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
Sophia’s POVI sat there, stunned by Mr. Roosevelt's audacity. His proposal still echoed in my mind like an unwelcome refrain. Marry Adrian? The thought was preposterous, yet here we were, discussing it over drinks in a quaint cafe.I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’ve never received such a bizarre proposal in my entire life!He leaned back in his chair, a hint of irritation flickering across his face. Without missing a beat, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a checkbook and pen, his gesture casual yet loaded with implication.“And how much would it take as a signing bonus to make you consider this seriously?” His voice was cool, business-like, but beneath it simmered an undercurrent of arrogance.I couldn't believe his nerve, trying to buy my compliance. My jaw tightened as I struggled to maintain composure. “Mr. Roosevelt,” I began, my tone measured, “I appreciate the offer, but money isn't the issue here. Adrian and I are friends. Nothing more.”I paused, steeling my
Adrian’s POV“What’s going on?” I demanded, my voice harsher than I intended.My mother and I were sitting in the sunroom, the soft light filtering through the sheer curtains. She had called me over, saying she had something important to discuss. I thought it was another lecture about my responsibilities within the family business, but the grave expression on her face told me this was different.“Adrian, look carefully,” she said, sliding a photograph across the glass table toward me.I picked it up, my eyes narrowing as I recognized the two figures in the picture. My father, looking as stern as ever, was seated across from Sophia in a café. They seemed to be in the middle of an intense conversation.“Why is Dad with Sophia?” I asked with dread. My mother sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Adrian, your father has certain expectations of you. He believes that you should follow his lead, and if you don’t… well, let’s just say it might not turn out well for Sophia.”A chill ran down my
Elijah’s POVI woke up to the gentle touch of fingers stroking my hand and hair. The soft, rhythmic movement brought me out of my slumber, and I blinked my eyes open to see Julia lying in the hospital bed beside me. Her face lit up with a tired but warm smile as she saw me stir.“Good morning,” she said softly, her voice still carrying the weight of fatigue.“Morning,” I mumbled, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. My eyes wandered around the room, and I noticed a basket of fruits and a plastic container of food on the table by the door. “Where did that come from?”Julia's smile widened. "I had it delivered. Thought you might be hungry."My stomach growled in response, and I chuckled. “You were right. Thanks so much.”Julia beamed, looking pleased with herself. “You know I always think of everything.”I stood up and walked over to the basket, inspecting its contents. Fresh fruits! I began munching on an apple. “Mmmm… delicious.” And in the plastic container, there was salad tha
Elijah’s POVAs I stared out the window, lost in thought, a knock on the door pulled me back to reality. I assumed it was Dr. Matthews returning with more information, but to my surprise, Chris and Trevis walked in, grinning from ear to ear.“Hey, man,” Chris greeted, his tone light and cheerful. “How's the patient doing?”I managed a smile. “I've been better, but I'm hanging in there.”Trevis chuckled, giving me a playful nudge. “You better get well soon, Elijah. We’ve got plans. We need you out and about so we can hit the bars again. It’s been a long time, bro. We’ve been all work and no play.”“Yeah, that’s right,” Chris agreed. “Maybe this was a wake-up call for you to loosen up a bit and learn to have some fun again, huh?”I laughed, remembering the good times we all had growing up together. We had been friends since childhood. Trevis added, “Besides, we miss you at the office. No one’s there to bark orders, and the employees are practically throwing a party since the big boss i
Sophia’s POVReturning home, I couldn't shake the image of Morgana with that strange man. Does she really have a daughter and Elijah doesn’t know about it? I wonder who the father is, and if her husband Anderson knows. The question gnawed at my mind as I drove, but my thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sight of a crowd outside my apartment building.Dozens of people swarmed the entrance, cameras flashing, reporters jostling for position. What on earth is going on? My heart raced as I slowed the car, keeping a safe distance. My mind raced through possibilities. Who were they waiting for? I knew Reese was safe with Kayla, but still, the sight of the media frenzy made me uneasy.Should I push on or wait? The thought of facing that crowd was daunting. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Kayla. I quickly glanced at it: a link. Curiosity piqued, I opened it. The video started playing, and I felt my stomach drop.Adrian. Standing at a podium, looking every bit the hands
