“I wasn’t saying that,” I said quietly. “I just—” I stopped, shaking my head. I wasn’t even sure what I was going to say.Elijah stepped closer, his voice softer now. “Then what are you saying?”I hesitated for a moment too long. I didn’t want to say it. I didn’t want to open that door.But Elijah’s
AgnesThe sunlight poured through the large windows of the shopping mall, glinting off the polished tiles and creating a light, cheerful atmosphere. It was hard to feel anxious here, surrounded by the happy hum of families and the occasional laughter from kids darting past us. And yet my nerves were
Elijah held the door open for us, his hand brushing lightly against my back as I stepped inside. The contact sent a small jolt through me, but I pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on Thea as she darted toward the bins of plush animal skins.“Which one are you going to pick?” I asked, crouchi
AgnesThe officer at the desk stared up at us for a moment, his eyes flicking back and forth between me and Elijah. My pulse was pounding a mile a minute beneath my skin in that weighted silence, and I immediately regretted coming here. I regretted it even more when the officer said those next words
Both Elijah and the officer turned to me.I hesitated, my hands trembling in my lap. For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I’d recounted this story far too many times for comfort, cried too many tears that had gone ignored. I had poured my heart out on more than one occasion, only to be faced with ridicul
Agnes“And that concludes the initial lineup,” I said, clicking off the presentation. “I’ll be sending out feedback forms later today, but if anyone has immediate thoughts, feel free to share now.”The room shifted as a few hands went up, and I spent the next several minutes fielding questions and c
It wasn’t until later that afternoon, when the office had quieted down a bit, that I spotted the designer Elijah had mentioned. I found her sitting at her desk, working on what looked like another sketch.“Hi,” I said softly, and she jumped slightly, her wide eyes darting up to meet mine. “Sorry, I
AgnesThe door to Elijah’s office swung open with a quiet creak, and I stepped inside, clutching my notepad to my chest. He was seated at his desk, his suit jacket draped over the back of his chair, the sleeves of his crisp white button down rolled up to his elbows. He looked up as I entered, his sh
The blunt assessment stung, but I couldn’t deny the truth of it. I stared down at my drink, debating how much to share. Mason had warned me about Elijah before, had told me I was fighting a losing battle against a mate bond. Part of me was afraid that confiding in him now would just invite an ‘I tol
AgnesThe image of Olivia in my jewelry was burned into my mind as I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom. It was almost midnight, and sleep still refused to come. The house felt too quiet, too empty without Elijah.He hadn’t come home.His secretary had said he was on “confidential pack business”. S
“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