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 POVI hit the road, the sun already dipping low on the horizon. Sophia's message flashed in my mind—I was supposed to meet them at her apartment, but plans changed. “She’s at the beach with Kayla and Reese,” I mused aloud, a smile tugging at my lips. “Can't wait to see them!”Whistling a tune, I turned onto the winding coastal road, excitement coursing through me. The ocean breeze teased through the window, a welcome change from the city's stifling heat. My mind wandered to Reese's laughter and Sophia's smile, both etched vividly in my memory.I’m so glad Sophia is well enough to play with our daughter at the beach. Then, I noticed it—a dark sedan, its windows ominously tinted, tailgating me. Suddenly, I remembered the same kind of car that had followed Sophia and later on appeared at the office. Can this be her brother Troy again, causing trouble?!My heartbeat quickened. What's going on? I tried to shake it off, focusing on the road ahead. But the car persisted, swerving
Elijah’s POVThe emergency room lights were too bright. I felt the throbbing in my head, the sting of scratches on my arms, but the doctor assured me nothing was broken. I strained to listen amid the bustle, and then I heard her voice—Sophia.“Hey, Sophia,” I called out weakly, trying to sit up despite the ache.Suddenly, to my surprise, she was there rushing to me, one arm in a cast, tears streaming down her face as she enveloped me in a tight hug. Her relief was evident, overwhelming. “I thought…” she began to say, sobbing. “I thought that you…” “Hey, it's okay,” I murmured, holding her close. “I'm okay.”“I thought it was you on that stretcher over there,” she finally managed to say, not able to contain her sobs. Then she couldn’t speak anymore, just burying her face into my shoulder. Behind her, I saw Kayla and little Reese hurrying over. Reese reached me first, her eyes wide with worry. “Daddy, you're alive!”Sophia managed a smile through her tears as she composed herself. I
Sophia’s POVAs I left Elijah's hospital room, my heart felt heavy with worry. Seeing him and Julia lying there, bandaged and bruised, was almost too much to bear. I’ll visit them tomorrow again, I promised myself. For now, Reese has to rest. It wasn’t good for her to be exposed to such a messy situation, and to have that encounter at the beach with her stepmother!Kayla walked ahead of me, carrying Reese who was already very sleepy. The cool evening air hit me as we stepped outside the hospital. I tried to focus on the rhythmic sound of Kayla’s footsteps, but my thoughts were scattered. Elijah had been hurrying to the beach to meet us when the accident happened. And Julia, who was just passing by, had gotten caught up in the chaos, ending up with a severely injured hand.I wonder who did this to them, I suddenly thought, thinking about the dark sedan that had chased Elijah off the road and almost hit Julia too. Could it be my brother Troy? Is he trying to scare us so that he can ge
Sophia’s POVThe hospital walls were adorned with generic paintings meant to be calming but did little to ease my nerves. I should just visit Grandma Evelyn, see how she’s doing. I was well aware that she was still in a coma, but she has never left my mind. Everyday, I continued to pray for her recovery. I wished she could wake up already. It was a huge burden to think that her life was now at risk because of me. To add to that, I couldn’t help blaming myself too for what happened to Elijah and Julia. It was all too much to bear, really. Relax, Sophia. Just take a deep breath. I tried to calm myself down as I made my way toward Evelyn’s hospital room. When I got there, I hesitated briefly, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.The room was quiet except for the sound of the medical equipment. Two maids were present, one adjusting Evelyn’s blanket while the other arranged flowers on a nearby table. Evelyn lay still, her frail form barely making an impression on the bed
Sophia’s POVI stared at my phone, my hand trembling slightly as I tried to process the conversation that had just taken place. The unfamiliar man's voice echoed in my mind, haunting and urgent.“Who is this?” I had demanded, but he had only replied, “We need to talk about Adrian,” before the line went dead with a final, chilling click.Adrian! Hearing his name again made me feel alarmed. I remembered how strange men in black had entered my house, looking for him. He’d willingly gone with him and told me he’d tell me everything soon. But until now, I hadn’t heard from him yet. I wondered if he was in some kind of trouble. I need to meet that man, I thought. I have to find out what happened to Adrian. A warning bell went off in my head. This could be dangerous. I didn’t know who the man was. But it’s a public place, anyway, I convinced myself. I glanced at the clock on the wall of Grandma Evelyn's hospital room. It was 4:30 PM. Cafe Elysee was nearby, but time was running out.I tur
Sophia’s POVI sat across from Mr. Roosevelt, feeling the weight of his presence like a heavy cloak. The cafe buzzed around us in a lively manner, which was the opposite of the intense, suffocating atmosphere at our table. “I let Adrian enjoy some time to bask in his newfound freedom and singing career,” Mr. Roosevelt told me, his voice low and authoritative. “But now it's enough. It's time for Adrian to man up and own up to our family name, to become who he's meant to be.”I struggled to find my voice as he continued, his tone tinged with frustration. “Adrian is intelligent, always on top of his class, and he used to be responsible, a good son. But suddenly, he just left one day… and to become what? Some kind of entertainer that people will get tired of one day? It's a very small dream for someone who comes from the Roosevelt clan.”His words stunned me, leaving me momentarily speechless. But then, gathering my courage, I spoke up. “But it's his dream. Can't he choose his own dream,
Sophia’s POVMarry Adrian?!The suggestion to marry Adrian hit me like a sudden summer storm, unexpected and disorienting. I struggled to grasp the enormity of it all, wondering if Adrian himself was aware of this wild proposal. Across the table, Mr. Roosevelt reclined confidently, a cup of freshly brewed coffee steaming between us, his demeanor expectant.This man’s crazier than I thought!“I... I don't know what to say,” I managed finally, my voice slightly trembling. “This is all happening so fast.”Mr. Roosevelt nodded sagely, taking a sip of his coffee before responding. “Think about it, Sophia. You have the opportunity to be part of something greater, to help Adrian realize his full potential. You'll have all the support you need, and we will ensure your comfort and security.”My mind raced with a thousand thoughts. I cared for Adrian as a friend and I owed him my life, but marriage? That was out of the question. “Does Adrian know about this?” I asked, my voice quivering a litt