Chapter 4 – The Envelope
1180 Words
Sophie didn’t mind walking. In that sense, Miami was calmer than the neighboring city. The desert wind moved her hair, and she closed her eyes to avoid the tiny grains of sand.
At that moment, her phone rang, and she looked at the children with a smile. “Go ahead, I’ll be right behind you.”
“Hello?” she answered, hearing Hanna on the other end. “News?” she asked anxiously, her hand trembling.
“Hi, yes. We got the DNA from the stone you found.”
Hearing that, Sophie smiled. At last, she would find the one responsible for her baby’s death.
“However, somehow, the system doesn’t show us the person, only the family.”
Sophie bit her lip, disappointed. But at least they had a lead.
“Tsk. And which family? We’ll have to work with that for now.”
“The Alweys family.”
Sophie widened her eyes in surprise, though not entirely. “Well, the traits match. If anyone was capable of what they did, it’s them.” She added, realizing they had arrived. “I’ll have to hang up, please keep researching.”
Edward’s house was large, with light-colored walls and expansive windows and doors. They entered, and she stepped onto a cold tiled floor.
David and the others led her to his father’s office. Sophie wondered why he wasn’t working at his company office. Surely, he wanted more privacy.
When she entered, he greeted her with a smile. “So you came, just as I predicted.”
Sophie looked at him without smiling. “For someone who said he wouldn’t bother me, you broke your promise pretty quickly, Mr. Lewis.”
Edward only smiled, looking at her differently. For someone who had once deemed her unworthy, he had a strange way of showing it.
“I want to make it up to you for what I did. I realized you’re conducting a rather… peculiar investigation, from what I can tell.” The man said, standing up. “I won’t ask for your reasons. But you know I’m the one with unique means to help you.”
And he was right. The Alweys family had resources that, even with her fame, Sophie could never access.
“Alright. I accept,” she agreed.
“Good.” Edward spoke from behind her.
Sophie startled, not understanding how he had gotten so close so quickly. She moved her hand, tense.
“When I said I was out of my mind, I meant I didn’t want to hurt you. But honestly, I didn’t mean that it was something that shouldn’t have happened.”
She trembled at his words, her heart racing. His voice was so close, his breath warm against her neck, leaving her senses confused.
Sophie turned and looked directly into his green eyes. His gaze expressed care and concern. Why? Why would someone who hurt her so much look at her so tenderly?
Sophie glared at him angrily. She had imagined getting close to Edward would be complicated, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this hard. Why did he leave her so conflicted?
“What do you want from me? What are your intentions?” Her posture was sharp, showing she was ready to defend herself.
“I want to settle things between us,” Edward said, trying to touch her arm, but she pulled away.
“I promise I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to help. You trusted me when everyone thought I was a monster. I need to repay that,” he said sincerely.
“So that’s what I am to you? A case to soothe your guilt and desire for gratitude?” Sophie exclaimed, furious. Her gaze mixed with anger, confusion, and sorrow.
“Never,” he said in a sigh. Edward stepped closer, unintentionally cornering her against the desk.
“For someone who hates me, you lie very easily.” Sophie raised her voice, not caring if anyone heard. Who did he think he was to play with her like that? She tried to be cold, but this man had a special talent for breaking down her walls.
“What do you mean?” Edward asked, confused. “I never hated you. How could I hate you?”
“Don’t lie to me. I heard your words. I’m a mistake and a problem for Miami.” Her voice shook, but she wouldn’t allow herself to cry in front of him.
Edward looked at her in shock. He reached out to touch her but pulled back at the last second.
“I never said that about you.” His voice was soft, but Sophie didn’t believe him. She couldn’t let herself be deceived again.
“How can I trust you?” she asked, firm, knowing that it wouldn’t happen.
“If you open up to me, I can show you that it’s possible.”
Sophie averted her gaze, her mind torn between conflicting thoughts, divided between believing and distrusting.
He seemed sincere, yet the fear born of past events held her back, telling her it was just another lie. A game.
“Not right now,” she said coldly, remembering all she had endured. “I can’t trust anyone.” She spoke truthfully.
Edward looked at her with an expression of surprise, confusion, and perhaps pity? She couldn’t decipher it.
Without saying anything more, Sophie picked up her phone and showed him the same files on the groups she kept with her.
“If you have anything on these people, that’s what I need.” She decided not to mention the perfume or the Alweys clan—not until she understood who Edward really was.
“Send it to my number,” he asked, moving his phone close to hers to transfer the files.
But something caught Sophie’s attention. At that moment, not wanting to look at Edward, she glanced toward his desk.
And there it was—something that surprised her. An envelope with the name of the Alweys family written on the front. Something inside her made her act impulsively. She rushed to the desk and grabbed the envelope.
“Sophie, what are you doing?” Edward exclaimed, surprised by her action.
Ignoring his call, Sophie opened the letter and saw a marriage proposal for the union of both clans. Rage and betrayal consumed her. With those very people who had murdered their baby.
She looked at him, tears beginning to stream from her eyes.
“How can you say you care about me and make alliances with these people?” she exploded, her anger greater than before. Even if she hadn’t wanted to speak, it was impossible to keep calm now.
“Sophie, wait. I haven’t agreed to any of this. It’s not what you think.”
“Of course. It never is what I think,” she scoffed. “It’s over, Edward. I don’t ever want to look at you again.”
She said, leaving and slamming the door in his face. The little trust she had left was gone in that moment.
- Writer
