Chapter 15: Unraveling the Web
631 Words
Carmen’s apartment felt stifling, the walls closing in as Sofia’s mind raced. Ethan was on his way, and she wasn’t ready for another confrontation—not yet.
“You have to leave,” Carmen urged, her voice trembling as she grabbed Sofia’s arm.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Sofia said firmly, pulling away. “If he’s coming, I want answers. It’s time I stopped running from him.”
Carmen looked torn but nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But let me handle this. Ethan won’t talk if he thinks you’re onto him.”
Sofia agreed, retreating to the bedroom, leaving the door slightly opened. She needed to hear everything.
Minutes later, the door swung open, and Ethan’s commanding presence filled the space. His sharp suit and casual confidence sent a chill down Sofia’s spine even from her hiding spot.
“You’re late,” Carmen said, crossing her arms to mask her nerves.
“I had a meeting,” Ethan replied smoothly. “Why did you call me here?”
Carmen hesitated. “It’s Sofia. She’s starting to put things together. You need to back off before this gets out of hand.”
Ethan chuckled, a dark sound that made Sofia’s blood run cold. “Out of hand? Carmen, this is all going according to plan.”
“What plan?” Carmen demanded.
Ethan stepped closer to her, his tone dropping to a menacing whisper. “The one where Sofia realizes she has no choice but to play along. She’ll come to me, Carmen. It’s just a matter of time.”
Sofia’s grip on the doorframe tightened. Her suspicions were confirmed—Ethan was orchestrating everything, and she was at the center of his twisted scheme.
Carmen tried again. “She’s not as naïve as you think, Ethan. If she figures out—”
“She won’t,” Ethan interrupted. “Because you’ll keep her in check. You owe me, Carmen. Don’t forget that.”
Carmen flinched but didn’t argue, and Ethan’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening.
“I have to go. Keep Sofia in line,” he ordered before striding out the door.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Sofia burst into the living room.
“Keep me in line?” she demanded, glaring at Carmen. “What exactly does he have on you?”
Carmen sank onto the couch, her face buried in her hands. “It’s not what you think, Sofia. I made a mistake, and now Ethan’s using it against me. He’s ruthless, and he doesn’t care who gets hurt.”
“What mistake?” Sofia pressed.
Carmen hesitated, then whispered, “I forged documents for him—just once—to cover up a deal gone wrong. I didn’t know how dangerous he was back then.”
Sofia’s anger faltered, replaced by a mixture of pity and frustration. “You should’ve told me. We could’ve figured this out together.”
“I didn’t want to drag you into this,” Carmen said, her voice breaking. “But now it’s too late. He’s obsessed with controlling you, Sofia. You need to be careful.”
Sofia nodded, determination hardening her resolve. “I will. But I’m not going to let him win. It’s time I turned the tables on Ethan.”
That night, Sofia returned home to Alexander, her mind spinning with plans. She would need to be smart, patient, and fearless. Ethan had underestimated her, and that would be his downfall.
“Everything okay?” Alexander asked, sensing her tension.
“Not yet,” Sofia admitted. “But it will be. I promise.”
Her words were more for herself than for him. The battle was far from over, but Sofia was ready to fight back—and this time, she wasn’t alone.
- Writer
