Con

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CHAPTER 105

Sophia’s POV

The restaurant Elijah chose was tucked away on a quiet street, its dim lighting and vintage decor exuding an old–world charm. I took in the cozy ambiance, feeling both excited and uneasy. This feels an awful lot like a date.

Elijah led me to a corner table and, to my surprise, pulled out my chair for me. “Here you go,” he said with a small smile..

“Thank you,” I replied, sitting down and trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. Elijah had never treated me like this when we were married. It made me wonder if he had changed since I left him.

We perused the menu in silence for a moment before the waiter came to take our order. I chose the pan- seared salmon, while Elijah opted for the house special, a hearty beef stew. Once the waiter left, Elijah leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening as he looked at me.

“So, how’s Reese doing?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“She’s good,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “She’s been really into drawing lately. It’s amazing how focused she gets.” (1

“That’s wonderful. She’s always been creative, hasn’t she?” Elijah’s smile widened, and I saw a flicker of pride in his eyes. “I wonder who she takes after…” He trailed off teasingly, making me grin.

“Probably me,” I joked, laughing.

“Or most likely both of us,” Elijah said with a grin.

We both laughed, and in that moment, it felt like we were an actual married couple joking around about our daughter and having a light, friendly banter during our date.

“You know, she loves it when Kayla comes over with new art supplies,” I shared. “They could spend hours together, just drawing and painting.”

“Well, it’s good that your best friend’s also a designer,” Elijah remarked. “I’m glad Reese has both of you to inspire her more.”

“Yeah, we have a lot of fun together.”

Just then, his expression changed into a more serious one. “I’m really sorry I haven’t been able to visit her much lately. There were so many things going on at Sinclair Realty, and I needed to leave the city and even the country on several occasions.”

“Oh, it’s alright,” I assured him with a wave of my hand. “Don’t worry. Reese understands. She’s actually more like seven years old at times rather than just three.”

That made us both laugh. It also triggered a round of anecdotes about Reese acting or speaking like she was older than her real age.

“When we get back, I promise I’ll take her out again,” Elijah said, his gaze seeming to melt me. “I’d love for you to join us too, Sophia. And I’m sure Reese would be happier if we’re both there.”

He seemed to hold his breath as he waited for me to answer. But I was saved by the bell when the food arrived. I changed the topic to my work as the design department head at his company, and the

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conversation flowed naturally from there.

But then, for some reason, he paused at one point. His gaze turned thoughtful as he took a sip of his water. “Sophia, I want you to know that I’ve been thinking a lot about us, about everything that happened.”

I looked up at him, my heart pounding. “Elijah, I—”

He held up a hand, stopping me. “Just hear me out. I know I made mistakes, and I’ve been working on becoming a better person. I want to be there for Reese, and for you, in any way I can.”

His sincerity took me by surprise. The Elijah I remembered had been distant, focused on work, and often neglectful of our relationship. But now, sitting across from me, he seemed different–more present, more attentive.

“I appreciate that,” I said softly. “Reese needs her father, and I want her to have a good relationship with you.”

“Yes, and it’s not just Reese, but —”

There was a commotion by the entrance that made him stop and look over there. I turned around too to see what was going on. It was as if the entire restaurant suddenly shifted its focus to this one spot.

“What’s the fuss all about?” I wondered out loud.

“I’m not sure…” Elijah said.

People were crowding around someone, their voices a blend of excitement and curiosity. I couldn’t see the person at first, just the backs of heads and the flutter of servers trying to maintain order.

Elijah’s gaze was fixed, his brow furrowed, but I couldn’t read his expression. I craned my neck, trying to get a glimpse of the figure causing all the stir.

As the crowd parted slightly, the man’s profile began to emerge. My heart skipped a beat, and my pulse quickened. The face, still partially obscured, seemed familiar, stirring a sense of recognition deep within me. Then, he turned fully, and I gasped in shock. It’s Adrian! 1

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