When Love Remains

Chapter1

Sofia was alone in her old fashioned bookstore, the smell of paper and ink mingling with the faint aroma of her coffee. It’s late, and the world outside the bookstore is quite with little traffic. The shop is her sanctuary, a different life to the luxurious world she left behind when her marriage to Ethan Blake crumbled.

Sofia’s thoughts drifted to Ethan, her once affectionate and loving husband. She remembers the overwhelming moment that drew her to him during a book signing at her store five years ago. He had swept her into a whirlwind romance, making her believe in love fairy tales. But the man who vowed to cherish her became a cold, stranger, hurling accusations of infidelity that shattered her heart and world.

As Sofia tidies up to go home, her attention shifted to the picture of her son, Liam, who is away with her friend Nina for the night. His curly hair and bright eyes are a painful reminder of the life Ethan is missing out on. She whispers to herself, “You’re better off without him, Liam. We both are better off.”

The bookstore’s bell chimes, jolting Sofia from her thoughts. Who could be pressing the door bell, she wasn’t expecting anyone at this late hour. As she looks up, she couldn’t believe what she’s seeing. There he is: Ethan Blake, standing by the door, wearing a tailored suit that speaks power and wealth. His piercing blue eyes meet with hers, and for a moment, everything seems freeze.

“What are you doing here?” Sofia ask in a sharp and cold voice, her face covered with the fear and anger she’s worked so hard to bury.

Ethan steps inside, the sharp click of his leather shoes on the wooden floor echoing.

“We need to talk,” he says, with a calm and commanding voice.

Sofia stomach hurts. She has not seen him in three years and doesn’t expect to see him now, since their divorce.

“I don’t have anything to discuss with you; please leave.”

Ethan remains standing with his brave stature. His presence is overwhelming, filling the small space like an uninvited storm. “It’s about the past,” he says, his words softening slightly, though his gaze remains cold.

“The past?” Sofia laughs bitterly, shaking her head. “You mean the past where you accused me of cheating, humiliated me in court, and then walked out without even looking back?”

Ethan eyes flinches, but he quickly readjust himself. “I was wrong.”

The admission makes Sofia go into silence, but she couldn’t trust any word from his mouth.

“Wrong?

Is that what you come here to say? Three years is too late for an apology. Please leave right now.”

Ethan exhales sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. “I am not here to apologize. I am here because I need your help and it’s very important.”

His words catches Sofia off guard. “My help? For real, I know you can’t be serious.”

He moves closer to her, closing the distance between them. “I am in trouble, Sofia. My firm is about to collapse because of a scandal involving a client and if I fail to fix this quickly, everything I’ve built and worked for will crumble.”

“Please what does it has to do with me, it is your problem and not mine”

“I need you to come with me to a Christmas gala this weekend. My image is already in shambles and my world is about to crumble. Showing up alone at the event will only make things worse for me. But if we go together and…” He hesitates, searching for the right words to convince her. “People will believe I’m grounded. That I have stability in my personal life, that I’m not shaked with the rumours flying around.”

You are saying you want me to play a happy ex-wife to save your firm? Do you even hear yourself?”

Ethan’s jaw tightens. “It is not just about me. I can make it worth your while. Your bookstore… I know you’re struggling with it. I’ll help you keep it afloat and turn it to your dreamed bookstore.”

The offer feels like a slap in the face. Sofia’s eyes narrow in a cold gaze. “Please just get out of my office.” “I don’t need your help, nor your money.”

As Ethan turns to leave, his gaze falls on something on the counter, a colorful drawing with a messy words like a signature at the bottom: Liam Blake.

He picks it up, studying the childish crayon strokes. His expression hardens. “Who is Liam?”

Sofia freezes, her breath caught in her throat. She steps forward, snatching the paper from his hand. “It’s none of your business.”

Ethan’s eyes narrow. “Don’t lie to me, Sofia.”

“Is he… mine?”

Sofia’s hands and body shaking with her pounding in her chest as she tries collecting the drawing from Ethan. Her eyes meets with Ethan’s piercing gaze, knowing there’s no escape from the mess she’s tried to avoid for so long.

Her voice barely above a whisper, she replies, “Please leave, Ethan. Please.”

But Ethan doesn’t move. His expression shifted from anger to something more intense, he felt broken.

“I’m not going anywhere until I know the truth.”