SOPHIA'S POV “And there.” I closed the case and took in a deep breath as I stood up. Tonight was the day the charity ball was being held, and I was a little bit nervous. From what I've managed to gather, a lot of New York's finest were attending this ball. It may be a casual thing for Lucas, but for me, it was a chance to make my name known properly. Socializing and making connections with influential people. That was my goal for today. And naturally, I had to dress for the part. I took in a deep breath and looked at myself in the vanity mirror. It's one of the few things I splurged on. My short hair was carefully attended to by the best stylist I knew, giving it a smooth glow as it was carefully tucked into the golden dragon-shaped hairpin I bought some time ago. I wore a fitted, knee-length dress that hugged my curves, showcasing my curvaceous physique. The dress's rich, jewel-toned fabric complemented my eyes, making them shine like precious gems. My bare shoulders and arm
SOPHIA'S POVThe woman sashayed over to where we stood, her floor-length rose-red gown flowing around her. People parted as she walked, and even though it was to avoid tripping over her gown, it still exuded main character energy. The belle of the ball.She walked over to where we stood, completely ignoring me. Her arms were outstretched, moving to pull him in for a hug. But Lucas, sweet and wonderful, politely and carefully sidestepped the hug and shook one of her outstretched hands.It felt like time stopped, as none of us were expecting that from him. I watched as the woman looked shocked, her eyes moving from her arms that had been positioned for the hug she had wanted to give him to his hands shaking hers like she couldn't believe it.But it looked like she quickly gathered herself, seeming to remember that she was at a party.“Emelia, hi. Pleasure to meet you again. This is my date, Sophia,” he said, shaking her hand.“Hi, Lucas.” She returned it dazedly, then turned to meet me.
SOPHIA'S POV"Don't even get your hopes up, bitch. He's mine." I heard Emelia say to me.I ignored her and took another sip of my drink. I knew in my gut that she had just been waiting for Lucas to leave to show her true colors. Turns out, I was right."Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you.""Oh, you were? I couldn't tell.""Listen up, while I'm still being nice. I don't know what you did to him, but I'm getting him out of your clutches."I decided not to correct her assumption that Lucas and I were a thing."Emelia. Jealousy really isn't good for your skin. If the man didn't want you, I highly doubt he's going to now. So I suggest you stop throwing yourself at him.""You bitch!" She seethed."Really? That again? You should definitely get something new," I said to her, the very epitome of cool, calm, and collected."Listen up. You're not even on my level. Didn't you hear me when I said I had two restaurants? Two," she repeated, like I didn't hear her the first time.But luckily, I
SOPHIA'S POVLucas was still in front of me, his hands still on my arms, his gaze still on mine. I couldn't help the shiver that ran down my arms, as he said this. And the man interpreted that as something else entirely.“Cold? Here.” He shrugged out of his jacket, putting it on my shoulders before I could even refuse it. “We'll get your coat soon. I just need to do one more thing, and we'll start heading home.”“That is literally the sweetest thing,” I heard Maria say, and I wanted to correct her assumptions too, but I couldn't bring myself to. I just wanted to soak in this feeling for as long as I could.Wait, what?It must be the champagne. Or the way he has been staring at me. Those stormy and charming grey eyes that you could just get lost in…My eyes trailed down to his lips, and for a brief moment, I wondered how they would feel on mine, on my body…I shivered once again, and the poor, clueless man wrapped the jacket around my shoulders even more. I stared at the muscles that m
SOPHIA'S POVMe? What does Lucas mean by ‘me’? What's he doing up there? The applause in the room was deafening.He had a mischievous glint in his eye and a smirk on his face as the spotlight was on him, illuminating his features. The man looked like he promised sin and decadence like he was absolutely up to no good.As the applause died down, the crowd murmured, heads turning to catch sight of who Sophia Lancaster was, not knowing that the very person they were searching for was me—I who wasn't expecting to be under the spotlight just yet.What was this man up to?Maria squealed right beside me like this was out of her very own scripted book. “Sophia, he said your name. What do you think your man is up to?”“He's not my man, Maria. Frank, tell her.”Frank just shrugged, not looking to get in between the argument.“Coward,” I whisper-yelled to him, and he had the audacity to simply look sheepish. Maria had the man wrapped around her fingers, and she did not even know. For someone who
SOPHIA'S POVAs Lucas's hand rested on the small of my back, guiding me across the dance floor, I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. Our bodies swayed in perfect harmony, the music and lights blurring around us.He pulled me closer, staring at me like I was the only woman in the world. And, for all the care in the world, like I was the only person in the room.“You know, that dress really brings out the color in your eyes," he said to me, staring into my hazel eyes. “I like the amber and flecks of brown in them swirling around that you could get lost in. Permission to get lost in them, ma'am?” he said, his words teasing but his expression anything but. He looked like, if I gave the word, I'd be whisked out of here and on a plane to Switzerland, lost from the world.I brought my mind back to the present. "Thank you, Lucas. I'm glad you recognize my eyes are my best qualities,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.“As much as I could get lost in them, I wouldn't say your bes
