Sophia’s POVThe garden was almost deserted now. All the guests had gone home after yet another failed wedding ceremony. Evelyn, tired and stressed, clung to me as George hurried off to fetch some food for her. I stroked Evelyn's hair, soothing her into a sleepy calm.I looked around and saw Elijah speaking with Connor. Meanwhile, my best friend Kayla appeared like a beacon of comfort amid the quiet after the storm. Her arms wrapped around me in a tight hug, her warmth and concern a balm to my soul.“Hey,” she murmured softly, “everything’s going to be alright, Soph.”I nodded against her shoulder, grateful for her steadfast support. Just as I began to relax into Kayla's embrace, Serena approached. Kayla stiffened beside me, her trust in Serena still tentative.“Sophia, can we talk privately for a moment?” Serena's tone was earnest, her eyes searching mine.Kayla's gaze flickered between us, a silent plea for caution. Despite our tumultuous history, I felt an unexpected calm settle o
Elijah’s POVThree days had passed since my second failed wedding. I hadn't slept well, barely ate, and work seemed like a distant obligation. My mind kept replaying the revelations and what it all meant. I couldn't bring myself to contact Sophia yet; there were too many emotions to sort through first.What’s more, Julia's face kept appearing in my thoughts, amid the chaos. Memories, good and bad, tugged at my heart. If I can just talk to her, really talk, maybe she'll open up. Maybe she'll confess and let me help her heal, turn her life around.Eventually, I found myself driving to the police station where Julia was being held. Soon she sat across from me with a stubborn expression on her face. Though she was restrained, she remained defiant.“Why, Julia?” I asked in a sad, strained voice. “Why hurt so many people? Why lie? Why deceive us all?”Julia met my gaze without blinking. “I didn't do what they say,” she replied firmly, her eyes locked on mine. “Believe what you want, but I’
Sophia’s POVI sat at the kitchen table, absently stirring my coffee. The smell of pancakes wafted through the air, but my appetite was nowhere to be found. Reese sat across from me, her little legs swinging as she dug into her breakfast. Her wavy locks bounced with every enthusiastic bite.“Mommy, why are you so quiet?” she asked, her big brown eyes filled with concern. “You look sad.”I forced a smile, though it felt like a mask. “I'm just thinking about work, sweetie. Nothing to worry about.”Reese frowned, her fork pausing mid-air. “Is it because of Daddy?”My heart skipped a beat. “Why do you say that?”“You always get quiet when you think about him.” She shrugged, taking another bite of her pancake. “And you’re not singing anymore in the mornings. I like it when you sing.”I reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “I'm sorry, baby. Mommy's just got a lot on her mind right now.”“Is it about that lady, Julia?” Reese asked, her voice small. “You were talking about her with A
Sophia’s POVIt was yet another day at work. I moved through the office like a zombie, barely registering the world around me. Each step felt mechanical, and I couldn’t shake off the anxiety that was bubbling just below the surface. The DNA results were all I could think about. I kept myself busy, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach. But it was no use.I hadn’t seen or heard from Elijah in days, and I couldn’t help but worry about him. Is he okay? What is he thinking? The last time we spoke, things were tense, and now, with everything that had happened, I could only hope he was alright.My phone rang, breaking through my anguished disposition. I glanced at the screen and instantly felt relieved when I saw Daniel’s name.“Daniel,” I said, answering quickly. Just hearing his voice somehow gave me solace and hope in the midst of the current situation. “Sophia, are you okay?” His concern was evident, and it made me feel so grateful. “I heard everything from Kayla. I’m so
Elijah’s POVThe moment I stepped into the lobby of my office building, I felt at home. This was definitely oddly comforting, providing a small slice of normalcy in a world that had recently gone haywire. I barely registered the greetings from the receptionist as I made my way to the elevators. My mind was still consumed with the events of the past week. Julia—or whoever she really was—had left me with mixed emotions of anger, relief, and confusion. The wedding that never happened felt like a distant memory now, one that I was grateful hadn't come to pass. I never loved her that way, anyway, I thought sadly. But she still betrayed me, and I cared so much about her. Surprisingly, it hurt a lot. What’s more, I was no closer to finding Sabrina than I'd been all those years ago. The realization that I was back to square one was hard to swallow.As the elevator doors closed, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen and saw Trevis's name. “Hey, Trevis,” I answered, my voice
Sophia’s POVI pushed open the glass doors of the hospital, the antiseptic smell hitting my nose and making my stomach churn. My heart was pounding so loudly I could barely hear the chatter of the nurses at the front desk. The world around me seemed to blur as I approached the reception, my feet feeling heavy and unsteady.“Good afternoon, how can I help you?” the receptionist asked, her smile professional but kind.“I'm here to pick up some DNA test results,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands trembled as I handed her the slip with my details.She typed something into her computer, then nodded. “One moment, please.”I stood there, trying to breathe steadily. My mind raced with a million thoughts. What will happen if I turn out to be Sabrina? Will I tell Elijah? Do I even want to be Sabrina?“Here you go,” the receptionist said, handing me a sealed envelope.“Thank you,” I said, barely audible. I took the envelope, my fingers trembling so much I almost dropped
