Chapter 12 Sylvia #2
She barely had time to take another breath before a body crashed into her.
“Oof—!”
Her breath left her lungs as arms wrapped tightly around her body. She staggered back a step, dropping the handle of her suitcase.
“Emma—!” she gasped.
Emma clung to her like she was afraid she might disappear, squeezing so tightly that Sophia had to laugh despite the ache in her chest.
“God, damn it,” Emma muttered, her voice half-laughing, half-emotional as she finally pulled back. A wide grin spread across her face, eyes shining. “Two years! Now I can finally hang out with you like before!”
Sophia couldn’t stop the smile that curved her lips.
“I missed you too,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around Emma again and hugging her back properly this time.
Emma didn’t waste another second. She grabbed Sophia’s hand and tugged her toward the couch.
Sophia let go of the suitcase and followed, allowing herself to be pulled along. They sank onto the couch together, but Emma didn’t release her hand. Instead, she held it tightly between both of hers like she needed physical proof that Sophia was really here.
“It feels like forever since we’ve just sat like this,” Emma said, her voice trembling slightly despite her bright smile. “I’m so happy you’re finally back.”
Her eyes grew suspiciously glossy.
Sophia laughed quietly and nudged her shoulder. “Don’t cry.”
Emma lifted Sophia’s hand and rubbed her cheek against it, almost like a cat seeking affection. She sniffed dramatically but grinned again. Then her expression shifted — curiosity replacing excitement.
“So…” she narrowed her eyes playfully. “Are you seeing someone?”
“Nah,” Sophia lightly smacked Emma’s shoulder with the back of her fingers. “You know how the last one ended.”
Her smile faded.
Her gaze dropped to their joined hands.
Emma’s grip on her hand tightened.
Sophia inhaled slowly, steadying herself. “I’m just not ready,” she added. “I don’t think I will be for a while.”
Emma studied her face carefully. The teasing expression was gone now, replaced with something gentler.
“You’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?”
Sophia didn’t answer.
Emma hesitated before continuing carefully, “You remember that after you left, Magnus got into an accident, right?”
Sophia’s lashes fluttered, but she didn’t speak.
“He lost the memories of the last six months. He doesn’t remember your marriage,” Emma continued. “He doesn’t remember his mom arranging for you to meet him. To him, you don’t exist. If you stood in front of him now…” Emma hesitated, “you’d be a stranger.”
The room felt suddenly colder.
Sophia forced her expression to remain calm, though her chest tightened painfully.
“I know,” she said quietly.
Emma searched her face. “Do you regret it?”
Sophia looked up.
“Regret not forgiving him?” Emma pressed gently. “He explained everything to you before you left, didn’t he? About those photos. About Celia and all your misunderstandings. Do you regret not forgiving him back then?”
Her voice softened further. “Now that you’re back… are you thinking about reconciling?”
Sophia shook her head.
“No. Our relationship was wrong from the beginning. It was just a contract marriage. It was never meant to last.”
Her lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile.
“It’s better that it ended early.”
But her eyes betrayed her.
Because even now, two years later, it didn’t feel like an ending at all.
Emma’s eyes narrowed slightly at Sophia’s answer.
“You know I can tell when you’re lying, right?”
Sophia stiffened almost imperceptibly.
“When I told you about his accident… about his memory loss…” Emma’s voice lowered. “I still remember how your phone slipped from your hand. You didn’t say a single word. You just stood there like someone had ripped the ground from under you.”
Sophia swallowed.
“You disappeared for a whole month, Sophia,” Emma said, her voice rising with anger. “You didn’t call. You didn’t reply to my messages. Literally no response at all. I was terrified!”
Silence fell between them.
“So don’t try to tell me it didn’t matter,” Emma said quietly. “A relationship doesn’t become meaningless just because it was short.”
Sophia couldn’t deny it.
It was true.
At the airport, she had searched for him — scanning every tall figure, every dark coat, every familiar silhouette in the crowd. And when she’d heard about the accident three days after landing in London — when Emma had told her he was alive but had forgotten the last six months…
Including their marriage.
She remembered the way her world had collapsed in that instant.
It was cruel in a way she couldn’t explain.
Why was she the only one forced to carry their memories? Why did she have to remember every word, every touch, every argument — while he was granted the mercy of forgetting?
It had only been three months.
Three months built on a contract.
It shouldn’t have shattered her the way it did.
But it had.
It had broken her so deeply that she couldn’t even speak to Emma for weeks. She had shut herself away, refusing calls, refusing the world. It had taken her a long time to breathe without feeling like her chest was collapsing.
Eventually, she accepted it.
It was over.
There was no going back.