SOPHIA'S POV“What are you doing here?”I really, really do not want to be doing this."You think you've won, don't you?" Emelia spat, her voice venomous. "Stealing Lucas's attention, flaunting yourself."I stood tall, refusing to back down. "Emelia, stop this. You're embarrassing yourself.""Embarrassing myself?" Emelia laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You're the one who's embarrassed. A poor restaurant owner, clinging to Lucas's wealth."My temper flared, but I kept my cool. "My restaurant is successful, Emelia. That's more than I can say for you. And Lucas values me for who I am."Emelia sneered. "You'll never be good enough for him."She took a step closer, her voice dropping. "You don't know what Lucas wants. What he needs.""I think I do," I replied firmly.Emelia's eyes flashed. "You're just a temporary distraction. A charity case."The words stung, but I held my ground. “You think I'm the charity case? Look around you, Emelia. You're the one whose restaurant is crumbling. Yo
SOPHIA'S POVThe moment was magical, and the feeling unfurling in my chest was indescribable. It was the first time in a long time that I had really been seen by a man – let myself be seen by a man.Soft music drifted through the air, weaving around us like a spell. Lucas's hand rested on the small of my back, guiding me across the patio with gentle pressure. Stars twinkled above, casting an ethereal glow on the lush greenery. The moon's warm glow wrapped around me, making my wolf sing.As we danced, Lucas's eyes locked onto mine, warm and captivating. "You're radiant tonight, Sophia."Gosh! The endless praises…I smiled, feeling so alive. "You're not so bad yourself.”Our bodies swayed in perfect harmony, the tension between us palpable. The night air filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.Suddenly, Lucas's phone vibrated, breaking the spell. He glanced at the screen, his expression tightening."Excuse me," he said, stepping away.I watched as he answered the call, his voice
DANIEL'S POVI’ve sat through my fair share of ceremonies – long, bordering on insufferable things filled with speeches no one really listens to, polite applause, and stiff conversations. But this one was different.This was for Alex and Alexia. Sophia's kids. If anyone had told me yesterday when I boarded that flight to New York, that I would be at a kid's award ceremony, particularly the kid whose mom had tried to hit me with a decorative vase my mother had bought on a trip to Japan, I would told them to shut the fuck up and stop being full of shit.“Life is full of funny surprises, isn't it?” I smiled as I said to myself.I leaned back in my seat, watching as students filed across the stage one by one, collecting their awards. The school had gone all out for the event – decorations in the colors of their mascot, fliers with words of encouragement, and a slideshow playing pictures of the kids throughout the year. Parents filled the hall, some recording with their phones, others flo
SOPHIA'S POVThe school parking lot was packed. Parents expertly navigated their cars into the last remaining spots, courtesy of life skills taught by New York's finest, teachers directed those walking, and excited children ran ahead of their families toward the entrance. The buzz of conversation filled the air – greetings flying, people calling out to their friends, laughter ringing out, and the occasional frantic parent calling after a child who had gotten a little too excited.Which was the path Alex was slowly heading down.I barely had time to take in the scene before Alex tugged at my hand.“Mom, hurry!” He whined, practically bouncing on his feet. “We need to get inside first.”Alexia, holding my other hand, rolled her eyes but didn’t let go. “We don’t have to be first, Alex.”Daniel, walking just behind us, chuckled. “You got a hot date with the stage or something, kid?”Alex turned, eyes narrowed, his cute six-year-old mind clearly trying to figure out what a date was. “It’s
SOPHIA'S POV The morning was loud. Not in a bad way – just in the way it always was when Alex and Alexia were full of energy, their voices bouncing around the kitchen as they blew through their breakfast. “Mom, are you coming to school today?” Alex asked between bites of toast. “Yes, but I can’t stay the whole day.” I reminded him for what felt like the tenth time this week. “But the fun stuff is later.” He groaned. “You mean the part where you get to run around like a lunatic after getting your award?” Alex grinned. “Exactly.” Alexia, more focused on tying her shoes than the conversation, perked up. “Mrs. Jackson stopped by earlier! She left something for you.” Oh. That's strange. I was just at her house yesterday and she didn't mention anything. Before I could ask what, the front door opened, and the woman herself strolled in. “Well, well, well, look at this madhouse.” Mrs. Jackson, already teasing right out the gate, said as she stepped inside. Trailing behind her was
