When Love Remains

Chapter2

The tension in the bookstore continues as Ethan remains still staring at Sofia, her divorced wife. His presence was daunting, a reminder of the man who brutally wrecked her existence and shattered her heart.

Sofia holds Liam’s colourful drawing to her chest, her heart beating so loudly, she’s sure Ethan hears it. The hurtful feelings and raging inside is unbearable, yet she has to keep her cool.

I said get out, Sofia says, shaking but firm.

Ethan nods his head and his expression is unreadable. ‘I told you I’m not going anywhere until I find out who he is. Is he my son, Sofia?”

For a few moment, she consider telling him, and maybe that would get rid of this man and give her a breathing space, remembering the cold, calculated look she saw on Ethan’s face when he gave her the divorce papers. How he didn’t even give her the chance of explaining herself.

“You can’t just come back here after several years demanding answers, you lost that right the day you left me."

Ethan tucks his teeth. “Don’t play games with me. If Liam is my son, you should let meknow."

Sofia’s stomach churns. Ethan’s commanding voice, remembering the same lawyerly authority and power she used to love, now feels like a sword striking her heart. But before Sofia could respond, he changed his tactics just to know the truth about the colourful drawing he saw.

‘Listen "I didn’t come here for this, but now that I know, I deserve every truth from you."

Sofia tilts her head, and steps away a little. “Nothing changes, Ethan. You left. You have clearly chosen your path and I have chosen mine as well. We don’t need you in our life, Liam and I are OK."

“Are you?” Ethan counters her sharply. ‘Because from everything I’ve heard is that your bookstore barely opens.

Ethan’s hurtful words hit her hard like a hot slap, her face covered with anger and embarrassment. Her eyes soaked with tears, but she refuses to let them down. "Don’t you dare criticise me," she cries. “Not after everything you’ve done to me.”

Ethan sighs, running his fingers through his curly hair. “I’m not judging you, Sofia. I’m trying to help you.”

“I and Liam don’t need your help”

“You need my help, you can’t deny it.” Ethan argues. “And you can’t say no to it if you want to. This is not a request.”

Sofia stares at him with her hands clutched at her sides. ‘What do you really want from me, Ethan? Why are you here?”

Ethan takes a deep breath, his face showing some vulnerability. “I told you, I’m in trouble. My company is about to colapse because of the scandal of a top client. It’s all over the news, my name is already affected and if I don’t act fast about it, I will lose everything I have for all my life."

What does that has to do with me?’ Sofia crossed her arms over her chest.

Ethan hesitates. “The charity gala this weekend. ‘I want you to come with me.”

Sofia’s jaw drops. She thinks she didn’t heard him correctly for a second. “You want me to what?”

"Come to the gala with me," “As my date.”

Sofia stares at him with a cold gaze, dumbfounded. ‘You are crazy? Why the f**k will I do that?"’

Ethan’s gaze hardens. "Because if you do, I’ll save your bookstore. I’ll pay your bills, whatever it takes to keep you and Liam saf, I will do it.”

His offer is unbelievable. "Well, let me be clear." Sofia cracks a joke in a high voice. "So you want me to play the role of a happy ex-wife in front of your colleagues and the media so that you can save your precious name?"

Call it a win-win arrangement, it’ll both benefit us as I’ve promised’ Ethan says.

“Ahh, Ahh, Ahh…” Sofia lets out a bitter laugh. “You’re unbelievable. Do you even hear yourself? You destroyed my life, Ethan. And now you just throw money at me and you think I’ll just fall in line?"

‘This is not about the past, let’s bury it,’ says Ethan, his frustration finally snapping at his slick face. "This is about survival, for me and you. You can hate me all you want, but you can’t ignore that you need my support."

Sofia’s throat tightens. she hates him, but as well considering Ethan is not quite wrong. Her bookshop business is really struggling and not selling and she’s running out of time. But to ride around on Ethan’s arm and pretend to be in his glitzy world again makes her stomach hurt.

She seems hesitant, Ethan senses. He’s smiling for the first time, and he has a trace of something that seems like regret. ‘Sofia,’ he muses, ‘I know I’ve made my mistakes’. I know I’ve hurt you. But I’m here now to make everything right again."

He has ripped through her defences, and for a second Sofia wonders if he is serious. And then she thinks and remember how he just threw her under the bus.

“You can’t just make things right now, not after all you did.” Sofia’s voice trembling with anger.

Ethan is about to talk when Sofia shows him the door before he can say anything. “Get out, Ethan. I mean it.”

Ethan doesn’t move, instead, his focus went back to the drawing of Liam. He looks bact at her, his expression unreadable.

You can drive me out of the room all you want," he says sarcastically. But I won’t go out until we’re settle this, about Liam, and us.

Sofia feels her chest tighten. “There is no us, Ethan. That has ended for a long time.

Ethan moves closer with a whisper voice. “We’ll see about that.”

Before Sofia could respond, the doorbell rang again. They both look towards the door and Sofia breaks down when a man in a dark suit enters the bookstore. He’s large, his demeanour is professional, and in his hand is an envelope.

“Mr. Blake," the man said, voice muffled. "I’ve delivered the papers."

Sofia’s jaw drops. “What papers?”

Ethan doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he takes the envelope and opens it and then handed the documents over to Sofia without a word.