Sophia’s POVI woke up with a start, my body tense. I had just drifted into a light sleep when the knock on the door jolted me awake. I glanced at the clock — past midnight.For a moment, I lay still, listening intently, trying to make sense of the late-night disturbance. Burglar? Visitor? Or just a mistake?I grabbed my phone, its soft glow illuminating the dark room, and dialed the police’s number. But I didn’t tap on the call button yet. Slowly I tiptoed to the door, my heart pounding. The knock came again, louder this time, echoing through the silent apartment. I hesitated, unsure whether to answer. But a burglar wouldn't knock, right? I looked through the peephole and saw the man standing there outside my door. “Elijah!” I gasped in surprise. What the hell is he doing here again, and at this time of the night?!Taking a few deep breaths, I was about to walk away and go back to sleep when I heard him call my name. For a while, I’d wanted to pretend it was just some bad dream. But
Serena’s POVRrriiiinnngggg!I woke up with a start. For a while, I thought it was morning already. But it was still dark outside. It’s almost 3 am. Who the hell could be calling me? The number was unfamiliar. I answered it, anyway. “Hello?” I said in a sleepy voice, sitting up on my hotel bed. “Hi,” a low male voice greeted. “I’m so sorry to call you at this hour. My name is Trevis, and I’m a friend of Elijah’s. I got your number from his assistant Connor.”“Oh, okay…” “Listen, Serena, I was just wondering if you know whether Elijah got back to your hotel already?” He sounded worried. “It’s just that we were together earlier and I noticed that his mood was a little off. He wasn’t his usual self, and I’m just a bit worried about him.”I had already climbed off the bed and put on my slippers. “Let me check,” I told Trevis. “Hold on.” I quickly went to the room beside mine and knocked several times on the door. There was no answer. “He just suddenly took off while we were at the bar
Elijah’s POVMy eyes widened in alarm. I felt my heart plummeting to the ground just as I heard my breaths coming in short and raspy. “Don’t you remember what you said last night, Elijah?” Serena asked, looking anxious. “I, uh…” My mind was a complete blank. I was so drunk last night that I couldn’t remember what had happened when I went to Sophia’s apartment. But I was pretty sure that we hadn’t talked about anything of that sort. “I don’t remember, but I know that Sophia would never do something like that. If she really said it, then she was probably just making it up or exaggerating to drive me away!”“Well, it didn’t seem like it,” Serena responded casually. “I don’t think a woman can joke about something like that. And you know that Sophia’s not the type to drop empty threats. Besides, she already lost her baby once so perhaps it doesn’t really matter to her anymore, especially if it’s your child.”Her words made my heart ache. It made me remember how Sophia and I met at the uni
Elijah’s POV It was Chris Baker who had sent me the message. Surprisingly, I found myself hanging out with him and Trevis at the bar on the ground floor of my Paris hotel. “You don’t waste any time, do you?” Trevis said to Chris, chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief at the same time. “Wait, why did you suddenly come here, anyway?” I wondered with great curiosity and confusion. “I told him about that girl Julia who resembled his sister Sabrina so much,” Trevis answered for Chris. “Remember I also mentioned her to you? She has started her internship at my studio.” “Oh, that girl,” I said dismissively. I had no intention of even meeting her because I just felt like it was far-fetched to consider she could really be Sabrina after all these years. Meanwhile, Chris was visibly excited, his eyes shining with anticipation. “I can't believe it, Trevis. If this is true, we might finally find Sabrina after all these years,” he exclaimed, taking a sip of his drink. Trevis looked
Elijah, I always thought we’d see the Eiffel Tower together… Without any warning, the thought just popped into my head — an idea that he and I had mentioned during our very first casual date. As I sat in front of my apartment window, I gazed up at the Eiffel Tower looming majestically in the distance, my mind wandering once again to memories of my ex-husband. “Is that your painting?” he’d asked me upon approaching me after class way back during our college days. His eyes were glimmering as he glanced at the Eiffel Tower artwork that peeked out from the folder I was holding. “Uh, yes.”“Have you been to Paris?” I shook my head. “Not yet, but I would love to visit someday. Or perhaps even study and work there.”“I know a coffee shop nearby that has a beautiful mural of Paris…” he’d said. And that afternoon, the two of us got to know each other for the first time. And that was when I first told him that I was allergic to coffee, so he bought a chocolate drink for me instead. I forc
Elijah’s POV“H-How did you know about Sabrina?” I asked, astonished. “It doesn’t matter, Elijah,” Sophia quickly answered. “But who told you about Sabrina?” “Let me tell you the truth,” she said with a sigh. “I never went missing as a child.”“Are you absolutely sure? Maybe you just forgot…”“I’m not Sabrina, okay?” she cut me off, anger flashing in her eyes. “And whoever she is, I don’t care. She’s not a part of my life and neither are you!” Her last words were so painful that I felt as if someone was literally squashing and twisting my heart. Sophia furiously pressed the elevator buttons, eager to move away from me. After a short while, she let out a cry of frustration and headed toward the stairs. I went to follow her.“Sophia, please let’s talk about this,” I cried. She didn’t bother to turn around. Instead, she went faster, almost running away from me. “I need to know the truth…”“I already told you!” she shouted when she finally reached her floor. She turned around to face
Elijah’s POVI arrived at the hospital that Kayla had told me about, my heart pounding in my chest. On the way, I had been so worried that I had almost run a red light and crashed my car. But now, as I rushed through the hospital doors, the only thought going through my head was that Sophia really didn’t want our baby.I hurried through the hallway of the maternity ward, passing by many pregnant mothers, each with a smile on their face. It only served to deepen the ache in my chest, knowing that Sophia was here too, but her situation was so different and she was feeling the opposite. Am I the one who drove her to do this?! How could she not want our baby?!As I arrived outside Sophia's room, I saw Daniel sitting there, looking at me forlornly. His expression was one of resignation, as if he had been expecting me.“I need to see her,” I quickly said, rushing forward. But Daniel stood up at once and positioned himself between me and the door. “You can’t. She specifically told me not to
Sophia’s POVI felt weak as I was discharged from the hospital, but also relieved to be leaving. “Before we go, I have a surprise for you…” Daniel said as he and a nurse helped me transfer to the waiting wheelchair. I looked at him in surprise. And before I could say anything, my best friend Kayla waltzed into the room with a huge smile. “I’m here!” she exclaimed, rushing forward to give me a quick hug. “Oh, I’ve missed you so much.”I stared at her in disbelief. “You didn’t tell me you were coming here! I thought you were super busy!”“Well, I worked double time to make it here earlier. And it turned out to be a good thing because look at you! You definitely need me here.”I gave her a faint smile, grateful for her friendship and concern. “The doctor said I was just stressed out, but I’m glad the baby’s okay.”“I’m glad too. Well, did your pretend pregnancy termination plan work?”“Yeah, I think so…” I felt a little guilty for lying and pretending, but it had to be done. I needed to
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