Sophia’s POVMy heart pounded hard as I waited for Julia to answer. She seemed taken aback for a little while. Then suddenly, her expression twisted into a cruel smirk, and she let out an evil laugh.“You really are a stupid woman, Sophia. You don’t deserve to be with Elijah. You should’ve realized by now that all he cared about was who Sabrina was. Not you. It was never about you. And besides, you already left him once, so why bother going back and being treated the same way?”I was shocked, the words stinging like a slap to the face. But I refused to let her see how much it affected me. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm and composed. “You didn’t answer my question, Julia.”Her smirk faded, replaced by a look of annoyance and anger. “You may be the real Sabrina, but you don’t even remember anything! What use are you to Elijah? If not for your child, he wouldn’t be bothered with being with you.”I gasped. “So you’ve always known that I’m Sabrina?”She didn’t answer me direct
Sophia’s POVThe car ride to the airport was anything but quiet. Kayla and Connor were deep in conversation up front, their voices occasionally punctuated by bursts of laughter or sharp exchanges. I, however, was wrapped up in my own world, seated alone in the backseat, thinking about the last conversation I had with Elijah. Kayla’s voice suddenly broke through the chatter. “You know, I just can’t wrap my head around why we’re even bothering to send Serena off. I mean, she’s not as evil as Julia, but she’s still got a lot of skeletons in her closet. Plus, she caused a lot of trouble too! Remember when she spiked your drink, Sophia? Gosh, that was cruel. And she’s stolen plenty from Elijah’s company too.”Connor glanced at her, a trace of bemusement in his eyes. “It seems like Serena’s really turned things around. She’s made amends, after all.”I could barely follow what they were talking about, as my mind kept replaying every detail of my conversation with Elijah. The way he’d looke
Sophia’s POVThe warm scent of baked rosemary chicken and freshly baked bread greeted me as I stepped into Phoebe’s cozy apartment, immediately putting me at ease. Roxy and Jared scurried ahead, their laughter bouncing off the walls. Reese was the first to greet them, her face lighting up as she jumped up from the playmat in the corner.“Mommy!” Reese ran over, wrapping her arms around me in a quick hug before joining her siblings. “We’re playing house! Jared is the baby!”I laughed, kissing the top of her head. “You all behave, alright? And no bossing Jared around too much, Reese.”Kayla emerged from the small kitchen, balancing baby Asha on her hip. Her warm smile widened when she saw me. “Sophia! Finally. I was starting to think you’d gotten stuck in another snowstorm.”“Trust me, I almost did,” I said, exhaling as I set down my bag. “Thanks for picking up Reese. You’re a lifesaver.”“No problem,” Kayla replied, adjusting Asha in her arms. “You know I love spending time with your l
Sophia’s POVAs I stepped into my car, the cold leather seats sent a sharp chill through me. The afternoon sun, shy but persistent, peeked through scattered clouds, bathing the pristine snow in a gentle radiance. Thankfully, the blizzard had blown over quickly, and the roads were clear enough to navigate. It was the kind of crisp day that made the world feel brand new, but my thoughts were far from fresh.Lucas stood near the entrance of the ski resort, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. He waved, a warm smile on his face as I rolled down my window.“Thanks for coming, Sabrina,” he called, his voice carrying easily in the still air. I forced a polite smile, not knowing how to feel about him still calling me Sabrina up to now, especially after what I'd just discovered about my childhood. “Thanks, Lucas. The resort has so much potential. I’ll send over the updated designs soon.”“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, stepping back. “Drive safe. Roads might still be icy in some spot
Emily’s POVThe biting cold wrapped around me like a vice as the forest settled into an eerie stillness. The sounds of the chase from the night before had faded, but they seemed to continue echoing in my head. My legs ached, my hands were raw, and my breath fogged in the frigid air as I stumbled forward, searching for something—anything—that could serve as a refuge.It’s getting late. I have to find shelter first. The darkness was suffocating, but then, faintly, through the trees, I saw a glimmer of light. My heart leaped as I cautiously approached, praying it wasn’t a trap. What I found instead was a small, dilapidated hunting shack, nearly swallowed by the forest. Its wooden walls were warped, the roof sagging in places, but it was shelter. For now, it was enough.Inside, the air was stale and cold, but at least it shielded me from the howling wind. I found a dusty lantern and managed to light it with trembling hands, its soft glow pushing back the shadows. There was an old cot in
