are not worthy of him just as you are not worthy of Victor!”

“Come on, Mom, stop it,” Lucas said, stepping between us.

“Stop what, Lucas? Don’t be naive. You already know what kind of person she is. She has thrown herself at you once before and you know how much that upset me. I had to separate from you for three years because of this miserable woman, and now you are talking to her?

Why do you always forgive so easily?”

“It’s not like that, Mom,” Lucas replied. “Calm down, okay? Sophia didn’t do anything wrong. Please don’t be so hard on her. I mean, no matter what, you know that she took care of Victor for three years. She did it religiously. If not for anything else, show her respect because of that.

You have lied to Victor, telling him that Isabella was the one who took care of him when it was Sophia. Do you really think Isabella would have spent all her time taking care of Victor?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Evelyn said to him. “I will take Isabella’s side any day, anytime, because she is not cheap. I did not have to separate from my son for three years because of her.”

“Excuse me,” I said quietly, stepping around them.

“Sophia, wait!” Lucas called after me.

I stopped and turned, my voice sharp. “What, Lucas? What do you want now?”

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry, for everything, for my mom, and for what’s happened to you. You don’t deserve this.”

I stared at him, my voice cold. “You know what, Lucas? If you’re really sorry, you would tell the truth to everyone. Don’t waste your words on apologies.”

Without waiting for a reply, I walked away, my heart pounding with anger and hurt.

Back in my room, I washed up and got ready to leave. If Victor wanted to see me, then I would go to him. This might be my only chance to tell him the truth and make him understand everything.

I slipped into a green dress I hadn’t worn before, one that Isabella and her mother had bought for me back when they pretended to be kind. It felt ironic now, but I didn’t care.

Before leaving, I sent Victor a text: Okay, I’m coming to the hotel right away.

I waited for a response, but none came. Frustrated, I called him. Once. Twice. Three times. He didn’t pick up.

'What’s going on? Why isn’t he answering?' I wondered.

Unease crept into my chest, but I pushed it aside. I had come this far; I couldn’t turn back now.

I sent him the audio of Lucas' and Isabella’s confession. If nothing else, he could listen to it and we would talk about it when I met him.

As I left the house and hailed a cab, I told myself to stay calm.

“Take me to Sinclair Luxury Hotels and Suites,” I instructed the driver.

The ride felt like an eternity and my mind raced with questions, and fears. Why hadn’t Victor responded to my calls? Was he waiting alone?

I began to feel uncomfortable. Victor had asked me to come to him, so he had to be with his phone.

I started to have cold feet, but a part of me was really eager to meet with Victor. It was the first time he wanted to speak to me. Was it a good idea to blow off such a chance? Victor had been told lies about me, and he believed them. I had not gotten a chance to defend myself before him.

No matter what, I was going to tell him the whole truth, and I would repeat it no matter who stood in front of me.

“We’re here.” The driver's voice drew me out of my thoughts when the cab pulled up to the entrance of the hotel. I glanced at the time. It was just past seven.

I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves.

“Okay, Victor,” I whispered. “I’m coming to you.”