When Love Remains

Chapter 5

Sofia’s breath catches as the spotlight show up the figure on stage. Her mind refusing to take what her eyes are telling her with her heart racing like she is on track.

“It’s Lucas.”

The man who promised her heaven and earth, and then he just disappeared with no traces. The one whose betrayals pushed her into Ethan’s arms all those years ago. He’s here, he’s alive, and... he’s holding a weapon that could destruction, Ethan’s secrets.

Ethan stiffens as he was standing in front of Sofia, his hands tightened to hers. ‘Lucas Reed?’ he says out loud, his sharp lawyer’s instinct already calculating out the stakes. “Why is he here?”

I... I don’t know.’ Sofia said with a heavy sigh, with her voice barely audible.

Lucas eyes Sofia with his sharp eyes, as he stands onstage. A dangerous, and slowly smile crosses his face. "Good evening to you all." His voice taking over the silence. "Sorry for the interruption, but I’ve got some secrets to tell about tonight’s guest of honor, Ethan Blake.

Ethan moves forward, stern and cold. "This is a private party, Lucas. Whatever game you are playing, it’s over."

Lucas laughs, not bothered by Ethan’s authority. “Oh Ethan, you’ve been the master at pretending to be the good lawyer and a moral compass of the legal world.

“But we both know what is going on, don’t we?”

“You’ve built your life and empire over lies, betrayal, theft and the people you have crumbled their lives while climbing the top.”

The audience begins to murmur as Lucas raises up a heavy folder. "This thing here, ladies and gentlemen, is a file that reveal the real Ethan Blake. Corruptions, fraud and a couple of skeletons that I think you all will be very interested in."

Sofia feels the room turning around on her. She knows Ethan has made a lot of enemies over the years in his career but the toxic in Lucas’s rage is something else.

"What the f**k is he saying Ethan?" she says with a shaking voice.

Ethan doesn’t answer. His teeth are gritted, and there’s a deadly sparkle in his eyes. He’s not just mad at the whole scenario, his blood is raging.

Lucas opens the folder and picks out a page with reckless care. "Let’s do something light, okay? The shady deal that made Blake & Associates secure their biggest client five years ago. A forgery, if we are being precise at it.”

Gasps are heard through the hall as Lucas flings the paper in the air. “Oh, and it gets better. Not only did Ethan faked his way to the top, he even framed his rivals and put them out of business. But I am very sure you can spin this into a noble act, can’t you, Ethan?” “No other person can pull the stunt like you.”

Ethan stands up, grunting in his throat. ‘Lucas, that’s a dangerous ground you are trying to step on.”

Lucas smirks, clearly enjoying himself. “What’s the matter, Blake? Are you worried the truth will ruin your nice image?"

As both Ethan and Lucas face each other, Sofia’s thoughts keep racing. Lucas’s return isn’t only about Ethan, it’s also bad for her lowly life. Lucas knows who she is, secrets she kept buried since the day she ran away from him.

Nina stands by her side, worried as she is. “We need to go now." She said quickly,” “It isn’t safe here.”

Sofia nods her head in return, but her feet are still rooted to the ground. She looks between Ethan and Lucas, the entanglement between them pushing her towards their dangerous game.

Lucas moves to the back of the stage before Ethan could respond. “But why stop at paperwork? Let’s make this more personal.”

Two security stepped forward and drag a third figure into the light. It’s a woman with bruised face, and torn clothes. Sofia’s chest hurts as she sees: Claire, Ethan’s former paralegal and one of his closest friends.

‘What is this?’ Ethan cries out in an angry voice.

Lucas grins. “Meet Claire. ‘She hasan interesting story to share with us about her dear boss. Isn’t that right, Claire?”

The woman shivers in the camera’s flash, looking up at Ethan in desperation. “I… I didn’t want to…”

“Tell them the truth," Lucas says, with no space for argument.

Claire swallows hard, talking with a whisper voice. ‘Ethan... he... he bribed me to destroy the evidence. Saying it was a greater good for all, but…"

"Enough," says Ethan, his voice cutting through the room like a whip. He faces the crowd with a strong and rebellious face.

"This is just a smear campaign by a desperate man who has vendetta. Lucas has no evidence, just lies and manipulations."

Lucas raises an eyebrow. “No proof? Let the court of public opinion decide that.”

Ethan walk to the stage, his imposing height forcing Lucas to take a step back. The two of them standing toe-to-toe, their hatred burning like a burning hell.

"You are more delusional if you think you can take me down with all this baseless allegations, you’re crazyer than I thought," Ethan says, his voice firm despite the chaos erupting around him.

Lucas leans in with a smile full of mischief. "This is not just about you, Ethan. It’s about all the people you’ve hurt, including her."

Ethan gaze snaps up at Sofia and everyone in the room turns to her.

Sofia feels the blood drain rom her face as Lucas continues. ‘You didn’t think I’d recognise her, did you? Your little ex-wife, hiding away from you in that her little quiet bookshop like she’s really moved on. Sofia, have you told Ethan the full story of why you left?" Lucas asks.

Ethan’s eyes turn to Sofia, sceptical, his face misty. “What is he talking about?”

Sofia’s mouth flies open but nothing coming out of it. Felt like the walls are closing in on her, and her secrets are coming at her from all sides. She knows Lucas is playing a tricky game, but she also knows that he can destroy everything she’s been trying to protect.

Before she could respond the room went into chaos. The lights went off again and an explosion rocks the venue. Broken glasses, and screams filled the air as smoke begins to fill the room.

Ethan shouts her name Sofia, sobbing like a baby.