Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Sophia’s POV

By the time I got back home, my body was alreadu aching me, I had never work so hard like this even when I worked as a cleaner two years ago.

And moreover, seeing Ethan again, hearing his voice, sitting in front of him like nothing had happened between us, it kept playing again and again in my head even when I tried to push it away.

I stood outside the door for a moment before I eventually pushed it open.

The moment I stepped inside, I heard my children laughing. They were already inside, playing and talking like nothing in the world was wrong.

Adrian was with them, he had been staying with us for a long time now, even before we moved here properly, he still came along, saying I should not carry everything alone. He was my older senior who liked me for who I am.

He was sitting with the children in the small living room, helping my son with a puzzle while my daughter sat beside him talking endlessly about something that had happened during the day.

My children saw me and ran toward me immediately. “Mum!”

I bent down and held them for a moment, forcing myself to smile even though my mind was still far away.

“I am fine,” I said quickly before they could even ask anything.

My daughter looked at me closely.

“No mum, You look tired, you are not fine”

“I am okay,” I repeated, touching her hair softly.

My son held my hand. “Did you eat or did the frustrate you?”

I nodded. “Yes, I did eat and no one dare frustrate twins mum”

They smiled…

Adrian stood up slowly and looked at me. “You are late,” he said.

I gave a small nod. “Work,” I replied. “There is too much work now.”

He sighed a little. “You don’t need to push yourself like this,” he said. “I told you before, I can take care of things.”

I shook my head. “No,” I said softly. “You are already doing too much by staying with us. I can’t keep depending on you.”

He did not say anything, my children had already gone inside their room, still laughing and talking to each other.

The house became quiet  after my children left the living room.

“They are happy,” he said.

I nodded. “Yes.”

None of us said anything first just then he talked.

“You should not be working like this… If your first day is this tiring, is this how it continue? .”

I exhaled slowly. “I have no choice,” I said. “If I stop, everything will stop.”

He frowned slightly. “You always say that.”

I did not not say anything because he was right.

My phone vibrated inside my bag. I took it out and saw the message again from the company.

‘Come one hour earlier than normal tomorrow’

I stared at it for a moment without speaking.

Adrian noticed immediately.“What is it?” he asked.

I quickly turned the screen away.

“Nothing,” I said. “Just a work notification.”

He studied me for a second like he did not believe it, but he did not push further.

Instead he leaned back slightly. “That job…” he said slowly. “It feels like it is already taking too much from you.”

I gave a small tired smile. “It is just work,” I replied.

But even as I said it, I knew it was not just work anymore.