Chapter eighty nine

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Sophia sat on the balcony, her legs crossed and a glass of chilled lemonade in hand, gazing out at the sprawling city below. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over everything. She could hear the distant hum of traffic and the laughter of people enjoying their evening. But her mind was elsewhere, tangled in memories that felt like a heavy weight on her chest.

Just then, Dalton strolled in, his usual grin lighting up the room. "Hey, Soph! You look deep in thought. What's on your mind?" He leaned against the railing, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Sophia forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, just... old memories," she replied, her voice trailing off. Images of Alex's mansion flooded her thoughts—the wonderful dates they went on, the whispers behind closed doors, and the way Alex had always stood up for her when tensions ran high.