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
Elijah’s POVI had barely unpacked my bags when I dialed Connor’s number, eager to push the new leads from France into action. The call connected, and his voice came through, upbeat and professional.“Mr. Sinclair! I heard you’re back. Congratulations on the new information. It was a fruitful investigation, wasn’t it?”“Yes, it was,” I said, my voice betraying none of the urgency I felt. “I need you to forward everything I emailed you to the police and the private investigators. Make sure they follow up on it right away.”“Consider it done,” Connor replied. “So, what’s next for you? Any more globe-trotting?”I hesitated. “I’ve got something urgent to attend to back home. I can’t go into details, but it’s important.”“Alright, just let me know if you need anything else. And once again, congrats.”“Yeah, thanks, Connor. Talk soon.”I hung up and glanced around my office, the familiar space now seeming oddly distant. My thoughts were already on Sophia. I needed to find her, but she wasn’
Daniel’s POV“So,” I began that afternoon as Sophia and I munched on the cookies I’d brought to her apartment, “we need to make another site visit soon. There are a few changes that my engineer and architect want to go over.”Sophia looked up from the kettle, her eyes brightening with interest. “Really? That sounds good. When were you thinking?”“How about later this week?” I suggested, eager to spend more time with her while we worked on the project. “We can go through the changes and see how it all fits together.”She nodded eagerly as she poured hot chocolate for both of us. “I’d love that. I actually talked to Kayla about the project earlier today when we went shopping. She’s really excited about it, too.”“Oh, that’s great to hear!” I replied, genuinely pleased. “What did she think of the design?”Sophia’s smile widened. “She loved it. She even gave me a few suggestions that I think will work well. I’ll bring them up with the engineer and architect, too.”“Perfect. Thanks so much
Elijah’s POVThe jarring blare of my alarm clock jolted me awake, dragging me out of a restless sleep that had been plagued with thoughts of Sophia and Daniel. Oh, damn. I stared up at the ceiling, trying to soothe my troubled mind — to no avail. The image of them hugging, the way they seemed so close, replayed in my head like a bad loop. I had left the apartment abruptly, feeling an uncomfortable weight in my chest that deeply burdened me. I hate this. Why can’t I get that picture out of my head?!I rubbed my eyes, trying to banish the memory. It wasn’t like me to not fight for something I yearned for. But the last thing I wanted was to give Sophia another reason to be upset with me. At home, I tossed and turned in bed, the events of the past few days swirling in my mind. The information I’d gathered about Julia and Henry in France just added to the chaos of my thoughts. Sleep had been elusive, and by morning, I dragged myself out of bed feeling like a zombie.I arrived at my off
Elijah’s POVThe sports bar thrummed with energy, and the familiar sounds seemed to distract me for a little bit. On the screens, a soccer game played, the commentators' excited voices and the crowd's roars adding to the thrilling atmosphere. “Let’s go check out Elijah’s date, guys!” Chris said cheerfully, massaging my shoulders in a teasing way. I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering if he was actually serious. Trevis just kept laughing the entire time. Soon we occupied our usual corner booth, a spot that had witnessed countless laughs and late-night debates over the years. Trevis then motioned for the waiter to get our orders. “One beautiful date for my buddy here, please!” he jokingly said. “Make sure she’s a hot, talented, successful designer!”Chris burst out laughing, and I threw the table napkin at Trevis, making us all laugh. Inside, I felt quite relieved. I certainly wasn’t in the mood for any “date”. Later on, I took a sip of my beer, savoring the cold, crisp taste. Chris l
Elijah’s POVI slouched back in my chair, feeling the warmth of the whiskey spread through my veins, a pleasant haze blurring the edges of the sports bar. Trevis and Chris were deep in a heated discussion about some football game, their laughter loud and infectious.I joined in, tossing my two cents in now and then, feeling lighter than I had in a long time. It had been a great evening, filled with camaraderie and the kind of easy conversation that flowed effortlessly between old friends.The only downside was that I’d had one too many drinks. I wasn’t in any shape to drive, and neither were Trevis or Chris. “Guys, I think it’s time to call it a night,” I said, trying to suppress a hiccup.Chris grinned, raising his glass. “Agreed, but who’s driving?”I shook my head. “No one here. I’ll call Connor. He owes me one.”After a quick call, Connor agreed to pick me up. Trevis and Chris hailed cabs, slapping me on the back and making me promise to do this again soon. I watched them go, feel
