CHAPTER SEVEN: THE TRUTH
741 Words
The office was quiet that afternoon.
The hum of computers and the soft tapping of keyboards filled the air, but to Sophia, everything sounded far away.
Her hands trembled slightly as she typed, trying to focus on the work Adrian had given her.
Every time she looked toward his office, her heart skipped.
Adrian was inside… calm, serious, unreadable.
But his eyes betrayed him.
He was watching her.
Sophia felt it.
Even without looking, she knew.
Part of her wanted to run to him.
But the other part…
Remembered everything.
His mother. The pain. The fear of being rejected again.
“Miss Blake?”
Adrian’s voice broke the silence.
She froze.
“Yes, sir?”
“Close the door.”
His tone was calm, but firm.
Sophia stood up slowly and closed the door behind her.
Her heart was racing now.
“Sit,” he said.
She sat down, her fingers tightening around her file.
“Why are you avoiding me?” Adrian asked quietly.
Sophia swallowed.
“It’s… complicated.”
There was a pause.
Then she said what had been bothering her.
“But you’re already engaged to Vanessa.”
Adrian frowned immediately.
“No, Sophia,” he said. “Vanessa and I are just friends. There’s nothing going on between us.”
Sophia looked at him, unsure.
“It doesn’t look like that,” she said softly. “I see the way she touches you… the way you stay close to her.”
Adrian sighed.
“Sophia…” he said gently. “Can you just look at me?”
She hesitated… then slowly lifted her eyes.
“I know I’ve hurt you,” he continued. “And I’m sorry.”
His voice was low. Honest.
Then his expression changed.
“But you and Daniel…” he said. “You seem close. Are you together?”
Sophia shook her head.
“No. We’re just friends.”
Adrian leaned forward slightly.
“But you live together.”
Sophia nodded.
“Yes.”
Adrian froze.
“You live together?” he repeated, shocked.
His voice became sharper.
“How is that okay? I don’t like it.”
Sophia frowned.
“Adrian, it’s not what you think,” she said. “We’ve been living together for a long time. There’s nothing going on.”
Adrian stood up, frustrated.
“That’s not the point,” he said. “I don’t want you staying with him.”
Sophia stood up too.
“And why should I listen to you?” she asked.
The question hit him hard.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy. Uncomfortable.
“You left me,” Adrian said quietly.
Sophia’s chest tightened.
“I had to,” she replied.
“No… you chose to,” he said.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You don’t understand,” she said. “Your mother made it clear I didn’t belong. I couldn’t keep fighting every day just to prove myself.”
Adrian’s expression softened.
“But you didn’t give me a chance to fight for us,” he said.
Sophia looked down.
“I was scared,” she admitted. “Scared of losing myself… and losing you too.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Sophia,” he said softly. “I never stopped loving you.”
Her heart skipped.
“I tried to move on,” he continued. “But no matter what I did… you were still there.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
The words stayed between them.
Real.
Painful.
“But love isn’t enough,” she added slowly. “I need peace too.”
Adrian nodded.
“I understand that now.”
“So what happens now?” she asked.
Adrian looked at her deeply.
“This time… I won’t let you go.”
Sophia’s heart beat faster.
She wanted to believe him.
But fear still held her back.
“I need time,” she said softly.
Adrian nodded.
“I’ll wait.”
They stood there… close, but not the same.
Not strangers.
Not lovers.
Something in between.
As Sophia turned to leave, Adrian called her name.
“Sophia.”
She stopped.
“Yes?”
Adrian hesitated.
Then said quietly:
“Don’t move out because of me.”
She looked confused.
“But don’t stay… because of him either.”
Sophia didn’t reply.
She walked out slowly.
Adrian stood there, staring at the door.
For the first time in a long while…
He felt something again.
Hope.
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