All Chapters of After the Divorce : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Marcus’s POVMaybe I shouldn't have said anything. Because the minute I did, I could see that zeal in her eyes.“Tell me, if I can get her to come, is the job guaranteed?” Her eyes gleamed, as if she had found something to settle on. She was going to latch onto the hope. And that was the thing, the truth burned at the back of my throat, fighting to claw out.“One step at a time Sophia,” I leaned against the counter. “If she comes, then we can deal with that,” “I have one question,” her fingers played with the fork on the counter. “You knew I needed a job, why didn't you tell me about him?”I stared at her, for a second there was that look, the uncertainty I had seen when we were in the same room with her ex. “You wouldn't like a handout.”“But isn't the dinner a handout?”I bit back the smile that threatened to break through my lips. Of course, she was going to say that. “No.”A lie. But she didn't have to know the details.She nodded, “I will talk to her,”“Sophia,” I breathed. “Y

Marcus’s POVI didn’t bother walking up the stairs; the silence in the house was deafening. Too quiet for what I knew happened.“Why are you dressed like that?”My head snapped to the side, my eyes finding Sophia leaning against the kitchen counter with a glass of milk in hand. I cocked my brows, staring at the drink, “milk?”She huffed, “couldn’t sleep,” her voice hoarse, I couldn’t tell if it was from crying or silence. “Where did you go?”I walked to the fridge, taking out a bottle of water, “a run,” I kept my face from her.I could feel her gaze on the back of my head. “When did you start running?” her voice was laced with curiosity.“How did it go with your mother?” I asked, even when I already knew the answer.She huffed, “What do you think happened?”There was sadness in her tone. Guilt tugged in my chest as I stared at her, I shouldn’t have sent her there. Unprepared, a lamb taken to slaughter.“Are you okay?”She gave me her brightest smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I

Marcus’s POV“Where is Diane?”Sophia froze. I could see the worry slicing through her features. But like a practised smile, she schooled her expression, “she couldn’t… she can’t make it,”Sebastian's gaze flickered toward me, a silent question. I forced a smile. “Where is Hazel?”Distraction, I was getting good at it.“Hazel has been waiting, I must say she is most excited about tonight.”“Sorry, I am late.”We stopped in our tracks. Sophia stared at the figure at the entrance shock written on her face.Diane smiled, “Board meeting dragged longer than it should,” she said.There she was, standing by the entrance, poised with a bright smile on her face. As if she hadn't caused a havoc just last night.I chuckled, “It is a pleasure to have you here,” I said, walking towards her. My hand held her with gentleness as I kissed the back of her hand. “Welcome,”Her eyes found mine, and I could see that glint, that excitement that she was playing something we didn’t know.“You have a lovely

Marcus’s POVMy head was a mess. It wasn’t because of Diane or the dinner.It was the tears and the hug— if anything, they made it all worse… and now I didn’t know how to react to it— seeing Sophia so broken, so sad.“For a minute, I didn’t think you would return,” Diane’s voice echoed through the living room, she was on the sofa, a drink in hand as she smiled at me.This wasn’t the show smile she had given me when she was around Sebastian and his wife. This was the one that said she had more, something she wasn’t ready to share just yet. Her eyes scanned my frame, I could see the flicker of shock in them, even as she tried to hide it.“Why wouldn’t I return?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.I didn’t want to raise my voice, didn’t want Sophia to hear more than she should.She shrugged. “A drink?”I stared at her. She wasn’t even bothered about what she had done. She looked nothing like remorse, even after hurting her daughter. “No,” my reply was short and simple.She scoffed

Sophia’s PovIt was easier to say I was getting a job than to actually get one.I wasn’t sure of where I was going after being turned down by two galleries, but I guess it was easier to keep on walking than actually taking a moment to think about what had happened.The anger I felt earlier had slowly disappeared, and now? I was left with a sombre feeling. I had let her get away with so much. I guess that was the minute she knew she had so much power over me.“Get yourself together,” I muttered under my breath as I settled on a park bench. It was better than going home, honestly.But sitting here felt like I was running away, like I usually do. And for some reason, I hated the feeling. I quickly pulled out my sketch pad, my fingers trembling as I pressed my pencil on paper.A picture, a moment? I wasn’t sure what I was doing but I had let the inspiration lead. When I slowly started drawing on the pad, my breath hitched.Marcus.My mind had drifted and his face was the only thing that