Sophia’s POVThe sun was shining brightly through the curtains, but inside my home, it seemed like a gigantic shadow was looming ahead. I stood there in shock, watching Adrian and the strange men talking in hushed tones, my mind spinning with confusion and unease. Adrian’s expression was tense, but his eyes softened when he glanced my way. I didn’t trust him, not entirely, not yet. Especially now that I’ve discovered this about him. The creak of a bedroom door made me whip around. Reese appeared, her small figure framed in the doorway. She was in her favorite pink pajamas, rubbing her eyes and looking adorably sleepy.“Uncle Adrian?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. She looked up at me with wide, curious eyes. “Who are they, Mommy?”Panic surged through me. I rushed to Reese’s side, scooping her up in my arms. “It’s okay, sweetie,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm. “Go back to bed, alright?”Reese blinked at me, confused. “But it’s already morning!” she exclaimed.
Sophia’s POVMy heart was pounding wildly as I ran toward the building. Once inside, I made my way to Elijah's office, barely registering the greetings from my colleagues. I knocked on his door, my hand shaking, and pushed it open without waiting for a response.Elijah looked up from his desk, his expression shifting from curiosity to concern as he saw my face. “Sophia, what's wrong?”I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. “Elijah, I think someone was following me on my way here.”He stood up, his eyes narrowing. "Are you sure?"I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yes. A black sedan. It followed me for miles. I tried to lose it, but it didn't work. I'm scared it might be related to...to Reese's kidnapping."Elijah's jaw tightened, and he walked around his desk to stand in front of me. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. I'll send you home for now. I'll accompany you to make sure you're safe.”Elijah stayed beside me as we rode the elevator to the building lob
Sophia’s POVAs I followed Troy down the stark hospital corridor, I felt Elijah’s steady presence beside me. My mind whirled with a thousand thoughts, but the loudest was my concern for Brenda. She had never been the mother I needed, not like my foster father had been before he passed. Now, with Troy’s desperate plea and his claims that Brenda was at death’s door, I felt a gnawing sense of guilt and responsibility.“Sophia, you have to understand, Brenda’s condition has gotten so much worse,” Troy insisted, his voice tinged with urgency. “We’re buried in debt. The guys I owe money to, they’re the ones who I came with to your office. They’re waiting in the lobby right now. If we don’t pay them, they’ll hurt me and Brenda.”I stole a glance at Elijah. His jaw was set, eyes dark with concern. He hadn’t said much since we’d arrived, but his hand occasionally brushed mine, offering silent support.“Troy,” I began, my voice trembling, “this is a lot to take in. Why didn’t you tell me sooner
Sophia’s POVI leaned back in the comfortable pantry chair, savoring the rich aroma of my hot chocolate. This moment of peace was rare, and I intended to enjoy every second.“Hey, Sophia,” I suddenly heard Elijah greet me as he stepped into the room. “How are you doing?”I returned his smile. “Hi, Elijah. I'm doing alright. Just taking a break from all the work.”He nodded, grabbing a cup for himself. “I'm glad to hear that. And it’s good that Troy hasn't bothered us again. I hope we never hear from him.”I shuddered slightly at the mention of Troy. “Yeah, me too. I don't think I could handle another one of his surprises.”Elijah's expression grew serious, his eyes locking onto mine. “You know I'll always be here to protect you, right?”The intensity of his words made my heart skip a beat. I nodded, unsure of how to respond. “Thank you, Elijah. That means a lot.”He took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment before speaking again. “I was thinking... maybe we could have dinner togethe
Julia’s POVRushing into the hospital room with Elijah by my side, I put on my best concerned face. Inside, I was boiling with frustration. Oh, this Sophia is really something else, always able to avoid death. It would have been easier for me if the accident had gotten rid of her, so I don't have to plan for her "unfortunate demise" again. I couldn't help but think sarcastically, It's like she's a cat with nine lives. But those lives are going to be used up soon, and then she'll be gone.Elijah didn't say a word, but he was obviously beyond himself with worry. His knuckles were white from gripping the edge of the door frame as we approached the room. As soon as he saw Sophia lying in the bed, her arm in a cast, he rushed to her side, his voice soft and full of concern.“Sophia, are you okay?” he asked, his hand gently brushing her hair away from her face.I rolled my eyes when they weren't looking, but quickly masked it with a look of concern. “What happened? How are you feeling?” I
