Chapter 47 Is That a Threat

Sofia said, "I can grab a taxi by myself. Don't worry about me. We can meet up later and pretend like everything is normal, okay?" "No way. Knowing you, I'm worried you might get into trouble. Let's go together." He quickly dressed, then warned her. "If you try to leave without me, I'll tell Charlotte everything about last night." "Is that a threat?" Caelan's tone was calm. "Not a threat, just looking out for you. This is a new place for you, and it wouldn't be good if something happened." Sofia fell silent, filled with regret over that drink she accepted last night. She had only wanted to unwind, but now things were complicated. Sitting on the bed, she pondered over the events of the night, but her memory was hazy. Then, something clicked in Sofia's mind, and she turned back to ask Caelan a question. As she did, she couldn't help but notice his athletic physique. "Feel free to ask me anything." Caelan buttoned his shirt, not bothered by her staring. "Why are you the one who ended up here today?" Caelan gave a half-smile. "If I hadn't been there, who knows where you'd have ended up. Sorry about last night. I got carried away too." Sofia nodded. "Thanks." She knew the dangers of bars and usually stuck to familiar ones where she felt safe. Yet, this time, things had gone awry. It was like the old saying: You can't play with fire without getting burned. It was a major slip-up, but fortunately, Caelan was there. Had it been some random guy, she would have been full of regrets. As Caelan said, she might have ended up anywhere. Caelan reiterated his earlier point. "Don't stress, I promised I'd be responsible for you." Sofia didn't want him to feel obligated because of this unforeseen incident. "You don't have to be so worried. I'm fine with it." While Caelan finished getting ready, he didn't reply. Once done, he turned to her. "Ready? Let's grab a bite, then meet up with the others." Heading out, Caelan naturally extended his hand toward Sofia. She hesitated momentarily before gently taking it. "I understand you might have some reservations, but if you feel anything for me, perhaps we could see where this goes," Caelan said thoughtfully. "Our families are both eager for us to get married. "It's clear you're not looking to just marry anyone, and I'm not the type to date around casually. To be honest, I find myself quite fond of you." Sofia, usually confident and outspoken, found herself feeling unusually shy in the moment. "I need some time to think about all this," she said quietly, a hint of shyness in her voice. "Of course, take all the time you need. But I need to own up to my actions." The night's events had altered Caelan's perception of Sofia. He was usually the life of the party, yet not one to get close with just anyone. This unexpected turn of events had him considering the possibility of a deeper connection with Sofia. Having gone out for drinks, they hadn't driven, which was fortunate since the hotel wasn't far from their last stop. Caelan called for a cab, and they headed back together. At the hotel, Charlotte was still sleeping, and Luke was engrossed in preparing breakfast for the children, hardly noticing Caelan and Sofia's return or their expressions. Caelan stepped into the kitchen to lend Luke a hand, while Sofia settled on a couch, her attention divided between her phone and occasional curious glances toward the kitchen, pleasantly surprised by Caelan's culinary abilities. After finishing up in the kitchen, Luke carried the breakfast to the table and then headed to the bedroom. Charlotte was still asleep, clearly worn out from their night. Luke lovingly kissed her cheek, causing her to stir. Feeling the tickle, she reached out, touching Luke's face. "You're here? Why didn't you wake me?" "I thought you needed more rest." Remembering her time with Luke the night before, Charlotte felt her cheeks warm with a blush. She pulled the blanket over her face, trying to conceal it. Since her split from Frank, she hadn't been with another man. Luke had redefined what a real man was for her. "Stop teasing me." Luke approached, soothing her. "Okay, okay. Breakfast is ready. Want to join?" "Sure. Are Sofia and Caelan back?" "Yes, they just got back. They were out the entire night," Luke answered. Charlotte had always thought of Sofia as someone not too keen on settling down, so she didn't anticipate any significant developments between her and Caelan. Ready to join everyone for breakfast, she walked out and noticed Sofia and Caelan deep in a quiet, seemingly intimate conversation. Charlotte, feeling curious, asked, "How was your evening out?" Caelan appeared relaxed. "It was fun. I haven't had a night out like that in a long time." Sofia seemed a bit uncomfortable. She made brief eye contact with Charlotte and then quickly looked away. The memories of last night were still fresh and a bit too embarrassing to talk about. Unaware of the details, Charlotte thought maybe Sofia had met someone interesting at the bar. Caelan, still cool and composed, said, "The bar had a great vibe. I would have invited you, but I knew you were busy with the kids." Charlotte nodded understandingly. "Well, let's eat. Later today, we're heading to Luke's beach villa. Everything's set for us there." "Sounds good," Sofia responded quietly, focusing on her breakfast.