The Final Game

**Sophia's POV (formerly Charlotte)**

After the tense encounter with Richard, my mind was in turmoil. I knew this moment would come, but the intensity of the confrontation had affected me more than I had anticipated. Seeing the man who once controlled my life, now struggling with the reality that he no longer had power over me, was a bittersweet experience. But the hardest part was accepting that, despite everything, he was still the father of my children.

As I walked back to my suite at the hotel, Richard's words echoed in my mind. He wanted to see the children, and I knew that, eventually, I would have to face that situation. But the fear of exposing them to his influence was still too strong to ignore.

When I entered the suite, I was greeted by the warm smiles of my children, who were happily playing with the nanny. For a moment, the weight of the encounter with Richard disappeared, replaced by the comfort of knowing that my children were safe and happy. They were my reason for living, the reason I had fought so hard to build this new life.

The nanny gave me a sympathetic look when she noticed the tension on my face. "They behaved very well," she said with an encouraging smile. "We had a fun afternoon."

I thanked her, feeling the need to be alone with my thoughts. After she left, I sat on the sofa, watching my children play, their laughter filling the room. There was no denying that Richard had the right to know them, but that didn’t mean I was ready to let him back into our lives.

I needed time to process everything, to plan my next steps. Richard had made it clear that he wouldn’t give up, but neither would I. I had fought for this new life, and I wouldn’t let him destroy it. The question now was how to balance his rights as a father with the need to protect my children from the negative influence he could represent.

Suddenly, the phone rang, pulling me from my thoughts. It was my lawyer, and I knew the call wouldn’t bring good news. I took a deep breath before answering, bracing myself for what was to come.

"Sophia," he began, his voice cautious. "I just received a call from Richard's lawyer. He wants to schedule a formal meeting to discuss custody arrangements."

My heart sank, though I knew this moment would come. "What does that mean? Is he trying to contest custody?"

"Not yet," he replied, his voice calm and professional. "But it’s clear that he wants some form of access to the children. This is something we need to approach carefully."

I knew he was right. Richard wouldn’t give up easily, and he had the resources to complicate things. But I also knew that I had the advantage, at least for now. The children were happy and healthy, and I had built a stable life for us. That worked in my favor, and I was determined to use every advantage I had.

"So, what do we do now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"We’ll prepare a response," he said. "We need to make it clear that the safety and well-being of the children are the priority. And if that means limiting Richard’s access to them, then that’s what we need to defend. But we need to be prepared for the possibility that he might take this to court."

The idea of a legal battle with Richard was daunting, but I knew I was prepared to fight if necessary. There was nothing more important to me than protecting my children, and I would do whatever it took to ensure their safety.

After hanging up the phone, I stared at the screen for a long moment, trying to process everything that was happening. The situation was unfolding faster than I expected, and I knew I needed to stay one step ahead of Richard at all times.

I looked at my children again, feeling a wave of determination wash over me. I had been through so much to get here, and I wouldn’t let Richard undo it all. But at the same time, I knew I couldn’t avoid this fight forever. At some point, I would have to face the reality that he had rights over the children, and I would have to find a way to balance that with the need to protect them.

What remained was to devise a plan. I was no longer the scared woman who fled with her children in her arms. Now, I was a successful businesswoman, a mother determined to do whatever was necessary to protect her family. And while the future seemed uncertain, I knew I was prepared to face whatever came.

With that in mind, I decided that I wouldn’t wait for Richard to make the next move. I would take the initiative, showing him that I wasn’t afraid to confront him. If he wanted a fight, then I would fight. But not on the battlefield he expected. I would use the law, justice, and my own strength to ensure that the past stayed where it belonged—in the past.

In the days that followed, I worked closely with my lawyer to prepare our strategy. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I also knew I wasn’t alone. I had allies, resources, and, above all, the strength I had gained over the past few years.

When the formal meeting was finally scheduled, I was ready. Ready to face Richard, ready to defend my children, and ready to ensure that the future I had built for us was protected at any cost.

And so, the real battle began.

But as the days passed, an unsettling feeling began to settle in. As much as I wanted to deny it, the encounter with Richard had affected me in ways I wasn’t prepared to face. I thought I had moved past everything, that there was nothing left of what I once felt for him. But seeing him again, I realized I was wrong.

I had spent three years dedicating myself entirely to my children and my work. I hadn’t been involved with anyone, hadn’t let any man into my life because I believed I had left Richard completely behind. But the truth was, he was still there, in some deep corner of my heart, in a way I didn’t want to admit.

I still felt something for him, and that revelation shook me. It wasn’t love, not like before. It was more like a scar—something that never really disappeared but had been hidden until it was poked again. It was confusing and frustrating, and I hated the idea that he still had any kind of power over me.

But I knew I had to be strong, that I had to keep my focus on what really mattered—my children. Whatever I still felt for Richard, I couldn’t let it interfere with the fight that was coming. I was ready to face the past, to confront those old feelings and bury them once and for all.

And when the time came, I would be prepared to face Richard again, not as the woman he once knew, but as the woman I had become—strong, independent, and determined to protect my family at any cost.