Elijah listened as I spoke, nodding to himself. I prattled off every single name on the list, along with a distinctive feature of each person, without looking at the papers. When I was finished, I was out of breath and my tongue was dry.“Not bad. But this doesn’t mean you’ve passed the assessment,”
Elijah"I didn’t permit you to return here," I said coldly, my voice steady, though inside I was anything but. I had not expected her to come back now—if ever.Olivia’s smile was tight, revealing nothing of the turmoil I felt at her presence."I just want to talk."I glanced toward Agnes and Thea as
I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, but Elijah held my wrist firmly, his grip surprisingly gentle. A shiver ran through me as I felt his warm tongue lapping at the wound.The sharp pain gradually faded, replaced by a soothing warmth that spread through my finger, as if he were weaving some k
Elijah I submerged myself in the warm water, letting it envelop me like a comforting embrace. The heat seeped into my muscles, washing away the tension that had accumulated in my shoulders. Yet, my mind was far from at ease.The weight of responsibility hung heavily on me, particularly concerning O
I knew I had no choice but to complete the task Elijah had assigned me. Sitting in my new office, I combed through the list of individuals I was supposed to contact, trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation. Each name felt like a weight, knowing they wouldn’t take me seriously. I w
I stood frozen in Elijah’s study, completely stunned by his words. His calm, steady tone was so casual, yet the authority behind it felt like a punch to the gut. My mind raced, trying to process what he had just said.“What?” I blurted, unable to hide the confusion in my voice.How could he be so ca
And now, so did Elijah. I was impressed that he had taken the time to look at my paper and he’d even asked me about the research itself, and I’d pointed to some academic texts I had used for the research, which he’d pored over in preparation for this discussion as well.Elijah’s gaze sharpened, and
The respect I had long been denied finally started flowing my way, and I absorbed Elijah’s lesson deeply. The whispers of doubt, the cruel judgments, all the rumors that had once circled around me—now, they were crumbling, like ash blown away by the wind.People who had barely acknowledged my existe
“I need you at the witch’s shop,” I said without a greeting. “Now. And call the authorities. There’s been… she’s dead.”James didn’t waste time with questions. “On my way. Ten minutes.”I ended the call, my mind racing. This wasn’t right. If the witch had killed herself, why was there blood splatter
Elijah“So we agree on the champagne and gold color scheme for the tables?” the wedding planner asked, making a note in her planner. She was meticulous, writing down every detail as if her life depended on it. I liked that about her.I nodded, glancing at the sample table setting she’d laid out. The
But what if he’d known Olivia would follow me? What if he’d sent me as a decoy, knowing Olivia would copy whatever I chose?I pressed my forehead against the steering wheel, trying to make sense of it all. I needed to talk to Elijah. He would explain everything, clear up this misunderstanding, and w
AgnesMy stomach dropped as I stared at the photo on my screen.“Can’t wait to wear my new pieces for the big day… With a dress to match!”I read the caption three times, each word digging into my skin like tiny daggers. How did she get the same jewelry? Had she been watching us at the store yesterd
AgnesThe scent of garlic and tomatoes greeted us as we stepped inside the house later that evening. Elijah was already at the stove, stirring a pot of what smelled like spaghetti sauce with the white sleeves of his button-down rolled up to his elbows, exposing his muscular forearms. He looked up as
“Thea, sweetheart… We’ve talked about this before. I would love nothing more than to be your biological mother. But…” I swallowed hard. “I’ve already had you tested. You’re not my biological daughter, no matter how much I want you to be.”Her face crumpled, and tears spilled down her cheeks. “But wh
AgnesThe following morning, I stood in the design department’s fabric storeroom, surrounded by endless bolts of luxurious materials. How long had I been in here? Minutes? Hours?The sketches for my new dress were complete, and the patterns were cut, but I still couldn’t decide on a color. After the
When we came together, it was like a dam breaking—intense, overwhelming, leaving me trembling in his arms. My chest heaved as I caught my breath, and Elijah held me close, his lips pressing soft kisses to my forehead, my cheeks, my lips.His touch was gentle now, a stark contrast to the ferocity of
AgnesI followed Elijah up the stairs, our fingers intertwined and our footsteps soft and quiet. The house was silent around us, save for the faint creak of the steps and the distant hum of crickets beyond the windows.But then there was my heart, pounding so hard against my ribs I thought for sure