The moment of reckoning came unexpectedly one afternoon when she received a phone call from Daniel. His voice, once so commanding and filled with arrogance, was subdued. Gone was the bravado as he awkwardly inquired about Ethan and mentioned how much he missed both of them. Sophie listened calmly, a sense of vindication washing over her. She had nothing to prove to him anymore. She had already shown herself what she was capable of.

Politely, she informed Daniel that her life was full, and she was truly happy—a happiness that didn’t include returning to the past. His assumptions about her dependence on him had been wrong, and now he understood the depth of his mistake. The call ended, leaving Sophie with a profound sense of closure.