Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH ABOUT SOFIA
Sofia's return brought joy.
But it also brought difficult questions.
Roman wanted to understand everything that had happened.
Sofia wanted time.
Ethan wanted his parents together again.
And none of them knew how to rebuild a family after five years of lies.
One evening, Sofia asked Roman to meet her privately.
They sat in a quiet room.
She looked exhausted.
"Roman."
"Yes?"
"I need to tell you something."
He waited.
She took a breath.
"Before I disappeared, our marriage was already struggling."
Roman stared.
She continued.
"You were always working. Always angry. Always surrounded by people who frightened me."
He looked down.
"I know."
"No. I don't think you did."
He swallowed.
Sofia continued.
"I loved you. But I was lonely."
Roman closed his eyes.
She reached across the table.
"Gabriel used that."
Roman looked up.
"He told me you wouldn't believe me if I accused him of stealing."
Roman's jaw tightened.
"He was wrong."
Sofia shook her head.
"Was he?"
Silence.
Roman had no answer.
Sofia continued.
"I don't know if we can be married again."
Roman felt pain rise through him.
But he nodded.
"I understand."
She looked surprised.
He continued.
"I want you safe. I want Ethan safe. And I want us to be honest."
Sofia's eyes filled.
"Thank you."
They agreed to focus on co-parenting and rebuilding trust.
Not forcing a romantic reunion.
Not pretending the past had never happened.
Roman left the meeting feeling strangely empty.
He had imagined Sofia's return would restore everything.
Instead, he was learning that some things could not simply be returned.
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They had to be rebuilt.
Or released.
