Chapter 52

This was no longer our home—it was my prison. When I returned to the villa with Mom's belongings and stepped out of the car, Sophia received a call. I could clearly see the way her expression softened as she answered the phone. That look of patience and tenderness—it was the one she reserved exclusively for Edison. She said, "Alright, I'll head over now." After hanging up, she turned to me. "Joshua, something came up. I need to head out for a bit. You take care and get some rest." I didn't respond and walked straight into the villa. I didn't want to love her anymore. Where she went was no longer my concern. Sophia didn't seem to care whether I answered or not. She turned on her heels, got back into the driver's seat, and drove away. For the next two days, I stayed in the villa alone. During that time, I focused on finding part-time work. No matter what, I had to repay Sophia the money I owed her. Eventually, I found a freelance design project. It was a recommendation from an o