~Sofia~
Slivers of sunlight slip through the curtain gaps. The fresh, salty ocean scent permeated the air. I inhaled sharply, stretching my limbs, wincing at the biting pain on my left shoulder.
It had been two weeks since the chaos in Pinehills. After they brought me to Pinehills Memorial, Chase managed to get me out the next day and flew me to Rio.
He was avoiding the swarm of persistent reporters to get our side of the story. He told me to turn my phone off, not check my emails or watch the news. He took it upon himself to inform our friends about my situation. He was taking all the pressure off me, shouldering everything instead.
Since then, we’ve been staying at Diego’s beach house. It had been good for all of us, especially for Elise. She had fallen in love with the ocean; she even grew a perfect tan because of staying under the sun.
Slipping out of bed, I padded out of our room and headed to the kitchen downstairs. Before I even heard Elise’s laughter, I already knew she was on the seaside with her dad. Hunter was with her, and they loved playing on the beach until the sun’s heat was tolerable no more. It’s a good thing that Chase never forgot to put sunscreen on her skin when I wasn’t around to do it.
I was making breakfast when Clara and Diego walked in. They were staying in the city to give us privacy, a gesture I was grateful for. They didn’t have to do that, but she insisted we needed our own space and visited almost every day.
Clara was dressed fancy in a yellow floral dress, white sandals, and a huge white hat, hair curled at the ends. Diego was wearing a matching light yellow Hawaian shirt, and khaki shorts. It makes me smile everytime I see them wearing couples shirts or matching outfits. I hope Chase and I will have that same adoration for each other twenty years from now.
Clara removed her hat, her bright smile broadened when she saw me.
“Smells good in here.” She tipped her nose as though smelling the air before pulling me in for a hug.
“I made English breakfast.” I hugged her back and waved at Diego. He dropped a duffle bag on the couch and pulled me for an embrace as well.
“Perfect timing,” he cajoled, ruffling my hair like my brothers loved to do.
I pouted, and his chuckle grew louder.
Taking two mugs from the cupboard, I filled them with brewed coffee and handed them to Clara and Diego.
“You’re staying for lunch?” I asked.
Clara nodded. “I hope it’s okay?”
“Of course. This is your place; you don’t even have to ask, Clara.” I gushed. “Elise would love to spend time with you guys.”
Clara’s smile widened. Diego excused himself and brought his coffee outside the porch.
“So, how was your doctor’s appointment?” Clara gripped my arms, looking deep into my eyes.
“My shoulder is still tender,” I rolled my left shoulder, “but all in all, I’m as good as I could get.”
The laceration on my legs had already healed, only a scratch was left, and the bruises on my body had already faded.
“And how was your visit with the therapist? Tell me the truth.”
Chase insisted that we seek professional help. Between the three of us, Elise was doing better in terms of moving on. Though her doctor advised us to stay in Rio for the time being.
It wasn’t easy reliving what I’d gone through, but I had to. I pulled the strength to do so from Chase and Elise. I had to survive the aftermath of what Nikos had done to me for my family.
I bit my lip. “I won’t lie, Clara… moving on is a grueling process that needs a lot of hard work, but I will get through this for Chase and Elise.”
Clara smiled, sympathy written all over her face, but she masked it quickly, shifting to another topic. “How about the wedding? Have you decided when you’ll schedule it?”
In light of our current situation, we had to cancel our wedding. Much hard work and planning went to waste, but our peace of mind was more important. But I have to admit, I was disheartened that we had to cancel everything. It had been my dream to be wedded to Chase, but that’s not the most important thing for now.
Heaving a sigh, I turned to face the open sliding door. Chase was watching Elise play fetch with Hunter. His back was on us, and our daughter’s laughter mingled with the ocean waves crashing on the shore.
“We haven’t talked about it yet.” I smiled at Clara. “But I’m not entirely heartbroken that we had to cancel. We are already a family. The wedding is more of a formality.”
Clara hooked her hand with mine, her eyes trained on the same view I was looking at. Diego now stood beside Chase. He patted Chase’s shoulder, squeezing it. Chase turned to his father and gave him the same pat on the back.
“Thank you, Sofia,” she murmured.
I threw her a sideway glance, brows knitting together. “For what?”
She nodded towards the beach. “For that.” My confusion deepened. “This was a dream come true. To see Chase and Diego together with my grandkid. Married or not, you are my daughter, Sofia, and we are a family.”
