I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 17

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**

Sophie felt the weight of her shoulders dropping as she spoke. “Honestly, I’m not very familiar with it either. I’ve never owned a phone myself, but my step-brother had one. He would always show me random things on social media.” A bitter thought crossed her mind, one she kept to herself: Mostly, the things he showed were just to poke fun at me. “But maybe we can come up with something together,” she added, trying to inject a note of optimism into the conversation.

“Perhaps Cynthia would have some ideas,” Helen suggested, her voice tinged with uncertainty. The two of them returned to their tasks, the morning unfolding before them as they opened the shop just a few minutes later.

A sense of relief washed over Sophie after she had shared her thoughts. To her surprise, Helen had responded better than she had anticipated. Just the thought that Helen might consider even one of her ideas filled her with hope. One out of three possibilities wasn’t a failure; it was a step in the right direction.

As the morning drifted by, Sophie found herself more engrossed in her work.

After her break, Helen approached her with an idea that lit up her face. “Sophie, I’m thinking of running out to grab that chalkboard we talked about. It’ll only take a few minutes. Are you going to be okay here by yourself?” Helen inquired, her concern evident in her eyes.

“Absolutely! I’ve got this covered,” Sophie replied with a confident nod. A few moments later, as Helen slipped out the door, Sophie busied herself making a drink for a customer who had just walked in.

“Hey Sophie,” came a cheerful voice, and she looked up to see Kevin, his smile brightening the room.

“Hi Kevin!” she responded easily, her mood lifting. “What can I get for you today?”

“I’m feeling adventurous. Got any suggestions?” he asked with a playful glint in his eye.

“Oooh, I do! Should I spill the beans or keep it a surprise?” she teased, her excitement bubbling over.

“Surprise me!” he said, grinning widely.

With a spring in her step, Sophie rang him up, then turned away, her mind racing with ideas. This was her chance to experiment with a new drink she had concocted. She took her time crafting it, carefully measuring and mixing ingredients, ensuring she remembered each step since she was inventing it on the fly.

As she focused on her creation, the familiar jingle of the doorbell announced another customer. “Welcome to Sip and Drip!” she called out, her voice bright and welcoming, even without turning around. Once she was satisfied with her drink, she walked over to Kevin and placed it on the counter with a flourish. “All right, give it a whirl!” she said, her grin infectious.

Kevin looked down at the cup, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, then took a sip. He remained silent for a moment, savoring the taste, before taking another. “So, what do you think?” Sophie asked, her heart racing with hope.

“I don’t really like it,” he said, and Sophie felt her heart sink, disappointment washing over her. “I love it!” he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with genuine enthusiasm.

Corin turned to face her, and Sophie felt a chill run down her spine at the fury in his eyes.

Taking a small step back, she watched as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to rein in his emotions. When he opened his eyes again, they were locked onto hers. “I’ll take whatever he had,” he said, nodding toward the door Kevin had just exited.

Sophie hesitated, looking up at him. “Um, I don’t think you’re going to like it,” she murmured, a hint of concern in her voice.

In truth, she believed he would despise it. He had always opted for a black dark roast, the bolder the flavor, the better. The thought of him suddenly opting for the sugary concoction she had just created felt utterly implausible.

“I’ll get a large black dark roast as well,” he added, dismissing her comment entirely. Sophie shrugged, resigned, and rang up his drinks, her fingers moving mechanically.

As she told him the total, he reached for his cash, but then abruptly pulled his hand back. Confused, she looked up at him. “Did you go shopping yet?” he asked, his voice low and probing.

Sophie froze, uncertainty flooding her. She hadn’t gone shopping, but she wasn’t sure if it was wise to admit that to him. “I can see from your hesitation that you haven’t. Go buy what you need with the money, Sophie. If you don’t, I’ll take matters into my own hands,” he warned, his tone leaving no room for argument.