Chapter 273: Chapter 274 He Really Cares
THIRD PERSON’S POV
The drive back to Sophia’s house was quiet.
Rain fell softly from the sky. Inside the car, neither Sophia nor Zade said much. The events of the day had drained them both emotionally.
Sophia sat in the passenger seat staring out the window. Her face looked pale. The bruises in her heart hurt far more than the injuries in her body.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ashley’s face. What she saw wasn’t the sweet little girl she had once carried in her arms. It wasn’t the child who used to cling to her leg and call her Mommy.
Right now, she saw the angry child who had kicked her. She saw the child who had lied, the child who had watched Damien choose her side without hesitation.
Her chest tightened painfully. Her wolf kept whimpering sadly inside her. This was the ultimate betrayal.
Beside her, Zade gripped the steering wheel harder. His wolf was restless and furious. He felt even more protective than ever.
He wanted to storm into Damien’s house and demand answers. He wanted to force Damien to see what he was doing to Sophia. But every time those thoughts appeared, he pushed them away.
That wasn’t what Sophia needed right now. She didn’t need drama at all. Right now Sophia needed peace, not more conflict.
When they finally arrived at Sophia’s house, Zade parked the car and immediately walked around to open her door.
"You don’t have to do that," Sophia said softly.
"I do." His answer came instantly.
Sophia sighed.
Zade carefully supported her as she stepped out. His hand remained firmly around her waist. He acted like she might disappear if he let go.
The sight made Sophia’s wolf stir "He really cares."
Sophia ignored her wolf. She wasn’t ready to think about that.
Inside the house, there wasn’t a single noise. The whole place was silent. From the looks of things, Marco wasn’t home. Patricia had apparently gone shopping. Klara probably wasn’t back from school.
The entire house felt empty.
Sophia sat on the couch. She felt extremely exhausted and so did her wolf.
She was in absolute pain. Everything hurt. Her body hurt. Her heart hurt. Even breathing felt difficult.
Zade crouched beside her and asked "Do you need anything?"
She shook her head "No."
He looked at her with so much concern in his eyes.
"You should rest." he said.
Sophia sighed "I know."
For a moment neither of themspoke.
Sophia looked at him "You should go see your mother."
Zade frowned "I’m staying here."
"Zade-"
"I’m staying."
His tone left no room for argument.
Sophia could only sigh again. Sometimes Zade could be unbelievably stubborn.
His wolf practically purred whenever he stayed near her. The sound made him even more determined.
Nearly an hour later, the doorbell rang.
Sophia slowly stood. Before she could move, Zade was already walking toward the entrance.
When he opened the door, he found a familiar woman standing there. It was Dahlia.
Dahlia looked surprised to see Zade. Zade looked equally unimpressed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Dahlia rolled her eyes "I came to see Sophia."
Sophia appeared behind him. She was surprised to see Dahlia in her family home. She wondered what Dahlia was doing here.
The moment Dahlia saw her, her expression softened.
"Sophia." She said.
Sophia nodded politely "Dahlia."
Dahlia stepped inside. For several seconds she simply stared at Sophia. Her eyes went wide when she had a proper look at her. Her eyes took in the bruises, her pale complexion, the exhaustion in her expression..
Everything was visible.
A trace of guilt appeared in her eyes.
"You look terrible." Dahlia muttered.
Sophia laughed bitterly "Thank you."
Dahlia winced. She realized how rude that sounded.
"That’s not what I meant." She said.
"I know."
Dahlia finally got to the point "Grandpa George sent me."
The room became colder.
Sophia’s expression changed. Zade noticed instantly.
Dahlia continued "He wants you to come back to the Villa."
Sophia laughed. The sound held no humor, none at all.
She remembered all the time she was at the hospital. She knew George would have heard about her miscarriage, yet he never called.
She’d done everything for him. She went out of her way to do so many things yet she didn’t get much back.
Now, he wanted her to come to the villa? He expected her to come running?
Oh, hell no.
Dahlia frowned, surprised by her reaction
"Sophia-" Dahlia started
"No." Sophia cut in.
The answer came immediately. Sophia’s voice was cold and firm.
Dahlia blinked in disbelief "Sophia..."
"No."
Sophia repeated it again. Her voice trembled slightly, not from fear but from disappointment. It was from years of disappointment, years of pain, years of heartbreak. The emotions finally surfaced.
"Tell Grandpa George I’m not coming." Sophia said firmly.
Dahlia sighed "He’s worried about you."
Sophia laughed again. This time tears appeared in her eyes.
"Worried?" she said. The word sounded painful. "Now he’s worried?"
