Part 17
A full year had passed since the final verdict, and Sofia's graduation ceremony was approaching.
Alexander and I booked our tickets to London together, deciding to surprise her by arriving two days early.
We met at the airport terminal, both of us carrying gifts and bursting with excitement.
When we arrived at her London flat and knocked on the door, Sofia opened it, wearing an apron covered in paint stains.
The look of pure shock and delight on her face when she saw both of us standing there was worth every mile flown.
She threw her arms around us, holding onto us tightly in a long, emotional group hug.
That evening, she arranged a dinner at a quiet rooftop restaurant so we could finally meet Ethan.
I was naturally observant, watching Ethan's body language and the way he interacted with my daughter.
Every time Sofia spoke, Ethan listened with rapt attention, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.
When the waiter brought the food, Ethan automatically made sure Sofia had everything she needed before touching his own plate.
Alexander, who could easily intimidate any young man with a single glare, found himself thoroughly impressed.
By the end of the night, Alexander was talking to Ethan about football and architectural history like old friends.
As Sofia and I walked a few steps ahead of them on the way back, she leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Thank you for coming, Mom. Having you and Dad here together means the world to me."
"We wouldn't miss it for anything in the universe," I whispered back, breathing in the scent of her hair.
May you like
The next day, we watched her walk across the graduation stage, receiving her diploma with high honors.
As the crowd cheered, Alexander and I stood side-by-side, clapping until our hands were sore, overwhelmed with pride for the woman she had become.
