Elijah’s POVWhy can’t I just talk to her straight, tell her what Serena had been insinuating? And then tell her how I’ve been feeling?I sighed, thinking about Sophia once again. I just couldn’t stop thinking about her. I leaned against the windowsill of my office, staring out at the city below. In my hand, I swirled the last of the wine in my glass. The days since the airport sendoff felt like a haze, a series of moments where I replayed the same scenes in my mind over and over.Dropping Sophia off at her apartment, almost asking her if she was Sabrina, almost telling her how I truly felt… Holy shit! The words had been right there, on the tip of my tongue, but something held me back. Fear, maybe. Or perhaps the gnawing uncertainty that I could be wrong.I’m not sure how she’ll react, and that scares me. She’d always been adamant that she wasn’t Sabrina. I took a sip of the wine, savoring its warmth before placing the glass on my desk. I picked up my cellphone, scrolling until I fo
Kayla’s POVSitting across from Connor in the quaint little cafe, I couldn't help but smile as I stared at him over the delicious spread of pastries on our table. Sometimes I still couldn’t believe that we had ended up together. But I was really happy with him. Connor took a sip of his latte and smiled at me. “So, how's Adrian doing in Italy?” he asked curiously.I leaned back in my chair, a smile tugging at my lips. “He just had his first successful concert there,” I said proudly. “He's off to another venue soon. He's really making a name for himself over there. People are loving him!”Connor nodded, a pleased expression on his face. “That's great to hear. Has he been hanging out with Serena much?”I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “Adrian was kind of vague about it,” I admitted. “But I think he's still in love with Sophia. He's always asking how she is.”Connor frowned slightly, his face showing great concern. “Elijah is beyond himself,” he said, lowering his voice. “He's h
Sophia’s POV“Mommy, look at that big roller coaster!” Reese squealed, her little feet bouncing off the pavement as she tugged on my hand. The balloon bobbed happily above her head, its bright colors reflecting the sunlight.“I see it, sweetie! Isn’t it amazing?” I said, smiling as I glanced over at Daniel. He was walking beside us, looking happy and content as he observed Reese’s excitement.“Yeah, I haven’t seen a roller coaster that big in ages,” Daniel said, chuckling as he adjusted his sunglasses. “I’m glad you two are having a great time.”“I really appreciate you bringing us here, Daniel,” I said, squeezing his arm gratefully. “Reese is having the time of her life.”“No problem at all,” Daniel replied with a warm grin. “It’s been a while since I had a chance to hang out like this. I’m glad I could be part of it.”The amusement park stretched out before us, showing off a vibrant tapestry of colorful stalls, thrilling rides, and cheerful crowds. Brightly lit attractions towered a
Elijah’s POV“Sophia? Are you here?” I called out after the nanny had let me in, but Sophia’s apartment remained silent. “Ahh she stepped out for a while, Mr. Sinclair,” the nanny told me. “She needed to do some errands.”I felt disappointed, but nonetheless, it was understandable. I had not informed her that I was coming. I just wanted to see them before I left the country. Just then, I heard a cheerful squeal from the other room. “Daddy!” Reese burst into the living room, her face lighting up as she ran toward me. Her small arms wrapped around my legs, and I bent down to scoop her up.“Hey, kiddo,” I said, holding her close. Her laughter was a welcome break from my otherwise rough day.Reese’s eyes twinkled as she wriggled free and started showing me her toys. “Guess what? Mommy and Uncle Daniel took me to the amusement park yesterday! We had so much fun. Uncle Daniel made the best cotton candy!”I forced a smile, though inside, a tight knot of unease was forming. “That sounds lik
Elijah’s POV“I didn’t expect to see this place again,” I murmured, my eyes tracing the grandeur of the Goldwell Institute of Art’s signage. The familiar letters seemed to mock me with their presence, a bittersweet reminder of the past.I had checked into my hotel a few hours earlier, barely pausing to rest before I found myself wandering through the Goldwell Business School campus.The investigators had mentioned Henry was here once, and now that I was here, I couldn’t help but notice the nostalgia stirring within me. This was the same campus where Daniel had once walked with Sophia, a place so intertwined with our shared history.After checking some records and interviewing a few of Henry’s former professors, I still hadn’t gathered any significant information. As I walked further, the path led me to the Institute of Art. My heart ached with an odd mix of sadness, pride, and joy. I remembered Sophia’s determination when she came here to study, pregnant and alone, after our divorce.
Sophia’s POVI glanced at my watch, realizing it was almost time for my meeting with Trevis. With a deep breath, I gathered my designs for Daniel's project and headed toward his office. Knocking softly on the door, I waited for his voice to invite me in.“Come in,” Trevis called out, his tone warm and welcoming.Pushing the door open, I stepped inside and walked over to his desk, spreading out my designs. “Trevis, I have the latest designs for Daniel's project. I wanted to show them to you first.”Trevis leaned forward, adjusting his glasses as he carefully examined each page. A smile slowly spread across his face. “Sophia, these are incredible. Truly, this is some of your best work so far.”I felt a wave of relief and pride wash over me. “Thank you, Trevis. That means a lot.”He continued to admire the designs, shaking his head in disbelief. “You've really come a long way. I'm proud of you.”My heart swelled with gratitude. “I couldn't have done it without your guidance and support.”
Sophia’s POVDaniel pulled up in front of the small, cozy coffee shop. I could see the soft glow of the interior lights through the windows, making the place look inviting despite the tension building inside me. He turned off the engine and looked at me, concern etched across his face.“Are you sure you don't want me to stay for support?” Daniel asked, his voice gentle yet firm.I managed a small smile, trying to reassure him. "You've already done more than enough, Daniel. I'm not afraid of Morgana."He reached out and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You don't have to do this, you know. You have the right to say no to her and never see her again. She's not your mother-in-law anymore.”I sighed, glancing at the coffee shop's entrance. “Yes, but I'm also curious about what she has to say after all the drama that's happened.” I looked back at him, my expression more determined. “I'll be fine. I'm braver and stronger now.” I said the last words jokingly, but Daniel still l
Sophia’s POVI walked into Raven Media the next day, eager to talk to my best friend. The creative department office was just as vibrant as I remembered, the walls lined with artwork and the air filled with creative energy. Kayla spotted me the moment I walked in and waved enthusiastically.“Sophia! Over here!” she called out, her voice cutting through the clamor of the office.I made my way to her private space, where she greeted me with a warm hug and closed the door so we could have some privacy. “Hey, Kayla. You won’t believe the meeting I had yesterday.”“Oh, spill it! What happened?” Kayla’s eyes were wide with curiosity.“I met with Morgana yesterday. She asked to meet me just to tell me not to mess with her daughter!”“What?” Kayla exclaimed in shock. “What was she talking about?” I took a deep breath and plunged on. “Her daughter’s name is Lila and you’ve supposedly met her already? Do you know her?”Kayla gasped. “Oh, no freaking way! Lila can’t be her daughter!” She stood