Chapter 18

Sophia sat by the window, her gaze lost in the sprawling cityscape below her. The decision she had to make felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. On one side, she had Alexander—steady, reliable, and unflinchingly loyal. He had shown her what it meant to trust again, to believe in the possibility of something more. But on the other side, there was Ryan—her past, the father of her child, someone who had once promised to be there and then vanished. Now, he was back, wanting to be a part of Leo's life. The choices she faced felt impossibly complicated, and no matter which way she turned, she couldn't seem to escape the uncertainty.

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from Ryan.

I need to see Leo. We can't keep avoiding this.

Sophia's chest tightened at the words. She knew Ryan had his reasons—she knew he loved Leo in his own way. But after everything that had happened, was it really right to let him back into their lives? Was Leo ready for this sudden shift? Would it hurt him more than help him?

She ran her hand over her face, exhaustion creeping in. The past few weeks had felt like a whirlwind—too much, too fast. She could no longer deny the pull she felt toward Alexander, the way he made her feel grounded, supported, and wanted. But she also couldn't ignore the complex relationship she had with Ryan, or the role he played in Leo's life.

The doorbell rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. She stood quickly, her heart racing in anticipation.

It was Alexander.

She opened the door to find him standing there, looking every bit as composed as usual, though his eyes betrayed a hint of concern. "Sophia?" he asked softly. "We need to talk."

She nodded, stepping aside to let him in. He took a deep breath, as if preparing himself for the conversation they both knew was coming.

"I've been thinking about what you said," Alexander began, his voice steady but gentle. "About Ryan, about Leo."

Sophia chewed on her lower lip, trying to push down the anxiety gnawing at her. "I don't know what the right choice is, Alexander. I'm not sure I can keep juggling both of you."

"You don't have to juggle us," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You only need to decide what's best for you and Leo. What you feel in your heart."

Sophia's mind raced. She glanced at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if I'm not strong enough to make the right decision?"

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. His presence was a calm force she could feel deep in her bones. "Sophia, no one has it all figured out. We all make mistakes. But what matters is the choice you make now. You've already shown so much strength by caring for Leo, by giving him a good life, by choosing to open up to me. Don't doubt yourself now."

Her heart skipped a beat, the warmth of his words flooding her with something she hadn't expected—hope. It was fleeting, but it was there.

"What if I choose wrong?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"You can't choose wrong," he replied, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "Not if you choose what feels right in your heart. I'll support you, no matter what that decision is."

Sophia's chest tightened as she stared into his eyes, seeing the depth of sincerity in them. She felt so torn, so divided. But his words—his unwavering belief in her—struck a chord within her.

She sighed, dropping her gaze to the floor for a moment. "I want to believe that," she murmured. "But I'm scared, Alexander. I'm scared of making the wrong choice, of hurting Leo, of losing what we've started here."

He cupped her face gently, lifting her chin so that their eyes met once again. "Sophia, whatever happens, we'll face it together. You don't have to do this alone anymore."

Her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to feel like she could lean on him, trust that they could weather whatever storm came next. But the fear of losing control, of losing Leo, still gnawed at her.

"I need to think," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to figure out what's best for Leo, for me, for all of us."

"I understand," Alexander said, his voice soft. "Take all the time you need. I'll be here when you're ready to talk."

Sophia nodded, trying to steady her racing heart. She felt torn, like she was standing at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take. But she knew one thing for certain: whatever happened, she couldn't keep running from the truth. She had to face it—head-on.

As Alexander turned to leave, his hand brushed against hers. The contact sent a shiver up her spine, reminding her of the bond they shared, the connection that had grown between them in such a short amount of time.

She watched him leave, feeling the weight of the decision settling heavily in her chest.

What if there was no right answer?