Sophia’s POVI glanced over to see Julia whispering something to Elijah. Her lips moved quickly, her eyes darting around nervously. Then she made her way out of the room, brushing past me without a word. She’s probably meeting her brother Henry, I thought. It was, of course, nothing out of the ordinary. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.After a few minutes, I went out too, just wanting to take a breather from the tension in the room. As I stepped out into the hallway, I spotted Julia and Henry a little further down, gesturing animatedly as if they were arguing. Their body language showed clear signs of stress, fear, and anxiety.“What’s going on?” I whispered to myself. I felt an inexplicable urge to follow them discreetly. I kept my distance, trying to blend in with the hospital staff and other visitors milling about. But then my phone rang, the loud ringtone cutting through the quiet hallway like a knife.“Dammit,” I muttered, quickly hiding behind a group o
Henry’s POVI felt my heart sink into my stomach when I realized Sophia had overheard our conversation. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out of this mess. Sophia’s eyes widened in shock, and she stammered, “I...I was just...”She quickly switched gears, demanding, “What were you doing in the stairwell? What were you talking about just now?”I shot Julia a desperate look. Without missing a beat, Julia screamed and pretended to faint, crumpling to the floor in a dramatic heap. Sophia snapped toward Julia, her expression shifting from surprise to concern.But then, to my disbelief, Sophia turned and rushed away down the hallway.Julia glared at me from her position on the floor. “What are you waiting for? Go after her! She’ll surely go back to Elijah!”I hesitated for a moment, my mind still trying to process what had just happened. But Julia’s urgent tone spurred me into action. I bolted down the hallway after Sophia, my footsteps echoing against the walls.“Sophia, wait!” I c
Elijah’s POVThe fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor flickered above as I hurried after Henry, my heart pounding with worry. Julia had disappeared, and Henry's urgency made me fear the worst. Sophia lagged behind, her footsteps echoing faintly against the linoleum floor. She had mentioned something important she needed to discuss with me, but right now, all my focus was on finding Julia.“Elijah, we need to talk,” Sophia had said earlier, her voice strained with concern. But I knew I had to prioritize Julia. If Henry said she was very stressed and disoriented, she needed immediate help.Henry stopped abruptly, pointing to a vending machine area. “This is where we were talking,” he explained, his voice tinged with guilt. “Julia was crying, and I turned around quickly to grab a drink for her. When I came back, she was gone.”I glanced back at Sophia, who was giving Henry an incredulous look. Her expression was a mixture of disbelief and frustration. Before I could ask what she
Sophia’s POVI couldn't believe this was happening. The air crackled with tension as Julia pointed a trembling finger at me, her eyes ablaze with fury. “You set me up, Sophia! You made Elijah think I was at fault for everything!”Is Julia just so obsessed with Elijah, which is driving her to act like this? Or is this the real Julia whom I didn’t see before?I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady despite the shock reverberating through me. “That's not true, Julia. You know what’s the real truth. I followed you and Henry here earlier and overheard you talking about your plan to expose Morgana and blame it all on me.”“Hah! What a liar!” she cried out. “You’re the one who’s lying!” I said in frustration and anger. Elijah stood between us, his eyes darting from Julia to me, confusion etched across his features. He obviously didn’t know who to believe. He mumbled something that I didn’t catch as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration.Henry stayed quiet, his face unreadab
Sophia’s POVWhen I was finally left alone, I trudged sadly toward the exit of the hospital. My emotions were a tangled mess—frustration, anger, sadness, and bitterness swirling together until I felt completely drained. I just wanted to go home, to escape from the nightmare that seemed to have no end.Lately, things haven’t been looking up. But what happened today was devastating. It felt like the last straw for me, and I just wanted to break down. As I made my way out, my phone rang in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Daniel's name on the screen. Hesitating for a moment, I answered. “Hi, Daniel.” I tried to inject some joy into my tone, but it was challenging. “Sophia, how are you?” Daniel's voice was warm, familiar. “I'm sorry I've been out of touch lately. My business is expanding in Europe, and I've been traveling a lot.”“It's alright,” I said, trying to sound cheerful despite my aching heart. “I understand. I know you're always working hard, and I'm happy for you and your bu
