I turned around, forcing myself to breathe, to hold back the tears that burned my eyes. I could hear the laughter fading behind me, but its echo stayed, heavy as a stone in my chest.
Outside, the air was cool, carrying the scent of the sea. I leaned against the wooden fence and tried to remember why I had even come. Maybe some part of me still hoped he’d look at me and see something worth loving.
But that hope had died the moment he opened his mouth.
I took out my phone, staring at the screen just to have something to do with my trembling hands. That’s when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
— Miss Sophia?
I turned around. It was one of the men from the security team — a tall guy in uniform, standing straight as a soldier. He looked nervous.
— Sorry to interrupt, ma’am, but someone’s asking for you at the gate. Said it’s urgent.
Confused, I followed him down the gravel path toward the entrance. There, waiting beside a black SUV, was a man in a dark suit.
When he saw me, he smiled politely and said, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear:
— Miss Sophia, I’m here on behalf of Commander Adams. He wanted me to deliver this personally.
The word Commander cut through the noise of the party like a blade. People turned their heads. My father was one of them.
