Chapter 19

Sophia couldn't stop thinking about the conversation with Alexander. His words echoed in her mind, swirling around with the unrelenting thoughts of Ryan and what he had said in his messages.

She sat in her living room, Leo's laughter drifting in from the kitchen as he hummed a tune while preparing his snacks. The sound should've been comforting, but it only made the knot in her stomach tighten further.

She had promised herself that she would always do what was best for Leo, no matter the cost. But now, with Ryan reappearing and Alexander in the picture, the line between what was best and what her heart desired was beginning to blur.

The weight of those choices felt unbearable at times. She didn't want to disappoint anyone, especially not Leo, who had become her world. But at the same time, she couldn't ignore the feelings that were growing inside her for Alexander.

The thought of losing him terrified her, but the thought of allowing Ryan back into their lives in any capacity—of having him try to claim the father role he had abandoned—was equally terrifying. What did that mean for Leo? Could she trust Ryan to be the father he never was? Or was it an illusion, a hope that would inevitably crash and burn?

Sophia stood up, pacing the room. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the edges of the coffee table, as though the act of touching something tangible might give her some semblance of control over the chaos brewing inside her.

The sound of Leo's voice, calling her name, broke her thoughts. She turned, finding him standing in the doorway, his innocent eyes full of curiosity.

"Mom, can I go play outside?" he asked, holding up his action figures.

Sophia smiled, her heart squeezing at the sight of him. "Of course, honey. Just make sure you're careful."

He nodded enthusiastically, running toward the door before pausing and turning back to look at her. "You okay, Mom?"

She froze. Leo was only eight years old, but somehow, he always knew when something was wrong.

Sophia smiled softly, her heart aching. "Yeah, sweetie. I'm fine. Go on, have fun."

As he bounded outside, she couldn't help but watch him, wondering if the choices she made now would shape the man he would become. Would he be hurt by the decisions she made? Or would he understand, one day, that she did everything she could to protect him?

Her phone buzzed again.

We need to talk in person.

It was Ryan.

She stared at the message for a long moment. Every fiber of her being wanted to ignore it—to push Ryan out of her life for good. But something inside her stirred, something that told her she owed him this conversation. She owed Leo the truth, no matter how painful.

Her fingers hovered over the keys, debating. Finally, she typed out a response.

Where and when?

The reply came quickly.

At the coffee shop near the park. In an hour.

Sophia took a deep breath. There was no avoiding it now. She needed to face Ryan, to figure out what he really wanted and what role—if any—he should play in Leo's life.

An hour later, she found herself sitting across from Ryan in a small café, the hum of quiet conversation around them doing nothing to ease the tension between them. Ryan hadn't changed much since they last saw each other—still the same sharp jawline, the same intensity in his eyes, though now there was a weariness about him that wasn't there before.

He looked at her for a long moment, as though trying to gauge her reaction. "I know this is sudden," he said, his voice rough. "But I want to be in Leo's life again. I've made mistakes, Sophia, and I know I can't erase the past. But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere."

Sophia met his gaze, her own heart aching. She had heard this from him before—the promises, the regrets—but she didn't know if she could trust him again.

"Ryan," she began slowly, her voice steady, "it's not just about what you want anymore. It's about what Leo needs. I've spent years trying to give him stability, trying to protect him from the kind of heartache you caused when you left. You can't just come back into his life without considering what that means."

He lowered his gaze, his hands clenched into fists on the table. "I know," he said, the regret heavy in his voice. "I didn't think about that when I walked away. I didn't think about you, or Leo, or how my absence would affect both of you. But I'm here now, and I'm ready to make things right. I don't expect you to forgive me overnight, but I hope you'll give me a chance to prove that I'm not the same person I was."

Sophia studied him for a long moment, the years of pain and broken promises flooding her thoughts. But beneath the anger, beneath the hurt, there was a small part of her that still wanted to believe in him. Not for her, but for Leo.

"I don't know if Leo's ready for this," she said quietly. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this."

Ryan's expression softened. "I get it. But I'm willing to wait. I'll prove to both of you that I'm serious about being here."

Sophia sat back, her mind whirling. The conversation wasn't going the way she had expected. She had anticipated anger, deflection, but instead, she was faced with someone who seemed truly remorseful—someone who wanted to be a father to Leo. But the question still remained: was he ready? Was he ready to be what Leo needed, or was this just another fleeting promise?

"You've got a long way to go," she said finally. "But I'm willing to talk about it. For Leo's sake."

Ryan nodded, his eyes earnest. "That's all I ask for."

Sophia felt a weight lift off her shoulders, but it was quickly replaced with another—one that was even heavier. The decision she was making wasn't just about her anymore. It was about Leo's future, and that was a responsibility she wasn't going to take lightly.

As they finished their conversation, Sophia couldn't help but feel the crushing reality of what was to come. No matter what decision she made, someone was going to get hurt. The question was, who would it be?

And, more importantly, would she be able to live with the consequences?