She twisted around trying to escape his hold without success. Sophie never in her life hit anyone. It was the fear that brought this desperate unconscious attempt to hurt him just as he was hurting her. 

"You didn't suppose you could actually do that." He grinned at her while he held her hand in a firm grip, but then she went limp against him. He caught her and laid her on the sofa. She felt small, soft and fragile in his arms, and he experienced the flash of protectiveness towards her. It brought the memories of the sweet nights she spent with him. 

He watched her only for a moment, then he poured a glass of water and brought it to her lips supporting her head. Soon she sighed a little, and he could tell she was aware of him. Her body stiffened up. 

Sophie's eyes were closed , but her voice, even if it came out as a whisper, was loud enough for him to hear.

"I'm not going to marry you. I detest you!" 

Jaxon was aware that she doesn't love him anymore, but he was still confident he'll get his way. The wealth and power were on his side. He'll have them both, and have family at last even if the love wasn't part of the package. His first marriage was loveless, far away from being a "love" type relationship, so why expect more from this one. 

It took her a few moments to get over her fatigue. She weakly pushed the glass aside, and shakily got up and fixed her dress.

"I want my son. We are leaving! He's the only thing worth having from you. Everything else brought sorrow to my life."

Jaxon knew that Eric wasn't around, but had no idea that she hadn't seen Eric in years.

Her words hurt, but his face was a mask without a trace of feeling on it,"You better think about it Sophie. Being married to me isn't that bad of a prospect for a girl like you. I want my son. There is a lot I can offer him." 

Sophie couldn't believe his words. She lost her reputation, along with her pride, and Eric because of him, now he'll try to take Dallin. How much more did he want from her? Does her punishment never end? His voice reached her and brought her back to reality. 

"Dallin needs a father, a male figure in his life. He has to learn about the business, and come home where he belongs."

"Dallin needs his mother as well, and belongs with me and always did."  

"Suit yourself Sophie, but we are far from being done with this." He rang the little bell on the desk and the maid showed up shortly after.

"Bring the boy." The maid nodded her head and closed the door.

Sophie looked at him in disbelief, "His name is Dallin!" 

When the door opened up again, it was the same young maid that took care of Dallin. When he saw Sophie he ran to her, ignoring Jaxon. She was the only parent he knew, "Mommy, there are kittens in the barn." He was entirely excited.

"Yes, my darling. I see you had a good time." 

He gave her one of his irresistible smiles, that always brought a warmth to her lonely heart. 

"We'll be going now." It was all she managed while she looked at Jaxon. She loved him, and the knowledge that the love is not returned hurt too much. The only things she ever received from him were pain and humiliation. She just had to get away from him. Her hand shook while she held Dallins little hand, and walked out of the room leaving him behind. 

He walked over to the large window facing the front of the house, and watched them walk down the driveway towards the carriage. The emptiness that he felt was overwhelming. It felt like part of him left with them. Jaxon wished he could tell her how he feels, but he lacked the words. He was brought up to hide and not ever show his feelings. His father never showed any affection towards him. He was five years old when he got attached to one of the puppies.The puppy was removed from their house Immediately despite Jaxon's tears.

"Stop crying!! You'll never grow into a man." Were his father's harsh words.  

His mother was always distant. She was weak, and afraid of her spouse. So, there was never much affection from her side either. Mona always tried to stay away from her husband's path. When he died, she couldn't wait to pack up and leave the house that she viewed as a prison. 

'Can he do it?' He asked himself. Sophie's words brought a new realization of how he behaved, and how thoughtless he was. On the other hand, this was his child. Dallin is the rightful heir to

"Morning Glory", and should be brought up knowing it, exploring it, just as he did. 

****

Sophie's fear was deep and real.

'What if he takes Dallin away from her? She just knew she couldn't go on without Dallin. He was so much part of her and love for him kept her going when she thought she wouldn't be able to. When Eric was gone, he was all she had left.

Jaxon offered marriage, but she couldn't make herself accept his proposal. She still loves him despite all the reasons not to. It would be unbearable to her for him to look at her each day with contempt and remind her who she was to him in the past. His entertainment, his whore. Could she blame him for it? 

It was up to her and she accepted his proposal, after all she could have said no, but deep down she never regretted her decision. It was for Eric. The only thing she regrets is that it drove Eric away. Sophie couldn't blame him, at his age he couldn't have knowledge of the sacrifices. 

She tried to stop thinking about Jaxon's threat to take Dallin. Maybe he'll let them go and move on with his life. Sophie felt the grey cloud covered her sky and her sunshine, and she'll never see that sun again. 

That evening she read to Dallin and he soon fell asleep, his tired eyes closed. She placed the kiss on his cheek and covered him up. Her sweet, sweet son. She stood there for a while watching him. To run would be pointless, she had nowhere to go. This is only home Dallin ever knew. Her only income was rent she collected from the house she bought. There was only a little left from her money she got from the sale of her jewelry. The checks from Jaxon stopped coming a long ago. 

Without any choice left to her, Sophie stayed and feared each upcoming day. Is this the day they are going to come and take Dallin away from her?

Two weeks have passed by and there was no sign of anyone at her doorstep. She just placed Dallin in bed when the knock on the door came. Sophie opened it up and found herself face to face with Jaxon. The colour left her face and her eyes looked like a splash of blue against her pale skin. 

"May I come in?" It came more of a command than a question. 

She felt she had no option and opened the door further and let him in.

They stood in the middle of the room watching each other for a few moments. Her eyes were filled with fear. 

Jaxon was first to speak, "I gave you some time to think, but I want my son in my home. If you wish we could be married by the weekend." 

"No!" Sophie at last found her voice. 

His only reaction were raised eyebrows, " I have already talked to the judge on both accounts. If you are refusing to marry me, I'm getting custody of Dallin, and he's coming back with me to 

"Morning Glory ". I have given you a choice." It was said bluntly and without much room for a reply.  

"I think I express my feelings about this proposed marriage. It would be pointless to discuss again. My feelings are still the same." She searched his face in hope to find answers, but again, there was no trace of his thoughts on it.  

"If that's your final answer. I'm leaving tomorrow and I'm taking my son with me." His voice was devoid of emotion. 

Sophie abruptly turned away from him, her hands shook to the extent that she dropped the pitcher she held, but she wasn't going to give in. There was no future for her in a loveless marriage. 

She wasn't sure what would happen the next day, but she still harboured some hope they were just empty words. He wouldn't take Dallin. 

She read to Dallin and slept beside him trying to hold on to him, and erase her fears. 

The next morning Jaxon showed up early with the two uniformed men. Something in her snapped and she began to shake, and she was sure her legs won't support her. Jaxon squeezed in beside her, but the two men remained outside.

He coldly placed the piece of paper on the table and looked at her.

"There is a legal document stating that from today I'm the legal guardian of my son." He walked towards the Dallin's bedroom and soon came back carrying the still sleeping Dallin.

Sophie stepped ahead and attempted to stop him, but he was at the threshold before she had the chance to do anything but screamed. 

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO, you can't do that." The tears were streaming down her face. 

He ignored her and went into the waiting coach. Soon they were rolling down the street. 

She ran after them for a while, but soon could only watch it disappear around the corner. She sank down in the middle of the road. The sobs came hard and wretched. Sophie couldn't recall how long she sat there, could have been moments, could have been hours. The time was lost to her. When the driver of the passing carriage screamed at her to get off the road she got up and started walking without a thought as to where she was going. She lost everything, so what was the point of going home. She kept walking until she stumbled from thirst and exhaustion, and collapsed by the road