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
Sophia’s POVI couldn’t help but laugh softly at the dynamic between them. “Okay, enough about that already. I think we have to stop considering what Morgana or Anderson or even Elijah wants. This is Lila’s life after all. And it’s Kayla’s company. So there.”Connor chuckled and threw his hands up. “Alright, alright, I give up. You’ve convinced me. I’m officially out of this debate.”Kayla smirked triumphantly, then leaned back in her chair. “Thanks, Sophia. It’s good to know I’ve got your support.”Suddenly, I decided to switch gears. “Speaking of Elijah, what has he been up to lately?” I tried to sound casual, but I could feel my curiosity creeping in.Kayla’s eyebrow shot up, a knowing look flashing across her face. I ignored it, more focused on the fact that Elijah hadn’t been in touch with me as much recently. Reese had mentioned a few days ago that Elijah had dropped by the apartment, but since then, I hadn’t heard a peep from him.Connor leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful e
Sophia’s POVWe rushed to the car, and Connor drove swiftly through the streets. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of fear and worry. I could barely breathe, the panic constricting my chest.When we arrived at the school, I ran straight to the office, my voice urgent. “I need to speak to whoever’s in charge. My daughter is missing.”The principal, a stern-looking woman, came out to meet us. “We’re doing everything we can,” she assured us. “We’ve checked all the security footage and asked all the teachers and staff. No one has seen her leave the premises.”Kayla and Connor fanned out, speaking with the teachers and parents who were still lingering around. The responses were disheartening—no one had seen Reese leave or noticed anything out of the ordinary.“We’re going to drive around the neighborhood,” Kayla said, her voice filled with determination. “Maybe someone saw something.”We all piled into the car, driving slowly through the area, scanning every corner. My eyes were blurred with
Sophia’s POVDaniel looked shaken, perhaps because he’d never seen me this angry. Especially not at him. “Sophia… Please forgive me,” he said in a pleading voice, stepping forward with an apologetic, almost shameful expression. “I wasn’t thinking straight… I just… I wanted to make Reese happy, and I didn’t think it through.”I felt so overwhelmed with the various emotions in my chest that I just didn’t want to face him at the moment. I shook my head, trying to calm myself because I didn’t want to blow it up further. “I can’t talk with you right now, Daniel.” Then before I could help myself, I added, “Perhaps you had no idea how it would make me feel because you don’t have any kids yourself.”He looked really hurt, and a part of me instantly regretted my words. But there was also a part of me that didn’t care how it affected him. I just sighed and instead faced Reese. My heart ached as I looked at my little girl. “Oh, Reese,” I said, trying to speak in a steady voice. “You know I lov
Julia’s POVThe walls of my cell felt like they were closing in on me, pressing against my sanity. The plain gray cement, the steel bars, the incessant drone of fluorescent lights—they all blended into a maddening blur. I paced the tiny space like a caged animal, trying to keep the panic at bay. My mind raced with thoughts of how it all had gone so wrong. I had worked so hard, put so much effort into everything, and now I was here, in this godforsaken place, with nothing but my own fury and regret for company.“Aarrrggghhh!” I would sometimes scream out of frustration, banging my fists on the wall. But no one would even bother to come because the prison guards and police officers already knew that I wasn’t ill or in danger. The boredom sometimes drove me to the edge. I’d sit on the hard cot, staring at the same patch of wall, my thoughts circling in an endless loop. This is just temporary, I often reminded myself. The trial’s just around the corner. I tried to cling to the hope th
Julia’s POVI heard the clatter of a metal tray being slipped through the small slot in my cell door. I glared at him through the steel bars I was gripping with my hands. “I’m right here, Idiot!” I shouted. But the guard just kept on going, his expression impassive.I walked over and glanced at the tray. The food looked bland and unappetizing, a sad heap of grayish slop that seemed to mock my misery. My stomach churned at the sight, and I suddenly felt like throwing up. I pushed the plate away with a disgusted groan.“I’m not hungry,” I muttered to the empty cell. “I couldn’t even stomach that if I tried.”As I turned away from the food, my mind suddenly shifted to thoughts of Sophia. The idea of her being here instead of me seemed to fan the fire inside me. I grew even more livid. Why was I stuck in this hellhole while she was out there, living her life?It was then that a distant memory surfaced, one I hadn’t thought about in years. I remembered meeting Sophia for the very first tim
Elijah’s POVThe rain had finally let up as I left the Goldwell Business School, the sky a gloomy canvas of gray. I slipped the list of contact numbers Peter had given me into my jacket pocket, my thoughts a tangled mess. Peter was a professor there now, but he used to be a close friend of Henry during their university days. “Henry’s very intelligent and responsible,” he’d told me. “He simply breezed through school without having to work that hard. However, he did tend to mix with the wrong crowds.” When I’d asked him to explain further, he told me he didn’t know the details and it would be better if I called Henry’s other friends. All of them basically said the same things. But one of them mentioned that Henry had been suspended for beating up a guy who was dating his sister Julia.“He’s very protective of her,” the friend told me. “They’re quite close, but kinda opposites. Julia’s very friendly and outgoing.”On my way to Henry’s former workplace where I learned he’d stayed the lo
