The whole house was quiet. No one had decided to speak because of how tense up everyone was. Sophia took her time cleaning up Addison's wounds. She wore dark shades at home so no one could see her swollen eyes. Tammy sat silently on the couch. She thought it would be smarter to stay with Sophia throughout the night. Her eyes were cloudy because of the tears. She stared down at her phone. Noah kept calling her number. She had purposely missed multiple calls from him. “Are you okay?” Tammy asked after Sophia after had put the kids to sleep. Ava had also gone to sleep after asking so many unanswered questions. “He called me asking where you were, I told him you were indisposed. Maybe I shouldn't have, it was out of my--”“No, it's fine. No matter what you said or didn't say he would be able to find me anyway.” Tammy swallowed a gasp. She closed the space between herself and Sophia. Tammy cupped Sophia's face in her palm, “Are you okay Soph?” Sophia nodded turning her face in the op
“Are you ready?” Sophia asked her kids as she packed a little lunch box for them. They nodded, wearing their shoes. They both liked to do things at the same pace. Aiden was faster than Addison, and when he was done doing something before her, he'd wait so she could catch up. In cases where they were too late, Aiden would help her out. Even though they were the same age and Addison was five minutes older than him, Aiden still acted like a big brother. They never avoided a chance to defend each other. “Come on,” Sophia said to Addison, carrying her onto her shoulder. She had been babying her for a while, and Addison wasn't one to say no.It had been a week since the incident with Addison happened, and for obvious reasons, Sophia wouldn't let her kids go to school. They didn't protest much because she took the opportunity to show them sights and bites in LA. It helped them forget about all the bad things that had happened so far. Addison kissed Sophia on the cheek, “I love you mummy
“Shit,” Sophia mumbled as she caught sight of the line to the bathroom. “Mom,” Aiden whispered, “I don't want to be here any longer.”“Okay baby,” she responded by picking him off the ground and walking towards the mall's exit. She wondered how Addison had been coping with Noah. Even though she was comfortable with him, he was still a stranger. “Can you hold up a little longer baby? Let's pick up ice-cream for Addy.” Aiden nodded, his face had lightened up a little. They took the elevator to the lower floor. Every inch was covered with people. The mall was hosting a gaming competition. Sophia sighed, completely overwhelmed by the crowd. She turned on her heel. While trying to locate the exit, she caught a familiar face. “Chantelle?” she almost screamed. Chantelle had tossed Addison so high up in the air. Addison looked petrified. Sophia's mind immediately went back to the day, four years ago. She didn't bother to know what was happening. How could Noah let her near Addison?“W
“Mummy, you came,” Addison ran up to Sophia hugging her legs. Sophia flicked off the tear hanging on her eye, “Of course baby. You know I wouldn't miss it for the world.”“Mummy, why are you crying?” Aiden asked as Noah carried him into the mix. Sophia choked on a laugh, “Because I love you so much.” She felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Addison joined Sophia in crying. Her tears flowed even more than her mom's which got Sophia confused. Sophia bent down to Addison height, trying to pacify her and maybe, if she was lucky, find out why she was crying. "Why are you crying baby?" Sophia and Tammy asked almost simultaneously with a puzzled look on their faces."Mummy, because...because..." Addison stuttered. Sophia softly hushed her so she could breathe properly. “Why are you crying love?” Sophia asked again. Addison continued, "Because my classmates keep calling me and Aiden orphans, they bullied us all day especially Jack mummy, he started it and now they won'
"Who the fuck are--" Kira stopped before she could complete her statement. Noah stood confused as to why she was wearing lingerie.“What, What are you doing here Noah?" Kira stuttered nervously and suddenly became defensive at the door and looked behind her one too many times like she had something or someone to hide. Noah was observant at the same time he felt like it wasn't his business and just wanted his stuff."Kira , I have no time for whatever this was. “I'm just here for my wallet, you hear?"Kira didn't budge from the door. Noah was losing his patience. “Kira, move from the god damn door or I'll move you. I need my wallet, now and fast!"“Noah, you came here unannounced. I don't know where your wallet is. I'll look for them later and get back to you, you don't need to yell at me. Besides, I'm quite occupied.”Kira said while still defending at the door. Noah ran out of patience and was highly suspicious of Kira's sudden attitude.“Kira, move!“ Noah yelled one last time as a
“Daddy, Daddy. What is it?” Aiden tugged on Noah's shirt repeatedly. “Yes baby,” he said, snapping out of the trance. “What are you looking at Daddy? It's time to go.”Noah nodded absently, placing Aiden on his shoulder. He was happy that Aiden was finally opening up to him. Fatherhood was a new experience that was shaping his person gradually. “Let's go meet your mummy, okay?”“Okay,” they said unison making their way to the car. Noah drove to Sophia's house where he met a conversation ensuing. “Oh shoot,” Sophia said as she glanced at the wall clock, “the kids,” she said in a panicky tone. “Don't worry, I'll get them for you,” Tammy assured her, picking up Sophia's keys from the tray. “When did you learn how to drive?” Sophia questioned Tammy because she knew how scared her secretary was to get behind the wheel. When Tammy got her license, she became her whole family's personal chauffeur. One day, she got into an accident. Her mother was at the back seat nagging her, while h
Sophia strode into a little cafe very close to her workplace. She spotted Chantelle sitting at the far end looking nervous. “Hi,” she said flatly sending Chantelle an air kiss. Chantelle sighed of relief. She was obviously surprised that Sophia made it. Chantelle stretched her hand across the table taking Sophia's and rubbing it over with her thumb. “I've missed you so much Sophia. Ever since you went to Florida I've been trying to reach you. I called you on the day you were supposed to travel but your phone was switched off.”She cleared her throat when she saw the indifferent look on Sophia's face, “After that I tried calling over and over. Your number was unavailable. When I checked in with the landlord, he told me that you were kicked out of the apartment. I was so heartbroken. I think there was a problem with the payment or something. I'm so sorry you endured all of that alone.”Chantelle's practiced air of innocence was messing with Sophia's head. She stifled her laughter befo
A smile flashed across her face as she remembered all the events from the previous day. The way Noah saved her from another disastrous event with his sister, it was noble. All the little things he was doing tugged harder and harder on Sophia's heart strings. He was slowly winning her heart, and no matter how guarded she was, he would soon penetrate. Work had been going so smoothly for her, and with the support she was getting from Tammy, Ava, Jeffery, and now Noah, her life was easier. Her phones have been ringing non-stop, clients from all over the city. She had been thinking of expanding and opening another office. Sophia sighed with relief after finishing all her tasks for the day. She knew it was going to be an extremely busy week with the new staff she and Tammy would be interviewing. A chime from her phone got her rushing to see if it was Noah. Sophia felt like a teenager who had found love. To her utter disappointment, it wasn't a message from Noah, but one from Tanya. S