The night before Sophia's departure was an emotional whirlwind. She visited Maya, her warmth and love radiating like a beacon in the darkness. Though Sophia struggled to find the right words, her conversation with Maya sparked joy in the older woman's eyes. The highlight of their encounter came when Sophia affectionately referred to Maya as "Mother," a term that filled Maya's heart with delight.As Sophia shared her travel plans with Maya, the excitement was evident. Maya beamed with pride, her eyes shining with happiness for Sophia's new adventure. The warmth of the moment was further amplified when Sophia's father arrived, uniting them as a family. For a fleeting instant, Sophia wavered, she questioned her decision on leaving the country being tested by the comfort and love that surrounded her.In the evening, Sophia hugged her parent as she heads home.She opted for a public bus ride home, due to her recent encounter with kidnappers leaving her wary of driving alone. As the bus
As Sophia and Simon discussed the logistics of Sophia's departure, Simon brought up the topic of the gallery. "You can't just leave the gallery unattended for that long, Sophia," he said, his voice laced with concern. "What are you going to do with it?" Sophia hadn't thought about it, but Simon was right. The gallery was her livelihood, and she couldn't just abandon it. "I don't know," she admitted. "I guess I'll have to close it down for a while." But Simon was already thinking ahead. "No, no, I can take care of it for you," he offered. "I'll make sure everything runs smoothly while you're away." Sophia was touched by Simon's willingness to help. "Are you sure?" she asked, hesitant to burden him with the responsibility. "Absolutely," Simon replied. "I've been helping you out with the gallery for months, and I know how much it means to you. I'll make sure it's in good hands." Sophia nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Okay, thank you, Simon. I appreciate it." Simon chuckle
As Sophia sat down with Elena on the phone, the two of them dove into a detailed discussion about the art residency program. Sophia's excitement grew with each passing minute, and she found herself envisioning a future filled with creative possibilities. Elena's warmth and enthusiasm were infectious, and Sophia felt a sense of belonging, as if this opportunity was tailor made for her.The conversation flowed effortlessly, covering everything from artistic vision to logistical arrangements. Sophia felt a sense of clarity wash over her, as if the pieces of her life were finally falling into place. She began to see the residency as more than just an opportunity, it was a chance to redefine herself, to explore new horizons, and to create art that truly reflected her soul.As the call came to a close, Elena reiterated the organization's joy for Sophia's participation. "We're looking forward to having you join us, Miss Jerkins. We'll send over the formal agreement and details shortly." Sop
As she Stepped into her house, Sophia felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was finally safe. The silence of her home enveloped her, and she took a deep breath, letting her guard down. She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. Everything seemed untouched, just as she had left it. She kicked off her shoes and walked into the living room, collapsing onto the couch. The events of the day replayed in her mind, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. As she sat there, trying to process everything, her gaze fell upon her other phone on the coffee table. She picked it up, her fingers hovering over the screen. she thought about calling someone, but who? She wasn't sure who to trust. Then she thought about Simon,what if she called him. Sophia's thoughts swirled with uncertainty. She wanted to talk to someone, but she didn't want to drag Simon deeper into her complicated situation with Marcus. Especially now t
"This time I miss my shot, you might not be lucky the second time," Ava said, her voice dripping with sincerity. The calmness that followed added to the tensed atmosphere. Sophia's eyes locked onto the gun, her mind racing with the possibility of being Ava's next victim. Ava's words sent a chill down Sophia's spine. Fear and panic set in, her breath quickening. The thought of being at Ava's mercy, with no escape, was suffocating. Sophia's gaze darted from the gun to Ava's face, and she saw the determination in her eyes. Without hesitation, Sophia snatched the pen and scribbled her signature on the paper, her hand trembling. Ava's smirk grew wider as she bent and took the paper, her eyes scanning the signature. "Good choice," Ava said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. Sophia felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was tinged with a sense of defeat. She had given in to Ava's demands, and now she was bound by the agreement. As Ava stood up, the gun still clutched
As they drove, Sophia's mind was still reeling from the kiss. She hadn't expected it, and wasn't sure how to process her feelings. When Simon dropped her off at the gallery, Sophia hesitated for a moment before getting out of the car. "Thanks for everything, Simon," she said softly. Simon looked at her with concern. "You're welcome, Sophia. Take care of yourself, okay?" Sophia nodded and got out of the car, watching as Simon drove away. She couldn't shake off the feeling that things had just shifted between them. The kiss lingered in her mind, leaving her wondering what it meant for their friendship and her own heart. As Sophia entered the gallery, her thoughts were still consumed by the unexpected kiss. She replayed the moment in her head, trying to make sense of it. But deep down, Sophia knew her feelings for Simon were rooted in friendship and brotherly affection. She valued their bond and didn't want anything to complicate it. The question was, how would she navigate t
"What is wrong with you?”Simon asked. "Nothing, just under the weather”,Sophia replied. "Always under the weather” Simon said chuckling. "Well I dropped by at the gallery,didn’t find you so I thought to check for you here” Sophia’s mind had travelled very far from the conversation she didn’t even hear Simon speak anymore. "Sophia? Hello?” Simon called as he waved in her face. "Oh Simon,sorry you said?” "Okay isn’t this the part where spill the tea? What is going on with you?” Simon asked in concern. "Sophia, what's going on? You seem really out of it," Simon said, his voice gentle. Sophia’s gaze drifted back to him, her eyes red-rimmed. "It's just... everything's falling apart,My love life, my family... it's all just so messed up." Sympathetic, Simon listened intently as Sophia poured out her heart, sharing her struggles with Marcus and her complicated family dynamics which drove her to tears. Although he was some what surprise she had such history with a man bu
After a week of Sophia not getting a reply from marcus she went over to his residence. This time ava was outdoor doing some shopping this gave Sophia enough room to discuss with Marcus. "I think you are being manipulated marcus, Ava has painted a picture of all lies to you due to your memory loss.” "The day I found out about Ava and the baby was the day I left the house angrily, you literally threw her out that day,I am not sure of your history with her but you weren’t cool.” "I threw her out with our baby?” "Honestly I don’t even know what to believe anymore….. ava said you were a stalker and I didn’t like you and we had a court case and……. "Listen Marcus,you have to take control of your mind,we had a thing going until ava came into the picture and the court case was…..” "Oh there was a court case,you know what I think you should leave I don’t feel comfortable doing this,I don’t even know who you are. Please I would like for you to leave Sophia…. Marcus said as he opened
Sophia tossed and turned in bed all night, her mind racing with questions. Who was the woman who had yelled at her over the phone? Why did she claim Marcus was her husband? The more Sophia thought about it, the more determined she became to get answers. She decided to visit Marcus, hoping to clear up the confusion and understand what was going on. The next morning, Sophia made her way to Marcus's house, her heart pounding with anticipation. What would she find when she got there? Would Marcus explain the situation, or would things become even more complicated? The distance between Sophia's new home and Marcus's residence would require some effort to traverse. She boarded a public transport, her thoughts consumed by the mysterious woman and Marcus's situation. As she traveled, Sophia's mind wandered to possible explanations for the woman's behavior. Was she Marcus's girlfriend, wife, or something more? The journey seemed to take forever, but Sophia finally arrived at Marcus's