All That Went Unsaid | Complete (18+)

Chapter 14

Sophie Esinberg's POV

My phone wouldn't stop vibrating.

Headline after headline. Rumors. Fan edits. Zoomed-in shots of me and Raymond on the boat, his hand on my waist, both of us laughing beneath the stone arch of the bridge like we had no past... or future.

I threw the phone on the bed like it had burned me.

This was out of hand.

And it wasn't even true.

My phone buzzed on the bed persistent hornet.

MOM.

My stomach twisted.

I considered letting it ring. Just this once. But guilt's grip was strong, and I was too tired to fight it today.

I answered with a soft, "Hi."

"Sophie!" Her voice poured through like a tidal wave—breathless, loud, proud. "I just saw you on TV! You were in that gold dress, yes? The one you sent a photo of? It was stunning! And that boy—"

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sank onto the edge of the bed.

"Raymond," I offered, monotone.

"Yes! Raymond! That boy with the eyes, I remember him! You were always so happy with him in Highschool. " she said with a tinge of wonder. "They kept showing you two together. Such a lovely couple. You've come so far, Sophie. You're doing so well. Just like your father—so brilliant. Always winning, always being nominated for these fancy awards..."

That word.

Father.

It hit like a slap each time.

The air felt suddenly tight. I stood and paced toward the tall windows, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "I'm not like him."

"Don't be silly," she laughed, missing the blade in my tone. "You've got his mind. The way you speak about science—like it's poetry."

I wanted to scream.

I didn't want his mind. I didn't want any part of him.

Not the man who walked out of our lives when Avery was still learning to tie her shoes. Not the man who abandoned us and left Mom patching together jobs and pride just to keep the lights on. That man's legacy wasn't brilliance. It was absence.

"Mom, I have to go," I said sharply, reaching for any lifeline.

"Oh. Okay." Her voice shrank a little. "I'm proud of you. That's all I wanted to say. And tell Raymond I say Hi. Love you, darling."

I ended the call with more force than necessary and let out a slow, long exhale. I needed to refocus.

  I paced across the suite, the floor cool beneath my bare feet, my robe loose around my frame. I had barely stepped out of the shower when Daniel's knock came, followed by the sound of him and Justin filing in like an intervention squad.

I didn't turn to look at them.

"I'm going to issue a statement," I said flatly. "Let the press know that it's not real. That we're not dating."

"You can't," Daniel replied too quickly. "That would be the worst move right now."

"Why? Because it's not a good narrative?" I snapped, spinning to face them.

Justin raised his hands. "No. Because you'd be cutting off your own oxygen supply."

I frowned.

Daniel stepped forward, calmer. Always calmer. "Sophie, we get it. We know this isn't your thing. You don't play games. You don't do pretense. But two investors emailed this morning asking for timelines. For scope. For collaboration opportunities. They found you because of the buzz. We finally have the spotlight."