chapter four

CHAPTER FOUR

Sophie’s POV

“We have a problem.” The way Adrian said it gave me chills; he had never sounded so irritated about anything, except anything concerning me, for reasons still unknown to me.

“Then explain.”

He didn’t. He just walked past me like I wasn’t even there.

“Oh no, you don't hill jockey,” I muttered, already moving after him, “we’re not doing that today.”

I grabbed his arm.

“You don’t get to drop something like that and walk off like I’m a background character.”

He stopped instantly and slowly turned around, looking down at my hand like it offended him, then lifted his gaze to mine.

“You’re involved,” he said flatly. “And that’s the freaking problem.”

“Excuse me, Mr hotshot, but I didn't ask to be entangled in your magical life… but since I am… start explaining the freaking text,” I shot back. “Start talking.”

His jaw clenched, irritation flashing.

“Whoever did this,” he said, lifting his phone slightly, “didn’t just marry us for fun.”

“Wow,” I deadpanned. “Really, I thought it was a romantic surprise.”

“They want something.”

“From you,” I said immediately.

He didn’t deny it, that silence said enough.

I scoffed.

“Right, because everything is always about you… my only question is why I had to be dragged into your mess.”

His eyes snapped to mine; sharp and warning.

“Careful.”

“No,” I said, stepping closer. “You be careful. Don’t stand there acting like this is every girl’s dream… news flash, this is my freaking nightmare. I didn’t ask to be married to you.”

“And let’s be clear,” I added, voice rising now, “this doesn’t just affect you. I have a life—a real one—and a wonderful scholarship. Do you understand that? One mistake, one rumor, and I lose everything.”

He didn’t interrupt, but his expression hardened.

“I don’t have backups,” I continued. “I don’t have rich parents or connections or whatever safety net you live in. I worked for this.”

His eyes stayed on me, unreadable.

“I’m not getting dragged into your mess,” I said firmly. “Your drama, your reputation, your girlfriends, your nonsense… I don’t want any part of it.”

“You’re already part of it, freshman,” he replied. “That’s the point.”

“No,” I snapped. “That’s your reality. Not mine.”

The words came out sharper now.

“And why are you acting like it’s the end of the world? At least you have a father. You can just talk to him about it.”

The second it left my mouth, I knew I hit something.

He scoffed, not amused, but irritated and cold.

“Think whatever you want,” he said, stepping closer, voice dropping. “But men like my father… they don't fix problems.”

His hand moved fast, grabbing my wrist firmly. He lifted it between us, pointing at the ring, then at me.

“He erases them.”

My stomach twisted, but I didn’t pull back.

“That’s supposed to scare me?” I asked, forcing my voice steady.

“Oh sweetheart, it should,” he replied. His thumb brushed the band once.

“Because this,” he tapped it lightly, “and you…” his gaze flicked over me “…is a whole lot of problem.”

I yanked my hand back.

“Then what now?” I snapped. “What do we do?”

“We do nothing.”

I blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve done my part,” he said casually. “I got you out of my room. Now I need you out of my life.”

My chest tightened slightly at how easy that sounded.

“You don’t just get to say that and walk away,” I said, stepping in front of him now. “We’re married.”

The word felt ridiculous even saying it.

“That alone can destroy me if it gets out.”

He didn’t react.

“Not for long,” he replied. “We don’t know each other. No one knows about this. So we keep it that way.”

I stared at him.

“So what? We just pretend none of this happened?”

“Exactly.”

“And it just disappears?”

“If you don’t make it messy, yes.”

“And if it doesn’t?” I pressed.

He didn’t answer immediately. That alone annoyed me more.

“Then you deal with it,” he said finally. “But not with me.”

I let out a short, bitter laugh.

“Unbelievable.”

Then stepped closer, not backing down this time.

“What happened during Spring Falls,” I said, voice lower now, sharper, “dies in Spring Falls.”

His eyes held mine, without any interruption.

“Let this be the last time we are ever standing this close to one another.”

There was a minute of silence, then, “I agree,” he said, just like that.

“Good,” I muttered, stepping aside.

“Goodbye, freshman,” he said, walking away from me like the conversation was done, like I didn’t exist.

I stood there for a second, then followed.

The bus doors were open, students climbing in, voices loud, normal, like nothing had changed… like everything hadn’t just changed.

I stepped in a few seconds after him, and immediately saw Stacey, already leaning into him like she belonged there.

“You took forever,” she said, brushing his arm. “I thought you ditched us.”

He didn’t answer, just gave her a look.

I didn’t stop, just moved my gaze somewhere else, moved past them, down the aisle, ignoring the whispers and stares, until I reached the far end, where I sighted Daniel waving at me and dropped into a seat beside him.

“Where did you disappear  to? I have been searching everywhere for you” he asked, but there was no proper explanation I could give to him that would sound believable.  

My fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of the hoodie still on me.

His hoodie was still warm. It still smelled like him.

I stared out the window, jaw tight, trying to reset, trying to go back to who I was before this morning happened.

He wanted me out of his life.

Good.

I wanted the same thing.

…right?