Sophia exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of her mother’s question settle over her. Catherine’s tired yet penetrating gaze bore into her as if peeling away her attempts to be vague. She wanted to keep the details about Alexander private for now because she hardly knew if he was trustworthy herself. But her mother knew her too well; there was no escaping.
Her voice softened. “Mom, I... It's just a friend,” she began, choosing her words carefully, her tone measured. “A good friend who helped me.”
Catherine’s brows knitted together in that familiar, knowing way, even in her weakened state. “A friend who’s done so much? Come on, Sophia. Tell me, is it a man?”
Sophia flushed, quickly averting her gaze. Ethan, catching his sister’s discomfort, chimed in. “Mom, let’s just trust Soph, okay? Bes