Sophia’s POVI didn’t know what to say, how to react. It was shocking, to say the least. I felt my mind spinning, like a reel of old film flashing scenes from our past. I saw us meeting for the first time, the initial spark and the whirlwind of emotions that followed.I remembered him marrying me because he got me pregnant. But then, I had a miscarriage, and he began ignoring me afterwards. I thought of the time since then, how he’d drifted out of my life and how I had tried to move on.It felt like his confession had just hit me with a sudden, jarring impact. I had waited so long for him to say it, to hear him declare his love. But why am I not ecstatic, jumping up and down? Why do I just feel confused and anxious? Did I still love him? It had been so long since I’d let myself think about that possibility. I had resigned myself to moving on, and though I knew I still cared for him, I wasn’t sure if what I felt could still be considered love. The air between us felt charged, and I
Sophia’s POVA hush of golden light slipped through the curtains, draping the room in warmth and calm. It felt like the kind of morning that only came after surviving the storm.Weeks had passed since the chaos faded, and for once, the quiet didn’t feel temporary—it felt earned. I stirred slowly, eyes drifting open to find Elijah beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine. I studied him in the silence, taking in the softened edges of a man who’d carried us through fire and finally found peace.I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, he smiled sleepily."Morning," he murmured."Morning," I whispered back, letting my fingers trace the line of his jaw. "Can you believe we actually get to wake up like this? No chaos, no danger—just us."He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "I could get used to this."Just as I was about to say something, the door burst open."Mommy! Daddy!" Reese called out, followed quickly by Roxy an
Elijah’s POVWe weaved through the cracked streets, deeper into a part of the city that felt like time had forgotten it. Boarded-up windows, rusted signage, buildings collapsing in on themselves. This was the kind of place where ghosts lingered, and today, we were chasing one of them."We’re close," Joe muttered from the front seat, his eyes scanning the GPS on his phone. "This is the last possible location that fits Hugo's hideouts."Antoine sat beside me in the back, silent but focused. His jaw was tight, hands clenched. I still didn’t know if I fully trusted him, but I couldn’t deny this: he was here, risking his neck like the rest of us. And right now, I’d take any edge we could get.I have to find Grandpa George. For Sophia.When we pulled up to the burned-out remains of what once looked like a chapel, a chill shot down my spine. The stone structure still stood, half-charred, the wooden beams above blackened and skeletal. Nature had tried to reclaim it—vines curling around scorch
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…”Her name was the only thing in my mind as I stormed through the decaying hallway, boots slamming against rotting wood, gun drawn. My pulse thundered in my ears. The floor creaked beneath every step, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.Joe and his men fanned out behind me, covering corners, checking every room.We were running out of time.Then—A scream.My heart nearly stopped. It was her.I charged forward, slamming my shoulder into the door at the end of the hall. It burst open—and I saw red.Morgana was on the ground, gasping for air as Hugo’s hand squeezed her throat, and across the room, Sophia was trying to drag herself toward them, her face pale and streaked with tears.“NO!” I shouted, and without hesitation, I raised my gun.Hugo turned just as I fired.The bullet tore through his shoulder. He howled, stumbling back and releasing Morgana, who crumpled to the floor, coughing violently.I crossed the room in three strides and tackled Hugo before he could
Sophia’s POVThe first thing I felt was cold.A biting chill that wrapped around my arms and legs like a second set of restraints. Then came the pressure—tight, scratchy ropes cutting into my wrists. My head pounded like a drum, fog thick behind my eyes. Everything smelled like mildew and dust.My eyes struggled to make sense of the shadows.The room was dim, lit only by a weak bulb overhead that flickered like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay on. I was on a metal chair, hands tied behind my back, ankles secured to the legs. The air tasted stale and old, like the walls had been sealed off from the world for decades.Panic bloomed in my chest.My brother Chris. What had become of him?I jerked forward, straining against the ropes. “Chris!” I called, my voice hoarse and raw. “Where is he?!”I noticed some movement in the darkness. A shadow stirred in the corner of the room. I froze as a figure stepped out into the light. Tall. Gray-streaked beard. Sunken eyes like old coals. A d
