Shortly after Sophia and Elijah's marriage, Sophia suffers a miscarriage and the treatment of Sophia by Elijah and his family deteriorates. Sophia meets Elijah at his office and his ex-girlfriend Serena, with whom he has an intimate relationship. The neglect of her husband, the abuse of her husband’s mom, the provocation of her rival, and the marriage born out of children rather than love all make Sophia feel suffocated and repressed. She couldn't stand it anymore. She was going to divorce him. After the divorce, Sophia goes abroad to study art, and on the way, she discovers that she is pregnant. Daniel, the senior she is studying with, takes good care of her, but at that moment she discovers that Elijah has followed her abroad.
Lihat lebih banyakEmily’s POV“You look like you’re waiting for someone to burst through that door and drag you back into hiding.”Phoebe’s voice was light, teasing, but I still flinched. We were sitting in a cafe near Emily’s house, trying to relax and simply enjoy our time together. But it was still challenging for me. I forced a smile, stirring my coffee even though I wasn’t planning to drink it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”Phoebe snorted, popping another bite of pastry into her mouth. “Em, I’ve known you since birth. That’s your I’m on edge but pretending I’m fine face.”I sighed, rubbing my temple. “I just… I don’t know. It feels too good to be true. Jared is finally warming up to me. I have you here. I should be happy. I am happy.”“But?” Phoebe pressed.“But I keep waiting for something to go wrong.”She gave me a knowing look. “Because that’s all you’ve known for years.”I nodded, staring down at the swirl of foam in my untouched coffee. “I don’t know how to turn it off.”Before
Emily’s POVI barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Jared’s voice again—calling for Sophia instead of me. It shouldn’t have hurt this much. But it did.I stared at the ceiling, exhaustion weighing on me, but my mind refused to rest. It kept replaying the moment at the park—Jared’s hesitation, his little hands reaching for Sophia instead of me. I told myself I understood. He didn’t know me. But understanding it didn’t make it hurt any less.A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Before I could answer, my sister Phoebe peeked in, holding two steaming mugs of coffee.“Morning,” she said gently, stepping inside and handing me a cup.I pushed myself up against the headboard, taking the mug with shaky hands. “Thanks.”She sat beside me, studying my face. “You didn’t sleep, did you?”I shook my head, staring into the dark liquid. “Not really.”Phoebe sighed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t go with you yesterday. Work was crazy, and I couldn’t get out of it.”I looked at her
Sophia’s POV"Mom! Look at the rabbits!" Reese’s excited voice rang out as she dashed ahead, her little sister Roxy giggling as she tried to keep up. Jared wasn’t far behind, his laughter ringing through the air. I smiled, watching my children run toward the petting zoo, their energy contagious.Beside me, Emily tensed.I glanced at her, noticing how her shoulders tightened, how her eyes darted around like she was scanning for threats. She was supposed to be enjoying this—a simple afternoon in the botanical garden, surrounded by friends, fresh air, and laughter. It was the perfect opportunity for Emily to bond with Jared, without him feeling nervous or out of place. But years of running, hiding, and surviving had wired her differently.She wasn’t relaxed. She seemed to be waiting for something to go wrong. And I really couldn’t blame her. I reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. “You’re safe here,” I murmured.Emily forced a small smile, nodding, but her fingers still trem
Sophia’s POVThe warmth of freshly baked cookies filled the air, a scent that felt so familiar, so comforting, that for a moment, it was easy to forget all the fear and uncertainty of the past few days.My mother bustled around the kitchen, setting out plates and pouring tea, determined to make this a small celebration, in spite of her still being a bit rattled. But more than anything, I could see that she was very, very happy. Emily and Chris had showered and changed, looking far better than they had when I first walked in. The exhaustion was still there, written in the lines of their faces, but they were standing tall, present, and—most importantly—home.Elijah arrived shortly after, his presence filling the room with steady reassurance. When he saw Chris, he didn’t hesitate, pulling him into a tight embrace. They had been best friends since childhood, and after everything Chris had been through, I could see the relief in Elijah’s eyes. He held onto Emily for a moment, too, murmuri
