Sophia’s POVI glanced at my watch, anxiety prickling at my fingertips. The seconds seemed to tick by with persistent urgency as I hurriedly wrapped up my conversation with Trevis. “Thank you for everything today, Trevis. I really appreciate it,” I said, my voice catching slightly. His reassuring smile did little to quell my growing unease.“I’m just glad I could help,” he replied. “Go on, get to the court. You don’t want to miss anything.”I nodded, giving him a quick hug before sprinting out of the building. The chilly air hit me like a splash of cold water, but I barely noticed as I dashed to the curb. My car was in the shop, so I needed a cab. I hailed the first one that came by, the yellow vehicle screeching to a halt in front of me.“Hall of Justice, please,” I told the driver, hopping into the back seat. I felt a jolt of relief as the cab pulled away from the curb, heading toward my destination. My thoughts raced ahead to the courtroom, where I hoped to find Elijah and Chris,
Elijah’s POVI sat in the courtroom, the air heavy with the murmur of spectators and the tension of the day’s proceedings. Chris was beside me, fidgeting nervously. He leaned in close, trying to whisper and yet be heard above the ambient noise.“Julia promised she’d tell the truth today,” he said, a faint note of hope in his tone.I nodded, though I couldn’t muster any optimism. My trust in Julia was long gone, eroded by countless betrayals. I expected nothing from her. The bitterness had set in so deep that even the prospect of justice couldn’t stir much excitement within me.She had betrayed me so damn hard. I was so stupid for believing her, and for almost marrying her. Twice. I couldn’t help but hate myself for this, for being fooled by her. And it made me despise her even more. As the court clerk began calling for order, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I discreetly pulled it out, glancing at the screen. The message was from Trevis: Sophia went to the office looking for you. She t
Julia’s POVI must tell the truth. This is my chance to start fresh, to get a lower sentence. I have no other choice. These were the thoughts swirling in my head as I took the witness stand. Henry has failed me, I thought, my chest feeling heavy. I glanced around the courtroom, trying to make sense of everything. The lawyer's voice cut through the din, demanding my attention.“Julia,” he asked sharply, “did you plan the kidnapping of Reese Sinclair? And did you hurt Reese’s mother, Sophia Bennett, at the beach?”His words felt distant, as if they were coming from underwater. My eyes were locked on Chris and Elijah, their expressions a mix of alarm and urgency. I couldn’t shake the sense that something was terribly wrong. My mind raced, my heart pounding in my chest.A sudden, jarring thought pierced through my confusion: What if Henry had done something? The hope that Henry was back and maybe orchestrating something to get me out of this situation surged within me. My emotions chur
Henry’s POVThe sunlight filtered through the gaps in the wooden slats of the hideout, reflecting uneven beams across the dusty floor. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and old timber, and the sounds of the forest outside seemed oddly muted in the confined space. Sophia was bound to a sturdy wooden chair in the middle of the room, her face streaked with tears and her eyes filled with fear. Her attempts to scream were muffled by the tape over her mouth, her struggles only serving to deepen the lines of exhaustion carved into her features.I grinned, happy to see her suffering. This is all for you, Julia, I thought with satisfaction. I grabbed a worn-out chair and dragged it across the floor, the scraping noise echoing sharply. As I sat down and lit a cigarette, the ember glowed brightly in the daylight. I took a long drag, savoring the feeling of control."You think you and Elijah are so smart, huh?" I said, my voice dripping with disdain. "Well, I'm smarter. I managed t
Julia’s POVThe judge announced a recess, and I slumped back into my seat, feeling the heavy burden of the trial hanging over me.But soon, it’ll be over, I reminded myself as I returned to my seat beside my lawyer. The attorney who had been assigned to me by the government nodded to me. “We can head to the room at the back for a while, Miss Stanford.”Just as I began to rise, eager to escape the courtroom for a moment, a shadow fell over me. I turned to see a man leaning in, his face partially obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. His breath was warm against my ear as he whispered, “Henry's back. Be ready to escape today.”This was the same man who had been signaling to me earlier. My heart leaped. I knew it! Henry would never leave me!A grin spread across my face, my anxiety momentarily forgotten. I looked around desperately, scanning the sea of faces in the courtroom for any sign of Henry, perhaps disguised among the crowd. But he was nowhere to be found.Suddenly, a deafening explosio
Kayla’s POVI paced back and forth on the sandy beach, my feet digging into the grains with each anxious step. The sun was beginning to set now. I tried to call Sophia again, clutching the phone tightly in my hand as I failed another time. It just kept going straight to voicemail. “Come on, Sophia, pick up,” I muttered under my breath desperately.Lila was in the middle of her shoot, laughing and posing for the cameras, but I couldn’t focus. The breeze carried her laughter to me, a massive contrast to the riot in my mind. I took a deep breath and dialed Elijah’s number again. This time, to my relief, he picked up.“Elijah?” I said in a quivering voice.“Kayla,” he replied, his voice just as distressed. “There's been a fire at the courthouse.”“What?!!”“It was most likely a distraction to help Julia escape,” Elijah explained.I felt my heart drop. “Julia? Oh, my gosh! Henry must have planned this, along with Sophia’s kidnapping! He must be back, Elijah!”“Don’t worry. Some men I hire
Daniel’s POVAs soon as I put the phone down after talking to Kayla, fury surged through me like a tidal wave. I slammed the receiver onto the desk, the sound echoing in the quiet of my office. “Damn it,” I muttered, pacing back and forth, my hands clenched into tight fists. "I shouldn’t have let her get close to him again. I should have known better.”I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at it in frustration. Sophia was out of luck, just because she had allowed herself to fall for Elijah again. If she had chosen to be with me, then she wouldn’t have been targeted anymore. Now she’s in trouble again because of Elijah! I thought with anxiety and frustration. “Elijah is no good for her,” I hissed under my breath, kicking the wastebasket across the room. Papers flew everywhere, but I didn't care. All I could think about was Sophia. My chest tightened at the thought of her in pain, and I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. I should have been more alert about these things, maybe even
Daniel’s POVMy mind raced, trying to think of my next move. “Henry, listen to me. This doesn’t have to end badly for either of us. Let Sophia go, and we can work something out.”“I don’t negotiate with liars,” Henry spat. “Bring me Julia, or say goodbye to Sophia.”I could see Harris giving me a thumbs-up, signaling that he had a trace on the call. Relief and dread mingled in my chest. I needed to keep Henry talking a bit longer.“Alright, Henry,” I said, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. “Give me a little time. Julia is being held by some powerful people, and I’ll need to negotiate her release. Can you give me twenty-four hours?”Henry was silent for a moment, then he growled, “Twenty-four hours, Daniel. Not a minute more. Or you’ll regret it.”The line went dead, and I handed the phone back to Harris. He nodded, his face grave. “We’ve got a location. It’s some abandoned house in a remote forested area.”I scrambled to find out who had Julia. Harris and I visited some of his contacts, s
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