chapter 15

Sophie Bennett hated surprises.

She liked planned schedules.

She liked knowing where she stood and where she was going.

Unfortunately, life wasn't cooperating.

She sat in the corner of an exclusive private lounge in one of the city's most expensive hotels, staring at her untouched coffee while her friend continued talking.

"...and apparently the entire Lux family is excited."

Sophie didn't respond.

Her mind had stopped listening several minutes ago.

The only thing she could focus on was one sentence.

Judith Lux is pregnant.

At first she had dismissed it as gossip.

The wealthy loved gossip.

Especially when it involved families as powerful as the Smiths and the Luxes.

But the more details she heard, the harder it became to dismiss.

People weren't speculating anymore.

They were talking as if it were fact.

Sophie finally looked up.

"Who confirmed it?"

Her friend shrugged.

"No official announcement."

"Then how does everyone know?"

"Because someone saw her leaving a specialist clinic."

The friend lowered her voice.

"And apparently Liam was there."

Sophie's stomach tightened.

She hated that reaction.

Hated that she couldn't control it.

The friend continued.

"People are saying they might get back together."

Sophie immediately shook her head.

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Her friend raised an eyebrow.

"You seem sure."

Because she had spent years convincing herself of a different future.

A future where Liam eventually noticed her.

A future where the marriage ended and he moved on.

A future where she was no longer standing on the sidelines.

She had built that future piece by piece inside her head.

And now someone was threatening to tear it apart.

The problem was that Judith's pregnancy changed everything.

Divorce was one thing.

A baby was another.

A baby connected people.

Created responsibilities.

Created emotional ties.

Created reasons to stay.

Sophie knew that.

Which was why she suddenly couldn't enjoy her coffee.

The drive home was quiet.

Normally, she would listen to music.

Today, she drove in silence.

Her thoughts were too loud.

When she arrived at her apartment, she tossed her keys onto the counter and sat on the sofa.

Then she stared at nothing.

For years, she had told herself she was being patient.

That was the word she always used.

Patient.

Not desperate.

I'm not obsessed.

Patient.

Liam had been married.

There had been boundaries.

She understood that.

Respected that.

At least, that was what she told herself.

But somewhere along the way, patience had turned into expectation.

She had started believing something was eventually going to happen.

Not because Liam had said so.

He never had.

Not because he encouraged her.

He didn't.

But because she spent so much time around him that she started imagining possibilities.

He trusted her.

Relied on her.

Respected her work.

And slowly, she had convinced herself those things would become something more.

Now she wasn't so sure.

The realization left a bitter taste in her mouth.

That evening, she visited the one person who never told her what she wanted to hear.

Her grandfather.

Arthur Bennett.

The Bennett family estate was much quieter these days.

Most family members live elsewhere now.

Only Arthur remained in the large house where Sophie had spent much of her childhood.

The old butler greeted her at the door.

"Miss Sophie."

"Good evening, Henry."

"Your grandfather is in the library."

Of course he was.

That room was practically his second home.

When Sophie entered, Arthur was sitting in his usual armchair reading the newspaper.

He looked up immediately.

The moment he saw her face, his expression changed.

"You look troubled."

Sophie forced a smile.

"I'm fine."

Arthur folded the newspaper.

"No, you're not."

She laughed weakly.

"You always know."

"I've known you since the day you were born."

Fair point.

Arthur gestured toward the chair opposite him.

"Sit."

Sophie obeyed.

For a few moments, neither spoke.

Arthur waited patiently.

Eventually, Sophie sighed.

"Judith Lux is pregnant."

Arthur's expression remained calm.

Almost annoyingly calm.

"I see."

"That's all you're going to say?"

"What would you like me to say?"

Sophie looked away.

She wasn't sure.

Maybe she wanted him to tell her it didn't matter.

Maybe she wanted reassurance.

Maybe she wanted someone to confirm she hadn't wasted years of her life waiting for something impossible.

Instead, Arthur simply waited.

Eventually, she found herself telling him everything.

The rumours.

The speculation.

The possibility that Liam and Judith might reconcile.

The fears she hadn't admitted to anyone else.

Arthur listened without interrupting.

When she finally finished, he sighed.

Just the sigh of a man who had already seen the conclusion long before everyone else.

"Sophie."

The tone alone made her uncomfortable.

Because it sounded like disappointment.

And somehow, that was worse.

"You are chasing a man who has never promised you anything."

The words hit harder than she expected.

Because they were true.

Painfully true.

Sophie looked down at her hands.

"He cares about me."

Arthur nodded.

"I'm sure he does."

She immediately looked up.

"Then why does everyone act like I'm foolish?"

Arthur's expression softened.

"Because caring about someone and loving someone aren't always the same thing."

The room fell silent.

Sophie hated hearing that.

Not because it was unfair.

Because she couldn't argue with it.

Liam cared about her.

He respected her.

He trusted her professionally.

But had he ever treated her like a woman he loved?

The answer came immediately.

No.

He never had.

Not once.

Not even before Judith.

Not even after the divorce.

Arthur leaned back in his chair.

"You know what concerns me?"

Sophie didn't answer.

"I don't think you're fighting for Liam anymore."

She frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"I think you're fighting for the future you've imagined."

The statement caught her off guard.

Arthur continued.

"You've spent years believing something would happen eventually."

His voice remained gentle.

"But what if it doesn't?"

Sophie swallowed.

The question was uncomfortable because she had been avoiding it herself.

What if nothing ever happened?

What if Liam never looked at her the way she wanted?

What if Judith had always been the only woman he truly loved?

Arthur seemed to read every thought on her face.

"You deserve someone who chooses you willingly."

Sophie laughed bitterly.

"That's easy to say."

"No."

Arthur shook his head.

"It's difficult to accept."

The room became quiet again.

For the first time that day, Sophie felt exhausted.

Not angry, not jealous.

she was just, tired.....

Tired of hoping, tired of waiting.

Tired of chasing something that always seemed slightly out of reach.

Arthur reached across and patted her hand.

A simple gesture.

One he had been doing since she was a child.

"You are a smart woman, Sophie."

She smiled faintly.

"Most days."

"Then be smart now."

Sophie looked at him.

Arthur's gaze was steady, kind and honest.

"Ask yourself one question."

"What question?"

Arthur didn't hesitate.

"If Liam walked into this room right now and told you he loved Judith, would you still keep waiting?"

The answer formed immediately.

Instantly.

Before she could stop it.

And for the first time, Sophie realized just how much that answer scared her. :::