Never Thought Of You

Chapter 22: A Hidden Agenda

As Adina and Ethan spent more time with Sophie, they began to notice that she seemed to be hiding something. Sophie would often change the subject when they asked her about her past, and Adina couldn't shake the feeling that Sophie was keeping secrets.

One day, Adina decided to do some digging on her own. She asked around about Sophie, trying to see if anyone knew anything about her past. It wasn't long before she stumbled upon a surprising piece of information.

Sophie had been involved in a high-profile art scandal several years ago. She had been accused of plagiarizing another artist's work, and the controversy had damaged her reputation. Adina's eyes widened as she read about the scandal online. She couldn't believe that Sophie hadn't told them about this. Why was she keeping it a secret?

That evening, Adina confronted Sophie about what she had learned. Sophie looked taken aback, but she didn't deny the allegations. "It's true," Sophie said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I did get accused of plagiarism. But it was a misunderstanding. I was young and naive, and I didn't know any better."

Adina wasn't sure what to believe. Part of her wanted to give Sophie the benefit of the doubt, but another part of her was wary of getting too close. "Why didn't you tell us about this?" Adina asked, her voice firm but gentle.

Sophie sighed. "I was ashamed. I didn't want you to think less of me. But I promise you, I'm not that person anymore. I've learned from my mistakes, and I'm trying to move forward." Adina looked at Ethan, who seemed uncertain about what to make of Sophie's revelation.

As they continued to discuss Sophie's past, Adina realized that she still had questions. "What really happened with the plagiarism accusations?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Sophie hesitated, and for a moment, Adina thought she saw a flash of fear in her eyes.

"I was working on a project, and I used some ideas from someone else's work without properly citing them," Sophie said, her voice measured. "It was a mistake, and I regret it to this day. But I didn't mean to hurt anyone." Adina wasn't sure if she believed Sophie's explanation, but she decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

As the evening drew to a close, Adina felt like she understood Sophie a little better. But she still had the feeling that Sophie was hiding something. And she was determined to find out what it was.