Sophie

Previously

…The word ‘plantation’ had been whispered in the wealthier communities across the river, referencing the large-scale operations in the South—vast tracts of land managed by a single, powerful family. Thomas wasn't just talking about a large farm; he was talking about dominion. He saw lumber and soil alike as assets to be managed and expanded upon. Sophie felt dizzy, suspended between the secure life she knew and the vast, intimidating landscape Thomas was painting for her. It was everything she had secretly dreamed of: dynamism, responsibility, and a partner whose strength matched her own hidden steel. “Thomas,” she whispered, the magnitude of his strength.