Sophia’s POVI rushed through the hospital corridors, my heart pounding wildly. I whispered a little prayer of thanks to God that Reese hadn't ended up in the wrong hands. It was a parent's worst nightmare, the thought of losing sight of your child, even for a moment.I kept remembering how Reese had seemed so sad and disappointed when I’d told her that her dad wouldn’t be able to come. Perhaps I was wrong to assume that. I should have called Elijah and we could have avoided all this trouble. As I hurried to the hospitality wing of the hospital where Elijah had been staying recently, the surroundings began to change. It seemed like I’d been transported to a hotel. All this for Julia, I thought. He really used his connections to get a room here, and he’s sacrificing his business for her. Gosh, he must care about her that much!But then, I recalled their earlier conversation, the one that I’d overheard. Why did Elijah reject her when she confessed her love? Maybe he’s still confused
Sophia’s POVFriday arrived faster than I expected. As I walked into the play school grounds, holding Reese's hand tightly in mine, I felt a blend of excitement and nervousness. Elijah was on Reese's other side, holding her hand too. It was surreal to see us like this, together, even if just for a moment. As we passed by a mirror in the hallway, I couldn't help but steal a glance at our reflection.We looked like a picture-perfect family—Reese, Elijah, and me. It touched something deep within me, stirring a bittersweet feeling. For a brief moment, it felt real, and that scared me. It wasn't reality. It was just a fleeting glimpse of what could have been.“Mommy, look! I drew this for you!” Reese exclaimed, pulling me out of my thoughts as she excitedly showed me her colorful drawing of our home that was displayed on a bulletin board.“It's beautiful, sweetheart,” I smiled, kneeling down to her level.Elijah stood beside us, smiling. “She's quite the artist, isn't she?” he remarked so
Elijah’s POVI was stunned. But of course, it was a great opportunity that I would never pass up. Bringing back Sophia and our daughter Reese to my house would be a wonderful way to conclude such an amazing day. After all, the Family Day was a success beyond my expectations. Reese was still bubbling with excitement about her friends and the activities, and Sophia—Sophia was more relaxed and open than I'd seen her in a long time. We chatted effortlessly about the event, about Reese, about everything and nothing at all. It felt so natural and easy to be together. Back at my house, I offered to cook. Sophia's surprised look was priceless. “You cook?” she asked, a mix of disbelief and curiosity in her eyes.“Yeah,” I chuckled, a bit self-conscious. “I picked it up... well, after you left. I guess I had too much time on my hands.”There was a second of silence as we both remembered that painful part of our relationship. “You know, I always thought it was the house help doing all the coo
Elijah’s POVSophia's words hung in the air like a thunderclap. “Troy may have something to do with what happened to you and Julia,” she repeated, her eyes filled with fear and anxiety.I thought about what Troy had said to her. He could have been bluffing, but there could still be some truth there. “I’ll have to find out. We need to inform the investigators.”Before we could discuss further, a small whirlwind in the form of Reese rushed over to us, holding a handful of colorful drawings. “Look, look! I made these today!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.Sophia and I exchanged a glance, the gravity of our conversation momentarily forgotten. “These are great, Reese,” I said, taking one of the drawings and examining it. “You never fail to amaze us. And it seems that you just keep getting better!”Reese beamed with pride, then let out a big yawn. Sophia glanced at the clock and sighed. “We should get going. It's getting late. Thank you for dinner, Elijah.”“Of course,” I rep
Elijah’s POVJulia’s been sending me messages yesterday and today, wondering where I had gone. I told her that I needed to attend to some important matters, but I didn’t specify what it was. I did not want to stress her out by saying that I’d gone to Reese’s school with Sophia after she just confessed her real feelings for me. So this afternoon, after dropping by the office to check on things, I went back to the hospital. The hallways seemed quieter than usual, which made me feel like I could hear myself think. I made my way to Julia's room, my mind preoccupied with the unexpected turn of events that had brought her back into my life.When I reached her door, I paused, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. As I stepped inside, I was greeted by a sight I hadn't anticipated: a man standing beside Julia's bed, engaged in a low conversation with her.The man looked familiar, and it took me a moment to place him. His sharp features and confident stance sparked a memory—business ga
Julia’s POVI stared at the ceiling, my thoughts spiraling into a dark vortex of desperation and fear. Elijah had just left, his words echoing in my mind. “I need to do something at work for a while, but I'll be back tonight.” He'd said it so casually, as if he didn't notice the rising panic in my eyes. His presence had been my only anchor in this sterile, suffocating room, and now that anchor was slipping away.I turned my head to the side, watching the door through which he had exited. It felt like a finality, a cruel punctuation mark on the sentence of our relationship. He'd been different lately, a little distant, almost aloof. The caring, sweet Elijah he’d been since my “accident” seemed to be fading, replaced by someone more detached and perhaps even eager to get away from me. I can’t let this happen. No way.Was it because I had confessed my love for him? The words had spilled out of me, raw and vulnerable, but his reaction had been lukewarm at best. Or was it something else
Sophia’s POVSince Family Day, Elijah has been coming over every single day to check on Reese and me. It's strange, really. I remember how he barely acknowledged my existence when we were married. Now, he's here all the time, playing with Reese, hanging out, or just chatting with me. Part of me wonders if he's trying to make up for lost time, or maybe he's finally realized what he lost.It gave me a sense of satisfaction, seeing him make this effort. But more than anything, I was just happy that Reese gets to spend so much time with her dad.I've also noticed that Elijah hasn't been spending as much time at the hospital lately. Instead, he would be here with us. We would even go to the park together or grab food as a trio. It was becoming almost routine, his presence in our lives.Still, I remain cautious. After everything that happened, I can't help but be careful. Yet, seeing Reese's face light up when Elijah walks through the door—it's worth it. For her sake, I'm willing to give t
Sophia’s POVReturning to Urban Next after more than a week felt like coming home after a long, exhausting journey. My colleagues, faces beaming with genuine warmth, surrounded me, welcoming me back with open arms and cheerful banter.“Hey, look who's back!” shouted Kelly from the corner, her smile as bright as ever.“It's great to see you, Sophia!” said Mark, giving me a quick hug. “We've missed you!”I laughed, feeling a rush of happiness. “I missed you all too. It's good to be back.”I flexed my arm, no longer confined to a cast, and felt a surge of relief. I felt great, ready to dive back into the projects and the hustle of the office.As I made my way to my desk, Trevis approached me, his usual confident stride evident. “Sophia, can I have a word with you in my office?”“Of course,” I replied, following him. His office was the same as ever, meticulously organized and exuding an air of calm efficiency.“How are you feeling?” he asked as we settled into our chairs.“Much better, th