Dahlia fell silent.
Sophia walked closer to her “If he was so worried, he could have called. Just a simple phone call. He could have come to see me”
Dahlia swallowed. Deep down, she knew Sophia was right.
Sophia’s hands shook as she continued talking "My miscarriage happened weeks ago. My injuries happened weeks ago." Her voice cracked. "I almost died. Did Grandpa George visit me?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Dahlia lowered her head "No."
"Did he call? Did he ask if I was alive?"
There was silence. Dahlia didn’t know what to say now.
Sophia smiled sadly "There, that’s my answer."
Dahlia felt ashamed, deeply ashamed. She knew Sophia was right. Nobody had cared enough. Not until Sophia started walking away. Only then did everyone suddenly remember she existed.
Dahlia rubbed her forehead "I’ll tell him."
Sophia nodded "Please do."
Sophia’s voice became calm again "But tell him something else."
Dahlia looked up.
Sophia met her gaze "I’m tired." Her eyes filled with tears again. "So very tired."
Even Zade’s wolf whimpered. The sadness in her voice was heartbreaking.
Dahlia nodded and left after that. The drive back to the Villa felt uncomfortable. Sophia’s words echoed in her head repeatedly as she moved.
The moment she arrived, she found Grandpa George sitting in the dining room. His expression was stern.
"Well?" he asked her.
Dahlia sighed "She refused."
George’s face darkened with anger “What? How dare she?”
Dahlia sat down across him. She looked directly at him.
"You have no idea how hurt she is." Dahlia said.
The old man remained silent.
Dahlia continued "Nobody visited or called when she miscarried. She nearly died, grandpa. It must have been traumatic for her. She was all alone”
George didn’t say anything. His jaw tightened as he listened to her. ‘
Dahlia sighed "Nobody was there for her."
For a brief moment guilt flashed in George’s face, then it disappeared. Instead, he looked irritated.
"She’s being unreasonable." He said coldly.
Dahlia stared at him, completely stunned "Unreasonable?"
George nodded "She’s part of this family."
Dahlia laughed bitterly "That’s exactly the problem."
The old man frowned "What does that mean?"
Dahlia stood "It means Sophia was treated like family only when it benefited everyone else."
George’s face darkened. His eyes went dark with anger. But before he could respond, footsteps echoed nearby.
Ashley entered the dining room. Damien followed behind her. The little girl looked much healthier now.
Dahlia smiled at the sight of her.
"Ashley." Dahlia said happily, opening her arms. "Come here."
Ashley frowned.
The reaction surprised everyone.
Dahlia blinked in shock "Ashley?"
The little girl folded her arms and said "I don’t want to."
Dahlia looked confused "Why not?"
Ashley pouted. Then she delivered a statement that made the room freeze.
"Mommy said you’re annoying." She said.
After she said those words, there was silence.
Dahlia’s eyes widened in horror "What?"
Ashley nodded confidently "Mommy doesn’t like you. She says I should stay away from you"
The room became tense. Even Damien was shocked to his core.
Dahlia understood. She knew Sophia would never say that. Never.
Before she could say anything, Damien’s expression darkened. His eyes narrowed.
"Ashley." He said, crouching beside her. "Did Sophia really say that?"
Ashley nodded "Yes."
Dahlia’s stomach dropped. She knew exactly what was happening. Ashley was lying but Damien didn’t seem to realize it.
His face hardened immediately. Disappointment filled his eyes.
Dahlia quickly intervened "Damien, that’s not true."
Ashley frowned "Yes it is."
"No, it isn’t." Dahlia’s voice became firm "Ashley."
The child looked away.
Damien stood. His expression remained cold.
"Why are you defending Sophia?" he asked Dahlia.
Dahlia stared at him in disbelief "Because she’s innocent."
Damien’s jaw tightened "How would you know?"
Dahlia almost laughed. The stupidity of the question was unbelievable.
"Because I know her." she said “And you should too. She’s your wife.”
Damien remained silent.
Dahlia took a deep breath, then she looked directly at her brother.
"You really believe everything Ashley says?" she asked.
Damien frowned "She’s my daughter."
"And Sophia is your wife."
The words landed heavily. The room became silent. It was filled with so much tension that it was hard to breathe.
Dahlia continued "Or have you forgotten that?"
Nobody spoke.
Ashley clung to Damien’s hand. The child looked completely innocent but Dahlia knew better. She had seen children lie before and she knew exactly where Ashley had learned it. Tiffany’s manipulation was becoming impossible to ignore.
Unfortunately, Damien refused to see it
