Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
My face is buried in my knees, as I rock myself on the bed, holding my legs tightly together. The sound of Lila opening a bag of chips is quite literally the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Immediately, I look up, filled with anger that’s been simmering beneath the surface.
“Calm down,” Avalon sits on the bed next to me, putting her hand on my shoulder. “Deep breaths, Sophia. Deep breaths.”
My eyes close for a moment, and I listen to her instructions. Slowly, I feel myself getting calmer, though I’m scared one wrong move will make me have a mental breakdown that no one needs to see.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, and Grace picks it up, then scoffs, rolls her eyes, and turns the device off before setting it down on the nightstand.
“A hundred and seventy-eight missed calls from him, and another two hundred texts. Man, he’s persistent.”
“God,” I groan, laying my head down on Avalon’s lap. Her fingers thread through my hair, and it makes me relax, even if momentarily. She’s massaging my scalp, and it sends tingles down my body. “I seriously need to block him.”
“Do you think now would be the best time to tell us how the fuck all of this happened?”
I groan, burying my face further into Avalon’s lap. My words are muffled, though the girls seem to understand them. “I don’t wanna.”
“Stop whining. You did adult things; you’re getting adult consequences. Now, spill.”
I growl in anger at Grace, but she only rolls her eyes. I sit up, crossing my arms in front of my chest, huffing and puffing. Yes, it makes me seem like a whiny brat — but I have always been one, so it’s completely on brand.
“Fine,” I sigh. “It started back at the camp. He was obviously pissed about the tattoo, and I, well, didn’t help my case. I did taunt and provoke him.”
Grace lifts a brow. “And?”
“And, well, he chased me through the woods, and uh… fucked me there.”
A loud gasp comes from Lila, the bag of chips falling out of her hands, as she puts them over her mouth. Her eyes are wide, and Grace’s expression mirrors Lila’s. Though unlike Lila, who seems baffled, Grace is absolutely fucking entertained.
“You let him chase you and fuck you in the woods?” Grace laughs. “Oh, you filthy whore. Tell me more.”
“There’s nothing to tell!” I sigh. “We’ve only done it three times. The elevator is the third time.”
“Oh, there was a second time, too?” Grace wiggles her brows suggestively, her eyes sparkling. “Tell me about it.”
“No.”
“How was it?” She chuckles. “You can at least tell us that, right?”
“It was… good. I mean, I don’t have anything to compare it to, you know? But I’d say it was good. He’s very kinky, too.”
“Yeah, I figured,” Grace shrugs. “He looks like he’d be.”
“Also… his dick is pierced.”
Grace’s eyes twinkle in amusement. “Oh, you lucky dog. I bet that feels great, huh?”
My cheeks flush in embarrassment, and I look away. Grace continues with her teasing antics, and right about now, I’m starting to regret ever telling them about this.
“What are you going to do now, though?” Lila asks, after successfully picking her jaw off the floor.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, your parents told you not to see him anymore. And if I know Astrid — and I do know her well enough — she’ll sue you for assault.”
“I don’t care about that, to be honest. If she wants to sue me, she can go ahead. But I still have evidence of her spreading that image, so I’ll just sue her for revenge porn, which is illegal in our state. If I’m losing, I won’t be the only one losing.”
“Smart,” Grace adds. “What about Soren, though? The man keeps texting you. When you turn your phone back on, I can only imagine how many missed calls you’ll have.”
“I’ll stop seeing him.”
“Yeah, right,” Grace snorts. “I’ll bet a hundred bucks you won’t.”
“I’ll even bet five hundred,” Avalon adds. “And I don’t have that much money to lose. But I know you, Soph, you’ll never stop seeing him. Not after finding out about Sawyer and Astrid, which is bonkers, by the way.”
I gag. “Don’t remind me. The thought makes me nauseous as hell.”
“What I can’t believe is that the bastard took her side,” Grace rolls her eyes, sprawling all over the fluffy carpet on the floor. “I know you’re putting on a brave front, but everyone can see how much it hurts.”
“Of course, it hurts,” I mutter, looking down, and avoiding eye contact with each one of the girls. “Because if the roles were reversed, and Soren had leaked such a private moment of Sawyer, I never would’ve taken Soren’s side. Apparently, family loyalty doesn’t exist when you’re pussy whipped.”
