Sophie's first intentional outreach to a friend happened on the evening of her third full day in the penthouse.
She had spent the afternoon scrolling through her messages—old group chats frozen in time since she'd left her father's house. Most were filled with worried "where r u???" texts from her best friend, Maya, and a few others from the small circle she trusted at school. She hadn't replied to any of them yet. The fear of Victor monitoring her phone, of him seeing who she talked to and punishing her for it, had kept her silent even after the court order.
But today felt different.
The purple streak in her hair caught the light every time she moved. The contempt filing against her father was moving forward. Raymond had shown her the motion paperwork (carefully redacted so she didn't have to read the ugly parts). Alicia had spent the morning teaching her how to block numbers and set up new privacy settings.
Sophie felt… allowed.
She sat cross-legged on the living-room rug, back against the couch where Alicia was reading and Raymond was pretending to answer emails on his laptop. Her phone rested in her lap like it weighed ten pounds.
She opened the chat with Maya first.
The last message from her friend—sent four days ago—was simple:
Maya: Soph please just tell me you're okay. Everyone's freaking out. Your dad said you were "visiting family" but you're not answering. I'm worried.
Sophie's thumb hovered.
Then she typed.
Sophie: Hey. I'm okay. Really okay.
Sophie: I'm staying with my uncle and his wife for a while. It's… better here. I'm safe. I'm sorry I disappeared. I just couldn't talk before.
She attached the selfie she'd taken yesterday—the one with the purple streak, Alicia photobombed in the background making a silly face, Raymond's arm visible around both of them.
Sophie: This is my new normal. Purple hair and whipped cream for breakfast. No yelling. No rules about who I can talk to.
She hit send before the fear could stop her.
The three dots appeared almost instantly.
Maya: SOPH OMG
Maya: YOU'RE ALIVE
Maya: That hair!!! 💜💜💜
Maya: Wait—your uncle Ray?? The billionaire one??
Maya: Are you actually okay? Like… really? No cap?
Sophie laughed—small, surprised, relieved.
Sophie: Really really. No cap.
Sophie: It's complicated but… good complicated. I'll explain more soon. Promise.
Sophie: Just needed to tell someone first who wouldn't freak out or tell my dad.
Maya: I'm not telling anyone. Swear.
Maya: You look happy. Like actually happy.
Maya: Can we video call? Or meet? I miss your face.
Sophie glanced up.
Alicia had set her book aside and was watching her with quiet pride. Raymond had closed his laptop completely.
Sophie looked back at the screen.
Sophie: Soon. I'll ask. But yes. Video call soon.
Sophie: Thank you for worrying. And for not giving up on me.
Maya: Never giving up. Love you Soph. Purple looks fire btw.
Sophie set the phone down.
Tears slipped down her cheeks—not sad ones. Relief. Joy. The feeling of being seen and chosen by someone outside this new little family she'd found.
Alicia reached over. Wiped the tear with her thumb.
"Good first step?" she asked softly.
Sophie nodded—smiling through the tears.
"Really good."
Raymond leaned forward.
"You want to invite her over?" he asked. "Or go meet her somewhere safe? We can make it happen. Marcus can drive. We can set whatever boundaries you need."
Sophie looked between them—eyes shining.
"I think… I want her to come here. If that's okay."
Alicia's smile was instant.
"More than okay."
Raymond stood.
"I'll text Marcus. We'll set it up for tomorrow after school if she can make it. You tell her whatever you want her to know. We'll be here. Or we can give you space. Your call."
Sophie hugged her knees.
"I want you both here," she said quietly. "I want her to see what safe looks like."
Raymond crouched in front of her.
"Then that's what she'll see."
He kissed the top of her head—gentle, fatherly.
Alicia pulled her into a side hug.
Sophie leaned into both of them.
And for the first time since she ran from her father's house, she didn't feel like she was hiding anymore.
She felt like she was being found.
By friends.
By family.
By herself.
One purple-streaked, whipped-cream-covered message at a time.