Chapter 130


    Sophie’s pov


    “How are you holding up by the way?” M questioned as my head rolled on her shoulder.


    “I know the media has been shittely towards you and now that they had Ashton’s picture circting


    around….I can only imagine the stress it has brought on for both you and Aiden.” M murmured.


    I nod, moving my head off her shoulder and mumble. “It doesn’t feel great to be in the public eye but


    with Aiden al- ways being the hot topic for blogs, it’s not surprising that they’re trying to get into


    everything they can about us.”


    M looks over at me in worry. “These paparazzi and so- cial media scare me. This is why I stay far


    away from social media. The way they could spin any false story out of control makes me sick to my


    stomach.”


    I nod, agreeing with her.


    Suddenly my phone buzzes on the table, catching our at- tention. I picked it up, staring at the caller and


    a smile spread on my face.


    Ingrid.


    I haven’t heard from her in a hot minute and decided to call her today…only that she hadn’t answered


    when I did.


    0.001


    I’m relieved that she was at least okay.


    I answered the video call quickly, lifting the phone to my face.


    When her face emerge on the screen, I couldn’t help but be worried. There were visible stress lines on


    her face.


    “Ingrid?” I smiled. “I tried calling earlier. Haven’t heard from you an entire day.”


    I shifted around so the camera could also be on M who waved at Ingrid. “The girls are here.” I said


    and then switch the camera to show Ria who was rocking Ashton back and forth to make him fall


    asleep.


    Ria waves at Ingrid but Ash head was faced away and was resting on her shoulder, no doubt already


    sleeping.


    Switching the camera back on me, I looked at Ingrid in deep worry when she hadn’t answered as yet.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    “Ingrid?” I asked, a little more worried now that she seemed out of it.


    M sent me a confused and concerned stare and I only shrugged in response because I was also lost.


    “Yes,” Ingrid finally answers but her voice is low. Very low.


    “What’s wrong?” I asked in deep concern. “Is it Michael?” | questioned, my voice a bit shaky with


    nerves and fear.


    She shook her head in denial and cracked out a forced smile. “No nothing is wrong Soph. Don’t worry


    about us.”


    Her eyes then looked around and her brows pinched. “Where are you? This doesn’t look like the


    apartment.”


    Her question had me chewing on my lips and I nervously looked at M who gave me an encouraging


    nod.


    “I uh-


    I sighed and confessed. “Aiden and I are trying out this family thing. I’m at his apartment.”


    I tucked some stray strands behind my ears as I wait for her scolding.


    There was no way she’d encourage me to move in with Aiden so soon, especially with ourst


    conversation about him being a dick.


    But she surprised me by nodding and smiled. “Great.”


    Both M and looked at each other in confusion.


    And we voiced it out simultaneously. “Are you sure you are okay Ingrid?”


    She takes a while to answer but she lets out a breath and spoke up. “I’ve just been worried about you


    Sophietely. The media is getting to everyone in town and people are talking over here.”


    There are some truth to her words but I do notice that this is not the main thing that has her so worried.


    Something was going on and she didn’t want me to be concerned about it.


    But her words do make my lips press in displeasure.


    I knew people back home would have a lot to say. Given that the town was small and everyone knew


    each other, it wasn’t surprising if they remembered what happened two years ago.


    God only knew what they were saying about Aiden and me.


    News travel fast back home and I was pretty sure the en- tire town knew about Aiden and me.


    Carson’s parents…..


    I shake my head to not think about them, especially the hostility they always sent me whenever I


    crossed paths with them back home.


    My brows pinch in worry for Ingrid and Michael. Since I was not back home they were probably getting


    the brunt of the gossip that I was certain were not great.


    “They aren’t mean to you and Michael are they?” I asked, chewing on my lower lip in worry.


    Ingrid smiled reassuringly.


    ”


    It’s nothing we can’t handle


    Soph. Just focus on you and your little family. Gossip back here will notst and by next week everyone


    will focus on something else to gossip about.”


    After talking for five minutes or so, a cough in the back- ground had Ingrid’s eyes widening a bit.


    She quickly told us she had to go and ends the call before we could tell her goodbye.


    This was so not like her. Her mood wasn’t chirpy like it usually was. Those smile too had not reached


    her eyes.


    I had not failed to notice the tension in her eyes.


    “Well that was weird.” M voiced out and I couldn’t help but agree.


    “Something is definitely going on and it’s not only the gossip that’s going around back home.” I


    murmured and ced the phone back on the coffee table, my brows furrow- ing.


    “What’s even more worrying is that she had taken this long to call me back when I called her earlier.”


    M hums. “You’re right, it doesn’t sound like Ingrid at all. But I think whatever is going on, she doesn’t


    want you to wor- ry about it. Give her time, maybe she’ll tell you when she’s ready.” She shrugged.


    I let out a heavy breath and groaned. “Honestly it’s a bit toote for that. I’m already worried.”


    M is about to respond but Ria interrupts her by return- ing to the living room while dodging the roses


    so she’d not have them fall.


    “He fell asleep. Where can I put him to rest?” She asked when she reached beside us.


    I gave her instruction to Aiden’s room and then watch her leave.


    M and I continued our conversation while Ria went to ce Ashton to rest.


    But when she returned her eyes were wide and her foot- falls were hasty. She even managed to knock


    down one of the vases, the roses falling out along with the water.


    Her gaze were strictly on the phone she had grasped tightly in her hand.


    M and I stood up quickly, panicking by her hasty ac-tions.


    “Ria, what’s wrong?” I asked urgently.


    She lifts her gaze, approaching us quickly as she turns the phone screen facing us.


    “I just got a notification from this popr New York gos- sip forum. It’s about Aiden and some woman.”


    When I’m actually able to see the picture, my heart drops in the pit of my stomach.