Avalon snorts. “Trust me, he’ll come to regret it.”
“And it’ll be too late. Because if he had regretted it the same night, I would’ve forgiven him. Now? He could move the mountains, and I’d still never speak to him.”
“Sometimes, I forget you hold grudges for life,” Avalon mutters. “Besides, when he realizes how fucked up it was to defend Astrid, he’ll apologize properly.”
“I highly doubt that,” I sigh, then lean my cheek against her shoulder. She takes my hand in hers, rubbing the back of my palm with her thumb. “How did your parents react to that relationship?”
“As well as one would expect. I did throw him under the bus, and I think it earned me some brownie points. From what Mom has told me, Dad’s not speaking to Sawyer for being a hypocrite. He’s condemning me while doing the same thing, so I guess that counts for something.”
“Oh, you’re definitely the favorite child,” Lila snickers.
“Not really,” I mutter. “Aside from a few mishaps that always seemed to involve Soren, and what happened at the Christmas party, it’s always been Sawyer to make headlines.
In his late teens, and early twenties, he had more scandals than anyone I know.
From getting drunk and starting fights, to selling weed on campus.
I’m not the favorite, I’m just the more disciplined child, so their methods are different for the two of us. ”
“And you’re far more stubborn.”
I chuckle, then a knock comes to the door. All the girls straighten up, and I sit nicely, fixing my hair, glancing at them for approval. For a moment, it feels like we’re high schoolers hiding drugs or alcohol.
“Come in.”
Elliot opens the door with a soft smile, standing at the threshold. “You’re requested downstairs in twenty minutes, Ms. Sloane.”
“Why?”
“You have guests.”
I frown. “Guests? Who would come unannounced?”
Elliot winces. “The Fords.”
My eyes bulge out, almost dropping from their sockets. “All of them?”
“Except the youngest child, yes.”
“I’ll be down shortly.”
The moment Elliot’s out the door, and it closes behind him, I start hyperventilating.
The only person doing something productive is Grace, entering my closet and pulling out an outfit that she deems suitable.
While I’m trying to pay attention to Lila and Avalon’s words of encouragement, and not have a mental breakdown, Grace starts working on my hair, pulling it into a sleek, low bun, making sure to add one of my favorite bows.
“Why are they here?” I hiss, more to myself, as Grace drags me to my feet, and starts taking off my pajamas. “There’s no reason they should be here.”
“Maybe because of the lawsuit? You know, if you don’t sue Astrid, they won’t sue you?” Lila offers, though something tells me something far worse is happening here.
“I’ll pray it’s about that.”
◆◆◆
My own home has never felt this suffocating.
Everything is making me feel uneasy. Grace’s choice of clothes is very, very simple, yet it fits within what I’d wear on a daily basis perfectly.
A black, fitted, long-sleeved shirt, with baby pink pants.
She managed to put on some jewelry on me just in time, and spray my favorite perfume.
I’m not sure why we’re doing all the work, but I had no time to protest.
With each step I take, my heart starts beating faster. My palms grow sweaty when I reach the biggest lounges of the manor, stepping into view. Edward and Elena Ford are sitting across from my parents, and their eyes snap to me.
Thankfully, if I’ve mastered anything in my life, it’s to fake it till I make it. The confidence is back, and although it’s not entirely sincere, no one will ever be able to tell.
Astrid, with her face in a terrible state, is sitting beside her mother, and Soren is next to their father. I avoid eye contact with them as much as possible, shifting the focus to my own family.
“Good evening,” I step into the room, hands clasped in front of me, as I take a seat next to Mom. I’m not sure why Sawyer is here, but I pay no attention to him, my eyes sweeping over Astrid again. “You’re looking different, Astrid.”
“Sophia,” Dad’s warning voice makes me sigh, and I can feel Soren’s burning gaze on the side of my face. I chose the seat as far from him as possible, trying to avoid him at all costs.
“Why are we here?”
Dad and Edward exchange a look. For the first time since I’ve known about their rivalry, it’s not filled with hatred. It’s more understanding, and I’m not certain why, but it fucking scares me.
“This has gone on for far too long,” Edward starts speaking, just as Elliot brings the beverage.
It’s one of the finest teas, and although it’s not my favorite, I can’t exactly play the part of the bratty rich girl right now.
