Two Lovers Entwined

12. Million dollars.

Later that week, Sophia sat in the sitting room of the mansion, waiting for Liam to arrive. The house seemed even larger, emptier, as she anticipated his arrival. She had never shared this part of her life with him—the grandiosity of her father’s wealth, the legacy of her mother’s art. It had always seemed easier to keep her world in New York separate from Baltimore. But now, there was no avoiding it.

When Liam’s car pulled up the long driveway, she could see him pause, taking in the grandeur of the estate. He stepped out slowly, almost hesitantly, as if the magnitude of the mansion had taken him by surprise. Sophia stood at the door, watching him approach with wide eyes.

Liam’s expression was a mix of awe and disbelief. "Sophia… this place is incredible."

She offered a faint smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "It’s home."

As they stepped inside, the quiet elegance of the mansion enveloped them. The walls were adorned with art, paintings that seemed to belong in a museum. Liam’s eyes darted from one piece to the next, his artist’s mind undoubtedly soaking in the beauty and history of it all.

They sat in the drawing room, the silence between them heavy with all that remained unsaid. But before Liam could speak, her father entered the room, his presence commanding without a word.

"Sophia," her father greeted her, his gaze flicking to Liam. "I didn’t realize you had company."

Liam stood, extending a hand. "Liam Carter. I’m—"

"The artist," her father finished, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips as he shook Liam’s hand. "I’ve been waiting to meet you."

Liam blinked, surprised. "You’ve been waiting to meet me?"

Sophia’s stomach twisted as she realized what was happening. Her father’s words made it clear—he was the buyer. The mysterious person who had purchased Liam’s painting for millions of dollars.

"Yes," her father said, his voice calm and assured. "I’m the one who bought your work. I’ve been following your career for a while now. I was impressed with your latest collection."

Liam was stunned, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to process the information. "I… I didn’t realize."

Sophia looked between them, her heart racing. She had never imagined that her father, with all his stoicism and distance, would be the one to invest in Liam’s work. And yet, here they were.

"You’ve been buying Liam’s paintings?" Sophia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her father nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "Your mother was a painter, Sophia. You know how much art has always meant to me. When I saw his work, it reminded me of her. Of what she used to create."

Liam’s eyes widened. "Your mother was a painter?"

Sophia nodded slowly. "She was famous, back in the 1990s. Her work… it was groundbreaking."

Liam sat back, absorbing the revelation. "I didn’t know."

"There’s a lot you don’t know," Sophia said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of her past. "But that’s why I left New York. I needed to come back here. To figure out who I am without… everything else."

Liam looked at her, his expression filled with understanding and regret. "I didn’t mean to complicate things for you, Sophia. I just—"

"You didn’t complicate them, Liam," she interrupted softly. "I did. And now, I need time to fix them. To find myself again."

The silence between them hung heavy, as if the weight of all their decisions had finally caught up to them. Liam glanced at her father, then back to Sophia. "I didn’t know about your mother. But I can see why you needed to come back here."

Her father, ever the silent presence, stood and placed a hand on Sophia’s shoulder. "Whatever you decide, you’ll always have this place. This home."

Sophia looked at Liam, her heart torn between the life she had in New York and the healing she needed in Baltimore. She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was on the path to finding out.

Liam rose from his seat, his eyes filled with something like acceptance. "Thank you for letting me see this part of your life. I won’t push anymore."

Sophia nodded, her heart heavy but grateful. "Goodbye, Liam."

And with that, Liam left the mansion, leaving Sophia to face the parts of herself she had been running from for so long.

"Sophia," he began, his voice soft but probing, "I couldn’t help but notice the connection between you and Liam. Is there something more going on?"

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat, her fingers tightening around the edge of the counter. She had known this question was coming, had sensed it in the way her father watched her when Liam was around. But now, confronted with it, she wasn’t sure how to answer.

With a deep breath, she turned to face him, meeting his calm, steady eyes. "Yes," she admitted quietly. "There was… something. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but there’s definitely something between us. And… I made mistakes. With Noah. With Liam."

Her father leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped together, nodding thoughtfully. "Noah was never the right guy for you," he said, his tone matter-of-fact but not unkind. "I know you cared for him, but deep down, I could always tell you weren’t truly happy."

Sophia blinked in surprise. She had always thought her father approved of Noah—after all, he had never said anything to the contrary.

"You never said anything," she whispered, still processing his words.

"I didn’t," her father acknowledged, his voice gentle. "Because it was what your mother would have wanted—for me to give you the freedom to choose, to let you live your life without interference. I’ve always trusted your judgment, and I didn’t want to impose my thoughts on you. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t see it."

Sophia swallowed, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I thought you were okay with him," she murmured. "That you thought he was good for me."

Her father shook his head. "He was a nice enough man, but he never lit that fire in you, Sophia. I’ve watched you over the years, and I know when something truly excites you. Noah didn’t do that. He was stable, yes. Safe. But you never looked truly alive when you were with him."

Sophia closed her eyes for a moment, processing his words. Her father had always been an observant man, but she hadn’t realized how closely he had been watching her heart.

"Look," her father continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "I’ve never demanded anything from you. I’ve let you follow your path because I believe that’s what a good father does. I let you go to New York, let you chase your dreams in the art world, because I knew it was what your mother would have wanted. You’ve achieved so much. You followed her legacy and made it your own. But I can’t ignore the fact that, through it all, you’ve never seemed completely happy."

Tears pricked at the corners of Sophia’s eyes. He was right. She had chased her mother’s dreams, built a life around art, but something had always felt incomplete, distant, like she was living someone else’s story.

Her father’s gaze softened as he looked at her, his voice quieter now.

"But when you talk about Liam, there’s a spark in your eyes, something I haven’t seen in a long time. Maybe ever."