Sophia’s POVThe elevator ride up to the executive suite was enveloped in an uneasy silence. Julia and I stood side by side, the quiet hum of the elevator filling the space between us. I glanced at her reflection in the mirrored walls, noticing the furrow in her brow and the way she kept wringing her hands.When the elevator dinged softly and the doors slid open, we stepped out and walked down the plush carpeted hallway. Gosh, she seems so tense. I wonder what’s going on in her mind. We reached the door to our suite, and I swiped the keycard, pushing the door open.The moment we stepped inside, Julia broke the silence. “Sophia,” she began, her voice wavering, “I need to apologize for the way I acted the other day.”I turned to look at her, surprised. “What do you mean?”She took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I was rude to you. I said some things I shouldn't have. I... I was missing my grandmother a lot that day. Grandma Evelyn... she’s never really accepted
Sophia’s POVThe restaurant Elijah chose was tucked away on a quiet street, its dim lighting and vintage decor exuding an old-world charm. I took in the cozy ambiance, feeling both excited and uneasy. This feels an awful lot like a date. Elijah led me to a corner table and, to my surprise, pulled out my chair for me. “Here you go,” he said with a small smile.“Thank you,” I replied, sitting down and trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. Elijah had never treated me like this when we were married. It made me wonder if he had changed since I left him.We perused the menu in silence for a moment before the waiter came to take our order. I chose the pan-seared salmon, while Elijah opted for the house special, a hearty beef stew. Once the waiter left, Elijah leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening as he looked at me.“So, how's Reese doing?” he asked, his voice gentle.“She's good,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “She's been really into drawing lately. It's amazing how fo
Elijah’s POV“It's Adrian,” Sophia whispered, her eyes wide with recognition. “I haven't seen him in a long time. I should say hi.”Before I could react, she was already standing up. I had no choice but to follow her as she weaved her way through the tables towards the entrance. My mood soured with every step. The evening was supposed to be about us, not some guy from her past. Adrian should certainly stay in her past, but somehow, he keeps showing up in her present. I just hate it. And I really don’t trust this guy. As we got closer, the crowd around Adrian began to thin. Sophia looked eager, almost glowing with excitement, which only served to annoy me more. Who is this Adrian to her, anyway? The good evening we were having suddenly felt overshadowed by this guy's presence.Sophia turned to me, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “Adrian's been busy doing local tours for his new single. People are loving him. He's a really great singer and songwriter.”I grunted but said nothing. My
Elijah’s POVAs I stepped into the hotel lobby with Sophia, the exhaustion of the day hit me. I knew she was tired too, so I suggested, "” don't have to get involved. Why don't you go up and get some rest? I'll take care of this quickly and send Julia up to the room.”Sophia yawned, nodding in agreement. “Okay. I hope she's okay.”“I'm sure she will be,” I reassured her, grateful for her understanding. “Thank you for dinner. I had fun. We should do it again soon.”She smiled warmly before heading toward the elevator, leaving me to make my way to the bar. As I scanned the area, everything seemed normal at first. But then, in a corner booth, I spotted Julia, her eyes red from crying.I approached her, and as soon as she saw me, she rushed into my arms, sobbing. I felt awkward at first, not knowing how to react. But then, instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her, stroking her hair soothingly.“It's okay, Julia,” I whispered, my voice gentle. “Everything will be okay. You're safe now.”
Sophia’s POVI sat across from Trevis, trying to focus on his animated explanation about the day's design conference. The hotel's fine restaurant was bustling with activity, the aroma of freshly baked pastries and brewed coffee filling the air. Trevis was in his element, enthusiastically detailing the key speakers and workshops we had to attend.“...and then there's the panel on sustainable design at ten,” Trevis said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “We can't miss that one.”I nodded absentmindedly, my thoughts far from sustainable design. I couldn't shake off what I had overheard earlier: Trevis exclaiming that Julia had slept in Elijah's room last night. Julia hadn't returned to our shared hotel room, and now my mind was spinning with the implications.“Are you even listening, Sophia?” Trevis asked, raising an eyebrow.“Sorry,” I mumbled, forcing a smile. “Just a bit distracted.”Trevis leaned back in his chair, looking at me curiously. “Everything okay?”Before I could answer
Sophia’s POVJulia’s gaze lingered on my exposed shoulder, where a small red mole marked my skin. I shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny.“Julia? Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to sound casual, though her intense stare was unnerving.Julia stepped closer, her expression shifting from curiosity to something more severe. “Sophia,” she said slowly, “how long have you had that mole?”I blinked, taken aback by the question. “I don't know. Forever, I guess? Why?”Instead of answering, Julia leaned in closer, examining the mole with a strange intensity. Her face transformed from shock to horror, and I instinctively took a step back and grabbed a cardigan to drape over my shoulders. Julia seemed to snap out of her trance. "I need to... I need to shower," she muttered, her voice shaky. Without another word, she turned and hurried toward the bathroom.Just then, I noticed a delicate bracelet on the bedside table. I picked it up, turning it over in my hands. It had an intricate design
