CHAPTER 30HENRY’S POVThe next day, Collins and I sat in my living room, sipping on our glasses of whiskey. The evening was calm, and the amber liquid in our glasses seemed to be doing its job in relaxing our weary souls."You know, Henry," Collins began, his voice slightly slurred from the whiskey, "I really think Kayla might be the one."I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden declaration. "The one? You mean like the one you'll marry?"Collins nodded, a goofy smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, man, I mean it. She's different, you know? She's got this charm that just draws you in."I couldn't help but chuckle at his lovesick expression. "Well, that's great, Collins. I'm happy for you."He took another sip of his whiskey and then turned the conversation in my direction. "So, Henry, what about you? Why aren't you dating anyone?"I sighed, not entirely sure I wanted to delve into this topic. But Collins was persistent, and he knew me well enough not to let things slide."Look

CHAPTER 32SOPHIA’S POVI had barely set foot inside the house when there he was, like a guardian of the threshold, waiting for me with that all-too-familiar stern expression."Now that your father is gone," Henry began, his arms crossed defiantly, "I don't want to see Jason in this house."I sighed, dropping my bag unceremoniously on the floor. "Henry, we've been through this. You know Jason is my friend and we are pretty close he also advise me on my course, he could basically be my boyfriend , not just some random guy."He shook his head, his frustration palpable. "Sophia, you and I both know that Jason is just a pretend boyfriend you lied to your dad about. This charade has gone on long enough."I bristled at his accusation, my defenses going up like a fortress. "It's not a charade, Henry. Jason and I are talking about being together , and I care about him." I knew I was lying about the being together part but I wanted to spice things up a bit especially with all the headache he h

CHAPTER 34HENRY’S POVWhat the hell have I done? I can't believe I let myself give in to this... this temptation. She's my best friend's daughter, for God's sake. I promised myself I'd be a guardian, a mentor, not a damn fool. I pound the pavement beneath my running shoes, each step feels like a punishment for my own weakness. I should have known better, resisted those tempting lips, those eyes that seem to see right through me. Sophia deserves better than this.And what about Collins? My oldest friend, a brother almost, entrusting me with his daughter's well-being, and I go and betray that trust. How can I even look him in the eye again?I never wanted to be that guy, the one who messes everything up. I've always prided myself on being responsible, dependable, and now... I've turned into a cliché. The older man succumbing to the charms of a younger woman, crossing lines that should never be crossed.But she's not just any woman, is she? She's Sophia, with her quick wit, her intelli

CHAPTER 36HENRY’S POVThe morning sun streamed into the kitchen, casting a warm glow over the room. It was a rare moment of tranquility in my usually hectic life. As I stood by the stove, the aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile to myself. Sophia was nowhere to be seen, and for once, our home was surprisingly quiet. It was strange how much I missed her presence when she wasn't around, even though her fiery arguments and relentless teasing were a constant source of frustration. But that was the enigma of Sophia. She could drive me to the brink of madness one moment and then make me yearn for her company the next.I focused on preparing breakfast, the familiar routine helping to distract my thoughts. Cracking eggs into a bowl, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. Maybe it was the absence of our usual banter, the verbal sparring that had become a staple of our interactions.As I cooked, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. I wiped

CHAPTER 38SOPHIA's POVI was cruising along the highway, en route to meet up with Jason, when my phone buzzed, lighting up with my dad's name on the caller ID. I grinned and tapped the answer button."Hey, Dad!""Hey there, superstar!" My dad's voice was warm and familiar, instantly putting me at ease. "How's my favorite daughter doing today?"I chuckled. "Dad, you only have one daughter."He laughed heartily. "That's right, and you're the best one! How's everything going?"As I merged into traffic, I updated him on the latest in my life. "Well, I'm on my way to meet Jason. He wanted to talk about something."Dad's tone was curious. "Jason, huh? Everything okay there?"I reassured him, "Yeah, it's nothing bad, I think. Just some mysterious business he wants to discuss."Dad chuckled. "Mysterious, huh? Well, you've always had a knack for getting into exciting situations."I couldn't help but laugh too. "Yeah, I guess I do."Dad then surprised me with a topic that had been on my mind l