68

CHAPTER 68

SOPHIA’S POV

The morning sunlight streamed through the window as we sat at the breakfast table—my father, Kayla, and me. The atmosphere, however, was far from sunny. I pushed the scrambled eggs around my plate, appetite absent, my mind occupied with thoughts of Henry.

"Dad," I finally mustered the courage to speak, "when can I go back to school?"

He looked up from his newspaper, his brows furrowing. "What's the rush, Sophia? You just got back."

I sighed, a heavy burden on my chest. "I need to get back to my life, Dad. I can't stay cooped up here forever."

He exchanged a glance with Kayla before addressing me. "Sophia, I'm making some calls to have you transferred back here permanently. It's for the best."

My fork clattered against the plate as I shot up from my chair, frustration bubbling within me. "Transfer me back? Dad, you can't do that!"

"Why not?" he replied, his tone stern.

"Because it's my life, Dad! I'm an adult. You can't control every aspect of it," I ret