Sophia sat up, gripping the phone tightly. Her heart pounded as she stared at Ryan's name flashing across the screen. She could feel Alexander's gaze on her, waiting, but he didn't say anything. He simply watched, offering her silent support.
Taking a deep breath, she swiped to answer. "Hello?"
"Sophia." Ryan's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, something unreadable. "We need to talk."
She closed her eyes for a second. "I know."
"Meet me today. Alone." There was a pause. "Please."
Sophia glanced at Alexander, his expression unreadable now. Her fingers tightened around the phone. "Where?"
"The old café. Noon."
She hesitated before nodding, even though he couldn't see her. "Okay."
The line went dead.
Alexander sat up, his hand brushing against her arm. "Are you sure about this?"
Sophia exhaled. "I need to hear him out."
His jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Then I'm staying close. Just in case."
She didn't argue. Because deep down, she knew she might need him more than she wanted to admit.
The café was nearly empty when Sophia arrived, the scent of fresh coffee and warm pastries filling the air. She spotted Ryan sitting in a corner booth, his fingers drumming anxiously on the table. The moment he saw her, he stood, his expression unreadable.
She slid into the seat across from him, folding her hands together. "I'm here. Talk."
Ryan studied her, as if trying to read what was left unsaid between them. "I meant what I said, Sophia. I want to be in Leo's life. I know I've made mistakes, but I want to fix them."
She let out a shaky breath. "You don't get to just walk back in and expect everything to be fine. It's not just about you. Leo has a life now—a stable one. I won't let you disrupt that."
Ryan's jaw tightened. "I'm not trying to take him away from you. I just want a chance to know my son."
Sophia hesitated. "And what happens when you decide it's too much? When you walk away again? He's just a child, Ryan. He doesn't deserve that."
Pain flickered across his face. "I won't walk away this time. I swear it."
She wanted to believe him. But trust wasn't that easily rebuilt.
"I need time to think about this," she said finally. "Leo's well-being comes first. Always."
Ryan nodded slowly. "I understand. Take your time. But I'm not going anywhere."
Sophia's stomach twisted. She wasn't sure if that reassured her or terrified her.
As she walked out of the café, the cool air biting against her skin, she spotted Alexander leaning against his car across the street. He hadn't gone far. His gaze met hers, steady, unwavering.
She walked toward him, her steps slow, her mind racing. The moment she reached him, he opened the car door. "Come on. Let's go home."
Home.
The word settled something inside her. She got in, letting the warmth of the car and Alexander's presence ease the storm raging in her chest.
But one thought remained.
Ryan wasn't going anywhere.
And neither was the past she had tried so hard to leave behind.