Sophia’s POV
I stand still in place as i look toward Alexander, stunned by his declaration. He just called me his girl. It was so out of script and all of a sudden that it made my heart jolt. I look toward him unable to believe those words just came out of his lips.
I can feel his gaze also on me and when her gazes meet, his lips arch into a rare smile that leaves me utterly speechless and my heart racing. Probably it is because I rarely ever see Alexander smile, not even in my memories. He was always distant and guarded as though someone owed him money.
It feels odd and surreal to see him smile.
The declaration hangs in the air, leaving Tyler and Jake stunned by Alexander’s audacity. Without wasting a moment, Jake lunges toward Alexander, his hand gripping the collar of his shirt tightly, his face twisted in anger.
“Repeat what you just said!” Jake growls, his voice seething with rage.
My eyes widen at Jake’s reaction, unable to comprehend the intensity of his anger. I move forward, attempting to defuse the escalating tension. “Jake, let go,” I plead, my voice filled with urgency. “This isn’t helping.”
Alexander raises an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “What’s the matter? Feeling threatened? Do you like Sophia?”
The unexpected question catches Jake off guard, and his grip on Alexander loosens slightly. Embarrassment colors his features, his anger momentarily forgotten. Tyler steps forward, taking the opportunity to intervene and prevent further conflict.
“Enough,” Tyler says firmly, his voice commanding. He looks at me, concern etched in his eyes. “Sophia, do you really know him?”
I look between Tyler, Jake, and Alexander, my gaze settling on Alexander’s face. In that moment, I see a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, a silent plea for me to trust him. I take a deep breath, my voice steady as I respond, “Yes, I do.”
Tyler’s gaze shifts from me to Alexander, searching for any signs of deception. He takes a step closer, his protective instincts still on high alert. “You better not be playing games with her,” he warns, his voice firm.
Alexander’s expression turns serious, and he meets Tyler’s gaze with a level of intensity that demands attention. “I assure you, I would never play games with her,” he says, his tone earnest. “I care about her more than you can imagine.”
I stand there, utterly stunned by the sight before me. After a year of absence, I never anticipated that Alexander would return as a completely different person. Gone is the stoic and distant figure I once knew. In his place stands a man who exudes a newfound confidence, his words sharp and his demeanor relaxed.
I study his face, searching for any trace of the Alexander I used to know. His features remain familiar, the sharp cheekbones, strong jawline, and piercing blue eyes that once held so much mystery. But there’s a subtle shift in his expression, a hint of playfulness that wasn’t there before.
It’s bewildering to witness this transformation. Alexander was always guarded, rarely even cracking a smile. Yet now, he seems more open, more at ease with himself and the world around him. His sharp tongue, always ready with a quick-witted remark, suggests a side of him I never had the chance to discover.
Conflicting emotions swirl within me-confusion, curiosity, and a tinge of apprehension. How could someone change so dramatically in such a short span of time? What happened during his absence? And more importantly, what does this new Alexander mean for us?
Alexander’s POV
I take a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions that have engulfed me since Alexander’s return. Seeing Sophia face to face after all this time feels surreal, like a dream I never thought would come true. The longing I had for her during our separation intensified, and for a brief moment, I entertain the idea of abandoning everything and running away with her.
I can’t help but notice that Sophia’s appearance hasn’t changed much. Her features remain as captivating as ever, and it’s both a comfort and a torment to see her standing before me. Memories of our time together flood my mind, the stolen moments and the undeniable connection we shared. I missed her more than words can express.
Over the past year, I’ve come to realize that Sophia holds a special place in my heart. She’s more than just a fleeting desire; she’s someone I can’t imagine my life without.
I had always been concerned by the disparity in our identity. She was just a mere human girl, how could an alpha like me fall in love with her? At the age of thirty-five, I have met countless women far better than her both in elegance and maturity. But despite that, I still fell hopelessly in love with her.
Standing here, looking into Sophia’s eyes, I know that I can no longer ignore the depth of my feelings for her. She has become an integral part of my life, and the thought of losing her is unbearable. But I’m trapped in a complicated web of family expectations and obligations.
My grandfather’s condition for me to inherit the family business hung over me like a dark cloud. The stipulation that I must have a child within the year to secure my position weighed heavily on my mind. It’s a tradition I’ve always resented-a means of control that suffocated my freedom.
In my pursuit of liberation from this suffocating life, I turned to surrogacy as a means of finding temporary fulfillment. I sought companionship and pleasure, hoping to find solace in the arms of women who understood the transactional nature of our relationship. It was a way to escape the monotony of my existence, a fleeting distraction from the responsibilities that awaited me.
But as I look at Sophia now, everything has changed. Back then, I had only thought she was just a surrogate and after the delivery, I’ll have her leave and everything would return to normal. But it had taken all the will in me to take the children that day and disappear like that.
It is not strange that she must hate me right now for abandoning her like that.