Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)

Sophie stepped off the plane, and the evening sky in Devonport greeted her with a quiet embrace. Harold's car was parked just outside the nearly deserted airport, the late hour leaving only a handful of travelers trickling through. Inside, Harold's silhouette was unmistakable. Sophie walked over, taking a couple of strides before tossing a package at his feet. Harold flicked away his cigarette and caught the package with ease. "Look at you," Sophie teased, "picking up smoking now, huh?"

At this, Harold furrowed his brow slightly. "Sophie, we're the same age. You don't have to talk to me like you're my babysitter."

"Sorry, force of habit," she chuckled. "I still think of you as that fiery redhead who always had my back in school. It's only been a couple of years, and look at you, all grown up."

"Shen, Man," Harold reminded her, emphasizing his point.

Sophie sighed, "I'm really sorry, it just slips out... I don't mean to."

Truth was, she had a few more years of life experience on Harold. She often found herself slipping into a twenty-seven-year-old's lecturing tone.

Harold, carrying her package, asked, "Aren't you going to explain the news to us?"

"There's nothing to explain, just someone coming home, that's all."

"Is that really what I'm asking?" Harold opened the car door for Sophie, and she got in without a second thought.

Once Harold was in the car, Sophie admitted, "Yeah, the news is all true."

Harold paused, absorbing this. "You and a nightclub model... Sophie, are you out of your mind?"

His voice rose sharply, "Even if Colby deceived you, you shouldn't..."

"Shouldn't what? Lose my

self-respect?" Sophie turned to him, her gaze steady. "Yeah, I went into

the hotel with Cassidy, but nothing happened. You're making a

mountain out of a molehill

"Cassidy?" Harold frowned, "You even got his name?"

Sophie rolled her eyes, feeling Harold was missing the point.

"Would you have told me you were coming back today if I hadn't checked your flight status?" Harold pressed.

"Well, I did post it online, didn't I? Everyone could see it," Sophie countered.

"And what about Colby?" Harold continued.

When he mentioned Colby, Sophie held up a hand, "I don't want to hear that name for a while."

"If he finds out you're back, he'll definitely try to see you."

"He won't," Sophie was firm. "I've told him I need some space."

"When a woman says she needs space, she usually wants an explanation from the guy," Harold reasoned.

"What's left to explain? The facts are right here, not just for me but for everyone to see." Sophie leaned against the car window as flurries began to dance outside. "For a married couple, secrets and lies are unforgivable. I could overlook most things if they didn't cross a certain line. But this... how could anyone just shrug this off?"

Harold glanced at her, seeing the

fatigue etched on her face. "Colbet

Ched on her face. "Colby

No one in this world loves

more than he does."

Sophie stayed silent, her thoughts a whirlwind. Just then, her phone buzzed, pulling her back to the present.