Sophia’s POV“Don’t worry, Sophia,” Kayla assured me, giving me a quick hug. “I have to go now, but I’ll keep trying to get in touch with Adrian. “I promise I'll have him call you as soon as possible.” She squeezed my hand reassuringly. “And I’ll update you on what’s happening with Adrian’s family.”“Thank you, Kayla,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude. Connor stepped forward, nodding at both of us. “I’ll drive for Kayla. Take care, Sophia.”“Thanks, Connor,” I replied, watching them head toward the door. My mind wandered briefly, wondering how close Kayla and Connor had become. But with everything that was happening, I pushed the thought aside, deciding to ask Kayla about it another time. Right now, my heart was a mess, and I needed to focus on Reese and on staying safe.I turned back to find Daniel standing nearby, a calm and protective presence. “You’re safe here, Sophia. I’ve got everything under control,” he said softly. “I asked someone to monitor your house. Most of the m
Kayla’s POVConnor's car purred down the road, the engine's calm cadence a stark contrast to my current mood. I clutched my phone, my thumb hovering over Adrian's contact for the hundredth time. I hit the dial again. Silence. Voicemail. Again. “Aarrrggghhhh!” I shouted with frustration. “Damn it, Adrian,” I muttered under my breath, shoving the phone into my bag.Connor glanced at me from the driver's seat, his brow furrowed in concern. “Maybe he turned off his phone,” he suggested. “After that bomb he dropped, I'm sure a lot of people are trying to reach him now.”“Yeah, maybe,” I sighed. “His father probably took his phone.”Connor raised an eyebrow. “What is he, ten years old?”I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. “Sometimes it feels like it. Well, from what Sophia told me about Mr. Roosevelt, I wouldn’t put it past him. No wonder Adrian ran away from home.”We drove in silence for a moment, the city lights blurring outside the window. The weight of my worry pressed down o
Sophia’s POVA hush of golden light slipped through the curtains, draping the room in warmth and calm. It felt like the kind of morning that only came after surviving the storm.Weeks had passed since the chaos faded, and for once, the quiet didn’t feel temporary—it felt earned. I stirred slowly, eyes drifting open to find Elijah beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine. I studied him in the silence, taking in the softened edges of a man who’d carried us through fire and finally found peace.I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, he smiled sleepily."Morning," he murmured."Morning," I whispered back, letting my fingers trace the line of his jaw. "Can you believe we actually get to wake up like this? No chaos, no danger—just us."He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "I could get used to this."Just as I was about to say something, the door burst open."Mommy! Daddy!" Reese called out, followed quickly by Roxy an
Elijah’s POVWe weaved through the cracked streets, deeper into a part of the city that felt like time had forgotten it. Boarded-up windows, rusted signage, buildings collapsing in on themselves. This was the kind of place where ghosts lingered, and today, we were chasing one of them."We’re close," Joe muttered from the front seat, his eyes scanning the GPS on his phone. "This is the last possible location that fits Hugo's hideouts."Antoine sat beside me in the back, silent but focused. His jaw was tight, hands clenched. I still didn’t know if I fully trusted him, but I couldn’t deny this: he was here, risking his neck like the rest of us. And right now, I’d take any edge we could get.I have to find Grandpa George. For Sophia.When we pulled up to the burned-out remains of what once looked like a chapel, a chill shot down my spine. The stone structure still stood, half-charred, the wooden beams above blackened and skeletal. Nature had tried to reclaim it—vines curling around scorch
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…”Her name was the only thing in my mind as I stormed through the decaying hallway, boots slamming against rotting wood, gun drawn. My pulse thundered in my ears. The floor creaked beneath every step, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.Joe and his men fanned out behind me, covering corners, checking every room.We were running out of time.Then—A scream.My heart nearly stopped. It was her.I charged forward, slamming my shoulder into the door at the end of the hall. It burst open—and I saw red.Morgana was on the ground, gasping for air as Hugo’s hand squeezed her throat, and across the room, Sophia was trying to drag herself toward them, her face pale and streaked with tears.“NO!” I shouted, and without hesitation, I raised my gun.Hugo turned just as I fired.The bullet tore through his shoulder. He howled, stumbling back and releasing Morgana, who crumpled to the floor, coughing violently.I crossed the room in three strides and tackled Hugo before he could
Sophia’s POVThe first thing I felt was cold.A biting chill that wrapped around my arms and legs like a second set of restraints. Then came the pressure—tight, scratchy ropes cutting into my wrists. My head pounded like a drum, fog thick behind my eyes. Everything smelled like mildew and dust.My eyes struggled to make sense of the shadows.The room was dim, lit only by a weak bulb overhead that flickered like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay on. I was on a metal chair, hands tied behind my back, ankles secured to the legs. The air tasted stale and old, like the walls had been sealed off from the world for decades.Panic bloomed in my chest.My brother Chris. What had become of him?I jerked forward, straining against the ropes. “Chris!” I called, my voice hoarse and raw. “Where is he?!”I noticed some movement in the darkness. A shadow stirred in the corner of the room. I froze as a figure stepped out into the light. Tall. Gray-streaked beard. Sunken eyes like old coals. A d
