Chapter 180

#179 “Alexander is the Love of My Life.”

Sophia stood up from her seat, her body recoiling as if scalded by Benjamin’s confession.

“What does that mean?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“I’ve loved you for years, Sophia. I can’t hide it anymore,” Benjamin admitted, his tone earnest, his eyes pleading for understanding.

Benjamin took a step towards Sophia, his movements tentative, as if afraid she might vanish before his eyes. But instead of closing the distance between them, Sophia stepped back, her expression one of shock and confusion.

“I’ve loved you for years, Sophia. I can’t hide it anymore,” Benjamin declared, his tone earnest but tinged with desperation as he took a step closer to her.

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat, her inind racing as she grappled with the weight of Benjamin’s words. She shook her head slowly, her voice trembling as she tried to find the right words to respond.

“Ben, we’ve been friends since we were kids,” she said. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

Benjamin’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he took another step towards her. “Say you felt the same way, Sophia. Say you’ve been hiding your feelings for me too,” he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.

Sophia’s heart clenched at the desperation in Benjamin’s voice, but she knew deep down that she couldn’t give him the answer he wanted. She shook her head again, her voice firm but gentle as she tried to let him down gently.

“I’m sorry, Ben. I don’t feel that way about you,” she said softly, her voice filled with genuine remorse. “I value our friendship, but… but I don’t see you that way.”

Benjamin’s face fell, his disappointment evident in the slump of his shoulders and the crestfallen look in his eyes. “But… but what about Alexander?” he asked, his voice tinged with bitterness as he gestured towards the door. “He never was there for you like I was. He doesn’t love you the way I do.”

Sophia’s heart clenched at the mention of Alexander, her mind flooded with memories of their tumultuous relationship. She squared her shoulders, her voice firm as she defended her love for Alexander.

“Alexander and I have been through a lot together,” she said, her voice tinged with determination. “He might not have been perfect, but he loves me in his way. And I love him.”

Benjamin’s eyes flashed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to contain his emotions. ” You are making a mistake, Sophia,” he said, his voice tinged with desperation. “Don’t let him ruin what we have.”

But Sophia shook her head, her resolve unwavering as she met Benjamin’s gaze with steely determination. “I’m sorry, Ben,” she said softly. “But my heart belongs to Alexander.”

Benjamin showed no signs of backing down, his desperation fueling his determination to win Sophia’s affection. “I don’t care about any of that. I can make you happy, Sophia. I can give you everything you ever wanted,” he pleaded, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.

Sophia’s patience wore thin, her anger bubbling to the surface as she realized the depth of Benjamin’s selfishness. ” Stop it, Ben,” she snapped, her tone sharp with irritation. “I already told you, I don’t feel that way about you. I love Alexander, and nothing will change that.”

But Benjamin refused to listen, his persistence bordering on obsession as he continued to press his case. ” Alexander doesn’t deserve you. He only hurt you in the end,” he insisted.

Sophia’s frustration boiled over as she struggled to reason with Benjamin. 11 That is enough, Ben! I’m not going to stand here and listen to you badmouth Alexander,” she declared, her voice ringing with defiance. “You need to accept that I’d made my choice, and nothing you said would have changed that.”

Sophia took a deep breath, her anger simmering beneath the surface as she watched Benjamin storm out of the room. Despite her shock and disbelief at his outburst, she knew she couldn’t have let his bitterness poison their friendship any further. With a determined stride, she followed him, her mind racing with thoughts of how to calm the situation.

“Benjamin, wait,” she called out, her voice firm but tinged with concern.

Benjamin whirled around, his eyes ablaze with frustration and hurt. ” What?” he snapped, his tone sharp and accusatory.

Sophia held up her hands in a gesture of peace, stepping closer to him. “Ben, please. Let’s talk about this calmly,” she urged, her voice gentle but resolute.

Benjamin shook his head, his jaw clenched with pent-up emotion. “I can’t do it, Sophia. Not anymore,”

he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.

Sophia’s heart sank at his words, her resolve wavering for a moment. But then she squared her shoulders, steeling herself against the flood of conflicting emotions. “Benjamin, we have been friends for years,” she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside her. “I care about you deeply, but you have to understand… I can’t force myself to feel something I don’t.”

Benjamin’s shoulders slumped in defeat, a mix of resignation and sadness flickering across his features. ” I just… I can’t stand seeing you with him, Sophia,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sophia’s jaw tightened. “Alexander is the love of my life,” she said firmly, her voice unwavering. “I am not backing down from that, Ben. And I need you to respect that.”