Julia’s POVSeeing Adrian made my heart pound. His stare seemed to drill a hole through me. Did he recognize me? I straightened my shoulders and smiled, trying to look confident. No one will know the truth. I’ve taken care of everything.Suddenly, I remembered visiting Serena before this New York trip for work. The memory was very vivid in my head. As I walked through the bleak corridors of the prison, I couldn't help but smile. And I just couldn’t resist rubbing it in her face — that she was never going to get out of there, that setting her up had been part of the plan, after all. Poor Serena. She won’t know what hit her. After all her scheming, she didn’t even realize that she was just a pawn in all this. A guard led me to a small room, and I saw Serena pacing inside, her eyes wild with desperation. The moment she saw me, she rushed to the glass partition, her voice trembling.“Julia! Thank God you’re here. Please, you have to help me get out of here. I won't tell Elijah, I swea
Elijah’s POVWhen I got back to the hotel after my business meeting, all I wanted was to kick off my shoes, order some room service, and get some rest. But as I stepped into the lobby, I spotted Julia waiting for me. She looked up, relief and excitement in her eyes.“Elijah!” she called out, waving me over. “Trevis had to go meet up with someone, so I'm left with no one to have dinner with.”I could feel the weariness in my bones, but I didn't want to disappoint her. I also wondered where Sophia could be, but I didn’t want to ask Julia. I actually sent a text message to Sophia a while back, but there was no reply. "There's this cool pizza place I read about online," Julia continued. "Would you join me?"I hesitated for a moment. “I was just planning to stay here tonight.”Her face fell slightly, but she quickly masked it with a hopeful smile. “It won't take long, I promise. And I heard their pizza is amazing.”I sighed, unable to say no to her. “Alright, let's go.”The pizza place wa
Elijah’s POVI ended the call with Emily and let out a long, slow breath, leaning back in the chair. Her pain lingered in my chest like an echo. The weight of everything—the mob, Jared, keeping everyone safe—pressed heavily on my shoulders.“You okay?” Joe asked, his sharp eyes scanning me from across the room.I nodded, though the tightness in my chest hadn’t eased. “Yeah. Just a lot to think about.”I glanced at him then, leaning against his desk, his ever-present sharpness softened just a fraction. “Emily’s strong,” I said, more to myself than to him. “But even she has her breaking point.”Joe nodded, picking at the corner of a file on his desk. “She’s got Chris, though. Guy’s solid, if a little rough around the edges. They’ll hold out.”“Chris isn’t used to this kind of life, but he’s never loved someone like how he loves Emily. It’s really admirable that he’s doing all this for her. She needs him by her side.”Joe rubbed the back of his neck, his face tight with thought. “The mob
Elijah’s POVI leaned back in my chair, glancing at the neatly organized business reports in front of me. Normally, mornings like these were a steady grind, but today, I couldn’t keep the small smile off my face.Last night replayed in my mind, unbidden but welcome. The warmth of Sophia’s touch, her whispered promises, and the way we’d melted into each other as though the rest of the world didn’t exist. It had been intense, much more than the usual. Definitely one of the most memorable. The sound of my phone shattered the moment, pulling me back to the present. I picked it up, spotting Joe’s name flashing on the screen. His timing was rarely coincidental.“Joe,” I answered, straightening in my chair. “What’s the update?”“Got something big,” he said, his voice urgent, but low enough that I knew he was being cautious. “I managed to connect with Emily and Chris. Used a secure satellite line. They’re safe for now.”Relief washed over me. “That’s good to hear. And Marc and Luc? What are
Sophia’s POVElijah’s silence pressed down on me like a physical force, heavier than the comforter I was clutching. I lay on my side, my back turned to him, staring into the darkness. My heart felt raw, aching with the knowledge that I’d hurt the one person who meant everything to me.He wasn’t asleep—I knew him well enough to sense that. And knowing he was lying there, just as restless as I was, made the ache in my chest even worse.I couldn’t take it anymore.“Elijah,” I whispered. Turning slowly, I faced him, my eyes adjusting to the faint light filtering through the curtains. His back was still to me, but I reached out tentatively, my fingers brushing against his shoulder. “Please,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I can’t stand this distance between us.”For a moment, he didn’t move, and I thought he might ignore me. But then, he rolled over, his face etched with both exhaustion and pain. His eyes met mine, and the sight of his hurt broke me.“I’m sorry,” I said, tears pooling i
