Chapter 3
I tried to calm down as Alexander's lingering anger seemed to fill the entire room. Sophia had gone completely quiet, and it hurt my heart to see her vibrant spirit dimmed like that.
Sitting by her bed, I opened a storybook and began to read about a brave rabbit, keeping my voice soft and soothing.
She listened with her eyes half-closed, her usual spark entirely missing. When the story ended, I tucked her in tightly, pulling the heavy blanket up to her chin. "Sleep tight, Sophia," I whispered.
She gave a small, still nod, and as I left the room, my chest felt incredibly tight.
I paced the living room, my mind spinning with unanswered questions.
Why was Alexander so incredibly strict? What exactly scared him, and who was Sophia's mother?
The photo from earlier was stuck in my head; the woman's smile had been warm but deeply sad, her eyes holding a quiet pain that I simply could not let go.
My eyes drifted around the penthouse, tracking the gleaming marble floors and breathing in the cool air that smelled of cedar.
That was when I noticed his office. The door was cracked open just a sliver, and the soft glow of a desk lamp spilled out, practically pulling me toward it.
I knew it was wrong, and every instinct told me that snooping was a terrible idea, but the urge to find answers was simply too strong to fight. With my heart pounding against my ribs, I took a deep breath, stepped quietly across the floor, and slipped inside.
The room was immaculately neat, dominated by a large wooden desk in the center, with bookshelves lining the walls and a few photographs hanging on display. One frame immediately caught my eye.
It showed Alexander, a younger Sophia, and that same beautiful woman looking like a happy family. Yet, looking closer, something felt entirely wrong. The woman's smile didn't reach her eyes, and Alexander's arm held her so tightly that it looked far more like control than love.
My fingers brushed the edge of the frame, my pulse racing as my eyes dropped to a desk drawer left slightly ajar. My heart jumped. I knew I shouldn't do this, but I pulled it open anyway, revealing a thick stack of papers inside. Biting my lip, I cast a quick, panicked look back at the doorway.
Hearing no sound, I lifted the top document. It was a legal custody agreement, and my eyes widened as I read the words as fast as I could. Sophia's mother was named Isabella, and she had completely signed away her parental rights. Every single one of them.
I stared at the signature, wondering why any mother would do such a thing, but the legal pages offered no clues or reasons. My hands began to shake.
Setting the document down, I looked at the next item in the drawer. It was an old newspaper clipping, and the headline hit me like a physical blow: "Local Businessman Tied to Crime Groups." My breath caught in my throat as I read on.
The short, vague article explicitly named Alexander Sterling, hinting at deep ties to the city's dark underworld through shady deals and dangerous shadows. My hands trembled even harder.
Was this his great fear? Was this the real reason he kept Sophia locked inside the penthouse? Were enemies constantly watching them? My mind raced as the printed words began to blur, leaving me feeling cold and terrified.
Suddenly, a sharp click echoed from the front door.
Panic shot through me, tightening my chest as my fumbling fingers desperately shoved the papers back into place.
Closing the drawer as quietly as possible, I darted out of the office, my heart slamming wildly against my ribs just as Alexander stepped into the living room.
He stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing into sharp, freezing slits as they locked onto me. "What are you doing?" he asked, his icy, low voice cutting cleanly through the quiet air.
I froze, my mind going entirely blank as I scrambled for a believable lie. "I was just cleaning up," I stammered, my voice shaking as I pointed to an empty coffee cup sitting on the table my only available excuse. "Sophia is asleep."
He stared at me, his heavy gaze digging so deep it felt like he could see right through my deception. "Good," he said, his tone remaining hard, though I could tell he doubted me. "Get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day."
I nodded, my heart still racing as I turned and walked toward the guest room on legs that felt incredibly weak. The moment I was inside, I shut the door and leaned my entire weight against it.
My breath came in ragged gasps. I had found something massive too massive.
Alexander wasn't just a strict father or a demanding, wealthy boss; he had dark, hidden secrets that had the power to break everything.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed with shaking hands, the images flashed before me: Isabella's sad eyes, the custody papers burning in my mind, and that terrifying news clipping.
Was Alexander truly a part of that dangerous world?
My stomach twisted into painful knots. I had crossed a major line by snooping, but now I knew too much or perhaps not enough.
Looking around the guest room, the plain white walls, the soft glow of the small lamp, and the firm, cold mattress offered little comfort.
The penthouse was quiet now. Entirely too quiet.
Listening to the sound of my own anxious breathing, I couldn't stop my thoughts from spiraling. Was Sophia safe here? Was I safe? Alexander's rigid rules and sudden outbursts finally made sense, but the realization only brought more fear.
I thought of Sophia's small face and how tightly she had clung to me at the park, laughing with her ice cream.
I already cared for her deeply, but her father terrified me.
I could still feel the phantom touch of his hand on my chin, and his warning echoed in my ears: "Don't test me. " I shivered.
Getting up to pace the room, my bare feet sank into the plush rug as I looked out the window at the city lights. The tall buildings looked like a sea of bright, distant dots in a massive, bustling place.
Did danger hide out there in those shadows? Were there people out there watching Sophia, or watching him?
I wrapped my arms around myself as a heavy wave of guilt hit me. He had been entirely right to be angry with me; I had put her at risk today. But was he truly right to hide her away from the world like a prisoner?
I stopped pacing and stared anxiously at the bedroom door. What if he already knew I had been in his office? My pulse jumped at the thought of how sharp his eyes had been. Did he guess what I had done?
Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, I knew I had to be incredibly careful from now on. I had to be smarter and stop taking foolish risks.
I would watch over Sophia and do my job perfectly, but the burning questions remained. Who was Isabella, and what truly tied Alexander to the city's criminal underworld?
I needed answers, but as I finally crawled into bed, I knew they would have to wait.
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