Julia’s POVI stood by Grandma Evelyn's bedside, the sight of her frail body lying motionless tugging at a mix of emotions within me. The door creaked open, and I turned to see Henry enter. His face showed curiosity, a slight smirk playing on his lips.“Hey, Jules,” he said softly, crossing the room to embrace me. I held onto him tightly, drawing comfort from his presence, though my eyes remained cold as they fixed on the frail old woman. “Henry,” I murmured, pulling back to look at him. “This is the only time I can talk to you alone. I'm staying at the Bakers' house these days. But tonight, I’ll be with Grandma Evelyn.”“Didn’t know you cared much about her…”I let out a short, bitter laugh. “No, I don’t. It’s just for show.”He glanced at Grandma Evelyn, his brow furrowing. “She's the one you can't stand, right? So what, you want us to pull the plug on her life support, finish this once and for all?”“No, that's not it,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I have a different plan, a new
Sophia’s POVI woke up with a dull ache in my arm and the sterile scent of the hospital surrounding me. As I glanced at the cast encasing my arm, memories of the accident flashed through my mind.At least I don’t have to stay another night, I thought. I was eager to see Reese again. She must be so worried about me, even though Kayla said they hadn’t really specified what had happened to me. When I was finally discharged, I was surprised to see Daniel waiting for me. His face lit up with worry and relief as he approached.“Sophia! How are you feeling?” he asked, his eyes scanning me for any sign of pain.“I'm okay,” I assured him with a small smile. “It's just a broken arm. It'll heal fast.”“Sorry I only came now,” he apologized. “I wanted to visit you yesterday when I heard the news, but I couldn’t get a flight back from San Francisco where I had a few meetings.”“It’s fine, Daniel. Don’t worry about it.”“Kayla wanted to come, but she's staying with Reese,” he explained. “She thoug
Sophia’s POVI looked up to see Morgana standing there with her usual cold expression, her eyes narrowing as they locked onto mine. The sea breeze seemed to carry her disdain closer, amplifying the tension between us.“What a surprise,” I muttered, more to myself than to her, trying to compose myself despite the rising unease.Morgana didn’t waste any time. “Sophia, you really have a knack for causing misfortune to everyone you get close to. Just like what happened to Evelyn,” she sneered, her voice dripping with accusation. My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Evelyn. I stood up, brushing the sand off my hands. “You have no right to talk to me that way, Morgana. You weren’t there. You don’t know what happened.” I tried to control the tide of emotions threatening to wash over me. She scoffed, crossing her arms. “Oh, I know enough. Bad luck seems to follow you wherever you go. You never do anything right, Sophia! You’re a walking disaster!”Anger flared within me. I had to fight
Elijah’s POVThe metallic clang of the prison gates behind me sent a chill through the air, though the day was warm and bright. Joe walked beside me, his expression set in its usual mask of calm determination, but I could feel the tension radiating off him. I wasn’t exactly at ease myself—this wasn’t the kind of place anyone walked into lightly.“Charlotte Vega,” I said quietly, more to myself than Joe, as we followed a guard down the sterile corridors. “She’s been visiting both Julia and Henry frequently. That alone is suspicious.”After what we had discovered from Vito’s visitor logs, I’d decided to check into the ones for Henry and Julia. And that was how I’d come across Charlotte Vega. Joe nodded, keeping his voice low. “The guards I spoke to say she’s supposedly an investigative journalist. Claims she’s writing some big exposé on international mobs. Sounds plausible enough on the surface.”“But?”“But,” he said, giving me a sideways glance, “they also mentioned she’s always very
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