Replacement Bride Left With His Baby (Sophia and Easton) novel Chapter 61

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

**Chapter 61**

Sophia stood apart from the lively atmosphere, her heart heavy with the memories that had just resurfaced in the parking garage. It had been five long years since she had buried those feelings deep within her, but the sight she had witnessed moments ago felt like a dagger, twisting painfully in her chest.

*I should have seen it coming,* she thought bitterly, her mind racing. *That tender gaze of his has always been reserved for Stella. I was merely a placeholder in her absence.*

A hollow laugh escaped her lips, devoid of humor, as she squared her shoulders, allowing the familiar facade of professionalism to envelop her once more. “Emily,” she said, her voice now sharp and businesslike, “Julian and I will be departing for Harlinton tomorrow.”

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she continued, “Ensure the port project documents are ready for the Maritime Authority within the next two days.”

Emily nodded, her expression shifting from concern to relief. “Understood. I’ve got the routine meetings under control. If anything unusual arises, I’ll give you a call.”

Sophia appreciated Emily’s reassurance, allowing herself to momentarily release the tension that had gripped her heart. “Good,” she replied, turning her attention to the flood of emails that awaited her. Immersing herself in work was the only remedy she had found to stave off the heartache that Easton’s presence had reignited.

The deadline for the preliminary bid on the Southern Development Zone loomed closer, a constant reminder of the whirlwind of preparations that kept both her and Julian occupied. Their trip to Harlinton held significance beyond mere supplier scouting; it was also a vital family mission to present engagement gifts from Julian to the Hughes family.

As she paced the hotel suite, her fingers nervously rearranging the carefully wrapped gifts, she turned to Julian, who was adjusting his attire. “Julian, your tie is all wrong. It’s crooked and doesn’t match your suit at all. Please, go change it.”

Her anxiety bubbled to the surface as she counted the gifts, muttering under her breath.

“Relax, Sophia,” Julian said with a reassuring smile, unfastening his tie and replacing it with a more suitable one. “Everything is going to be perfect.”

Sophia shot him a pointed glance, her voice firm yet laced with care. “This is your engagement, Julian. I want everything to be flawless so that Annie’s family understands how much we truly care.”

Julian moved through the crowd with an effortless charm, his demeanor warm and inviting, masking any turmoil that might be brewing beneath the surface.

Feeling somewhat out of place amidst the opulence, Sophia remained close to Julian, her keen eyes observing the dynamics of the Hughes family while striving to blend into the background.

A maid approached Evelyn Hughes, the matriarch of the family, whispering something that instantly brightened her countenance.

“I’ll go greet him at the door,” Evelyn declared, her excitement palpable.

Curiosity piqued, Andrew Hughes, the family patriarch, raised an eyebrow. “Who has you so animated, dear?”

With a smile that radiated warmth, Evelyn replied, “Easton’s here.”