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𝖲𝖴𝖲𝖯𝖨𝖢𝖨𝖮𝖭

┗━━━༻❁༺━━━┛

Sophie stepped out of the shower, her skin still glistening with droplets of water as she wrung out her hair. The bathroom mirror fogged up from the steam, framing her reflection as her gaze trailed to Kai. He had already stepped out ahead of her and was moving swiftly, pulling on his clothes with an efficiency that felt almost dismissive.

"You're in a rush," she stated, her voice cutting through the soft hum of the overhead fan. She watched as he tugged on his jeans, the damp strands of his hair clinging to his forehead.

"I'm a busy man," Kai replied, his tone casual but clipped, like he'd rehearsed the excuse a hundred times.

Sophie sighed, wrapping a towel around herself tightly. "So, you are," she muttered, the words laced with an edge of irritation that she didn't bother to mask.

She turned toward the counter to grab another towel for her hair. She turned slowly, finding his eyes fixed on her. "What?" she asked, her tone defensive as she tightened the towel around her chest.

"Don't be like that," he said, his voice low but firm, the kind that demanded her attention without raising a decibel.

"Like what?" Sophie shot back, her frustration spilling over as she planted a hand on her hip.

Kai tilted his head slightly, his jaw tightening as if he were searching for the right words. "I know I'm gone a lot," he admitted, the faintest flicker of guilt breaking through his otherwise stoic demeanor.

Sophie let out a sharp huff, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "You think?"

Kai moved toward her, closing the gap between them until her back pressed against the cool edge of the sink. His sheer presence seemed to fill the small bathroom, his towering frame casting her in shadow. 

Sophie's breath hitched as his intense black eyes bore into hers, the heat of his closeness melting away the last vestiges of her resolve. She didn't like being mad at him—she never did—and the flicker of vulnerability in his eyes told her he felt the same.

Still, anger twisted in her chest. Weeks had passed since she moved in, and yet every night he slipped away, leaving her alone to wonder, to spiral. The thought that he might be with someone else had crossed her mind more than once, a poisonous seed she refused to voice aloud.

"I love you," Kai said, his tone edged with desperation. His hand came up to cradle the back of her neck as he guided her to meet his gaze.

Sophie wanted to believe him, to let herself fall into the words, but her chest ached with doubt. She turned her head away, breaking the connection. "You say that a lot," she murmured. "but I don't think you mean it."

She slipped out from under his grasp, moving past him and into his bedroom. Turning to the small dresser he had cleared out for her, she rummaged through her clothes.

"Sophie," Kai called after her, his voice following her like a tether. He lingered in the doorway for a moment before stepping into the room.

"Just go," she said sharply, not even looking back at him as she shimmied into a pair of underwear. "Don't worry, I'll still be here when you get back." 

Kai stiffened, his jaw tightening as he took a step closer. "Is that a threat?"

Sophie froze mid-motion, her fingers pausing over the drawer. Slowly, she turned to face him, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and exhaustion. "What?" she said, her voice quieter now. "Kai, no. Not everything has a secret meaning." She gestured vaguely, her hands dropping to her sides. "Just because we're fighting doesn't mean I'm going to leave."

Her words seemed to hit him like a blow, softening the hard lines of his face. For a moment, they stood in silence. Sophie's eyes searched his, looking for something—an answer, an apology, a promise—and she could feel the weight of his stare, the way he seemed to drink her in as though trying to decode her.

Kai stepped closer, his presence towering yet soft, as though he was trying to soothe the jagged edges between them. His voice dropped, calmer now but still tinged with determination. "Everything will calm down when I win this election, okay?"

Sophie's gaze flickered to him briefly before falling away. "Yeah," she whispered.

She turned slightly, avoiding his eyes, the tension in her chest coiling tighter. "I just miss you," she admitted softly.

Kai's shoulders eased slightly, but the look in his eyes was conflicted, as if he knew he was asking too much from her but couldn't stop himself. He reached out, his fingers brushing her arm gently, grounding her in his touch. "I miss you too," 

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The steps creaked under Sophie's feet as she descended to the basement. A soft glow from the television illuminated the room where Winter sat curled up on the couch beside Micah, the sound of an animated movie playing. Micah was completely engrossed, his small body leaning forward slightly, clutching a throw pillow.