And if he had forgotten, it felt like the universe’s way of closing the door.
Sophia finally lifted her head and forced a smile. It didn’t reach her eyes.
“Stop talking about it,” she said quietly. “Why are we still discussing him?”
She waved her hand dismissively, though her shoulders were tense. “It’s good, isn’t it? Now we won’t have anything to do with each other in the future. He doesn’t remember me. Even if we meet again, we’ll just be strangers.”
She let out a small breath.
“Those three months were just a small part of my life.”
Emma gave her a look that clearly said she didn’t believe that.
Sophia lightly smacked Emma’s arm. “Can you stop talking about him? I want to hear about you.”
She nudged her with her shoulder. “I was gone for two years. Didn’t you miss me? Why are you obsessing over him?”
Emma blinked at her before scoffing dramatically. She bumped her shoulder back against Sophia’s.
“Of course I missed you,” she said dramatically, but her eyes were soft. “You’re literally the most important person in my life after my family. How the hell could I not miss you?”
Sophia laughed softly, leaning into her warmth.
They talked for hours after that—about Emma’s work, new gossip, small life changes, random memories from school, the ordinary rhythm of life that had continued while Sophia had been away.
Almost like the past had never happened.
Two hours later, Sophia stood up, grabbing her bag. “Gotta get to work now. I will see you at night.”
Emma stared at her in disbelief.
“You just got back today,” she said, crossing her arms. “You literally landed a few hours ago. And you’re already going to work? You’re unbelievable.”
Sophia gave her an apologetic smile.
Minutes later, Sophia stepped out of the house with Emma practically glued to her arm.
Emma looped both hands around Sophia’s elbow as they walked down the driveway. “I’m dropping you off,” she declared. “Where’s the auction?”
“Near Circle Avenue,” Sophia replied, shielding her eyes with her hand as she looked down the street. “You can leave after dropping me off.”
Emma placed a hand over her heart. “Unbelievable. You disappear for two years and this is the treatment I get?”
She sniffed theatrically.
“Whatever. I’ll leave the car for you. Take it home after the auction. I’ll go shopping.”
She was about to continue complaining when Sophia suddenly froze mid-step.
Her eyes widened.
Parked along the curb was a red Corvette, gleaming under the sunlight.
“Oh my God…” Sophia breathed.
She pulled her arm from Emma’s grip and hurried toward the car.
“The Corvette is here today? I thought Elias was keeping it. Did he give it to you?” she asked, circling the car, her fingers lightly brushing over the smooth red surface.
Emma smirked, tossing the keys into the air and catching them.
“This is still my most favorite car,” Sophia stopped near the hood and actually hugged it. “I’ve missed you,” she murmured to the vehicle like it was an old lover.
Emma laughed. “It’s Elias’s favorite too. Otherwise, I would’ve given it to you long ago. But since it’s a special day…” She dangled the keys in front of Sophia’s face. “I borrowed it for you.”
Then her expression shifted — playful and alive.
Without hesitation, she opened the driver’s door. “I’m driving.”
She slid into the seat quickly, gripping the steering wheel with excitement.
Emma settled into the passenger seat, amused. She opened the glove compartment and pulled out two pairs of sunglasses.
“I bought these,” she said, handing one over. “This one’s for you. And this one’s for me. Look—matching.”
Sophia grinned and put them on. “Do I look super rich?”
Emma put hers on too and grinned. “You look illegal.”
Sophia laughed and started the engine. The Corvette roared to life.
Both of them squealed.
Music blasted through the speakers as she pulled onto the street. The wind rushed in through the slightly open windows, tangling their hair. Both girls started singing loudly — completely off-key — drumming their hands against the dashboard.
As they approached a red light, Sophia lowered the volume slightly.
Emma turned toward her. “Wait. What’s your new name again for hosting auctions? I forgot. I don’t want to accidentally call you the wrong name in front of people.”
“Sylvia,” Sophia replied, easing her foot on the brake.
Emma tilted her head. “Sylvia,” she repeated slowly. “Why did you change your name? What was wrong with Sophia? You could’ve hosted auctions under your real name.”
Sophia’s hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel, though her expression remained calm.
“After I moved to London, I needed to rebuild my identity,” she explained quietly. “I wanted a clean slate. In London, I worked more closely with high-society collectors. Art investors. Private bidders. I needed to make a strong impression. A new name helped me stand out and cut off from my past.”
Emma gasped and clutched her chest. “So I’m basically sitting next to a celebrity right now? A high-society auction queen?”
Sophia turned and gave her a playful wink. “You should get an autograph.”
Emma laughed and bumped her shoulder.
And as the light turned green and the car sped forward again, the sunlight reflecting off the red hood.