Sophia’s POV“This is insane,” Elijah muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “We’re relying on Antoine to lead us to Hugo. Does no one else see how crazy that is?”Joe, who had been checking messages on his phone, barely looked up. “We don’t have another choice.”I watched Elijah pace the room, his frustration clear. He wasn’t wrong, but I knew that if there was even the smallest chance of finding Grandpa George, we had to take it.Joe sighed and turned to Antoine. “You sure you can make him bite?”Antoine shrugged. “I know Hugo. He’s a cockroach—he won’t go down without a fight. But if he thinks his last hiding spot is compromised, he’ll make a move. That’s when we strike.”Elijah muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Joe’s phone buzzed. As he studied the screen, he said, “We got something. Two possible locations.”Elijah straightened. “Then let’s move.”They all hurried out, and I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to call Elijah back—to make sure he’d pick up
Sophia’s POVMy mother sat on the couch, clutching Grandma Evelyn’s hands, trying to calm her down. My father stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, his face pale and unreadable.Chris and Connor were huddled over a laptop at the dining table, analyzing security footage.Joe was already there, speaking into his phone, barking orders to his contacts.But no one had any answers yet.And Grandpa George was still missing.I turned to my grandmother, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma—did you see anything? Anyone suspicious? A car, a stranger?”Her red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook her head. “No… nothing. I don’t know how this happened.” Her voice broke. “George was just in his study… and then he was gone.”Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He wasn’t just worried—he was furiousJust then, Chris snapped his fingers at the screen. “We’ve got something.”Connor turned the laptop t
Sophia’s POVWe had been trying to track down both Antoine and Hugo, but they had vanished like ghosts.No leads. No sightings. Nothing.Lucas had called me earlier, still searching, still digging. Even Elijah and his contacts have been working doubly hard. But so far, they’d come up empty too. It was frustrating—knowing the danger was out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.But tonight…Tonight, we weren’t going to think about it.Tonight, we were here to celebrate.After all, Lila and Adrian’s joint concert was finally happening. This was their moment, their dream unfolding before them.And for the first time in what felt like forever, we were all together, enjoying something good.Kayla was everywhere at once, her headset on, clipboard in hand, barking last-minute instructions into her earpiece. She was stressed, frantic… but glowing. Even though there could have been other people to take care of all this from her company, she wanted to be in charge, to personal
Emily’s POV“Walk away, Hugo,” Antoine said sharply, stepping in front of us as if to shield us from the strange man.The name triggered a memory.Chris had mentioned it just yesterday—Hugo Tournier. Suddenly, I remembered. It’s the name Sophia and Elijah had been trying to track down. The man who had supposedly changed Sophia’s life forever.And now he’s here. Why?!My hands instinctively balled up as my heart slammed against my ribs. Could this really be the same man?Hugo’s expression darkened with satisfaction as he took another step, exuding an air of quiet arrogance.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. “You’re not as fun outside of prison, Antoine.”Phoebe’s grip on my wrist tightened. “Emily, let’s go,” she muttered under her breath.I wanted to. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave. But I couldn’t—not yet.Hugo came forward, his eyes staring straight at me. He gave a low chuckle, mocking. “It’s interesting to meet Sabrina Ba
Emily’s POVI refused to flinch. Even as Antoine stood in front of me, blocking my way, I forced my body to stay still, to stay firm.I squared my shoulders, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Move.”Antoine didn’t budge. His gaze shifted between me and Phoebe, like he wasn’t sure if I’d actually listen or turn and run.“I’m not here to fight,” he said, his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”Phoebe’s grip on my arm tightened, and her anger was immediate, sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let him see me feeling nervous or affected by him. Antoine exhaled, his face unreadable. “I just wanted to talk.”Phoebe laughed coldly. “Talk? You took Jared, Antoine. Without permission. Do you have any idea what you put us through?”“I know,” he admitted. “I made a mistake.”Phoebe scoffed. “A mistake?”I stepped forward, my gaze hardening. “Please, Antoine.