53| Hesitation and Fear

Sophie sank into a chair, her hands trembling as she spread out the documents on the table in front of her.

Mia sat beside her, concern etched into her features.

Sophie scanned the papers, her eyes widening at the absurd amounts and inflated interest rates.

"This is insane," she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice. "They've added so much interest it's impossible to pay off."

She swallowed hard, dread settling in her chest. "God... are they doing this because they know Ethan has money?"

Mia leaned in, just as stressed, studying the documents with Sophie. "It definitely looks like they're trying to take advantage of you. This is extortion, plain and simple."

Sophie's mind raced as she tried to piece everything together. "I paid them off. I don't understand why they're coming after me now."

Mia placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You need to talk to Ethan about this. He can help you figure out what's really going on. You shouldn't have to deal with this alone."

Sophie stiffened. "Mia, I can't."

Mia's head snapped toward her.

Her brow furrowed deeper, a flicker of frustration and disbelief in her eyes.

"Sophie, what do you mean you can't?"

Sophie closed her eyes, willing herself to stay strong.

"I can't ask Ethan for money."

Her voice trembled, but she stood by it.

"I got myself into this mess. I have to get myself out."

Mia stared at her, dumbfounded. "Sophie, be serious."

Her voice rose slightly, edged with exasperation.

"So what do you plan to do? Those guys aren't exactly the type to listen to reason."

"I'll figure it out," Sophie insisted, but the unsteadiness in her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

Mia let out a sharp sigh, struggling to stay patient. "Sophie, this isn't about the money."

She held Sophie's gaze, willing her to understand. "It's about communicating. It's about being vulnerable. Keeping this from Ethan is a terrible idea."

Sophie crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "I don't want to make my marriage more transactional than it already seems. I just don't."

Mia's expression softened, but she still wasn't having it.

"Sophie."

Sophie cut her off.

"Don't worry, Mia. I just need time."

Her eyes were pleading. "Please don't tell Lily about this."

"Sophie, no-"

"Please."

Mia hesitated, torn between respecting her friend's wishes and doing what she knew was right. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But I don't know for how long."

Relief flooded through Sophie, but it was bittersweet. "Thank you, Mia."

Mia's eyes darkened with worry, but she forced a reassuring smile. "Just promise me you'll think about talking to Ethan."

Her voice was gentle, yet firm. "He deserves to know what's going on."

Sophie nodded slowly.

"I will."

But deep down-she wasn't entirely sure if she meant it.

She barely remembered the rest of her workday.

She went through the motions, but her mind wasn't there.

Because all she could think about was-

How the hell was she going to tell Ethan?

The truth was brutal.

Her debts had once climbed past a million dollars. At one point, she had been drowning in it, every bit of profit from the shop funneled straight into loan payments.

And still, it hadn't been enough.

For years, she hadn't even known what she was living for.

She had kept it all to herself.

Her mom had known about the hospital bills-her father had been sick for years. Surgery after surgery had racked up over four hundred thousand dollars in expenses. Even with insurance, it hadn't been enough.

And then there was Lily.

She had gotten a scholarship for college, but Sophie didn't want her to feel the weight of their struggles. She didn't want her sister to know they were poor.

So she had kept going.

She and her mom had held it together, barely, for as long as they could.

Then Dad died.

And as much as she had loved him, as much as it had broken her, all she could think about was how to afford his funeral.

She had hated herself for that.

For the numbness.

For the way life had beaten her down so much that grief had become just another expense.

She had thought she and her mom would get through it together.

But her mom lost a part of herself when her dad died.

And the worst part?

He had died during the very surgery that she had borrowed money from the loan sharks to pay for in the first place.

And once again-

It was coming back to haunt her.

Sophie clenched her fists, swallowing back the bitterness rising in her throat.

God, she hated life sometimes.

It was cold. Unfair. Unrelenting.

*******

Back at home, Sophie shrugged off her shoes, exhaustion weighing her down.

It wasn't that she didn't want to tell Ethan-it was that she couldn't.

Ethan was her safe space, the bubble that protected her from how pathetic her life had once been. She wanted him to keep seeing her the way he always had-strong, capable, someone worth loving.

Not the girl who had spent years drowning in debt, trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.

For seven years, she had shouldered this alone.

It wasn't easy to suddenly share what she had never spoken aloud.

Her eyes landed on a framed photo of them on their wedding day. Ethan looked just as he always did-warm, steady, hers. And her own smile... it had been bright and genuine.

God, she loved him.

Would he be unhappy if she didn't tell him?

Would he be disappointed in her?

But she couldn't tell him. She just couldn't.

She didn't want to be reminded that money played such a big role in their marriage.

But how in the world was she supposed to pay off a $500,000 debt to loan sharks?

Sophie sighed, sinking into the couch and hugging a cushion tightly to her chest. She loved this couch-Ethan had gotten it just for her-but even now, it did nothing to ease the weight in her heart.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts.