Elijah’s POVOver the past few days, I was able to speak to more of Henry’s college professors and friends, as well as some more former colleagues and bosses. I also had the chance to chat with former employees in his companies. Their stories painted a complex picture of a man driven by massive ambition, willing to do anything and everything to get to the top. I even had a chance to meet with the police investigators who had handled Henry's case before. They informed me that they planned to form a new team to resume the investigation and catch him once and for all. Thank God for that. At least the authorities here will also be looking for him, along with those back home. Maybe we’ll have some answers soon. But today, there was another very important task on my schedule — I intended to talk to Henry and Julia’s parents. And pretty soon, I was driving to the Stanford family estate in Meaux. It was a long drive, but the French countryside was serene and lovely. As I approached the gr
Sophia’s POV"Mom! Look at the rabbits!" Reese’s excited voice rang out as she dashed ahead, her little sister Roxy giggling as she tried to keep up. Jared wasn’t far behind, his laughter ringing through the air. I smiled, watching my children run toward the petting zoo, their energy contagious.Beside me, Emily tensed.I glanced at her, noticing how her shoulders tightened, how her eyes darted around like she was scanning for threats. She was supposed to be enjoying this—a simple afternoon in the botanical garden, surrounded by friends, fresh air, and laughter. It was the perfect opportunity for Emily to bond with Jared, without him feeling nervous or out of place. But years of running, hiding, and surviving had wired her differently.She wasn’t relaxed. She seemed to be waiting for something to go wrong. And I really couldn’t blame her. I reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. “You’re safe here,” I murmured.Emily forced a small smile, nodding, but her fingers still trem
Sophia’s POVThe warmth of freshly baked cookies filled the air, a scent that felt so familiar, so comforting, that for a moment, it was easy to forget all the fear and uncertainty of the past few days.My mother bustled around the kitchen, setting out plates and pouring tea, determined to make this a small celebration, in spite of her still being a bit rattled. But more than anything, I could see that she was very, very happy. Emily and Chris had showered and changed, looking far better than they had when I first walked in. The exhaustion was still there, written in the lines of their faces, but they were standing tall, present, and—most importantly—home.Elijah arrived shortly after, his presence filling the room with steady reassurance. When he saw Chris, he didn’t hesitate, pulling him into a tight embrace. They had been best friends since childhood, and after everything Chris had been through, I could see the relief in Elijah’s eyes. He held onto Emily for a moment, too, murmuri
Sophia’s POVMy heart pounded as I gripped the phone tighter. "Mom? What’s wrong?"There was a moment of silence, just soft, uneven breaths on the other end of the line. My stomach twisted painfully. "Mom, talk to me!""S-Sophia…" her voice cracked, and I felt my chest constrict. "They’re here."I blinked, my mind struggling to keep up. "Who’s here?""Chris and Emily. They’re home."I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat. For a second, I couldn't move, couldn't think. My pulse raced as my mind fought to process what she had just said.Chris and Emily are back.My grip on the phone loosened, my knees nearly buckling from the sudden rush of emotions. Relief, disbelief, overwhelming gratitude."Oh my God," I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. "Are they okay?""I… I don’t know," my mother admitted, still sounding shaken. "They haven’t said much. But you need to come quick."I didn’t hesitate. "I’ll be right there."As I ended the call, I turned to see Elijah watching me,
Sophia’s POVThe kitchen was quiet except for the faint sizzle of eggs in the pan. It was still very early in the morning, and I could see the sun rising through the window. Normally, I would have stopped to admire the view. But my mind was still preoccupied with a lot of chaotic things. I had barely slept.Everything Lucas had told me last night still lingered in my mind, a tangled mess of unanswered questions and uneasy truths. Hugo Tournier. He had been part of my family's past all along, a ghost lurking in the shadows, and now he was back. It settled over me like a heavy fog, impossible to shake.But as much as my thoughts circled around Hugo, it was Elijah’s reaction that unsettled me more. The way he had looked at me. The sharpness in his voice when he told me I didn’t need to talk to Lucas anymore, that Joe would handle the investigation.He hadn’t accused me outright, but I could feel the tension beneath his words. The distance. Lucas was a sensitive issue between us—alwa
Sophia’s POVLucas stood in front of me, his face partially shadowed by the porch light, his eyes unreadable but filled with something that made my stomach twist—regret, sorrow, maybe even guilt.“I don’t even know where to start,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair.I crossed my arms, bracing myself. “Just tell me what you found.”He exhaled sharply, nodding. "I started looking into the records of missing children around the time you disappeared. A lot of reports were vague, but… I found something." He hesitated before continuing, his voice tight. "There was an old witness statement—a retired cop who had once suspected a man named Hugo Tournier."My breath hitched. The name. I had heard it before. Grandpa George had mentioned it when we talked about the man who might have taken me.Lucas continued, unaware of my growing realization. "The name meant nothing to me at first, but when I dug deeper, I realized it was connected to your family."My pulse quickened. “Connected how?
