chained by circumstance

Sophia arrived back home with Olivia and Mr. Caldwell, stepping into the sitting room where David and Lila were waiting. The two had been growing increasingly curious—and irritated—about their absence. David had tried calling Mr. Caldwell earlier, but the call went unanswered. At the time, Mr. Caldwell was too preoccupied to even notice his phone.

"Welcome, ma. Where's—" David started to greet Olivia, but his question was interrupted as Mr. Caldwell walked in, followed closely by Sophia.

"Where were all of you?" Lila asked sharply, her tone a far cry from the calm, gentle demeanor she once carried. "We've been trying to reach you, but no one answered. And Sophia, why didn't you pick up my call?"

Her tone carried a hint of bitterness. In the past, Lila was known for her sweet, albeit demanding nature. Back then, she only ever spoke up to ask for money, and Mr. Caldwell—her doting father—would give her whatever she asked for without a second thought, often doubling the amount she requested. He used to say his children were the reason he worked so hard, and Lila had been his favorite.

But as she grew older, Lila didn't return the love her father showered on her. And as the years passed, Mr. Caldwell's own emotional investment in the family waned. Conversations became transactional. His typical response to his children became, "How much do you need?" Even when they approached him with non-financial concerns, he would brush them off, unable—or unwilling—to engage beyond offering money.

David's observant eyes caught the pallor on his father's face. "Dad, you don't look well. What's wrong?" he asked.

Mr. Caldwell didn't reply immediately. Instead, he sank heavily into the sofa, visibly weighed down by thoughts he wasn't ready to share.

Sophia followed suit, sitting on the other side of the room. She let out a small sigh as she leaned her head back, her weariness evident. Olivia, without a word, excused herself to her room to change into something more comfortable. She despised heavy or restrictive clothing, especially at home.

The silence in the room hung thick until Lila broke it, her tone laced with impatience. "Why is everyone so quiet? Sophia, where were you?"

Sophia lifted her head, her voice calm despite Lila's commanding tone. "We were at the hospital. Grandma was sick, so we went to see her."

Lila sighed and sat down next to Sophia, leaving a deliberate gap between them.

"What happened to her? Is it serious?" David asked, concern flickering in his voice.

Sophia replied, "The doctors said she'll be fine after the surgery. We couldn't stay until it was done, though—they suggested we leave and return by morning. But…" She paused, rubbing her temple. "I'm starving. I barely ate last night."

Mr. Caldwell remained quiet, staring at the floor, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

"I'll prepare something for you guys," David offered, quickly getting up and heading to the kitchen.

Sophia let out a laugh that startled the room. "David, you know you can't cook, right?"

Even Mr. Caldwell chuckled, the first sign of amusement he'd shown in a while. "Let him try," he said, his tone light for once. "David and Lila are the only ones who haven't ventured into the kitchen. It might be good for them."

David's voice carried from the kitchen, sounding faintly indignant. "I'm not cooking; I'm ordering food."

Sophia laughed louder. "I knew you wouldn't dare!"

The playful moment passed quickly. Lila, sitting stiffly, didn't join in the laughter, her disinterest evident. "Order enough for everyone," Mr. Caldwell finally said. "I'm hungry too."

Just then, Sophia's phone buzzed on the table, its screen lighting up. She was too tired to reach for it, her head still resting on the back of the sofa.

Lila, however, noticed the name saved on the screen: Ethan, my love. Intrigued, she leaned slightly forward and read part of the message that had appeared:

"Hi, dear Sophia. I'm sorry for not picking your calls or replying to your messages. I was determined to fulfill the promise I made to your dad…"

The words were enough to make Lila burst into laughter.

Sophia jolted upright, startled. "What's so funny?" she asked, her expression confused and defensive.

Lila smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess you haven't told your poor boyfriend that you're getting married soon. He still thinks he can find a way into this family." She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Only if he knew there's no amount he could ever offer to solve our problems."

Sophia's face darkened as the humiliation settled over her.

"What?" Olivia's voice cut through the room as she re-entered. "Ethan is still messaging you?" She quickened her pace, her sharp gaze fixed on Sophia.

Sophia glanced at her father, silently hoping for support, but Mr. Caldwell avoided her gaze, staring blankly at the wall.

"What are you going to do now?" Lila sneered. "Marry Alex and Ethan at the same time?"

Sophia didn't respond. She grabbed her phone, stood up, and walked out of the room.

"You should tell that boy to step aside," Lila called after her. "Mr. Greyson won't take kindly to Ethan hanging around you."

"Enough, Lila!" Sophia snapped before disappearing into her room.

Lila turned to Olivia with a smirk. "She's delusional if she thinks that boy is good for her."

"And you're just as bad," Olivia fired back. "You're older than Sophia and still unmarried. Maybe you should focus on finding someone wealthy instead of playing games with that loser you're dating."

"Hmm," Mr. Caldwell cleared his throat. "Is wealth all that matters? What about the happiness of my children?"

Olivia's anger flared. "Happiness? If I didn't send you money for Mom's surgery, how would you have paid? Your company is drowning in debt, and I'm the only one holding us together. Don't you dare talk about happiness when all you do is sit and let everything fall apart!"

David walked in, his eyes darting between his father and Olivia. "What's going on?" he asked, alarmed.

Olivia stormed out, muttering insults under her breath. David's concern shifted to Sophia, and he knocked gently on her door.

"Come in," came her weary reply.

He stepped in and noticed the tears streaking her face. "Are you okay?"

Sophia forced a smile but couldn't hold it. "No… not really."

David sat beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Whatever it is, you'll get through it. Now come eat with us."

Sophia nodded faintly but stayed seated, lost in thought.

She picked up her phone and reread Ethan's message. Each word seemed to carry the warmth and sincerity she longed for, but her heart felt heavier with every read. His apology, followed by the promise of proving himself, struck a chord deep within her. Ethan's words reminded her of the simple joys they once shared, of a love untarnished by expectations or wealth. A faint smile crept onto her face, but it quickly faded. She knew the truth—Ethan was her happiness, her choice—but her current reality painted a different picture. Her mother's relentless pressure to choose Alex left her feeling trapped, suffocated by expectations she could never embrace.

She stared at the screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she struggled to find the right words. What could she possibly say to him? Every response she thought of felt incomplete, inadequate against the backdrop of the turmoil in her life. She wanted to reassure him, to tell him how much his message meant to her, but the weight of her circumstances held her back. In her silence, she feared sending the wrong signal—giving him hope when her world seemed bent on denying them a future together.

Just as she set her phone down, it buzzed again. Another message. Her heart sank when she saw it was from Mr. Greyson. She didn't even need to open it to feel the weight of its contents. A quick glance was enough: another commanding invitation to his house for dinner, a forced opportunity for her and Alex to spend time together and "bond." She rolled her eyes in frustration, the mere thought of Alex sending a wave of irritation through her. Mr. Greyson's overbearing tone and orchestrated efforts only made the situation more unbearable.

Her thoughts spiraled as she tossed her phone onto the bed, feeling the weight of her circumstances pressing down on her.

What if I just end this pregnancy and leave all this behind? she wondered, tears welling up once more.