Chapter 9 TIES THAT CHOKE

I blinked and I was brought back to reality, when I heard my father call, I had imagined that I had given that angry response to what my dad said.

"Sophia?" he called out.

"Dad, I am the one married to Bran, I alone know how best I can handle myself being there with him".

"I disagree, you and Bran have had history once, and I just wouldn't want you going through that again".

"Is that really what this is about?" I asked.

"Of course, Sophia, I wouldn't do anything to harm you, would I? .

"If Henna's mom were alive, would you have married my mom and had me?" I asked.

"Regardless of whom I married first or second, you both are my daughters, and I care about you both".

"But don't you think you care for Henna more and take her opinions seriously?" I asked.

"That's not true," he said and caressed my hand.

"Then why come force me to give in to her request of moving into my home for supposed safety reasons?" I asked.

My Dad suddenly took his hands away from mine and looked away slowly.

"I get it, it has always been like this...maybe you give in to her words so easily because you feel guilty about marrying my mom. But guess what? I never asked to be born to this family!".

"Sophia! What is wrong with you?! How can you say such a thing?!" he said in a bit high tone.

"Why can't I, Dad? You have always made me give up a lot just for Henna, even though she's the eldest. Why can't I have things of my own, Dad? Why can't she sacrifice for me, too?" I asked, tears filling my eyes.

"This is all just a misunderstanding, Sophia, it is not something intentional...I only want what is best for you".

I suddenly stood from my seat.

"Sophia," he said.

"No, it is fine...not like I care about whatever she wants to do with Bran. The only reason I am there in the first place is because of my company and the family's company," I said and exited the building.

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*BRAN'S POV*

"Is she back home now?" I asked as I buttoned my suit and got into my car.

"Not yet, sir," Pierre said as he closed the door and went straight to the driver's seat and then drove away from the building we just came out of.

I relaxed in the backseat and brought out my phone and dialled Sophia's number, but she didn't pick up.

"She is not picking up," I said and put my phone back into my pocket.

"Maybe she got caught up with some things, where should I head to, sir?" Pierre asked as he drove.

"Take me to the cemetery," I said.

"Okay, sir," Pierre said and drove ahead.

"But stop at a flower shop first".

"Okay, sir," Pierre said and swerved to the right.

Pierre stopped at the flower shop, and I stepped out to get some flowers. I walked into the flower shop and went straight to the florist to make an order.

"Nice to see you again, sir, the usual set of flowers?" she asked.

"Yes, please," I said and turned to where Pierre stood by the car waiting.

The florist went into her garden of flowers, picked the exact flowers I requested and began to put them together. Finally, she bundled them up in a bouquet and tied them with a ribbon.

"Here you go, sir," she said and handed over the bouquet to me.

"Thank you," I dipped my hand into my breast pocket, brought out my card and handed it over to the florist.

She collected it, swiped it against a machine and received her payment.

I collected my card and stepped out of the florist's shop, and as I was about to get into the car, Pierre had already opened the door. I quickly caught a glimpse of someone who looked familiar.

I turned around to have a closer look, and at last, it was someone I knew; it was Sophia.

"That is madam," Pierre said the moment he saw Sophia coming out of a cafe with a young man of similar age to her, smiling as they walked over to his car and got in.

"I know," I said and clutched onto the bouquet I was holding.

"Would you like me to follow them, sir?" Pierre asked.

I watched for a while, a lot of emotions playing through my head and mind.

"No........ let's head to the cemetery," I said and got into the car.

*SOPHIA'S POV*

"Thank you so much, Liam. I don't know how I would have faced my mom if you had not been there for her," I said, grateful.

"Please don't say that, Sophia, you know I would always be there for you and your mom.. We have come a long way for you to act like this between us".

"I know, I am sorry," I said with a smile and adjusted the seatbelt.

"So, where would you like to go, princess?" he asked as he looked at me and started the car.

"Please don't call me that, and I think I just want to go home," I said softly, a sudden wave of feeling weighed down on me.

"Home? Or home?" he asked.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"I mean, would you really call Bran's residence home?" he asked and started driving.

"We are not going through this again, Liam."

"But why not? You and I both know that you are not happy being there..... I travel out of the country for a while, and the news I come back to is that you are married to the same man who shattered your heart. I remember everything you went through, Sophia, I was there!"

"But I have explained all of these to you."

"Oh yes, you had to marry him because of your father's debt and the companies, right? Why didn't you just come to me for help, Sophia?"

I sat there in the car, silent for a while and unable to give an answer.

"You can't even answer that......I have always been there for you to run to for help, but you don't ever ask me for help," he said.

"I just want to handle this myself.....I can't keep running to you for help, Liam, you won't understand."

"Then make me understand."

"I think you understand me well, Liam....."

"No, to be honest, I don't......but regardless, I will always be here should you need someone to run back to," he said and continued to drive.

*BRAN'S POV*

Pierre drove into the cemetery, and I got out of the car and walked to my parents' burial tomb with the bouquet I was holding. There they were, laid to rest, right beside each other.

"Hi dad, Hi mom.....it is me again," I said and placed the bouquet right in the middle of the tombs.

"It's really hard having to talk to you both here like this, I miss talking to you both over the phone or back at home," I said as I tried to hold in my tears.

"Mom, you remember Sophia, right? I finally got her to marry me, but I don't know if that was the right thing for her......I just realized that I really hurt her," I sniffed.

"I do want her to be the happiest, but seeing her with another man kind of made me realize, I don't think I can ever leave Sophia, mom...... It's her or nothing at this point, and I am not going to stop until she becomes mine of her own accord."

I bent and cleared the tomb of some rustled old leaves and picked the withered flowers I brought the last time.

"One day, I will bring her over to you both for your blessings," I said, turned and left their tomb.

As I walked down to where Pierre parked the car, my phone suddenly vibrated and rang as I brought it out of my pocket.

"What is it, Catherine?"

"Sir, there has been a call for an emergency board meeting regarding the company, sir," she said.

"What?? Board meeting? Called by who?" I asked as I hurried into the car and dropped the withered flowers on the seat.

"I am sorry, sir, but it was your uncle, Mr Tom, who called the emergency board meeting."

"Okay, try and stall time for me. I will be right there shortly," I said.

"Alright, sir."

"Take me to the office immediately," I said to Pierre, hung up the call and dropped my phone on the seat as well.

"Yes, sir," Pierre said and drove the car away from the cemetery and to the office.

I sat in the backseat, all worked up and wondered what new scheme my uncle had come up with this time around to take over my father's company from me.