A message from Ethan: "I'll be home a little late. I miss you so much."

Sophie's heart lifted, if only for a moment.

He always messaged her when he would be late. He was so amazing, and here she was, thinking of dragging him into trouble with loan sharks-when she had been the one stupid enough to sign that contract.

This was her fault.

She had to take responsibility.

But still...

She couldn't wait to see him.

Just seeing Ethan would make this bad day feel better.

She wanted to tell him everything. Everything that had happened today.

Wait.

Did she?

She wanted to tell him everything-her heart, her fears-

But not this.

Not this.

Was she protecting Ethan-or herself?

The thought sat heavy in her chest.

But she pushed it away.

Sophie stood up, realizing she was starving. She had missed lunch, and now her stomach ached.

As she walked to the kitchen, a sharp pain suddenly stabbed through her abdomen.

She clutched her stomach, wincing.

The pain was unbearable. It wasn't just hunger-something was wrong.

She tried to stand up straight, but she couldn't.

Then, through the haze of discomfort, she heard the sound of Ethan's car pulling into the driveway.

Then the door opening.

"Sophie?"

"I-I'm here..." she barely managed to whisper.

His footsteps hesitated before rushing toward the kitchen.

The second he saw her sitting on the floor, pain etched on her face, his entire expression shifted to panic.

"What's wrong?" he demanded, kneeling beside her.

Sophie clenched her stomach, her breath shaky. "My stomach... it hurts. I don't know why."

Ethan's hands immediately inspected her, his touch gentle but urgent. "Here?" he asked, pressing lightly against her abdomen.

"Yeah-ahh!" she yelped.

"Come on, let's go to the hospital," he said, already moving to lift her.

But she shook her head frantically.

Ethan hesitated, remembering how much she hated hospitals.

"Okay, then we'll find a pharmacy. Let's go." He picked her up effortlessly, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.

Sophie curled into his chest, breathing through the pain. "Wait, Ethan... I think it's acid reflux," she whispered.

That had to be it.

She always got it when she was stressed.

But it had been so long since the last time, she must have forgotten how bad it could get.

Ethan didn't slow his pace. "We'll still go to the pharmacy to be sure."

He carried her straight to the car, strapped her in, and drove off.

Sophie blinked back tears.

He had just come home from work-tired-and here he was, taking care of her, because she hadn't even taken care of herself properly.

She hated this.

She hated how shitty life had been lately.

She hated how she couldn't tell Ethan what happened today.

And she hated how bad her stomach hurt.

A choked sob slipped out before she could stop it.

Ethan immediately glanced at her, alarmed. "Sophie, are you crying because it hurts that bad?"

But she couldn't even answer, the tears just kept falling.

Ethan reached over with his free hand, squeezing hers gently. "It's okay," he murmured, soothing her even as he drove.

By the time they reached the pharmacy, Sophie had finally calmed down.

The pharmacist recommended antacids and famotidine, advising her to take it and rest.

Ethan bought everything without a second thought, carrying the bags as he led her back to the car.

And as they drove home, his hand never let go of hers.

After taking the medication, Sophie felt better, but she was still exhausted-both mentally and physically.

By the time they got home, Ethan carried her straight to her bedroom.

She barely had time to process before she heard his footsteps returning, and when she looked up, he was standing by the bed with a bowl of oatmeal in his hands.

Sophie felt her throat tighten.

She almost cried again.

"Sophie, are you okay?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with quiet concern.

He wasn't just asking about her stomach.

He meant everything.

Guess she couldn't hide from him.

She forced a small smile, lying through her teeth. "I'm fine."

She picked up the spoon, stirring the oatmeal. "I was just so busy today that I skipped lunch. That's all. I'll be more careful next time."

Ethan didn't look convinced. His sharp eyes studied her for a long moment, as if he knew she was lying.

He let out a deep sigh, running his fingers through his hair, before finally setting the empty bowl down on the nightstand.

Then, without a word, he massaged her fingers gently, one by one, before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"All right. Time for bed."

He tucked her in, turned off the light, and started to move away-

But Sophie grabbed his hand, her fingers wrapped firmly around his, holding on tightly.

Ethan paused, his body still. In the dim glow of the bedside lamp, he looked at her-questioning, waiting.

But she didn't have a reason.

She just didn't want to let go.

"Will you stay with me... until I fall asleep?" she asked softly.

Ethan hesitated for only a second before nodding.

She shifted slightly, gesturing for him to lay beside her.

It wasn't the first time they had shared a bed.

They had done so at David's lake house once, back when things were simpler.

But this time was different.

This time, she felt like she was carrying the weight of the world.

This time, she needed him closer.

Ethan slid into bed beside her, and without a word, she moved into his arms. His warmth surrounded her, his steady breath against her hair calming the storm inside her.

Neither of them spoke.

She simply listened-

To the gentle thump of his heartbeat.

To the quiet, comforting presence of the only man she had ever loved.

-------

Don't forget to vote and leave a comment

🩷🩷