Leave them both

"What do you mean, Sophia?" Angel asked, her voice tinged with a mix of shock and confusion.

The silence on the other end of the line stretched for just a heartbeat before she heard the unmistakable sound of a light chuckle.

"Oh my, I must have truly shocked you with that little introduction," Sophia's voice rang through the phone with a playful tone, and before Angel knew it, a small smile crept onto her lips despite the heaviness in her heart.

"Alright then, what do you want now?" Angel teased, her voice warming as she settled on the bed, arms crossed, her mind still tangled in thoughts of the strange events unfolding around her.

Sophia's tone shifted slightly, now more serious, though there was a trace of hurt beneath her words.

"You're asking me what I want now? I want my friend back, Angel. I haven't heard from you all day, and I can't help but wonder... where have you been? Why did you suddenly disappear?"

The weight of Sophia's concern struck Angel, and she felt a deep pang of guilt. She let out a frustrated growl, her fingers tightening into her hair as she closed her eyes, hating the disappointment she knew Sophia must feel.

"Oh, Sophia," Angel murmured, her voice softening. "I'm sorry. It's just… last night, I got hit with some terrible sickness, and I've been barely able to get out of bed, even today."

A gasp of shock echoed from the other side of the line.

"Oh my God, what happened? That explains why you're not at your house. Angel, you know what? Why don't I come visit you? I'll bring everything you need for your health, whatever it is to make you feel better. I don't mind at all."

Angel hesitated, then quickly shook her head, even though Sophia couldn't see her. "No, you really don't have to," she replied, trying to push back the urge to accept her friend's offer, but then she heard Sophia's voice, thick with concern and confusion.

"Why not, Angel? What's going on? You've been avoiding me, and now this... something feels off. Are you sure you're alright?"

Angel took a slow, steadying breath, closing her eyes again as she tried to steady herself.

She wasn't sure how to explain, but the truth spilled out, in soft, reluctant words. "The thing is, since the night I met Tryson… I haven't been able to go anywhere. I'm actually still at his house right now."

Sophia's reaction was immediate and intense.

Angel could almost feel her friend's shock through the phone as Sophia gasped, a mix of disbelief and concern rising in her voice.

"What? How is that even possible? You're at Tryson's house? After everything—Angel, what's going on? Why haven't you told me this before?"

Angel could feel the weight of Sophia's words, and for a moment, she wondered if she had made a mistake telling her. It had been so long since she'd been home, and after returning to Tryson's house that morning—thanks to his insistence—everything had spiraled in ways she didn't fully understand.

Not to mention the looming questions about Tryson himself, a man whose wealth and influence made him a mysterious figure, even more so now that Sophia knew about the child—Angel's child—that was a part of their tangled lives.

"I don't know, Sophia," Angel replied quietly. "It's complicated. I… I didn't have a choice. He wanted me to stay, and I didn't know how to say no."

There was a brief silence before Sophia spoke again, her voice more urgent. "Angel, I'm telling you, he's up to no good. After everything his family did to you, you can't let him control your life. And now—" Sophia paused, clearly struggling to process the situation. "I just don't understand. Are you safe? Is he forcing you to stay there?"

Angel sighed, running a hand through her hair, as the words she'd been avoiding finally surfaced. "It's not just about me anymore, Sophia. I'm scared, really scared. Tryson doesn't know about the baby yet. His fiancée is here in the house, and she's after me. I'm trying to protect my child, but I'm trapped."

Sophia's frown deepened, her voice tinged with concern. "Wait, what? What do you mean his fiancée is after you? You have to get out of there. Angel, don't wait around. If Tryson doesn't know about the baby, what is he thinking? What kind of game is he playing?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure what Tryson thinks. He doesn't know that it's his child. He thinks it's Arthur's." Angel's voice trembled with the weight of the lie she'd told. "I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth. I was too scared, too scared for my baby. I just couldn't let him find out."

A stunned silence followed before Sophia's voice broke through, her shock palpable. "You told him it was Arthur's child? Angel, are you insane? Do you realize what you've done? If Arthur finds out, or—"

"I don't know what to do anymore, Sophia," Angel interrupted, her heart racing. "Arthur wants me back, but Tryson is… he's insisting I stay. I'm so confused, and now I'm terrified that Tryson might find out the truth, and everything will fall apart."

Sophia let out a heavy sigh, her voice softening with a kind of resigned understanding. "So, what are you going to do now? You could leave the company, Angel. Just walk away from it all—try to live your life free of these people."

Angel's frown deepened, her hand gripping the phone tighter. "Leave the company? Sophia, you know that's not possible. Arthur won't let me go just like that."

Sophia's tone shifted, almost too casually, as she added, "But maybe you should. Maybe it's the only way to really move on. Forget about them—Tryson, Arthur—just move forward. Find a way to be happy."

Angel's fingers lightly traced the edges of her nails as she listened, her mind swirling with the weight of everything. After a long silence, she exhaled slowly, as if the realization had hit her all at once.

"I just wish it were that easy," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as a small, bitter laugh escaped her lips. "I wish it were that easy to do what I want."