Sophia Stone had raised three children, managed a household, supported a growing family business, and survived decades of Stone family chaos. She considered herself an excellent judge of character, which was precisely why Ava Bennett confused her. The woman simply didn't fit the picture Sophia had imagined, and the more she learned, the less that picture made sense. Every answer seemed to create new questions, every assumption seemed to unravel under closer examination, and for a woman who prided herself on understanding people, that was becoming increasingly irritating.
Two days after her conversation with Liam, Sophia finally made a decision. She would spend time with Noah alone, not because she doubted him but because she adored him. The boy had somehow managed to charm an entire fami