Elliot winks at me discreetly, and when my cup is in front of me, I smile in gratitude.
He brewed my favorite one. That’s why I adore this man.
“And all of you are adults. This can’t go on anymore. ”
“Edward’s right,” Dad agrees, and you’d think someone tore a limb off his body. I take a sip of the tea to prevent myself from laughing at Dad’s expression of pure agony as he agrees. “This has to stop.”
“And what are you suggesting, exactly?” I ask, putting the cup back on the matching, porcelain saucer, eyes glancing between each person in the room, except Soren, of course.
“We won’t sue,” Elena explains, but bitterness laces her tongue, which makes me smirk in triumph. “As long as you don’t sue for Astrid’s little mistake.”
“Mistake?” I repeat with a scoff. “You’re calling that a mistake?”
“Yes,” Elena insists, and I suppress the urge to roll my eyes. Mom takes my hand in hers, giving it a firm, solid squeeze. A silent warning to keep my tongue in check. “Let’s just all apologize to each other and go our separate ways.”
I blink as silence falls in the lounge. I’m waiting for anyone to tell me it’s some sort of a terrible joke, and that this woman didn’t just come into my home and almost ordered me to apologize to Astrid.
“You know what? You’re right,” I bite out, and even my Dad looks surprised. “And after that, we can all go outside, make sand and water cakes in the park, and also go down the slides together. Since you’re already treating us like we’re seven, why not go all out?”
Soren surprises me by bursting out laughing. I’ve been observing him from the corner of my eye, and this entire time, his posture’s been rigid, his jaw clenched shut, and I’m too embarrassed to admit the instant effect it had on me.
However, hearing him laugh so heartily makes my own heart beat faster. He’s so beautiful when he laughs that it’s almost painful to watch.
“Sophia,” Mom squeezes my hand painfully. “We’re trying to resolve all of this.”
“Well, then, let me be the one to break it down to you, okay? You, the parents, are to blame for all of this. Since we were kids, you’ve instilled into our brains not to mix with each other, and we listened. Now you’re starting to see the fault in your ways?”
“Not once did that mean you had to bully each other,” Edward piques. “Or to beat each other.”
“Perhaps you should’ve thought about that sooner. Now, I will not be apologizing to Astrid. Because, quite frankly, I don’t regret a single thing I’ve done. She’s lucky Sawyer pulled me off her; otherwise, I doubt she’d still be breathing.”
“Why, you little—” Astrid grits out, and the room falls silent when Dad clears his throat, drawing attention to himself.
“Still, that’s not the only thing we need to discuss. Sawyer and Astrid are the main topic.”
“Oh,” I lean back with a smirk. “I have to hear this.”
“This, whatever this is between you two,” Dad motions with his hands, “cannot go on. It’s been going on for far too long. A whole damned year. You two will figure out the easiest way to break it off, and I’m giving you a week.”
Astrid’s face falls visibly, and I’m trying my best not to laugh in her face. She wants to protest, turning to her parents for support, but she seems to be barking at the wrong tree, because judging by their body language, this is something they agree on wholeheartedly.
“We’re adults,” Sawyer protests, and I turn to look at him. He’s fuming. “You can’t seriously tell me who I can and cannot be with.”
“Correct,” Dad says. “But your actions have consequences. The Fords are our biggest competitors, and I don’t trust you while you’re with her. So, I’m giving you a week. Should you choose to continue with the relationship, I’ll have no choice but to leave all the major business to Sophia.”
Immediately, I sit up with the widest, biggest grin that I could possibly muster. Sawyer’s eyes land on me, and if he wasn’t angry before, he sure as hell is furious now.
“Oh, please,” I laugh. “Go and marry her, I’m begging you.”
“You too, Sophia,” my eyes immediately snap to Mom when I hear her voice. “You’ll break off things with Soren, and you’ll act accordingly.”
“Oh, no issues there. Don’t worry about it.”
The moment the words leave my lips, I regret them on some level. Soren’s eyes are burning into mine, and the smile falls off my lips. The anger is there, thinly concealed, and he’s waiting to strike.
At this moment, I start to realize the depth of his obsession because not a single thing about the way he’s looking at me is telling me he’ll let me go. He never will, and I’ll remain trapped within the cage of his obsession forever.