Chapter Fifty Two

Sophie fell to her knees before the tomb, dressed in a simple black dress and a muffler wrapped tightly around her neck.

Her nails dug into her thighs as she kept her gaze fixed on the tombstone, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

“I’m sorry, Mother,” she whispered, her voice cracking. She sniffled and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

“I tried not to do this.” She shook her head slowly. “And I’m still trying… I really am.”

Her smile wavered, fading into a hollow expression as her gaze turned distant.

“Mom…” Sophie smiled bitterly, the image of her younger self running toward their mother flashing vividly in her mind.

She saw her mother crouch with arms wide open and a radiant smile lighting up her face.

“Mom!” her younger self called out, her chubby cheeks rosy as she dashed into her mother’s arms. “I love you!”

“I love you too, my darling.” Her mother hugged her tightly.

Just as her mother was about to stand with her in her arms, a distant voice rang out.

“Mommy!”

They both turned their heads. A smile spread across their faces as they saw little Alex running toward them, a cheeseball in one hand, his mouth smeared with orange stains.

“Oh, Alex,” her mother chuckled.

Sophie laughed softly through her tears as she pictured the moment—young Alex tumbling into their mother’s arms.

Their mother faked a frown as she looked at his messy face.

“You’re a big boy now, my son,” she clicked her tongue and wiped his mouth with her blazer, scolding him with a smile. “You don’t want the girls frowning at you, do you?”

Sophie wiped her cheeks again, her tears flowing freely.

Seventeen years ago, she vanished. Seven years ago, she returned—hoping to find her family, to reunite and live happily again.

But what she found was a ruin.

The house was no longer a home—just shattered windows, charred beams, and walls stained black with old smoke. Her mother wasn’t waiting inside—but buried beneath cold stone, her name carved in silence.

She’d been grateful to find Alex alive. But the boy she remembered—the cheerful, messy, innocent brother—was gone.

Now, he was a man with midnight eyes, a hollow heart, and a house heavy with loneliness.

She no longer knew how to reach him.

Each day, she prayed he’d return to the boy he once was.

But hope fades.

And eventually, it dies.

Will I keep watching him make the same mistakes? Repeat the same dark acts?

“That… that isn’t true, right?” she asked herself.

Her fists twisted into the fabric of her dress, her thoughts looping back to Alex’s face when he heard about Uncle Khalid’s death.

He had staggered back, color drained from his face.

“Are you okay?” she had rushed to his side. “Do you want to sit down?

“No,” he had muttered and peeled her hands from his arms.

In that moment, all her hopes for him came crashing down.

She knew the truth. She’d placed a tracker in his car.

She saw him return to Uncle Khalid’s house that night—at the exact time Khalid died.

He must have drugged him. Written the letter.

But how could I report my own brother?

Still, she didn’t want to lose faith in him.

Yet lately, something darker clung to him—a cold, familiar aura that made her question everything.

When she discovered he had his eyes on the girl Chris liked, Sophie couldn’t stay calm. She wanted to act as she always had—turn a blind eye.

But…

Would Mother be proud of that?

What made her any different from Alex if she kept pretending?

Must I ruin more lives just to save him?

Sophie covered her mouth with both hands to muffle her sobs. Her shoulders shook.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she wept. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

She pressed her hands to the grave, bent her head, and sobbed.

Then she felt a cold hand on her shoulder.

Startled, she looked up—and sighed when she saw Brian.

She had made up her mind and called Brian. It was time to end it all. She couldn’t keep turning a blind eye anymore.

“You should use this,” he offered a handkerchief.

Sophie took it and stood up, forcing a small smile.

“Thank you.”

“It’s okay to cry.” Brian patted her shoulder and rubbed his hands together for warmth.

Silence settled between them. The wind stirred dry leaves around the grave. The tree behind it rustled, its branches casting shadows over the tomb and at their feet. The sound of the leaves was soft—like whispers between the trees.

Brian sighed deeply and cleared his throat.

“Can we get down to business?”

Sophie swallowed hard and nodded.

—

Later…

Sophie walked to her car, vision blurred by tears. She sniffled as she rummaged through her bag for the keys. Her knees trembled, strength ebbing with each passing second. She winced.

Just as she slid the key into the lock and turned it, Sophie’s brows furrowed at the sound of a faint footstep behind her. She began to turn—then a fist struck the back of her neck.

Her eyes fluttered shut. Her eyes fluttered shut. Her body pitched backward—like a toppled tree—

straight into someone’s strong arms.

Thanks for reading. I would love to hear your thoughts on the chapter.