Con

CHAPTER 39

Sophia’s POV

The next two weeks were a whirlwind of creativity and productivity. I threw myself into refining my design, working day and night to bring my vision to life. The last time I devoted myself to a project like this was back in school, and I relished every moment of it.

It’s tough, but quite thrilling.

As I immersed myself in my work, I felt a renewed sense of passion and purpose. I realized that being a designer wasn’t just a job for me–it was a calling. The thrill of bringing my ideas to life, of creating something truly unique and impactful, was exhilarating. I was in my element, and I loved every minute of

1. it.

The days blurred into nights as I poured myself into perfecting my design. I often found myself staying late in the office, most of the time the only company being Craig, my architect partner.

He shared my dedication to the project, which I truly appreciated. He would linger, offering insights and ideas that helped me refine my work.

One evening, as we worked side by side, Craig turned to me with a smile. “You know, Sophia, I’ve been really impressed with your design. It’s bold, and innovative, yet still rooted in a deep respect for the local culture. I think you’re onto something special here.”

His words warmed my heart, and I felt a sense of camaraderie growing between us. We began to bounce ideas off each other, building upon each other’s concepts and creating something greater than either of us could have achieved alone.

As we worked, I found myself opening up to Craig, sharing not just my design ideas but also bits and pieces of my life and experiences.

“I didn’t know you went to Fairview University!” Craig exclaimed at one point. “I also studied there.”

“Really?” I asked in surprise. “Nice! Then I guess that’s why I can trust you more to help me out. They’re known to develop great designers, architects, and engineers.”

The door suddenly swung open, and a group of my coworkers barged in, carrying pizza boxes and bottles of wine. They had decided to surprise us with a makeshift celebration for our hard work and dedication.

“Look at you two, burning the midnight oil together,” one teased, nudging Craig with a grin. “You make quite the team. And I must say, you both look pretty good together too!”

The others joined in with playful banter, commenting on how well Craig and I worked together and how natural we looked as a pair. I couldn’t help but blush.

“Thanks for your support, you guys,” I told them happily

Trevis eventually joined us in the room, which was already a little cramped. But I was glad for the short break. “I was certainly right in pairing these two together,” he commented, making the others tease us again. We all laughed in good nature.

That night, I came home late again. But I was surprised to find my daughter still awake.

“I told you not to wait up for me, sweetie,” I told Reese gently.

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CHAPTER 39

+25 BONUS

She pouted but didn’t say anything.

“Come on, let’s go to sleep,” I urged, taking her hand. But she refused to follow me into the bedroom. She also wouldn’t talk.

Eventually, I sighed and just hugged her, feeling quite drained after a long day at work. “I’m so sorry if I haven’t had time to play with you lately,” I said softly, thinking that this could be the reason she was acting like this.

“Mommy’s working hard for you, for us. I hope you’ll try to understand and be a little more patient. I promise that after this project, we’ll spend a lot of time together again!”

Finally, Reese looked at me, her innocent eyes seemingly searching my face for the truth. Eventually, she softened and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I felt happy and relieved.

“Miss you, Mommy,” she whispered.

“Aww, I miss you too, sweetie. How was your day? Did you make any new friends?”

“Uhm… Uncle Daniel came,” she said, a smile coming onto her face. She then pointed out the toys on the rug that they’d left from their playtime. “Play again! Play more!”

“Oh, that’s so wonderful!” I exclaimed, glad that Daniel was able to make time for her. But then, it made me feel guilty. I knew that he was also busy with his business and yet he was able to play with my daughter. He wasn’t even related to her!

I took Reese into my arms and hugged her tightly. “I promise we’ll play together when my work is done, alright? Give me a few more days, Reese. Then we can get some new dolls or maybe go to that ice cream shop down the street. What do you think?”

She grinned and nodded, her eyes twinkling. She then yawned and let me tuck her in bed before I went to my own room.

My phone rang. “Hey, Craig,” I greeted, seeing his name on the screen. “What’s up?”

“Sorry, I know it’s late, but I just had to tell you this idea that was going through my head while I was on the way home…”

I laughed. “Alright, I’m still up. What is it?”

He began to discuss the details. I didn’t notice that Reese had walked into my bedroom, looking sleepy in her pajamas. “Mom?” she said.

At that moment, Craig immediately stopped talking. He had obviously heard her speak. I felt my heart beginning to race.

“Sophia…” Craig started hesitantly. “You have a daughter?”