45| Unspoken Fears

Ethan immediately frowned. "Sophie can come by whenever she wants."

Then, as if Claire wasn't even there, he leaned closer to Sophie, lowering his voice as though they were the only two in the room. "And whenever you do, I'm always grateful for it."

Sophie's cheeks warmed under his gaze. Why had she ever doubted him with her stupid jealousy instead of simply reveling in his affection?

"Stop, Ethan," she murmured, squeezing his hand under the table, their fingers tightening together.

Claire, visibly uncomfortable with the intimacy unfolding before her, cleared her throat, desperate to reclaim attention—or at least disrupt theirs. "Ethan, remember the project we discussed? I think it's a good time to—"

"Let's not talk about work at lunch, Claire," Ethan cut in smoothly, his attention still locked on Sophie. "We did enough of that earlier."

Claire's mouth nearly dropped open. Ethan, not engaging in work talk? There was nothing she could say now without seeming overly aggressive or desperate.

As the meal wound down, Ethan glanced at his watch and realized how fast the afternoon had slipped away. "I'm sorry, but I need to get back to the office," he said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

Sophie nodded, understanding—she had to get back to the shop, too.

"Of course, Ethan, you're busy," Claire said with an exaggerated sweetness that made Sophie's stomach turn.

Ethan stood, leaning over to press a lingering kiss to Sophie's forehead. "I'll see you later," he murmured, his eyes holding onto hers for a moment longer than necessary.

And just like that, he was gone, leaving Sophie alone with Claire.

The air between them shifted immediately.

Sophie sighed. Was Claire at least going to keep up her pretense? They both knew that so-called apology was nothing but an act.

She didn't have to wait long to find out.

Claire's tone sharpened, her voice laced with accusation. "You really think you're something special, don't you?"

Sophie felt frustration surge inside her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Claire scoffed. "Don't play innocent with me. You've been trying to worm your way into Ethan's life, using your pretty face to get what you want. You don't deserve him. Our relationship was strong before you came along and ruined everything."

Sophie clenched her fists under the table. "Cut the bullshit, Claire. At least wait until the audience disappears before you stop acting."

Claire smirked. "Finally dropping the nice-girl act, huh?" She leaned in, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Just so you know, you're nothing but a temporary distraction. I know Ethan. Do you really think you're the first girl who's tried to worm her way into his heart?"

Sophie's hands trembled. She hated confrontation.

"Claire, whatever you think you know about Ethan is wrong. You need to accept that and move on. I'm not listening to anything you have to say about him."

Claire's expression darkened. "I've consoled plenty of girls like you—pretty little things who thought they were different, who thought they were special. Guess what? They all came and went. And you know who was always there? Me."

Sophie's resolve hardened. "Maybe they left because they couldn't handle your bitterness. Honestly, I don't even know how Ethan puts up with you. It must be exhausting."

The words struck a nerve. Claire's eyes flashed.

"You really do think you're special."

She said it again, but this time, it wasn't just an insult—it was realization. Like she couldn't believe Sophie actually thought Ethan liked her. Like the very idea was incomprehensible.

"You think you know everything about him. Just because he's showing you attention now?"

Claire leaned forward slightly, voice mockingly sweet.

"You don't know Ethan. Not the way I do. Ethan is cold. He's just using you for the experience."

Sophie snapped.

Her blood boiled at the way Claire twisted Ethan's character into something he wasn't.

"Don't say that about him. I know Ethan. He's not the man you're trying to paint him as. He's kind, he's caring, and—" she hesitated, but then her voice steadied— "he loves me."

Claire let out a cold, dismissive laugh. "Love? Has he told you he loves you?"

Sophie's breath caught.

Her heart sank as the realization hit her.

Why did she even say that?

They hadn't reached that level yet. At least, not him. She still hadn't told him she loved him either.

And this was why she hated talking to Claire.

She always had a way of digging up Sophie's deepest insecurities and throwing them in her face.

Claire's eyes gleamed with triumph, her smirk widening like she had just won something.

"He's incapable of it. You'll see. When he gets tired of you, I'll be the one picking up the pieces. Just like always."

Sophie's heart ached, but she didn't let Claire see her falter.

Instead, she held her ground, locking eyes with her.

"You're such a bitter person, Claire. Just because he doesn't love me does not mean he loves you."

The smugness vanished from Claire's face.

It was only for a second, but Sophie caught it.

A flicker of something real—something Claire didn't want to admit to herself.

That maybe she wasn't as important to Ethan as she wanted to believe.

And just like that—Claire snapped.

"Cut that bullshit!" Claire's voice rose, her anger raw, her mask completely slipping.

Heads turned from nearby tables, curious onlookers now watching the scene unfold.

"What do you think you know about me?" Claire hissed, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

"About me and Ethan? You're just an outsider who married him for money."

The words struck like a slap, but Sophie refused to flinch.

Claire's voice grew louder, her tone sharper, more venomous.

"In what life would you ever get the chance to marry someone like Ethan? An elite. And you? A nobody with only a pretty face?"

Sophie felt something inside her snap.

This was Claire's true nature.

She would never change.

"Don't get full of yourself," Claire's voice dropped to a low, threatening hiss. "We are not on the same level."

Sophie stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the pavement.

She was done.

"I won't take that. Not even from you."

She grabbed her things, turned on her heel, and walked away.

Her steps quickened, needing to put distance between herself and the toxic conversation.

Why did she ever accept that bullshit apology?

She should have known better.

She was going to tell Ethan. She had to. She wasn't going to be Claire's keeper—not anymore.

She would make him choose.

Sophie halted, a sharp pang of guilt twisting inside her. God, Sophie, what are you doing? Was she really becoming like Claire? What was this ultimatum she was suddenly creating in her mind?

Once again, she hated how she became when it came to her love for Ethan.

Oh.

Right.

Her love for him.

She loved him.

The realization crashed into her all at once, leaving her breathless.

But...

She was okay with loving Ethan.

Because she loved him for who he was—not for what she could get from him, not for how much he liked her back.

And that had to be enough for now.

At least, for now.

She needed to focus on the positives.

On the happiness she had with Ethan.

He made her happy.

Truly, he did.

So why did she feel so unhappy right now?

Entering the shop, Sophie took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her.

She almost wished she hadn't gone to see Ethan today.

Then she wouldn't have seen Claire.

Then they wouldn't have fought.

Then she would still be wrapped up in the warmth of her sweet moments with Ethan, instead of battling with her own thoughts now.

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