Emily’s POVDarkened streets stretched endlessly ahead as we sped through the city, the glow of neon signs flickering across the windshield. The sound of other cars was distant, almost muffled, drowned out by the pounding of my heart. My grip tightened on the edge of my seat, eyes darting to every shadowed alley, every figure on the sidewalk. It felt like eyes were on us—watching, waiting.Chris’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw set in a hard line. He hadn’t said much since we got the warning. The burner phone lay silent between us, the last message still glowing on the screen:“Do not go to the docks. You are being watched.”I swallowed hard. "Who sent it?""No idea," Chris muttered. "Could be someone helping us. Could be someone luring us into another trap."My stomach twisted. "So what do we do?"He exhaled sharply, eyes darting to the rearview mirror. "We can’t risk it. If someone’s waiting for us at the docks, we won’t stand a chance. We haven't been able to reach Crimson Ve
Sophia’s POVJared was safe. That was all that mattered.We were gathered in the house, the weight of the night still pressing heavily on our shoulders. But at least Jared was asleep now, curled up in his bed like nothing had happened. He hadn’t seemed afraid, hadn’t even realized the gravity of what Antoine had done. And for that, I was grateful. The last thing I wanted was for him to carry fear because of this.But once he woke up, I knew I would have to face the reality of telling him about his father. And why it was only now that he was finding out about Antoine. “We’re not pressing charges,” I had told Elijah. But we did have to watch our backs more carefully, to stay guarded and alert all the time. And we needed to make sure never to let Jared out of our sights again. Still, we had made Antoine promise never to pull something like this again. Not that his word meant much. I didn’t trust him, and I knew Elijah didn’t either. This wasn’t over. Not really.Phoebe sat beside me,
Sophia’s POVElijah and I sprinted through the mall, dodging past confused shoppers and security personnel as the urgency of the moment drove us forward. My heart pounded in my ears, my breaths coming fast and shallow.“We need to check the parking lot exits,” Elijah said, his voice tight with controlled fury. “If Antoine took Jared, he won’t risk staying here much longer.”Elijah nodded, pulling out his phone and dialing Joe. The moment Joe answered, Elijah got straight to the point. “Antoine’s here. He took Jared. We need to know if he has a car registered in his name or any known places he might go.”I looked at Elijah in anticipation. He nodded then ended the call. "He said he'll get back to us soon."My eyes darted around the busy corridor, searching for any sign of our son.Jared, my sweet boy. Where are you?Phoebe ran alongside me, her face streaked with tears. “He must’ve followed us,” she choked out. “I swear, I didn’t think— I mean, I saw someone watching, but I wasn’t sure
Sophia’s POVI pushed through the crowded mall, my heart hammering in my chest, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The world around me blurred into a haze of faces and voices, none of them the one I was searching for. Oh, god, Jared. Please be okay.My mind screamed his name with every step I took, my hands trembling as I grabbed Phoebe’s arm, trying to keep both of us steady.“He has to be here,” Phoebe said, her voice shaking as she wiped at her tear-streaked face. “He has to be here somewhere.”I wanted to believe her. I had to believe her. But the sheer panic clawing at my throat made it hard to hold on to hope. Jared wasn’t just missing—he seemed to have vanished into thin air. And the longer he was gone, the worse the possibilities became.“Elijah’s talking to security,” I said, scanning every store, every passerby, searching for even a glimpse of him. “They’re checking the cameras. We just have to keep looking.”Phoebe nodded frantically, but guilt was etched into every