002-- Coldness

Sophia stood frozen in place, her heart pounding from the confrontation with Ethan. She had barely taken a step to follow him when her phone buzzed in her purse. The sharp ringtone jolted her, cutting through her swirling thoughts. Instinctively, she pulled the device out and glanced at the screen.

Jessica.

Sophia's stomach churned at the sight of the name. Memories of Jessica's betrayal, her mocking laughter, and the way she had stood over Sophia's bleeding body flashed through her mind. Her fingers tightened around the phone, and for a brief moment, she considered ignoring it. But she couldn't. Not yet. She needed to play her cards carefully.

With a deep breath to steady herself, she answered the call, forcing her voice to sound composed. "Hello."

"Sophia," Jessica's familiar, saccharine tone came through the line, sending a wave of revulsion through her. "Have you finally done it? Did you finally get rid of that disgusting Ethan and his creepy little son?"

Sophia clenched her teeth, the venom in Jessica's words slicing through her. Her free hand balled into a fist as she struggled to contain her anger. How had she ever considered this woman her best friend? She swallowed hard, forcing herself to respond calmly.

"I…" Sophia paused, searching for the right words. "I've been thinking about it, but I can't do it anymore."

"What?" Jessica's voice sharpened, her feigned sweetness giving way to genuine surprise. "What do you mean, you can't? You've been dying to leave that family for years. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts now."

Sophia's lips pressed into a thin line. She longed to lash out, to hurl every insult she could muster at Jessica, but she knew it wasn't time. Her revenge required patience. Jessica and Lucas wouldn't see her coming, and when the time was right, she would make them pay for everything they had done.

"I can't abandon Daniel," Sophia said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "He's my son, Jessica. I can't just leave him."

Jessica let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Since when do you care about that little brat? You've always said he was just Ethan's problem. Don't tell me you're suddenly growing a conscience."

Sophia's grip on the phone tightened, her nails digging into her palm. The sheer audacity of Jessica's words made her stomach turn. How could she have ever trusted someone so vile?

"I don't expect you to understand," Sophia replied coldly. "But I've made my decision."

Jessica was silent for a moment, likely caught off guard by Sophia's uncharacteristic firmness. Then her voice softened, laced with a false concern that made Sophia's skin crawl. "Sophia, are you feeling alright? You've been acting strange lately. Maybe you're just overwhelmed. Why don't you come over to Lucas's house? He's not feeling well, and I'm sure seeing you would cheer him up."

Sophia nearly laughed at the irony. Lucas, the man who had orchestrated her downfall and stabbed her in the back—literally—was now playing the victim. The thought of seeing his face, of pretending to care, made her stomach churn.

She didn't bother hiding the icy edge in her voice as she responded. "If Lucas isn't feeling well, maybe you should take care of him yourself."

Jessica gasped, clearly taken aback by Sophia's tone. "Sophia—"

"I'm busy, Jessica," Sophia interrupted, cutting her off. "Handle it yourself." Without waiting for a response, she ended the call, her heart pounding in her chest.

She stared at her phone for a moment, her hands trembling. The conversation had drained her, but it also fueled her resolve. Jessica and Lucas were already plotting, assuming she was the same naive woman they had manipulated so easily before. They had no idea that Sophia was no longer their pawn.

Taking a deep breath, Sophia slipped her phone back into her purse and exited the Civil Affairs Bureau. The sun was bright, but it felt harsh against her skin, a reminder of the stark reality she faced. She had managed to delay her divorce, but Ethan's skepticism and Jessica's meddling were just the beginning.

Sophia knew she had a long road ahead. Ethan didn't trust her, and Daniel likely resented her absence and indifference. Winning them back wouldn't happen overnight. But she would do whatever it took to prove her sincerity. She owed them that much—and more.

As she walked to her car, her mind raced with plans. She needed to rebuild the bridges she had burned, starting with Ethan and Daniel. At the same time, she had to gather information on Jessica and Lucas. Their downfall would be slow and methodical, each piece of their carefully constructed facade crumbling until they were left with nothing.

Sophia slid into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel, her jaw set with determination.

This time, she wouldn't let them win.

Her first stop was home. She needed to reconnect with Daniel, to show him that she was serious about being a mother again. She wasn't naive enough to think he would forgive her easily, but she hoped that her actions would speak louder than words.

The house felt eerily quiet when she arrived, its grandeur now a stark reminder of the emptiness she had created. As she stepped inside, memories of the life she had abandoned flooded back—Daniel's laughter echoing through the halls, Ethan's quiet strength as he managed both his career and their family.

Sophia took a deep breath and made her way upstairs to Daniel's room. She paused outside the door, her hand hovering over the handle. What would she say to him? How could she begin to make amends for the pain she had caused?

Steeling herself, she pushed the door open.

The room was tidy, filled with traces of Daniel's personality—a stack of books on his desk, a toy car on the floor, a framed photo of him and Ethan on his nightstand. Sophia's heart ached as she took it all in. This was her son, her flesh and blood, and she had nearly thrown it all away.

Daniel wasn't there, but that was just as well. Sophia needed time to prepare herself for the inevitable confrontation. For now, she would focus on creating an environment where he felt safe and loved. She would prove to him, one step at a time, that she was worthy of being his mother.

As she left the room, her resolve hardened. Jessica and Lucas may have stolen two years of her life, but they wouldn't steal her future. This time, Sophia was in control, and she wouldn't stop until she had reclaimed everything she had lost—and destroyed those who had betrayed her.

The game had just begun.