Sophia’s POVThe memory hung in my mind like a shadow, vivid and unsettling. Lucas’s voice—the one I had heard in my dream, the one calling for Sabrina—now felt too real to dismiss as just a fragment of my imagination.I tried to focus on the snow, its mesmerizing dance beyond the glass, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing.And then Lucas stepped closer, his presence pulling me from my turmoil. His eyes searched mine. “What are you remembering?” he asked carefully. I turned to face him fully, my heart thundering in my chest. “It’s… hard to explain,” I began, forcing the words out through the lump in my throat. “I had a dream—a nightmare, really—about when I got lost in the snowstorm as a child. I mean, I already know that it was Morgana who actually left me behind because she’d met with her lover then. But now…”Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Now what?”“Well, in my dream, I thought I heard Elijah calling my name. He’d been there with his family too, so…”Lucas’s expression tightened, but he s
Sophia’s POVThe view outside the window was breathtaking—snow-dusted hills stretching endlessly under a pale blue sky. The cozy lounge, with its crackling fire and soft golden lighting, felt like the perfect setting for a romantic moment. It should have been calming, but my mind was anything but calm.That photo of Elijah and Victoria burned in my memory. Her sitting so close to him, their laughter captured at just the right moment. It made my chest tighten with anger and something I didn’t want to name—jealousy. The thought alone made me queasy, but it also left me vulnerable. Vulnerable to Lucas.I glanced at him. He stood just a few feet away, his expression soft but intent, watching me like I was the only person in the world. His confession still echoed in my ears, and I couldn’t deny the pull of the moment. It was too perfect, too charged. For a brief, fleeting second, I let myself wonder what it would feel like to bask in his affection, to let myself be swept up in something s
Elijah’s POVThe silence in my office was deafening. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the half-empty coffee cup on my desk. The bitterness clung to my tongue, a reminder of the recent situation in my marriage. Oh, Sophia. What’s happening to us?She’d been consuming my every thought lately. And not in the way she used to. Not with warmth or laughter, but with cold uncertainty. We hadn’t spoken properly since I sent her those flowers. It was my way of saying: I still care about you. She’d thanked me, of course, but there was no follow-up. No deep conversation. I really miss her. God knows how much I miss my wife. We used to talk about everything. The kids. Work. The stupid little things that made up our days. Now? She was busy. Always busy. Late nights at the office. Early mornings. And when she was home, she was either buried in her laptop or tiptoeing around me like I was made of glass. And it wasn’t just work. It was that damn Lucas who found a way to be with her more. Just
Sophia’s POVThe image of Elijah and Victoria stayed with me, eating away at my thoughts like an unyielding tempest. They looked so comfortable together, so... familiar. It wasn’t just Victoria’s presence that unnerved me—it was the way Elijah seemed to let her get close. Is he falling for her? No. No, it’s impossible. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing faster than I could contain it.We need to talk. Soon. Heart to heart, I resolved, my chest tightening as I fought back a surge of emotion. The silence of the room around me only made the ache sharper, more vivid.Just then, Lucas’s footsteps broke through the quiet, and I quickly pushed my phone back into my pocket. He entered the lounge with a tray balanced in his hands, two mugs of steaming hot chocolate sending up tendrils of inviting warmth.The image of Elijah and Victoria lingered in my mind, gnawing at my thoughts like a relentless storm. They looked so comfortable together, so... familiar. It wasn’t j
Sophia’s POV“Lucas,” I called out, stepping onto the cobblestone path that led to the resort’s grand, albeit faded, entrance. “You’ve got a prime location here.”He emerged from the double doors, his familiar grin warm against the chilly mountain air. “Sophia, welcome. How was the drive up?”“Long,” I admitted, adjusting my scarf as the wind tugged at it. I was bundled up in a navy wool coat, a pair of tan ankle boots, and a thick cream-colored knit scarf. The frosty air bit at my cheeks, and I shoved my gloved hands into my coat pockets for warmth. “But worth it. This place…” I gestured to the sprawling ski resort behind him, its old-world charm dulled by time and neglect. “It’s stunning. Or at least, it has the bones to be.”Lucas chuckled, his gaze lingering on me. “That’s why you’re here. To make it amazing again.”As I stepped closer, I caught the faint scent of pine and woodsmoke clinging to the air, mingling with the crispness of the snow-dusted ground. For a brief moment, the
Sophia’s POVThe sight of Phoebe standing in the doorway took my breath away. She looked so different from the last time I’d seen her—thinner, her cheekbones more pronounced, her posture subdued. But her eyes, wide and shimmering with unshed tears, carried a familiar depth of emotion that struck me instantly. Before I could speak, she stepped forward and wrapped both Kayla and me in a tight embrace.“Phoebe,” I murmured, still stunned. “You’re here.”Her hug felt prolonged, as if she were drawing strength from it. When she pulled back, her hands rested firmly on my arms, her smile wavering slightly. “I couldn’t stay away any longer,” she said, her voice soft but laden with feeling. “I needed to see you.”“We’ve missed you so much,” Kayla said, adjusting Asha on her hip. Asha reached out with a tiny hand, patting Phoebe’s cheek, as if sensing the tension in the air. Kayla smiled gently, her tone as soothing as always. “How have you been?”Phoebe hesitated, brushing a tear from her chee