Chapter 13
766 Words
The air was crisp as Sofia walked back home, her mind clouded with Ethan’s cryptic words. What could he possibly have against me? she thought, over and over, as doubt crept in.
When she arrived, the house was unusually quiet, save for the faint hum of a clock ticking in the hallway. Alexander had left earlier for a meeting, and the stillness made Sofia uneasy.
She settled onto the couch, her thoughts restless. But before she could sink deeper into her worries, her phone buzzed.
Carmen: Can we talk? Please.
Sofia stared at the message, a mix of anger and curiosity bubbling within her. After a moment, she typed back:
Sofia: Come over. I’m alone.
An hour later, Carmen arrived, looking every bit as polished as always, though there was an air of hesitancy about her. She hesitated at the doorway, as if gauging whether she was welcome.
“Come in,” Sofia said flatly, stepping aside.
Carmen entered, her eyes scanning the room, probably noting the absence of Alexander. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
Sofia wasted no time. “Why did you send me to that gala, Carmen? And don’t bother lying—I already know it was all planned.”
Carmen’s eyes widened, but she quickly masked her surprise. “Sofia, it’s not what you think—”
“Then what is it?” Sofia interrupted, her voice rising. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you betrayed me.”
Carmen sighed, sitting down on the couch, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “It wasn’t supposed to go this far,” she said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”
“Then explain,” Sofia demanded, crossing her arms.
Carmen took a deep breath, her gaze dropping to her hands. “Ethan approached me weeks before the gala. He said he needed you there, but he wouldn’t tell me why. He promised it was harmless—just business. I didn’t ask questions, Sofia. I didn’t think it would turn into this.”
“Business?” Sofia scoffed, her anger barely contained. “You helped him trap me in some twisted game, and you call it business?”
“I was desperate!” Carmen blurted, tears welling in her eyes. “Ethan offered to help me with my debts. I didn’t know he had other motives. Please believe me, Sofia. I would never intentionally hurt you.”
Sofia stared at her, torn between anger and the flicker of guilt that came with seeing Carmen’s remorse.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Sofia asked, her voice softer now.
Carmen wiped her tears, her hands shaking. “Because I was ashamed. And because Ethan warned me not to. He’s not just playing games, Sofia. He’s dangerous. If he’s targeting you, there’s more to this than you know.”
Sofia’s heart sank. She’d always known Ethan was manipulative, but dangerous? That was a whole new level.
“Does Alexander know about any of this?” Carmen asked hesitantly.
Sofia shook her head. “Not everything. Not yet.”
Carmen nodded slowly. “You need to be careful, Sofia. Ethan doesn’t make idle threats.”
“Neither do I,” Sofia said firmly, her resolve hardening.
Carmen looked at her, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes. “I want to help you fix this. Let me make it right.”
Sofia hesitated but finally nodded. “We’ll see. For now, just stay out of his way—and mine.”
After Carmen left, Sofia sat in the dimly lit living room, her mind racing. Pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but so many questions remained unanswered.
Why had Ethan targeted her in the first place? What did he stand to gain?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. Alexander walked in, his face lighting up when he saw her.
“You’re still awake,” he said, setting down his briefcase.
“Yeah,” Sofia murmured. “I had a lot on my mind.”
Alexander sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Want to talk about it?”
Sofia hesitated. She wanted to tell him everything, but a part of her worried about dragging him into Ethan’s web.
“Not yet,” she said finally. “But soon.”
Alexander nodded, his gaze steady. “I’m here whenever you’re ready.”
As he held her close, Sofia allowed herself a brief moment of comfort. But deep down, she knew the storm was far from over.
- Writer
