I Want You Back
Chapter 32

Angel Leffman

Why is that woman awake so early, and where did she go?

Last night was the first time I felt some sort of connection with Sofia. There are no lies, cheating, arguments, or whatever, but there are too many misunderstandings between us. How could we start a relationship if there are doubts between us?

I've been treating her like shit for five years, so how could I possibly make up for it? How do you change the hurtful words? The attitude? The treatment? The doubts? Doubts that are still there. And yes, let's say that Elisa probably lied, but that won't change what she and her dad did to me just for us to get married.

I wonder, at what point did my life start to have so many misunderstandings and doubts?

I heard the door opening, and Sofia came in carrying two bags of groceries.

"Hi," she greeted me when she saw me. "I thought you're still sleeping or you've already left."

"And why would I just leave after you let me spend the night without saying anything?"

"True, but from past experiences, I wouldn't be surprised."

That was true and a low blow, but I can't really blame her. This won't be the first time she comes from somewhere, and I'll leave without saying goodbye to her.

"Are you okay?" I frowned at her question. "I mean, after what we talked about or what happened," she explained, looking a little nervous.

"Sofia, I told you I wasn't drunk, and yes, I'm alright. I remember all the things we talked about and what we didn't do."

I saw how she blushed at my last sentence, and it was entertaining to see.

"Good. I'll prepare our breakfast," she informed me, and she pointed at the cup I was holding. "I see you made yourself a coffee."

"Tea. The one you made last night. So where did you go this early?" I asked and gestured at the bags in her hands.

"For your information, I am not as skilled as Carmen, but I can cook, and if you don't like it, order your breakfast or something. I don't want you to think that I'm a bad host." She told me instead, dodging my question and going to the kitchen, and I followed her. "Do you even know how to differentiate salt and sugar?" I teased her as I leaned on the counter.

Sofia gave me a

blank look. "Yes, Angel. I know how to distinguish one thing from another. I know how to cook, and I am good at it," she confidently said.

I nodded with a shrug. "Of course, I need to see it to believe it. I didn't even know you stayed in the kitchen."

"In five years, you haven't really known me, Angel. You are never really home. You are either in the office or you are arguing with me."

I remember all the times we did, and I swallowed, my grip on the mug tightening.

"I wasn't a good husband, but I have my reasons. Yes, everything you said is true. I am a fool who let himself be fooled for five years."

"I'm not going to argue with you about that," she replied as she started to remove her purchases from the bags. "The problem is, what if you proved that I'm right and Elisa was lying to you the whole time?" "The truth is something that can never be hidden, no matter how much we want to."

"There is no perfect lie, but there are lies that last a long time," I agreed, and I went to where she was. "Do you want my help with something?" I like

because t feels like we are a normal couple.

"You can help me slice the tomatoes and onions. You know how to, right?" She teased me back with a raised eyebrow.

"For your information, I know how to cook."

"To see Mr. Leffman in my kitchen and helping me is something I never thought I'd see."

"I also never thought that I would be here chopping for you."

"It is such a weird day."

We dedicate ourselves to making breakfast while we talk about trivialities, like last night's party, questions, and his tiya's foundation, and we skip all those conversations that we have never had and need.

We spent our time making breakfast while we talked about trivialities. Like last night's party, questions, the foundation, and any conversations that we have never had and needed.

"Well, I could say, Miss Andrew, that the breakfast is delicious," I complimented, and she looked at me in disbelief. "It's not a lie. It's really delicious."

"I told you I'm very good."

She looked at me as if she wanted to say something but didn't want to at the same time.

"Do you have something you want to say to me?"

"Yes, but I don't want you to get angry."

.

I placed the cup back on the table and looked at her. "Then it's better if you say it because if not, I'll get angry for sure."

In the end, there's no way to escape arguments because we are used to them.

"You typically get angry just by breathing, so yes, you can get angry at anything."

"Stop being sarcastic and tell me what you want to say to me."

"Dad is worried about the company," she finally blurted out.

"Does he not trust his daughter sitting as president?"

"That isn't the problem. Dad trusts me; the problem is..." She hesitated, and I got bothered.

"What? What is the problem? Say it all at once, Sofia."

