Chapter 400
Chapter 400:
On top of that, I was surrounded by people who cared for me. My bodyguards were never far away. Bryan was more than a brother — he was the friend I had always needed, the one who was always there the moment I called. Craig wasn’t just my work partner; he was a friend who showed up for me in good times and bad. And now, for the first time in a very long while, I had my mother back in my life. We had chosen to start fresh, as mother and daughter. My little brother — who still complained every time I called him “baby” — was part of my world too.
Some people might see what I was doing as surrender. Some might think me a coward. But anyone who truly knew me understood that wasn’t the truth.
Letting go wasn’t about giving up. It was about making room for something better. I knew these memories would never fully disappear. The pain wouldn’t vanish overnight. But I could choose to forgive, and I could choose to move forward. Even if I couldn’t forget everything, I would always carry what I had learned by surviving it.
Sophia’s Point of View
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Sophia, but you can’t proceed p>
“I beg your pardon p>
I stood there with my mouth open, unable to believe what I had just heard from Ben — the man who used to track my every move and was now head of security. I had barely reached the gate when he and three other guards stepped into my path without warning. It had been less than an hour since Rian, Alex, and my mother-in-law had left the house.
𝖬𝘰𝘳𝘦 n𝗈𝘷е𝗅ѕ 𝘰n.со𝘮
“Mrs. Sophia, you don’t have permission to leave p>
“What do you mean I don’t have permission to leave?” I looked from one guard to the next, searching their faces for any sign that this was a joke. “You cannot be serious p>
“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Kelley’s orders were very clear. No one is to let you out without his approval p>
What on earth? Daniel Kelley!
Fury burned beneath my composed exterior. I clenched my jaw and my fists, but kept my expression steady.
“We’re only following your husband’s instructions, ma’am p>
As if to make matters worse, all four of them lined up shoulder to shoulder, sealing off every possible gap between them.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of it. The way they were standing, you would think they were bracing for a confrontation, not guarding a front gate.
Their warning didn’t concern me in the slightest. I stepped forward and tried to squeeze past them, but not one of them budged an inch.
“Come on, move aside. I really do need to go,” I said with a strained smile, even though I was ready to explode on the inside.
“Ma’am, if you’d prefer, we can call Mr. Kelley p>
“That’s enough.” I cut him off, planting my hands firmly on my hips.
Then a mischievous idea sparked to life. I raised my eyebrows and fixed him with a pointed look.
“Here’s the deal: either you let me through that gate right now, or I’ll have to call for backup p>
The looks on their faces nearly made me burst out laughing. I could already picture Bryan picking up on the first ring and making sure these men deeply regretted trying to hold me here.