Sophia’s POVAs I stepped out of the bathroom, the cool silk of my nightgown brushing against my legs, I immediately noticed Elijah standing near the bed, his back to me. His posture was rigid, his head slightly tilted as he studied something in his hands. My breath caught when I realized what it was.The chocolate wrapper.My heart sank as I recognized it instantly. I’d completely forgotten about it after stashing it away. How had it ended up here?“Elijah?” I said hesitantly, my voice quieter than I intended.He turned, his face calm but his eyes sharp, like he was holding back a storm. He held up the wrapper. “Where did this come from?”I froze, my mind racing. “I—”“I found it in Reese’s bag,” he said evenly, cutting me off. His tone wasn’t accusatory, but there was an edge to it that made my stomach churn.For a split second, I considered lying, brushing it off as something our daughter must have gotten from a classmate or a friend. But the look in Elijah’s eyes stopped me. He d
Elijah’s POVI sank into the couch, remote still in hand, as the credits of some late-night documentary rolled across the screen. The faint hum of the television was lulling me into that in-between state of wakefulness and sleep when my phone buzzed on the coffee table. The name Camille lit up the screen.Frowning, I picked it up. “Hello?”“Elijah,” came her voice, slightly slurred, accompanied by background noise—music, chatter, the unmistakable din of a party still in full swing. “Hey... I’m sorry, am I interrupting something?”“No,” I said cautiously, sitting up straighter. “Are you okay? You sound... off.”She let out a soft laugh that sent warning bells ringing in my head. “Just had a little too much fun tonight, that’s all. I’m about to leave the party.”“You shouldn’t drive,” I said immediately. “Find someone sober to take you home or call a ride. Seriously.”“Oh, so protective,” she teased, her words laced with flirtation. “I’m so flattered you care.”“Camille,” I said firmly,
Sophia’s POVI sipped from my glass of champagne, the bubbles fizzing on my tongue and giving me a fleeting sense of lightness. Kayla’s concerned voice cut through the haze.“Are you okay? That’s your third glass already,” she said, a shadow of worry crossing her face as she moved closer.I waved her off with a forced smile. “I’m fine. Really. I’m just so... happy. The event was a huge success. We deserve this, don’t you think?”Kayla hesitated, her gaze scanning my face. “Yeah, but don’t go overboard. You’ve got a family waiting for you at home.”“Elijah went ahead,” I said quickly, my tone dismissive. “He’s tired.”Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she wanted to press further, but Connor appeared beside her, sliding an arm around her waist. The moment passed as she turned her attention to him, and I took the opportunity to slip away into the crowd.The bass thumped through the speakers, reverberating in my chest as I joined a group of familiar faces on the dance floor. The alcohol co
Sophia’s POVThe energy of the fashion show was electric. The applause was thunderous as the models made their final walk down the runway in Emily’s stunning tribute collection. Kayla and I stood near the stage, watching as the curtains closed on months of hard work.“We did it,” Kayla whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She squeezed my hand tightly, her smile brighter than the spotlights above.I nodded, unable to suppress the overwhelming joy bubbling inside me. “We really did. It’s perfect, Kayla.”The after-party was in full swing now, a celebration of what we had pulled off. Everyone seemed to be riding the high of the evening. Elijah had surprised me earlier with a bouquet of my favorite flowers, a sweet and thoughtful gesture that made my heart swell. His warm kiss on my cheek and whispered, “I’m so proud of you,” had been the cherry on top of a perfect night.But now, as I moved through the crowd, my excitement dulled slightly. I couldn’t find him.“Elijah?” I called
Sophia’s POV"Kayla, can you double-check the lighting cues for the finale?" I asked, glancing at the stage where models were gliding down the runway, their movements rehearsed to perfection.Kayla, clipboard in hand, barely glanced up. "Already done. Now spill. How was the night with Lucas?"My heart jumped, the question catching me off guard. I kept my tone breezy as I adjusted a hemline on one of the dresses. "Oh, it was fine. We caught a movie and grabbed dinner. Nothing special."Kayla lowered the clipboard and arched a brow. "Uh-huh. And where was Luana during all of this?"I busied myself with the dress, my hands suddenly fidgety. "She... got caught up with something at home. A repair, I think. She couldn’t make it."Kayla’s lips parted in mock surprise as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Wait. Are you telling me you and Lucas—alone—watched a movie and had dinner together? No Luana? Just the two of you?""Shh!" I hissed, glancing nervously around the backsta
Elijah’s POV“All the permits and licenses are in order,” Victoria began, her tone suddenly professional again as her eyes scanned the screen. I felt relieved. “But I’ll double-check the fire safety certifications and food handling records to make sure we’re fully covered.”“Good,” I replied, keeping my tone brisk. “I’ll work on connecting with a few experts to get additional certifications if necessary. It won’t hurt to go above and beyond for now.”She nodded, typing something into her device. “That’s a smart move. It’ll help to counter any claims before they gain traction.”As she spoke, she reached across the desk to grab her pen, her fingers brushing mine. I pulled my hand back instinctively, but she barely seemed to notice—or pretended not to.“Sorry,” she murmured with a faint smile, her eyes briefly flicking to mine before returning to her tablet.I shifted in my seat, brushing it off as an accident until, moments later, she reached up to unclip her hair. The cascading strands