Chapter 153

"Forgive me this time, please? I'll love you properly, and I'll treat the baby in your womb as my own. Just give me one chance, Sophia?" Liam's voice trembled with desperation.

Sophia shook her head, her expression resolute. "Mr. Sterling, I don't love you. And I don’t give second chances to people who’ve wronged me. Actually, you came at the right time—I have something for you."

She turned and walked back into her apartment, returning moments later with a thick envelope labeled Liam Sterling in bold, precise handwriting. The strokes were sharp, unyielding—just like Sophia herself.

Words reveal a person’s soul, and Sophia’s script left no room for doubt.

Liam stared at it, momentarily stunned. It was the first time he’d seen her handwriting—strong, decisive, nothing like the delicate loops most women favored.

"Inside is $10,000. I won’t give you more because I honestly don’t have it. But between the $3,000 I owed you and all those meals you insisted on paying for, this should cover it. Consider us even."

"You’re mocking me, Sophia." Liam’s voice turned rough. "I lent you $3,000, but you took a knife for me. You think that’s worth $10,000? Try $30 million. That still wouldn’t be enough." His gaze burned into hers, raw with sincerity.

He wanted her to stay. He needed her to believe him.

But Sophia didn’t even let him step inside. "Mr. Sterling, whether you owe me or I owe you, take this money and we’re done. I have things to do, so please leave."

"Sophia!" Liam grabbed her wrist.

She flinched, yanking her arm back. "Let go! Liam, let go—!"

"Back off!" A figure shoved Liam away with enough force to send him stumbling.

Liam caught himself, glaring up—only to freeze. "Noah?"

Noah Whitmore shielded Sophia behind him, his voice icy. "Haven’t you hurt her enough? She took a knife for you while pregnant. She endured debridement without anesthesia, screaming in pain. If you have any decency, walk away. You’ve lost the right to even look at her."

Liam’s jaw clenched. "So it’s like that? You’re in love with her?"

"Don’t be ridiculous."

"She’s my wife!" Liam lunged for Sophia.

Noah pulled her back. "You have the nerve to say that? After everything?"

Sophia stood trapped between them, her face blank.

She didn’t trust Noah. She certainly didn’t trust Liam.

This had to be another twisted game between these two spoiled heirs.

None of them noticed the camera lens trained on them from the alley, snapping shot after shot.

Finally, Sophia snapped. "If you two don’t leave right now, I’m calling the police!"

They broke apart.

Liam exhaled sharply. "Sophia, you don’t know Noah like I do."

"But she knows you," Noah countered coldly. "And you destroyed her." He turned to Sophia, his voice softening. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. I just wanted to make sure you were safe. I’ll go now."

Sophia said nothing.

Noah left, dragging Liam with him.

The photographer slipped away too, smirking. "Tomorrow’s headlines will be juicy."

Later, Sophia went to the bank, deposited her remaining cash, then headed to the train station.

"Next available ticket to Willowbrook County?" she asked.

"Three days from now," the clerk said.

Buses ran daily, but the 24-hour ride cost $600. With her pregnancy, she couldn’t risk the bumpy roads.

"One ticket for three days from now," she said quietly.

She spent the morning wandering the city—something she hadn’t done since leaving prison. No money, no time. Now, with nothing but a train ticket and her thoughts, she walked aimlessly.

At noon, she called Nathan Carter. "Does Mr. Blackwood approve of me visiting his mother’s grave?"

"Of course," Nathan said immediately. "Madam Blackwood adored you. You’re welcome anytime."

"Thank you."

"Wait—Sophia," Nathan hesitated. "What are your plans now? Do you need—"

"No," she cut him off. "Nothing."

She hung up.

That afternoon, dressed in black, Sophia stood before Victoria Blackwood’s grave. The woman in the photo smiled gently, her eyes kind.

Sophia traced the engraving. "Aunt Victoria, I need your strength. I’m going to raise my child alone, just like you did. I’ll make sure they never want for anything."

She swallowed hard. "I’m leaving Harborview in three days. It might be years before I return. Please don’t hate me for not visiting."

From her bag, she withdrew a velvet box. Inside lay an emerald bracelet—the one Victoria had slipped onto her wrist, calling her daughter-in-law.

"I lied to you," Sophia whispered. "But my love wasn’t a lie. You were the mother I never had."

She opened the tomb’s small compartment, placing the bracelet beside Victoria’s ashes.

"Keep this with you. It’s all I have left to give."

Her voice broke.

"Goodbye, Mom."