Chapter 8: The Return Of Sophia
714 Words
The words echoed in Ava's mind long after Ethan made the introduction.
"I'm Ethan's ex-fiancée."
Sophia smiled as though she had just shared an amusing fact.
Ava forced herself to remain calm.
"Nice to meet you," she said politely.
"Likewise," Sophia replied.
But something about her tone felt deliberate, almost challenging.
Ethan cleared his throat.
"Sophia just arrived in town."
"After three years," Sophia added.
Ava noticed the quick look Ethan gave her.
It was obvious there was history between them.
A lot of history.
Trying not to show how uncomfortable she felt, Ava excused herself and returned to her desk.
For the rest of the day, she struggled to focus.
Every time she looked up, she saw Sophia talking to Ethan.
Laughing.
Standing close to him.
Acting as though she still belonged in his life.
And perhaps she once had.
That thought bothered Ava more than she wanted to admit.
---
That evening, Ethan knocked on Ava's office door.
"You've been avoiding me."
Ava looked up from her computer.
"No, I haven't."
"You have."
She sighed.
"Fine. Maybe a little."
Ethan stepped inside and closed the door.
"Because of Sophia?"
Ava hesitated.
Then nodded.
"I didn't know you were engaged before."
His expression softened.
"It ended years ago."
"But she came back."
"That doesn't change anything."
Ava wanted to believe him.
She really did.
But relationships were rarely that simple.
Especially when old feelings were involved.
Ethan moved closer.
"Ava, listen to me."
She met his eyes.
"The past is the past."
For a moment, she saw complete sincerity in his face.
And despite her doubts, she found herself believing him.
At least for now.
---
Meanwhile, Sophia sat alone in her hotel room.
A photograph rested on the table beside her.
It showed a younger Ethan smiling.
Her fingers traced the edge of the picture.
"You moved on too quickly," she whispered.
Her expression hardened.
"No one replaces me."
She reached for her phone and dialed a number.
A man answered immediately.
"Did you find what we're looking for?" she asked.
"Yes."
Sophia smiled.
"Good."
The smile was anything but kind.
---
A few days later, Ava received another anonymous note.
This time it was inside an envelope.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Ava stared at it.
It showed Ethan standing beside a man who looked remarkably like him.
The two appeared to be arguing.
Written on the back were four words.
"Ask him about Daniel."
Ava frowned.
Daniel?
She had never heard that name before.
Who was he?
And why would someone want her to ask about him?
---
That evening, Ava met Ethan at a small café.
At first, everything felt normal.
Until she removed the photograph from her bag.
Ethan's face instantly changed.
All color drained from it.
"Where did you get this?"
"It was left on my desk."
For several seconds, he simply stared at the photo.
Then he looked away.
"Ethan," Ava said quietly, "who is Daniel?"
The silence that followed felt endless.
Finally, he answered.
"My brother."
Ava blinked.
"You have a brother?"
"Had."
The correction sent a chill through her.
"What happened to him?"
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Pain flashed across his face.
For a moment, Ava thought he wouldn't answer.
Then he spoke.
"He disappeared three years ago."
Ava's eyes widened.
"Disappeared?"
"Nobody knows where he is."
"Not even the police?"
Ethan shook his head.
"We searched everywhere."
The sadness in his voice was unmistakable.
For the first time, Ava realized the secret he carried might be far heavier than she imagined.
"Ethan..."
He stood suddenly.
"I can't talk about this."
Before Ava could stop him, he walked away.
Leaving her alone with more questions than answers.
---
Later that night, Ethan returned to his apartment.
The moment he opened the door, he sensed something was wrong.
A light was on in the living room.
Someone was inside.
Slowly, he stepped forward.
Then he froze.
A single envelope sat on the table.
His name was written across the front.
With trembling hands, he opened it.
Inside was a short message.
Only one sentence.
"Stop looking for me."
Signed:
Daniel.
Ethan stared at the letter in shock.
Because after three years of silence, his missing brother had finally made contact.
- Writer