Sophia’s POVMy heart pounded as I gripped the phone tighter. "Mom? What’s wrong?"There was a moment of silence, just soft, uneven breaths on the other end of the line. My stomach twisted painfully. "Mom, talk to me!""S-Sophia…" her voice cracked, and I felt my chest constrict. "They’re here."I blinked, my mind struggling to keep up. "Who’s here?""Chris and Emily. They’re home."I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat. For a second, I couldn't move, couldn't think. My pulse raced as my mind fought to process what she had just said.Chris and Emily are back.My grip on the phone loosened, my knees nearly buckling from the sudden rush of emotions. Relief, disbelief, overwhelming gratitude."Oh my God," I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. "Are they okay?""I… I don’t know," my mother admitted, still sounding shaken. "They haven’t said much. But you need to come quick."I didn’t hesitate. "I’ll be right there."As I ended the call, I turned to see Elijah watching me,
Sophia’s POVThe kitchen was quiet except for the faint sizzle of eggs in the pan. It was still very early in the morning, and I could see the sun rising through the window. Normally, I would have stopped to admire the view. But my mind was still preoccupied with a lot of chaotic things. I had barely slept.Everything Lucas had told me last night still lingered in my mind, a tangled mess of unanswered questions and uneasy truths. Hugo Tournier. He had been part of my family's past all along, a ghost lurking in the shadows, and now he was back. It settled over me like a heavy fog, impossible to shake.But as much as my thoughts circled around Hugo, it was Elijah’s reaction that unsettled me more. The way he had looked at me. The sharpness in his voice when he told me I didn’t need to talk to Lucas anymore, that Joe would handle the investigation.He hadn’t accused me outright, but I could feel the tension beneath his words. The distance. Lucas was a sensitive issue between us—alwa
Sophia’s POVLucas stood in front of me, his face partially shadowed by the porch light, his eyes unreadable but filled with something that made my stomach twist—regret, sorrow, maybe even guilt.“I don’t even know where to start,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair.I crossed my arms, bracing myself. “Just tell me what you found.”He exhaled sharply, nodding. "I started looking into the records of missing children around the time you disappeared. A lot of reports were vague, but… I found something." He hesitated before continuing, his voice tight. "There was an old witness statement—a retired cop who had once suspected a man named Hugo Tournier."My breath hitched. The name. I had heard it before. Grandpa George had mentioned it when we talked about the man who might have taken me.Lucas continued, unaware of my growing realization. "The name meant nothing to me at first, but when I dug deeper, I realized it was connected to your family."My pulse quickened. “Connected how?
Emily’s POVDarkened streets stretched endlessly ahead as we sped through the city, the glow of neon signs flickering across the windshield. The sound of other cars was distant, almost muffled, drowned out by the pounding of my heart. My grip tightened on the edge of my seat, eyes darting to every shadowed alley, every figure on the sidewalk. It felt like eyes were on us—watching, waiting.Chris’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw set in a hard line. He hadn’t said much since we got the warning. The burner phone lay silent between us, the last message still glowing on the screen:“Do not go to the docks. You are being watched.”I swallowed hard. "Who sent it?""No idea," Chris muttered. "Could be someone helping us. Could be someone luring us into another trap."My stomach twisted. "So what do we do?"He exhaled sharply, eyes darting to the rearview mirror. "We can’t risk it. If someone’s waiting for us at the docks, we won’t stand a chance. We haven't been able to reach Crimson Ve
Sophia’s POVJared was safe. That was all that mattered.We were gathered in the house, the weight of the night still pressing heavily on our shoulders. But at least Jared was asleep now, curled up in his bed like nothing had happened. He hadn’t seemed afraid, hadn’t even realized the gravity of what Antoine had done. And for that, I was grateful. The last thing I wanted was for him to carry fear because of this.But once he woke up, I knew I would have to face the reality of telling him about his father. And why it was only now that he was finding out about Antoine. “We’re not pressing charges,” I had told Elijah. But we did have to watch our backs more carefully, to stay guarded and alert all the time. And we needed to make sure never to let Jared out of our sights again. Still, we had made Antoine promise never to pull something like this again. Not that his word meant much. I didn’t trust him, and I knew Elijah didn’t either. This wasn’t over. Not really.Phoebe sat beside me,
Sophia’s POVTwo years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office until now.After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that they’re finally learning to accept me?Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from losing my baby lingered, even though it had been a long time since that accident. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came.I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own.Now, I was about to step into Elijah’s world — his beloved company.My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over som...
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