LUCAS POV

The next few days were quiet. Sophia made sure to avoid me and I her as much as possible. And if we needed to talk to each other, we'd send message across through Nancy or Tanya.

It wasn't so painful, after all we've spent years apart, Even so, it was going to be a while before I could relax. I still find myself thinking about her sometimes.

There were times that I thought she was going to say something. A subtle glance, a sudden shift in tone of voice This morning, she hadn't spoken to me at all and I couldn't help but wonder if she was mad at me or something.

But we would finally go our separate ways soon enough. So what was the point of trying to fix things now?

It was even best we stayed away from each other. It'll accord me time to focus on finding out who was behind hiring that teacher and clearing up her mess.

The rumors had become worse. It has gotten to the point that reporters began to camp outside the house waiting for her to come out so they'd accost her with more questions. I've had to watch the TV news and make sure none of those people were wandering into the house and getting access to the cameras.

Even the news Channel had wanted to interview her. So now she was stuck in the house without anything to do. No phone calls. No visitors. Just her family. And her husband. I mean me.

It had been days since Sophia had been outside and I wondered if she was even eating or if she was going to have a breakdown. I was a bit worried about her. A lot worried actually. She was never one to be indoors so long. She could have been suffering from a mental breakdown. I could tell she missed the outside world.

As I sat there rummaging through my thoughts, I kept getting calls from Tanya. Ignored it. Groceries are the least thing on my mind right now.

It was until both Nancy and Dominic started calling as well, that it struck me that something might be wrong. I quickly called Tanya back.

I couldn't get what she was saying. She spoke so fast and her word were incoherent. There was trace of fear and panic in her voice. It was enough to make me angry.

"What's going on?"

"Sir... Mrs Lucas...house....kids school... TV... News..."

Those were the only words I could make out from what she said.

TV? News? Mrs Lucas? Was she referring to Sophia. News... News...

"The news!" I exclaimed.

I quickly turned on the TV and was greeted with the picture of one of my cars on the TV screen. It was in front of the kids school and was surrounded by reporters and newsmen.

"She is inside. Mrs Sophia we know you're in there. Come out and talk to us of you're truly innocent." a reporter said.

You have got to be kidding me. How did she... I called Dominic immediately.

"Can you explain the rubbish I saw on the news?" I asked raising my voice.

"Sir.. She... I didn't know when she left the house...

"You didn't know? I gave you an order to watch her every move now you're telling me you didn't know when she left the house? If anything happens to her, you're dead, do you understand me?"

I hung up and called Sophia. She answered on the second ring.

"How on earth can a woman be this stubborn?" i muttered angrily.

"I just wanted to....

"STAY AT HOME was the order. Just for a little while but no, you chose to defy me"

"Seriously? You're scolding me now? Help me out! You can scold me later."

I sighed heavily. This woman will be the death of me. She's completely erratic. And quite arrogant too. "Stay put. I'll come over

I made sure to carry four security personnel to help me ward off the reporters that I knew would be there.

I also made sure to carry protective rounds just in case the reporters turned violent.

I didn't want the first thing they did be shooting me.

I drove to the school in speed. Some reporter are crazy enough to break the screen door of the car. I don't want anything to happen to Sophia.

Immediately I arrived, the reporters rushed over to my car.

I stepped out and held my hand up and told them to wait. Then started to walk over to where Sophia was parked.

They followed and began to throw questions at me. I turned around to face them and the look on my face caused them to swallow their words and scurry back to their vehicles.

I then started to walk over to the car.

Sophia opened the door for me and told me to have a seat.

As I sat down, she looked up at me with those brown, beautiful eyes and smiled cheekily. I couldn't help but notice how she looked like an angel even in.. That.. Clothe.

"What the hell are you wearing?"

"I borrowed Dominic's clothes....

"Borrowed or stole?"

"Borrowed! I just didn't tell him about it." she said smiling.

How can she be smiling at a time like this?

"Why did you wear his clothes? You don't have clothes of your own?"

"For disguise. I didn't want anyone to recognize me."