Sophia’s POVAn awkward silence followed as Elijah and I tried to figure out how to explain our actions to our little child. Then out of the blue, Reese walked up to Elijah and hugged him. This surprised us all. “Don’t you care about Mommy?” she asked afterwards. Elijah looked startled, and I felt my heart pounding like crazy as I waited for him to answer. “Yes, of course I do,” he said, though I couldn't tell if he meant it. He hadn't wanted to listen to me earlier and I clearly remembered how he’d stared at me in doubt and had chosen to believe and attend to Julia. Reese stepped back and looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Don’t you trust Mommy?”It was odd and almost insane how she knew to ask these questions, and I wondered what was going on in her mind. But she had always been more mature and intelligent for her age, and she was almost four years old now. Elijah looked hesitant and puzzled, but he eventually nodded.“Are you mad at Mommy?” Reese asked directly. Elijah
Elijah’s POVThe walk back to the hospital was a blur. My mind was a whirlpool of thoughts and emotions, all centered around Sophia and Reese. For that brief time with them, I had felt that same joy and fulfillment again. I yearned to experience more of it, but everything was complicated right now. I kept replaying my conversation with Sophia in my mind, trying to decipher what it all meant. I was so lost in thought that I almost didn't notice Julia as I approached the doctor's clinic.She was standing outside, looking around with a panicked expression. But as soon as her eyes landed on me, her face brightened. She rushed towards me, her smile wide, and before I could react, she hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek.“Elijah!” she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of relief and happiness. “I’m so glad you’re here. Where have you been? Why did you leave me alone with the doctor?”“Sorry, I just needed to take care of a few things,” I answered vaguely. I couldn’t tell her I’d talk
Sophia’s POVI had been working overtime at the company this weekend, burying myself in paperwork and endless tasks. I guess it’s been my way of escaping the depression that threatened to drown me. But today, it was too much. I needed a break, a breath of fresh air. I made my way to the roof of the building, hoping the open sky and bustling city below would clear my mind and provide some solace.As I stood there, staring down at the busy streets, I could feel the dissonance of the city blending with my agitated thoughts and feelings. The wind blew my hair into my face, and as I turned to fix it, I saw him.Elijah. He’s like a mere vision from the past. And at the same time, he’s also a ghost of my present. Elijah was standing in one corner of the roof deck, looking lonesome and sad. I didn’t expect him to be up here. But there he was, looking as depressed as I felt. I realized then that we haven’t spoken for days since that day at the park outside the hospital.Suddenly, I felt a
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
Elijah’s POVI walked into Bella Sera, happy to see that it was packed with guests at this time in the afternoon. Fresh from closing a successful business deal, I was in a good mood, but there was a nagging concern for Morgana at the back of my mind. It was why I’d decided to stop by the cafe—to check in and see how she was holding up after she’d left me a series of frantic voicemails.Since I didn’t see her in the dining area, I went straight to her office. The door was ajar, and I could already feel the tension and anger leaking through it. I found Morgana pacing like a caged lioness, her hands gesturing wildly as she muttered to herself. The sight reminded me of the old Morgana— my stepmother who never minced her words or held back when someone crossed her.“I cannot believe this! The audacity, the gall!” she ranted, slamming a folder onto the desk. “This is a targeted attack, Elijah. It has to be. Who else would stoop this low?”“Morgana,” I greeted cautiously, stepping inside. “
Adrian’s POVThe Roosevelt mansion came into view as the car eased into the circular driveway, its stately facade bathed in the setting sun. Growing up here, I’d long since grown accustomed to its grandeur—the towering columns, the meticulously trimmed hedges, the way it seemed to command attention. Yet tonight, I barely noticed it. My thoughts were entirely on the woman sitting beside me, her fingers absently toying with her bracelet. “Relax,” I said, throwing her a reassuring smile. “My father’s not as intimidating as he looks. He’s actually… well, decent these days.”Lila gave me a skeptical glance. “Decent? I’ve read about your family, Adrian. You’re practically royalty in this country.”I laughed at her dramatic tone. “You’ll be fine. Trust me.”“Tell me again why you’re bringing me to see him?” she asked as we both stepped out of the car. Laughing, I simply answered, “You’ll find out soon enough.” One of the staff greeted us and led us inside. The interior was just as imposin