Wish you were mine

23. Breaking the Ties

PENELOPE

The sharp rays of sunlight danced through the gaps in my curtains, pulling me from sleep with an almost mocking brightness. I groaned in frustration, squinting against the harsh light that filled the room. My eyes stung as I rubbed them, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over me like a heavy blanket. I stretched, yawning deeply, but the grogginess refused to leave my bones.

I couldn't understand why I felt so drained. I hadn't done anything physically demanding. But then, the events of last night came rushing back-the emotional wreckage I had barely survived. I was completely spent, not from labor, but from the weight of it all. Closing my eyes for a moment, I took a shaky breath. The sound of gunshots echoed in my mind, clear as if they were still happening. A shiver of fear ran through me at the memory, my heart racing just at the thought.

I forced myself to push it aside. I couldn't let it control me. With a sigh, I slipped out of bed and shoved my feet into the slippers by my bedside. My hands moved automatically, gathering my hair into a messy bun before I dragged myself into the bathroom. I needed to wash my face, brush my teeth-anything to shake off this lingering exhaustion. A bath would have to wait. I wasn't going to the office today. Sean would understand. After what happened, I needed time. Time to process, to breathe. Maybe I should go to a spa and try to relax. God knows I needed it.

When I was done in the bathroom, I headed downstairs toward the dining room, hoping a simple breakfast might ground me. But as I reached the doorway, I stopped dead in my tracks. Sophie was already sitting there, calmly sipping her coffee as if it were any other day.

I glanced at the clock. It was past ten. She should've been at the office by now, yet here she was. Why? My stomach knotted with unease as I tried to piece it together.

"Penelope, sit down," Sophie's voice cut through my thoughts, cold and clipped.

"We need to talk, and I don't have all day."

Her stern gaze pinned me to the spot. I swallowed hard, the sudden tension in the air thick enough to choke me. With shaky hands, I lowered myself into the chair opposite her, bracing myself for whatever was coming.

The maid quietly placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of me. I wrapped my fingers around the warm mug, lifting it to my nose to breathe in the rich aroma. The scent alone seemed to cut through the haze in my mind, offering a brief moment of relief. I took a few slow sips, letting the warmth spread through me as I exhaled softly. But the moment didn't last long. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Sophie, arms crossed, watching me with that unyielding, stern look of hers. It felt like I was trapped in a negotiation I wasn't prepared for, and she was already holding all the cards.

"What happened last night?" she asked abruptly, her tone sharp. I wasn't expecting her to dive straight in. The question caught me off guard, and I nearly choked on my coffee.

I forced a chuckle, shaking my head. "Nothing... it's just-"

"Don't lie to me," she cut me off, her glare hardening. There was no escaping it now.

I blinked, taken aback. "It was Sean, wasn't it? He told you everything," I muttered, my voice laced with bitterness. Anger bubbled up inside me at the thought of Sean going behind my back. I specifically told him not to tell her, but of course, he couldn't keep his mouth shut. Bastard.

Sophie raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "Sean?" she asked slowly.

"Yeah, Sean. He told you, didn't he?"

"To your surprise, no," she said dryly. "For your information, Sean didn't say a word. I called him after I saw him dropping you off last night, but all he said was that I should ask you. So here I am."