"Hey, Winnie?" Sophie called, her voice carrying over the noise of the movie. She held a stack of neatly organized papers and a book against her chest, her jacket already on and her boots clicking softly against the floor.

Winter glanced over her shoulder. "Yeah, what's up?" she asked, her brows raising slightly when she caught sight of the materials Sophie carried.

"Can you watch Micah for a bit? I'm gonna drop these off to Oz's parents—he's missed a lot of school, and I figured it'd be good to check in on them," Sophie explained.

Winter's expression faltered for just a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I could give them to him," she offered quickly, her voice just a little higher than usual.

"It's fine," Sophie said with a small smile, shaking her head. "I wanted to check on Ally and Ivy anyway, after everything that's happened." 

Winter hesitated but nodded, forcing an easygoing tone. "Yeah, okay. No problem." She leaned back into the couch, folding her arms loosely as her eyes flicked toward the screen again.

Sophie turned her attention to Micah. "You be good for your auntie, okay?" 

"I will," Micah replied distractedly, the animation on screen holding his focus captive. Without looking up, he added, "Love you."

"Love you too, baby," Sophie said warmly, adjusting the papers in her arms. She glanced at Winter, offering a small wave. "Love you guys."

"Love you," Winter murmured in response, watching as Sophie disappeared back up the stairs. Her fingers drummed lightly against her knee, her eyes lingering on the now-closed door with an air of unease.

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Sophie stepped up to the front porch of the Mayfair-Richards home, her boots clicking softly against the wooden boards. She cradled the stack of homework in her arms, her breath clouding in the chilly air. Pressing the doorbell, she waited, the melodic chime echoing faintly from within the house.

Her eyes wandered to the driveway, where a car sat parked. Someone was definitely home, but the windows of the house remained eerily dark, not a single light cutting through the heavy curtains.

She rang the doorbell again, the seconds stretching out uncomfortably as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The silence persisted, and no shadows stirred inside. Frowning, Sophie glanced at the stack of papers in her hands.

"Guess they're not answering," she muttered under her breath. With a resigned sigh, she crouched down, placing the paperwork neatly on the doormat. She adjusted the pile to ensure it wouldn't blow away in the night breeze.

Straightening up, she cast one last glance at the house, her brow furrowing at the inexplicable emptiness. Shaking her head, she turned and walked back to her car.

Climbing into the driver's seat, she closed the door behind her and sat for a moment, staring at the darkened house. A faint chill crept up her spine, but she dismissed it.

Sophie's gaze lingered on the neighbor's driveway, her stomach twisting as her eyes locked onto the unmistakable shape of Kai's car. It was his—down to the familiar dent on the passenger side. Her throat tightened, her mind racing with a storm of thoughts. What was he doing here? The pieces fit together too perfectly, and her chest ached with the bitter realization: He's cheating on me.

Her fingers gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white as she stared at the car, the betrayal settling deep in her gut. Her pulse quickened, a mixture of anger and heartbreak wrapping around her.

Suddenly, a sharp knock on her window shattered the moment, and Sophie jumped, a startled yelp escaping her lips. She whipped her head around, her wide eyes meeting Kai's black ones. He stood there, his jaw tight and his brows furrowed in frustration. His presence exuded tension, his entire posture radiating anger.

She quickly rolled down the window, her voice trembling as much from shock as fury. "What the hell are you doing here, Kai?"

He leaned down slightly, his hands braced on the edge of her window. "I should be asking you that," he snapped. "Why are you sitting outside like a stalker?"

Sophie's breath hitched, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "Are you serious right now? What am I doing here? What are you doing here, Kai? That's your car, isn't it?"

Kai's eyes narrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. For a brief second, she saw a flicker of something behind his frustration—maybe guilt or maybe annoyance—but he quickly masked it.

"This isn't what it looks like," he said curtly, his voice controlled, though the tension in his jaw betrayed him.

Sophie let out a disbelieving laugh, her voice tinged with incredulity. "Oh, really? Then enlighten me, Kai. What exactly is this?"

The two stared at each other, the silence between them thick and suffocating. For a moment, Sophie thought she saw him falter, his composure cracking just enough to show uncertainty. But then his gaze hardened again, and he straightened up, pulling back slightly from the car.

Sophie's chest heaved with anger, her voice sharp as she spat, "Are you cheating on me?" 

