The car ride back to the manor was deafeningly quiet.
Sophia sat rigidly in her seat, the weight of the silence pressing against her chest like a stone. Aiden hadn't said a word since they left the family dinner. Neither had Haisley. Or Henry. Not even the driver dared to turn on the radio. Just the hum of the engine and the occasional turn signal filled the space. It was suffocating, just utterly unbearable.
She turned her face towards the window, staring out of the window into the sky, her reflection faint against the glass. Just then, her phone vibrated in her lap. She glanced down and quickly unlocked the screen.
Ethan: Have you gotten home, my love? I miss you. I'm sorry I didn't get to hug you before you left.
A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and for a moment, just a brief one, she felt safe again. Ethan hadn't ignored her. He hadn't turned his back on her.
That meant something… didn't it?