I bit my lower lip, which started to quiver. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t feel the need to. Clara was right. If my parents were here, they would be proud of what Chase and I had overcome. Despite all the struggles we’ve been through, we’re still together.
The sound of the car pulling to a stop at the front of the house drew my attention from watching the beautiful view of the beach.
“They’re here,” Clara said, clapping her hands like a kid on Christmas Eve.
“Who’s here?” I asked, but she was already sashaying to open the front door. Georgia and Jessica walked into the mansion with teary eyes.
“Oh my God,” I covered my mouth with my hands, and my tears instantly spilled profoundly. Lead poured into my body, keeping me glued to the spot. My knees were boneless, and my head spun with all the what-ifs if Avery didn’t help me or if Chase had come a minute too late that day.
My sobs exploded when the familiar warmth of my best friend’s embrace engulfed me.
“I can’t believe you went through all of that.” Jessica plucked another ply from the tissue box, blowing her nose.
We were in the gazebo, and I just finished telling them what happened at the mansion about Nikos and how we ended up here in Rio.
Chase asked them to come and see me over the weekend, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his concern for my well- being. There is some kind of comfort that only my best friends could provide. I’m so lucky to have a man as understanding as Chase.
A lot has changed with Jessica and Georgia since I last saw them. Jess cut her hair short, emphasizing her round shape face, and her bangs made her green eyes stand out. Gone was Georgia’s brown hair. She was back to being a sultry redhead, but there was something different about her I couldn’t point out.
“Do you have news of where this Nikos/Brega or whatever that’s shit’s name is now?” Though her eyes were puffy, Georgia’s sassy tone was back. “He should pay for what he did to your family.”
Jessica hummed in agreement, blowing her nose once again.
“Derek and Carlota were working on it,” I explained. I trust these two well enough to keep every piece of information I told them a secret. This also comes with the reality that they might – at some point – get caught in between this war Nikos had started, and I need them on this willingly. I’d understand if they’d keep their distance from me. But from the way they’re both fuming in rage, I bet my money they’ll be staying by my side all the way.
“I can’t believe Carlota would risk her life for you,” Jessica insisted, reaching for her glass of orange juice and taking a sip. “I mean,” she wiped her mouth and set her glass down. “You kinda hated her to boot.”
“We’re on good terms now,” I explained, adding another pillow to the pile on my back. I was resting against the couch, Jess was on my left and Georgia was on my right. We spread a picnic blanket on the gazebo floor and moved all the throw pillows around us for a more relaxed chat. “Plus, she saved my brother.”
Derek visited me three days after we flew to Rio, but he didn’t tell me how they survived the explosion. He told me that if it wasn’t for Carlota, he’d be six feet under by now. I didn’t press for details. I knew his job required confidentiality. What’s important is that he’s alive and well.
“And what happened to Samantha’s son?” Jessica asked.
Kenzo was still keeping Cyrus safe in Japan, but Chase had already sent one of the staff from the DNA testing center to collect a sample from him. We expect to hear the result from the clinic any time now.
“We’re still waiting for the result,” I murmured, reaching for a grape from the bowl of fruits Clara kindly served us. She brought freshly baked goodies too. And to give us time to catch up, she volunteered to make lunch for us with Diego’s help.
Chase and Elise went to the city to replenish our supply since it was supposed to be our grocery day. Jose drove them. He had never left Elise’s side since they arrived in Rio. I think my daughter has grown on him. Hunter, however, was sitting here with us. He chose the spot beside Georgia, and once in a while, Georgia would pet his head.
“Will he be staying with you guys? I mean, if he’s really Chase’s son?” Georgia asked.
I nodded. “Whatever Sammy had done, Cyrus had nothing to do with it. Besides, we don’t want Samuel to take him.”
Georgia hummed in understanding. “If you ever have trouble keeping Cyrus, or if he’s not Chase’s, I am here… just putting that idea out there.”
I reached for her hand, squeezing it. We don’t expect this transition for Cyrus to be easy. He lived all his life with Sammy, and now she’s gone. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free.We understand he would need some time to get used to the idea of having a father. “Thank you, Georgia. Both of you, thank you for coming to see me.”
“We’re not the only ones here to see you,” Jessica murmured.
Hunter jerked up from his spot, his ears perched toward the beach house. A ball of brown fur came barrelling from the corner, barking in excitement as he met Hunter on the lawn.
Shooter.
If he’s here, then…
Tears blurred my sight when I saw my brothers with Julian emerging from the mansion.
Chase had done this all for me. He brought my family and friends to Rio.