"Yes, but don't be alarmed. Before I say it, I want you to know that I didn't tell him anything or have any idea how he knew." I took a deep breath at her rambling. "Dad was worried about the company because you have access to the designs, and he's worried about having a conflict of interest."

"Why would we have a conflict of interest?"

"He knows that you are the owner of Autos-Let."

My blood automatically went up to my head. "I should have known you'd tell him. You just can't keep your mouth shut, and you needed to tell him."

"I didn't tell him anything because he already knew," she defended herself in a firm voice. "That is the truth. I don't know how he did it, and I don't know why I'm explaining when you don't believe in everything I say." She angrily stood up from her chair when I was the one who should be angry.

"You are the only one who knows about it, and now your father knows all of a sudden? It's hard to believe you didn't tell him."

"If that's the case, then can I also conclude that you told your grandfather about Lee Andrew's?"

What?

"What are you saying now? I didn't say anything to Grandpa, and we are talking about your father."

"Don't shout at me! Your grandfather knows that I am the owner of that company, and no one else knows. He knows, so you must have told him."

Unbelievable. How did he know?

"Sofia, I didn't say anything to him, and I didn't need to."

"Ah, so I needed to tell my father, is that it? If you don't believe me, I shouldn't believe you either."

"Then how did he know?!"

"I told you I have no idea! And I asked you the same question!" She responded in the same tone.

Damn, how did our peaceful breakfast turn into a boxing ring?

"So you didn't tell your father, and I didn't tell my grandfather. You don't believe me, and I don't believe you as well. What do we do now?"

"This is nothing new to us, Angel," she said in a tired voice, then sighed. "Last night you told me you wanted to believe me, so you better start to."

"I don't know, Sofia. When it comes to your father..." I can't forget what he did to me and to us. And the pain and hatred are coming back to me. "Why do you hate him so much, Angel?"

I didn't want to talk about it, so I changed the topic. "Your father thought I would do something for the company, so he's bothered?"

"My father knows that you hate him and us, and you are a competitor, so even I'll be concerned."

I looked at her in disbelief. "You thought I would destroy the company or do something against it? I even gave you a design."

"Angel, you've been hating me for five years. You came back after traveling and asked for a divorce, and you told me you're going back to Elisa. Then, out of your kind heart, you made me the president, and you acted weirdly around me. Of course, it's weird, especially because you own the automotive company that is competing with us."

I let out a bark of laughter. "I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"Angel, we are both in business. If the case is the other way around, you'll feel the same. And unlike you, I'm sure you would have forbade me from entering your company, and don't deny it."

"You saw my designs, not even in papers. You saw how they're made. Does that mean I should also be concerned that you'll copy my designs?"

"I'll never do that."

"But I can?" I started to pace back and forth to calm myself. "You really know how to ruin a good moment, Sofia."

I went to the room where I slept because I was too upset and angry.

How did Pops know? I felt bothered that he did.

I saw Sofia standing in the doorway. "Don't worry, I'll leave. I won't steal anything from you."

"If you think about it, it'll be hard for my dad to believe that you wouldn't because we don't get along. Angel, just last night, we were able to talk without killing each other," Sofia said in a calmer voice and walked in. "I don't want us to go back to the start." "We can't even trust each other, so how?"

"I know, but it's not our fault, and you know that."

"The fault is never yours and only mine. Always mine."

"Who hated me for years, Angel? Ignored me?!"

"It's better if we leave the topic, Sofia. If we continue this conversation, we will end up upset with each other, and I don't want to ruin what we started."

"Will we always doubt everything we say to each other?"

A good question I have no answer to.

"We need to resolve the issue with your father. It's clear that we are not a couple in a perfect marriage."

"We can't even talk in a calm way. Besides, what do you think my dad will do to you? I told you that he's worried about the company, so you just need to talk to him to calm his mind."

I nodded my head at her. "I will talk to him, so don't worry. I better go now. Thank you for last night and the breakfast," I told her and left.

I called Harry, and he answered in a not-so-friendly way. "Do you not rest on Sundays, Angel?"

"We need to talk. It's urgent, Harry. I'll wait for you in my house."

"Good morning to you too. Can you please ask me first if I have other plans?"

"Whatever. If you have plans, cancel or postpone them. We need to talk now, and I won't accept any reasons."