SOPHIA'S POV By the time I reached my front door, exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. Between Mrs. Jackson’s relentless teasing, Daniel’s unexpected charm, and that strange feeling I’d had on the walk home, I was ready to shut my brain off for the night. That was the plan. Or so it was – till reality had other ideas. The moment I stepped inside, something felt… off. Not in the same way as before – there was no eerie silence or weird sensation along my spine. No, this was different. This was the kind of “off” that meant my children were up to something. A faint clatter came from the kitchen, followed by hushed whispers. I frowned. My twins were supposed to be asleep. Kicking off my shoes as quietly as possible, I crept toward the kitchen, my senses sharpening. If they were trying to sneak snacks past bedtime again, they were about to get caught. Another clatter. And then– “Oh no! Alex, it’s falling!” “I got it! I got it – uh, nope, I didn't get it.” A loud clatter echo
SOPHIA'S POVI hadn’t planned on walking home with Daniel, but somehow, that’s precisely what ended up happening.Mrs. Jackson had all but shooed us both out the door, saying something about needing peace and quiet before she lost her mind. I’d protested, of course, pointing out that I lived nearby, literally right next to her, and didn’t need an escort, but Daniel had just shrugged and said, “Indulge me. I need to make sure you don’t attack any more innocent civilians on your way home.”So now here we were, walking side by side under the dim glow of the streetlights, after his insistence for us to take a little stroll. The air was crisp and filled with the lingering scent of freshly cut grass and a damp walkway.I pulled my jacket tighter around me, side-eyeing Daniel as he strolled along like this was some kind of leisurely evening walk instead of a completely unnecessary detour. “You know, I’ve survived plenty of walks home alone before tonight.”Daniel smirked. "True, but given yo
SOPHIA'S POVThe tea was good – really good. Mrs. Jackson always had a way of making the simplest things feel like home, like comfort wrapped in a warm mug.Sitting at her kitchen table, I let out a deep breath, letting the last of the adrenaline leave my bones. Sitting opposite me, Mrs. Jackson looked like she was still recovering from the shock of me assaulting her son, while Daniel, who liked to think of himself as the unfortunate victim here, sat with his arms crossed, looking both amused and mildly offended.“You know,” he began, eyeing me over the top of his cup, “most people introduce themselves with a handshake. Not a flying object to the face.”I gave him a tight-lipped smile, almost sarcastic. "Most people don't break into their mother’s house in the middle of the night and rummage through her kitchen like a burglar."Mrs. Jackson, ever the peacekeeper, sighed. "Oh, Sophia, really now. He wasn’t rummaging, he was making tea."“Loudly. He was making tea, loudly.” I pointed ou
SOPHIA'S POVBy the time I parked in front of my house, exhaustion had its claws deep in my skin. The restaurant had been a whirlwind – missing shipments, an important guest, and the possibility of disaster that hung in the air. But somehow, by some miracle, everything had worked out.Not that I was naive enough to think it had worked out on its own.No, there was a very particular potion of interference that had Nathan’s name written all over it. The problem was, I had no proof. Just a gut feeling. A familiar, annoying gut feeling.I sighed, rubbing my temples before stepping out of the car. It wasn’t even about that. Right now, all I wanted was a shower, a glass of wine, and–“Oh, shit!”I stopped dead in my tracks, remembering something important. Mrs. Jackson.She had watched the twins for me tonight. And for the weekend getaway. I can't believe I had forgotten. I’d been so caught up in everything that I hadn’t even checked in with her before leaving the restaurant. “Great parent
NATHAN'S POV I was reviewing reports in my office when the knock came. Sharp. Purposeful. Intrusive. Could only be one person. Then, without waiting for a response, the door swung open, and Lola strolled in like she owned the place. There we go. "Hello to you too.” I muttered, leaning back in my chair. Lola wasn’t the type to drop by unannounced unless she had a reason. And judging by the smirk on her face, she was enjoying whatever she was about to say. "You’ve been busy, haven’t you?" She leaned against my desk, sipping a coffee that I knew wasn’t from my building. "Helping out at your mate’s place, playing storytime with the twins… I have to say, Nathan, I didn’t peg you for the domesticated type." I sighed. "How did you even–” I stopped before I could complete the question. Of course she did. She always had a way of knowing everything. I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. “Did you come here to talk about my personal life, or do you actually have a point?" Sh
SOPHIA'S POVThe moment I stepped into Il Cuore di Sofia that evening, I felt it in my bones. Something was off. Coming off the back of an important investor meeting and the principal at Alex's school calling to inform me that I was to be in school during rush hour tomorrow, I was hoping the rest of the day would be stress free. But I should have known it would have been too much to ask.Especially where the Luna goddess was involved. And New York city.I looked around at the restaurant, trying to determine what was wrong. To crack the code – or hack it, whichever the case may be – before it could come back to bite me in the ass. It wasn’t the usual pre-dinner service buzz. It was heavier – tense, crackling in the air like a storm about to start. The entirety of my staff moved with tight shoulders, exchanging nervous glances, and Kate was already making her way toward me the moment she spotted me.Not a good sign.“We have a problem.” She said in a low voice, falling into step beside