Sophia Is Caught Between Matteo’s Demands and Her Love for Andrew

Sophia sat alone in the dimly lit bedroom, the weight of her world pressing down on her chest like a vice. The echoes of Andrew’s words—his doubt, his disappointment—rang in her ears.

"Then I don’t know if I can do this."

It had been the first real crack in their relationship, and she had no one to blame but herself. She had known this moment would come, had known that secrets had a way of surfacing no matter how carefully they were buried.

She reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed a number she had hoped she would never have to call.

The line clicked. “Finally,” Matteo’s voice came through, smooth but laced with irritation. “I was beginning to think you had forgotten your responsibilities.”

Sophia swallowed hard. “Andrew is asking questions.”

There was a pause. Then, Matteo chuckled. “Of course he is. He’s a smart man. Did you really think you could keep him in the dark forever?”

Sophia’s jaw clenched. “You told me this wouldn’t happen. You told me I’d have time.”

“You have had time,” Matteo said coolly. “But you’ve wasted it. You were sent there to gain the Remingtons’ trust, to infiltrate their world. Instead, you’ve fallen in love with him.”

“I didn’t plan for that,” she admitted, her voice breaking slightly.

Matteo sighed. “You’re letting emotions cloud your judgment. That’s a weakness, Sophia.”

Sophia closed her eyes. “Then tell me what you want me to do.”

Matteo’s voice hardened. “I want you to do what you were sent there to do. Evelyn is already suspicious. We can’t afford for Andrew to turn against you, too. Keep him under control.”

Sophia’s grip on the phone tightened. “And if I can’t?”

A long silence stretched between them before Matteo spoke again, his tone deadly calm. “Then I will handle it myself.”

Her blood ran cold. “Papa—”

“I won’t warn you again,” he cut her off. “Either you remind Andrew where his loyalties should be, or I will.”

The line went dead.

Sophia stared at the phone in her hands, her heart hammering. Matteo never made empty threats. If he felt that Andrew was becoming a liability, he wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate him.

She had to act. And fast.

A Desperate Attempt

Andrew hadn’t spoken much since their argument. He had been distant, retreating into work and barely engaging in conversation. Sophia knew she had to fix this before it was too late.

That evening, she found him in the study, poring over documents.

“Andrew,” she said softly, stepping inside.

He didn’t look up. “What is it?”

Sophia exhaled, moving closer. “We need to talk.”

Andrew finally met her gaze, his eyes guarded. “Talk? About what? The year you disappeared? The fact that you’ve been lying to me? Pick one.”

She winced at his cold tone but refused to back down. “I know I’ve kept things from you. But it wasn’t to hurt you.”

Andrew’s jaw clenched. “Then what was it for?”

She hesitated, searching for the right words. “I was protecting you.”

Andrew scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Protecting me from what, Sophia?”

She swallowed hard. “From my father.”

That got his attention. His brows furrowed. “Matteo?”

She nodded. “He’s dangerous, Andrew. You have no idea what he’s capable of.”

Andrew stared at her, searching her face. “And you?” he asked quietly. “How much of this are you a part of?”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I never wanted any of this. I just wanted to love you.”

Andrew exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Then tell me the truth, Sophia. No more lies. No more excuses.”

She hesitated, torn between love and fear. If she told Andrew everything, Matteo would come after him. But if she didn’t… she might lose him forever.

Before she could answer, her phone buzzed. A message.

She glanced down, and her stomach dropped.

Unknown Number: If you don’t fix this, I will.

Sophia’s hands trembled as she read the words. It wasn’t from Matteo. It was from Dante.

Andrew noticed the change in her expression. “What is it?”

Sophia quickly turned off the screen. “Nothing.”

Andrew’s eyes darkened. “More lies.”

She reached for his hand. “Andrew, please. You have to trust me.”

He pulled away. “Trust you? I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

Her heart shattered.

The Breaking Point

That night, Sophia sat alone in their bedroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her mind was spinning.

If she lost Andrew, she lost everything. But if she told him the truth, she risked his life.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Dante.

Dante: Tick tock, Sophia. You’re running out of time.

Sophia felt like she was suffocating.

She had to make a choice.

A choice between the man she loved and the family that owned her soul.

And no matter what she chose… someone was going to get hurt.