Replacement Bride Left With His Baby (Sophia and Easton) novel Chapter 56

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

**Chapter 56**

“Just keeping a friend company,” he confessed, a hint of sheepishness creeping into his voice. “Honestly, I’m a bit out of my depth with all of this.”

Sophia raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. “She must be quite the intriguing person to lure you away from your desk, huh?”

A soft chuckle escaped him as he picked up on her teasing tone. “No, it’s nothing like that,” he quickly clarified, shaking his head with a smile. “It’s actually a male friend I’m here with.” Sophia’s expression shifted to one of understanding, her gentle smile reassuring him. “Ah, now it all makes sense.”

Ryan’s gaze drifted to the artwork before them, and he noticed Sophia’s eyes were fixed on a particular piece. “You’ve been staring at that painting for quite a while now,” he observed, positioning himself beside her. “Does it hold any significance for you?”

A shadow of nostalgia crossed her features as she responded softly, “My mother painted this.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if she were sharing a sacred secret. “I just realized it now.”

Understanding washed over Ryan like a wave; he could only imagine how poignant this moment was for Sophia, stumbling upon her late mother’s creation in such a vibrant setting.

With a thoughtful expression, he took a moment to appreciate the painting’s intricate details, then pulled out his phone. He snapped a quick picture, sending it to Easton with a simple message: [Your ex-mother-in-law’s work. Thought you might want to see it.]

As the message traveled through the ether, Easton, on the other side of the gallery, felt a gentle tug at his heartstrings when he caught sight of Sophia across the room. His gaze lingered on her, filled with a quiet tenderness that spoke volumes.

After a few moments, Ryan reluctantly pulled himself away from the intimate atmosphere, remembering his prior commitments. Although he had come to the exhibition with Easton, he had an important meeting scheduled with officials from the medical bureau that he couldn’t afford to miss.

When the time came, he turned to Sophia, his voice warm yet firm. “I need to head out now. I’ll text Easton to let him know.” With a nod, he slipped away, leaving her to her thoughts, oblivious to the world around her.

As Sophia stood there, lost in a sea of memories, Easton had stepped outside to take a phone call. Just as he finished, a sudden commotion erupted from the gallery. “Fire!” someone shouted, their voice tinged with panic. “The gallery’s on fire!”

His heart plummeted as he rushed toward her, scooping her up into his arms with a fierce urgency.

“What are you thinking?” he exclaimed, his voice laced with concern as he held her tightly against him. “You can’t risk your life for a painting! The fire is spreading rapidly!” Though startled by his sudden appearance, Sophia’s eyes reflected relief, a glimmer of gratitude shining through her panic.

“Please, Easton,” she implored, her grip tightening around him. “I can’t leave without my mother’s painting.”

He knew that forcing her to abandon it would only shatter her heart later.

In a swift motion, Easton draped his jacket over her shoulders, a protective gesture, before stepping onto the chair to carefully lift the painting from its place on the wall.

With the painting cradled in one arm and Sophia held securely in the other, he maneuvered their way through the chaos, urgency propelling them forward as they made their escape from the burning building.