“What else does your mom think?”
The question came out harsher than she intended. Alex frowned, and an awkward silence fell between them.
Sophia immediately regretted her words.
“I’m sorry. I’m just tired. This nausea is killing me.”
Her husband nodded, but she saw a hint of pain in his eyes. He had never been able to calmly bear her complaints about their mother.
To him, Eleanor was the ideal woman: strong, wise, and always right. And Sophia… Sophia was simply a woman who, for some reason, couldn’t connect with his family.
As she prepared for work, she absentmindedly touched the pendant around her neck—an elegant silver oval pendant engraved with an ivy leaf. Alex had given it to her two months earlier on their third wedding anniversary.
“This way you will always feel my love close to you,” he said, fastening the chain around her neck.
She hadn’t taken it off since then. The pendant was cool and pleasant to the touch, and Sophia couldn’t help but smile.
No matter what happened, she had Alex – the man who had changed her life three years earlier.
On her way to work, she took the subway as usual. The morning rush, the smell of coffee and perfume, the murmur of voices—all of this had become an inseparable part of her daily routine.
Sophia leaned back against the armrest and closed her eyes. The nausea subsided somewhat, but the weakness remained.
“Sorry”.
The voice came very close, and Sophia started and opened her eyes.
Before her stood an older man, tall, with a well-groomed gray beard and attentive dark eyes. He wore an old-fashioned but well-groomed suit, and on his ring finger was a wide gold ring with intricate engraving.
“Do we know each other?” Sophia asked, stunned.
“No, but I have to tell you something.”
The man spoke softly, almost in a whisper, leaning toward her. He smelled of old books and faintly of metal.
“Sorry. I’m not interested.”
Sophia tried to pull away, assuming he was another town eccentric or con artist, but the man gently touched her arm. He didn’t grab her—he touched her lightly and carefully.
continued on next page
For complete cooking times, go to the next page or click the Open button (>), and don't forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
