Chapter 51


    Seriously?


    Sophie didn’t know what to say to that remark. She’d never known Miranda to want to help her out. Of


    course, there was all those people who sang her praises and swore that Miranda was practically a


    saint, but Sophie hadn’t experienced that side of her. Truth be told, they’d never really interacted much,


    not even when Miranda and Buck had still been married.


    “What did she say?” Sophie asked.


    Nigel smoothed a hand over his jaw and the back of his neck. He seemed so exhausted, which only


    matched her own situation. She hadn’t slept for reying the past few weeks over and over in her


    head. She wondered if he’d been awake all night thinking of her, too.


    “She basically said that you had valid reasons foring to New York.”


    How the hell had Miranda known Sophie was in New York? Had she seen her that day?


    “I found out that Craig mentioned my new consultant when he was chatting with Miranda,” Nigel went


    on. “I had actually talked to her about meeting you, obviously not knowing the truth, and then Craig was


    talking about how amazing you were and how you could be on the show because you’re just as


    stunning as the others. I mean, you know how Craig gossips. He ended up showing Miranda a photo.”


    “She could’ve called me out right then,” Sophie murmured. “Why didn’t she?”


    “I’d say she knew why you were there at that point,” he told her. “But when she called me, she


    exined how you and your brothers feel cheated with the will and everything.”


    “We were cheated,” Sophie reiterated. “We still don’t understand why we were cut out.”


    “I get that.” Nigel gave an understanding nod. “I don’t get why you continued to lie to me, not once we


    started getting so close, but I know why you initially came to New York. You were trying to save your


    family’s legacy. Believe me, I above anyone else understand the importance of showing family loyalty.”


    “I still don’t understand why she came to my assistance,” Sophie thought out loud.


    Nigel reached for her arm and slid his fingers down to hold her hand. “Maybe because she’s not the


    monster you all think she is. Maybe because she wants to see you happy. I truly believe she wants to


    fix her rtionship with you and your brothers.”


    Sophie wasn’t so sure about fixing things, but she also wasn’t so sure that Miranda was out to take


    everything. She’d seemed just as surprised at the will as the rest of them. Maybe that hadn’t all been


    an act.


    “And her call made youe?” Sophie asked.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    He squeezed her hand. “Her call made me think a little more about what this must have been like from


    your point of view. For years I’ve been somewhat of a ck sheep for leaving Ennd and not


    marrying or settling down. Family is important to me, even though I’m not jumping in to produce heirs.”


    Sophie smiled. After having met his grandmother and sister, and seeing where he came from, the


    archaic sounding trait wasn’t so bizarre after all.


    “Honestly, I couldn’t stand be


    ing without you,” he finally said. “The office was lonely, even though my staff is bustling all over the


    ce. Every time I looked at events for the showing up, I wondered what you would think or how


    you would change things. I can’t even go up to my penthouse because I see you disyed on that


    couch. And now I can’t go back to Ennd because Nana thinks we’re a couple.”


    Sophie smiled. “Is that all?”


    Nigel took another step forward until they were toe-to-toe. He framed her face with his hands and


    leaned in, barely a breath from her mouth.


    “No, that’s not all,” he whispered. “I love you and I want you. I won’t ask you to give up your life here.


    I’d never do that. I’ll fly back and forth if need be. I don’t give a damn at this point, I just need you.”


    Sophie’s heart nearly exploded. She never thought he would forgive her, and she sure as hell never


    thought Miranda would be the one to turn him around.


    Had Sophie been wrong all this time? Was Miranda really just misunderstood and wanting to make


    things right?


    Sophie wrapped her arms around Nigel’s waist. “I need you, too. I’ve been miserable knowing that I


    hurt you. I just, I didn’t know what to do and my loyalty was so torn—”


    Nigel covered her lips, cutting off her sentence and any other thought she may have had. Nigel was


    here, he was holding her, kissing her and loving her. None of this was a dream and while she didn’t


    deserve his forgiveness, she wasn’t going to turn him away. She’d never take him for granted again.


    Sophie eased back, sliding her fingers through his hair. “I swear, I’ll never lie to you about anything ever


    again.”


    Nigel smiled. “That’s good, but I hope you know what you’re getting into with me.”


    “I have a pretty good idea.”


    “Maybe we’ll need to make you an extra on the show,” he stated. “I’m sure ratings would skyrocket with


    the most sought-after designer.”