Chapter 283

After a long pause, he muttered under his breath, "Honestly, I can't tell if Sophia is torturing Ethan or if Ethan is torturing Sophia. These two—love and torment go hand in hand with them..."

Ah, whatever.

Carried in Ethan's arms into the elevator, Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck and murmured softly, "This... isn't so bad."

Ethan arched a brow. "What?"

Her cheeks were flushed from the confined space, warm against the cool skin of his neck—an oddly soothing contrast.

She felt... content.

And he? A little less cold.

"You weren't as cruel as I thought," she admitted quietly. "You never forced me to entertain other men. And Lily... you let her go to kindergarten." A pause. "I'm grateful for that."

Ethan stiffened.

He nearly set her down right then, pinching her waist instead as he growled, "In the six years I've known you, when have you ever seen me treat a woman like this? You spent three years calling me heartless, and now you're still—"

But before he could finish, the elevator doors slid open.

Standing right outside, wide-eyed, was Lily.

"Wow!" The little girl gasped, staring at the "mean man" holding her mother. She didn't even protest.

"Is Mommy asleep?" Lily asked, tilting her head.

"Put me down—now!" Sophia hissed, face burning at being caught like this.

"Mommy! You're awake!" Lily stretched on her tiptoes, trying to see better. Ethan immediately lowered Sophia to the ground.

"Mommy, guess what? Kindergarten was so fun today! It's way bigger than my old one, but..." Her excitement dimmed slightly.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Sophia knelt to meet her daughter's eyes.

"I don't know anyone there. No friends yet." Lily pouted.

"That's okay, baby. You'll make friends soon," Sophia reassured her gently.

Lily nodded. "Can I bring treats tomorrow? To share? Maybe then they'll talk to me."

At four and a half, in a new environment, the loneliness was palpable.

For a child, sharing food was the easiest way to break the ice.

Yet even this small request twisted Sophia's heart.

Every cent she had was seized by Ethan to "repay debts." She was penniless.

Swallowing the bitterness, Sophia forced a smile. "Sweetheart, we... can't afford gifts right now."

Maybe never. But she couldn't say that.

She cupped Lily's face. "When things are better, I'll buy you lots of presents to share, okay? For now, just introduce yourself. You'll make friends without treats."

"Are we poor, Mommy?" Lily asked, too perceptive for her age.

Sophia nodded silently.

Lily squeezed her hand. "It's okay. I don't need presents. Don't be sad, Mommy. I'm not sad!"

"You can bring gifts." Ethan's voice cut in, calm but firm.

Lily's eyes lit up like stars. "Really? You'll buy them?"

"Yes." His tone was as serious as a boardroom meeting.

Lily hesitated. "Promise?"

"My word is final." He shot her a look.

Still calling him "mean man," huh?

He turned on his heel and strode inside, leaving mother and daughter staring after him. Lily tugged Sophia's sleeve. "Did I make him mad?"

Sophia sighed, crouching to whisper, "When someone offers you gifts, maybe don't call them names. Even if just to their face. Understand?"

Lily beamed. Secretly, she'd only kept up the "mean man" act to cheer her mom.

"I won't call him that anymore! Come on, Mommy—Aunt Margaret made dinner! I waited for you!"

Sophia smiled. Just being with Lily was enough.

Ethan's voice rang out from inside. "Toy room. Now."

Lily froze.

Toy room? What toy room?

Before she could panic, Margaret appeared. "This way, little miss."

The moment the door swung open, Lily shrieked.

"MOMMY! LOOK!"

Sophia rushed over—and gasped.

In just one day, the plain room had transformed into a wonderland.

Wall decals of fairy-tale forests. A princess bed. A slide. A playhouse big enough to crawl inside. A tiny bicycle. A ball pit. Even a pretend bus!

It was bigger than her kindergarten playground.

Lily dashed inside, giggling as she touched everything.

Margaret watched, eyes misty. After years of cold silence, the Blackwood mansion finally felt like a home.

"Play here. Alone." Ethan's command came from the doorway.

Lily, now too thrilled to argue, nodded eagerly. Then she glanced at Sophia. "Go eat, Mommy! I'm fine!"

Smart girl. She knew Ethan wanted her mother to rest.

Sophia kissed her forehead before heading to the dining room.

Exhausted, she felt like a puppet after today. But it was past nine, and hunger gnawed at her.

Margaret served dishes one by one: crisp purple cabbage drizzled with citrus dressing, thinly sliced five-spice beef, and finally, a steaming bowl of rib-and-yam soup. The meat fell off the bone, tender yet rich.

Her stomach growled.

For the first time in years, Sophia Blackwood sat down to a meal that felt like... home.