Sophia’s POV“This is insane,” Elijah muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “We’re relying on Antoine to lead us to Hugo. Does no one else see how crazy that is?”Joe, who had been checking messages on his phone, barely looked up. “We don’t have another choice.”I watched Elijah pace the room, his frustration clear. He wasn’t wrong, but I knew that if there was even the smallest chance of finding Grandpa George, we had to take it.Joe sighed and turned to Antoine. “You sure you can make him bite?”Antoine shrugged. “I know Hugo. He’s a cockroach—he won’t go down without a fight. But if he thinks his last hiding spot is compromised, he’ll make a move. That’s when we strike.”Elijah muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Joe’s phone buzzed. As he studied the screen, he said, “We got something. Two possible locations.”Elijah straightened. “Then let’s move.”They all hurried out, and I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to call Elijah back—to make sure he’d pick up
Sophia’s POVMy mother sat on the couch, clutching Grandma Evelyn’s hands, trying to calm her down. My father stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, his face pale and unreadable.Chris and Connor were huddled over a laptop at the dining table, analyzing security footage.Joe was already there, speaking into his phone, barking orders to his contacts.But no one had any answers yet.And Grandpa George was still missing.I turned to my grandmother, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma—did you see anything? Anyone suspicious? A car, a stranger?”Her red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook her head. “No… nothing. I don’t know how this happened.” Her voice broke. “George was just in his study… and then he was gone.”Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He wasn’t just worried—he was furiousJust then, Chris snapped his fingers at the screen. “We’ve got something.”Connor turned the laptop t
Sophia’s POVWe had been trying to track down both Antoine and Hugo, but they had vanished like ghosts.No leads. No sightings. Nothing.Lucas had called me earlier, still searching, still digging. Even Elijah and his contacts have been working doubly hard. But so far, they’d come up empty too. It was frustrating—knowing the danger was out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.But tonight…Tonight, we weren’t going to think about it.Tonight, we were here to celebrate.After all, Lila and Adrian’s joint concert was finally happening. This was their moment, their dream unfolding before them.And for the first time in what felt like forever, we were all together, enjoying something good.Kayla was everywhere at once, her headset on, clipboard in hand, barking last-minute instructions into her earpiece. She was stressed, frantic… but glowing. Even though there could have been other people to take care of all this from her company, she wanted to be in charge, to personal
Emily’s POV“Walk away, Hugo,” Antoine said sharply, stepping in front of us as if to shield us from the strange man.The name triggered a memory.Chris had mentioned it just yesterday—Hugo Tournier. Suddenly, I remembered. It’s the name Sophia and Elijah had been trying to track down. The man who had supposedly changed Sophia’s life forever.And now he’s here. Why?!My hands instinctively balled up as my heart slammed against my ribs. Could this really be the same man?Hugo’s expression darkened with satisfaction as he took another step, exuding an air of quiet arrogance.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. “You’re not as fun outside of prison, Antoine.”Phoebe’s grip on my wrist tightened. “Emily, let’s go,” she muttered under her breath.I wanted to. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave. But I couldn’t—not yet.Hugo came forward, his eyes staring straight at me. He gave a low chuckle, mocking. “It’s interesting to meet Sabrina Ba
Emily’s POVI refused to flinch. Even as Antoine stood in front of me, blocking my way, I forced my body to stay still, to stay firm.I squared my shoulders, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Move.”Antoine didn’t budge. His gaze shifted between me and Phoebe, like he wasn’t sure if I’d actually listen or turn and run.“I’m not here to fight,” he said, his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”Phoebe’s grip on my arm tightened, and her anger was immediate, sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let him see me feeling nervous or affected by him. Antoine exhaled, his face unreadable. “I just wanted to talk.”Phoebe laughed coldly. “Talk? You took Jared, Antoine. Without permission. Do you have any idea what you put us through?”“I know,” he admitted. “I made a mistake.”Phoebe scoffed. “A mistake?”I stepped forward, my gaze hardening. “Please, Antoine.