The evening air was cooler than Sophia had expected, the soft breeze brushing against her skin as she stepped out of her car and into the dimly lit parking lot. It was a quiet street, the kind of place you wouldn't expect to find a man like Alexander Blackwood. Yet here they were—her, dressed in a simple black dress that made her feel both elegant and vulnerable, and Alexander, who had requested a dinner that felt like it was meant for something deeper than just food.
The thought of their upcoming conversation made her chest tighten, but she steeled herself. Whatever this was, whatever was between them, it had to be addressed. She couldn't live in the uncertainty any longer, and neither could he.
The restaurant was an intimate, private space, with candles flickering on every table and soft jazz playing in the background. It had the atmosphere of a place where people went not just to eat, but to talk, to connect. Alexander was already there, standing near the entrance, his back straight and his presence commanding, even in the low light.
Sophia's heart skipped a beat as he turned to face her, a smile playing at the edges of his lips. For a moment, it felt like everything else faded away—the rest of the world, the uncertainties, the lies, the secrets—they all disappeared when he looked at her like that.
"Ms. Carter," Alexander greeted, his voice smooth, almost teasing. "I'm glad you could join me."
Sophia nodded, her pulse quickening. "Thank you for inviting me."
They exchanged pleasantries as they were escorted to a secluded table at the back, away from the other diners. Once they were seated, the waiter placed two glasses of wine on the table and left them in silence.
"I wasn't sure what you'd think of this place," Alexander said, breaking the silence as he poured the wine, his movements graceful. "It's quiet. Peaceful. I thought it might be more... conducive to talking."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Talking? Or more avoiding the inevitable?"
Alexander's lips twitched in the hint of a smile. "Perhaps a bit of both."
The smile faded from his face as he took a sip of wine, his gaze shifting to meet hers. The tension in the air was thick now, the unspoken words between them almost palpable.
"How long were you planning to keep him from me?" he asked, his voice calm but there was a sharp edge to it now. The question wasn't an accusation, but there was something in his eyes—something that suggested the truth was long overdue.
Sophia hesitated, her throat tight. She hadn't expected it to be this hard, to relive the guilt and the fear all over again. But she couldn't keep lying. Not to him. Not anymore.
"I wasn't planning to keep him from you forever," she said quietly, her voice trembling. "I just... I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't know if you'd want to be part of his life. I didn't want to complicate things for you. I wanted to protect him—from everything, including you."
Alexander's expression softened, but his eyes never left hers. "You were trying to protect him from me? From the one person who can give him everything he needs?"
Sophia bit her lip, looking down at her hands. "I didn't want him to grow up with the kind of life I had. I didn't want him to be in the middle of all this... complication."
Alexander's hand reached across the table, and for the first time that evening, his touch was warm, comforting. He didn't try to rush her, didn't force her to answer any questions she wasn't ready to face. But there was something in his touch—a quiet strength—that made her feel like maybe, just maybe, they could figure this out together.
"You don't have to protect him from me, Sophia," he said softly. "I'm not the man I used to be. I'm not perfect. But I know one thing for sure—I would never hurt him. And I won't hurt you, either."
Sophia's breath hitched at the sincerity in his voice. She hadn't expected this—hadn't expected him to be so understanding, so... real. The weight of her fears, her doubts, felt just a little lighter as she looked into his eyes.
"I'm scared, Alexander," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared of what this means. For me. For Leo. For us."
"I understand," he replied quietly. "But sometimes, the things that scare us the most are the things we need the most."
For a moment, there was silence between them. The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Sophia wanted to believe him, to trust him, but she had been alone for so long that the thought of relying on someone else, especially someone like Alexander, felt like stepping into the unknown.
"What happens now?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as she searched his face for answers.
Alexander's eyes softened as he sat back in his chair, studying her. "Now? We take it one step at a time. We figure it out together. There's no blueprint for this, Sophia. But we'll create our own."
Sophia nodded, feeling a flicker of hope stir in her chest. It was small, fragile, but it was there. And maybe, just maybe, it was enough to take that first step into whatever came next.