Kai's jaw clenched, his gaze icy as he grumbled back, "No, Sophie." He reached for the car door handle, yanking at it. "Let me in."

"Fuck no," Sophie shot back, her tone biting as she crossed her arms over her chest, the barrier between them feeling like her only shield.

Kai's expression darkened, his voice dropping into a low growl. "Let. Me. In."

For a moment, Sophie froze, shocked by his intensity. What the hell is he so mad about? she thought bitterly. She should be the one furious, not him.

With a begrudging huff, she pressed the lock button, and the car doors clicked open. Kai slipped inside with a tension-filled movement, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Start driving home," he barked, his tone brooking no argument.

Sophie blinked. "What?" she snapped, disbelief dripping from her voice.

Kai glanced toward the darkened house, his eyes darting nervously as if he expected something—or someone—to emerge at any moment. His agitation set Sophie even more on edge.

"We're going to talk about this on the way home. Understand?" he demanded, his voice clipped, his focus still shifting uneasily to the house.

"You're acting like a fucking psycho, Kai,"

Kai turned to her, his face a mask of fury, and bellowed, "Drive home!"

The command echoed in the confined space of the car, making Sophie flinch. Reluctantly, she shoved the key into the ignition, her hands trembling as the car rumbled to life.

Her mind raced as she pulled out of the driveway, her eyes flicking between the road and Kai, stiff and silent.

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The bedroom door slammed shut behind them, the sound reverberating through the house. Sophie stood near the bed, arms crossed tightly, her chest heaving with frustration. Kai stood near the door, his back against it, as if blocking her escape. His face was shadowed with irritation, but his eyes flickered with something softer—something almost desperate.

"What the hell was that, Kai?" Sophie snapped, her voice shaking with both anger and confusion. "I ask you a simple question, and you act like I'm the one doing something wrong!"

Kai ran a hand through his hair, his breath uneven as he paced in front of the door. "You don't understand, Sophie," 

"Then explain it to me!" Sophie threw her hands up, her voice cracking. "Why was your car parked outside some random house? Are you cheating on me?"

He stopped pacing and turned to her, his expression sharp. "No, I'm not cheating on you!" Kai's voice rose, his frustration matching hers. "That's one of my campaign member's houses. We've been meeting there to go over strategy. Nothing shady, okay?"

Sophie let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head as she looked away. "And you couldn't just tell me that in the first place? Instead, you act like a lunatic and practically drag me home?"

Kai stepped closer, his voice dropping to a softer tone. "Because I knew this would happen. You're overthinking, jumping to conclusions—"

"I wasn't stalking you, Kai!" Sophie shot back, her blue eyes blazing as she met his gaze. "I was dropping off homework for a student. That's it. You're the one who made it weird."

"Everything is fine, Sophie," Kai said, his tone shifting, soft but insistent. He placed a hand on her arm, his thumb brushing her skin in a way that used to be comforting. "You're making something out of nothing."

"Don't," Sophie said, pulling her arm away. Her voice cracked again, this time with hurt. "Don't do that. Don't gaslight me into thinking I'm crazy when you're the one acting suspicious."

Kai's face faltered, his lips parting as if to argue, but no words came out. He exhaled shakily, lowering himself onto the edge of the bed, his head dropping into his hands.

"I can't lose you," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Sophie froze, the rawness of his tone catching her off guard.

"I've worked so hard for this—everything—the campaign, our future, you, Micah..." Kai's voice trailed off as he lifted his head, tears streaking his cheeks. "I'm not perfect, okay? I know I fuck up. But I love you. I love both of you so much, and I can't—" His voice cracked as he choked back a sob.

"Kai..." Sophie's voice softened, but she stayed where she was, her arms still crossed protectively over her chest.

He stood suddenly, closing the distance between them and grabbing her hands. His grip was firm, almost desperate. "Don't leave me," he pleaded, his tears falling freely now. "I'll do better, I swear. Just don't leave."

Sophie looked up at him, her anger tempered by the vulnerability in his eyes. Her heart twisted, torn between the love she felt for him and the frustration of the situation they were in. She sighed, gently pulling her hands away and sitting on the bed.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said quietly, her tone steady. "But you can't keep doing this, Kai. You need to be honest with me."

He nodded quickly, wiping at his face with the back of his hand. "I will. I swear."

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