Replacement Bride Left With His Baby (Sophia and Easton) novel Chapter 19

**The Case of the Bleeding Shadows by Emma Blackwood**

Ever since the tragic loss of Sophia’s parents, Edward had taken it upon himself to shield her from the world, treating her as though she were his own flesh and blood. He had become her protector, her mentor, and in many ways, her father figure. If it hadn’t been for Sophia’s fierce determination to marry Easton, Edward would have never permitted such a hasty union. The thought of losing her to someone he deemed unworthy weighed heavily on his heart.

Now, whenever Easton’s name slipped into conversation, Edward’s demeanor would shift dramatically, his face darkening as if clouds had rolled in to block out the sun. He couldn’t help but harbor a deep resentment toward Easton, feeling that the young man took Sophia’s love for granted, subjecting her to trials and tribulations that no one should endure alone.

As the evening approached and dinner preparations were underway, May arrived at the Roth residence precisely on time, her arms laden with two bottles of wine and her face illuminated by a bright smile. Lucas, who had been perched on his chair, sprang up with uncontainable excitement, his eyes sparkling. “May, you finally made it!” he exclaimed, his voice ringing with pure joy.

May knelt down, her arms wide open, and enveloped Lucas in a warm embrace. “Quick, give me a kiss! I need to check if you still smell like milk,” she teased, her laughter ringing like music in the air.

Lucas planted a big, sloppy kiss on May’s cheek, and the grin that spread across her face was infectious. She held him close, reluctant to let go, and settled down beside him for dinner, her protective instincts kicking in as she made it her mission to ensure he was well-fed and happy.

Observing the tender interactions surrounding Lucas, Sophia felt a weight lift from her heart, as if the burdens she had been carrying were slowly fading away. Lucas may not have had a father in his life, but surrounded by a circle of loving relatives, Sophia was reassured that he was genuinely content.

Initially, Sophia had harbored concerns that Lucas might struggle to adjust after returning home. However, after watching him over the past few days, she was relieved to see how seamlessly he was acclimating to his surroundings.

“Sophia, has Lucas settled into kindergarten okay?” May inquired, her voice bright and cheerful as she called right after finishing work.

“Honestly, he’s adapted to Jenston way quicker than I ever anticipated. The kindergarten is fantastic, and he absolutely loves it,” Sophia replied, her heart swelling with pride.

“That’s wonderful news! Now I can finally breathe easy,” May said, her tone reflecting genuine relief.

“Whatever his motivations are, they don’t concern us. If he’s willing to back off, that’s ideal. And if he isn’t, we’ll continue to turn him down,” she stated, her voice calm and resolute, even as a flicker of irritation lingered in her chest.

“I heard that Foster Group sent someone over to Crestview Group for the port project. Are you assigning someone to oversee it, or will you be handling it personally?” May inquired, her tone shifting to a more professional note.

“I’ll have my assistant coordinate with them. It should be fairly straightforward, but given that the Maritime Authority is keeping a close eye and Foster Group is involved, I need to remain vigilant,” Sophia replied, her mind already racing with the logistics of the project.

She understood all too well why Easton was so invested in this project. He feared that Crestview Group might seize the opportunity to create complications for Weston Group, all to spite his beloved.

The entire situation gnawed at Sophia’s nerves. In truth, she wanted nothing more than to distance herself from Easton, yet he persisted in weaving his way back into her life, no matter how hard she tried to keep him at bay.