What was she talking about? Who wouldn't recognize her? The outfit only made her look cuter.

"Yeah! You look totally unrecognizable in that." I said, the sarcasm clear in my voice.

She rolled her eyes at me.

I sighed heavily, relaxing on the seat. She leaned in close and whispered, "I'd really like to go home now. What's the plan?"

I looked at her unbelievably.

"So you didn't have a plan when you decided to disobey me?"

"Come on Lucas! How was I supposed to know they'd be here?"

"Unbelievable! You are the popular Sophia Miller. You should have had enough experience with the media to know how they operate. Goddammit!"

I wasn't mad mad but her reaction was starting to push me towards it. I turned to look at her only to find her smiling, raising her brows at me in amusement. I closed my eyes and took a few seconds to calm down.

"What is it?" I asked between clenched teeth.

"You just called me popular. So you think I'm famous. Right?"

I opened my eyes and looked at her with a quizzical look.

"Right?"

"Mrs Sophia Hernández!" I called, my eyes shooting lasers.

"Ah! Fine, I'm sorry."

"You only had to stay put for a few days. Now look at the mess you've caused and you still find it right to be cheeky with me." I continued.

"I am not cheeky. You're just being immature."

"I'm being immature? Who's the one who stole someone's clothe which by the way did not change her appearance one bit."

She pouted, making a cute baby face.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back, letting out a long groan.

"You know what. Just keep quiet and let me think what to do with you."

She sat there, resting her head on the steering wheel. I continued to fume at her.

"What if I had a way to handle this?" she asked.

"If you did, you wouldn't be stuck here."

"I just couldn't do it on my own. Here." she said handing me her phone. "Play that recording."

I turned to her in a robotic motion, eyes wide in terror.

"What are you...? !"

She just grinned back at me, eyes shining.

"You had this all along?"

"Mm hmm."

"And you didn't think to let me know?" I yelled incredulously.

"well.. You... I....

"Do you know the stress you'd have saved me?"

"You didn't ask for my help?"

"I didn't.... We'll deal with this at home. Don't come out till I ask you to." I said coming out from the car.

I turned around to Sophia's door and made to open it. The reporters wasted no time. They were all gathered at our entrance. The reporters were a bunch of mindless idiots, cursing, hollering, and everything else I don't want to know about.

I just shook my head and backed away. Turning to them with a look that sent ice down their spine, I said, "The next person to say a word will loose his or her job and I'll make sure they never get to work elsewhere for the rest of their lives. Including everyone in their family."

That did the magic. They all went quiet. You could hear a pin drop.

I opened the door and Sophia stepped out. I could see them fighting the urge to start throwing questions at her.

"Now listen y'all, I'll only say this once. My wife did not kill anyone."

I took out the phone and played the recording for all to hear.

"You didn't tell me she was the daughter Sophia Miller when you asked me to bully her... What that got to do with anything? Do you know what you've caused me? I got fired...Another job? No one would hire a teacher who bullied Sophia Miller's child. You'd better find me another job else I'll tell her everything. Don't dare me, I'm really desperate. I'll only remain jobless, I can go elsewhere here I'm not know a d still find a job but you? Do you know what they'd do to you if they get to find out you're behind it.?

I cleared my throat startling her. She almost threw her phone away in shock.

"Mrs-Mrs Miller....

"You're in my way."

"I know. I wanted to talk to you."

"I'm in a hurry to....

"Please. It won't take long."

I looked at her. I got an Idea.

"I'll only listen to you if you answer me."

"Ask away ma'am."

"Who were you talking to?"

"No one important. Miss Sophia I came to plead...

"I'll have you know that I overheard everything you said and I could get you arrested for this....

"No, no. It hasn't gotten to that. I'll tell you everything but...

It came to an end with the sound of a gunshot.

"If you ain't daft, you can tell from this recording that my wife had nothing to do with her death. The teacher was paid to bully our daughter and was clearly going to confess before she was shot. It only means whoever paid her to do it didn't want to be found out and killed her. So instead of you harassing an innocent woman, I suggest you put that effort into finding out who the real Culprit it. " I said yelling.