Inevitable

**Vanessa’s POV**

I could no longer stand on the sidelines, waiting for things to resolve themselves. Charlotte—no, Sophia—needed to understand that she was messing with the wrong person. I knew confronting her would be risky, but it was a risk I was willing to take.

Finally, I parked in front of the hotel where she was staying. It was the same place where I had seen her days earlier, watching her from inside the car as she walked out with her confident posture. Today, there would be no silent observations. I would step out of the shadows and face her head-on.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the internal storm brewing inside me. I knew I couldn’t allow myself to waver now. The security and stability of my life were at stake, and I was determined to protect everything I had built.

I got out of the car, my heels echoing on the pavement as I crossed the sidewalk to the hotel entrance. The revolving doors opened automatically, and the air conditioning greeted me with a cool breeze, but it did nothing to dissipate the heat of the anger burning within me.

The lobby was busy, but I didn’t waste time. I walked straight to the reception desk, where a young woman was attending to a guest. I waited patiently as she finished, keeping my expression controlled and impassive.

“May I help you, ma’am?” she asked with a professional smile, though her eyes showed a slight discomfort as she noticed my determined posture.

“Yes, I’m here to see Sophia Carson. Tell her Vanessa is waiting.”

The receptionist hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure how to handle the situation. “One moment, please,” she said, picking up the phone to call Sophia’s room.

As she made the call, I felt a wave of anticipation and a twinge of nerves. I knew this encounter wouldn’t be easy, but it was necessary. Sophia needed to understand that, no matter how much she tried to reinvent herself, there was no place for her in Richard’s life.

The receptionist hung up the phone and looked at me with a mix of surprise and caution. “Ms. Carson is returning from a meeting but should be here soon. Would you like to wait in the lobby?”

My mind was racing, considering my options. Waiting meant I would have time to prepare, but it also meant the tension would only increase. However, I was willing to wait. This confrontation needed to happen, and I would do whatever was necessary to ensure Sophia knew she had no place here.

“Yes, I’ll wait,” I replied, my voice firm.

She directed me to a seating area in the lobby, and I sat down on one of the elegant sofas, crossing my legs and adjusting my posture. I appeared calm, but inside, anger and determination were swirling. I knew I couldn’t allow myself to falter now. Each passing minute made me more certain that this was the right decision.

As I waited, I watched people coming in and out of the hotel, each movement, each sound, only heightening the anticipation. Time seemed to drag on, each second stretching as I awaited the inevitable.

Finally, the hotel’s revolving door opened, and I saw her. Sophia entered the lobby, her confident posture, her eyes hidden behind large sunglasses. She looked tired, but she still carried that aura of determination that I had always hated in her.

She didn’t see me immediately, but when her eyes finally met mine, I saw the surprise in them. She hesitated for a moment before walking toward me, and I slowly stood up, keeping my expression impassive.

“Vanessa,” she said, removing her sunglasses, her eyes fixed on mine.

“Sophia,” I responded, deliberately using her new name, though the old one was on the tip of my tongue.

The tension between us was palpable, the air heavy with everything that wasn’t being said. We stood there, staring at each other for what felt like an eternity before I finally broke the silence.

“I came to make something clear to you,” I said, my voice firm and direct. “You may have returned and tried to reinvent yourself, but that changes nothing. Richard is my husband, and you will not destroy what I have built.”

She watched me for a long moment, and I saw something in her eyes—a mix of sadness and determination. “Vanessa,” she began, her voice calm but carrying something deeper, “I’m not here to destroy anything. I’m here to protect my children and ensure they have the best possible future.”

“Future?” I laughed, a humorless sound. “Do you think their future is with you, away from Richard? He is their father, and you can’t just cut him out of their lives.”

“I’m not trying to cut him out,” she replied, her voice firm but still calm. “But I’m also not going to let him control them the way he controlled me.”

Her words hit me hard, and I realized this encounter would be more difficult than I had imagined. But there was no turning back now. I was committed to the fight, and no matter what it took, I wouldn’t let Sophia win.

“This won’t end well for you,” I warned, taking a step toward her. “Richard isn’t the man you knew. And if you keep going down this path, it will be you who ends up hurt.”

Sophia looked me directly in the eyes, her expression unshaken. “I’m not afraid of getting hurt, Vanessa. But I think you should ask yourself how far you’re willing to go to protect what you think is yours.”

We stood there, face to face, her words echoing in my mind. I knew she was willing to fight, but I also knew I was more than ready for the challenge.

As we stared at each other, I realized this was just the beginning. Sophia and I were on a collision course, and there was no avoiding the impact.

The question was: who would still be standing when the dust finally settled?