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
Elijah’s POVI tried to stay focused on my conversation with Serena, but my attention kept drifting to the scene unfolding nearby. Sophia and Adrian were saying their goodbyes, and despite my best efforts, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Kayla’s voice carried over the noise of the terminal, her teasing tone clear even from a distance. I couldn’t quite make out her words, but it seemed like she was playfully probing Adrian about something, maybe insinuating that there’s something between him and Sophia. There’s nothing between them, is there? I thought, disturbed. Is that story starting over again?!No, no, no. It’s not possible. That was another voice in my head. “What are you looking at?” Serena’s voice brought me back to the present. She touched my shoulder lightly, her fingers warm against my skin.I glanced at her, trying to shake off the distraction. “Just... distracted. It’s been a long day. And we’ve all been through so much.”She smiled gratefully, her eyes soft. “Yes, that’s