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
Elijah’s POVMy mind was a chaotic storm of worry and fear. Sophia was out there somewhere, kidnapped, and no one knew where she was. The investigators had found the abandoned house where she had been held, but by the time they arrived, it was empty. No signs of Henry or Vito, or any of their men. The police were now on high alert too, also searching for Julia after her escape from the courtroom.Desperation consumed me. I can’t just sit around and do nothing!I ended up heading to the office where Trevis was waiting for me, eager to get some news about Sophia. “Elijah,” he said, his voice tense. “I've been talking to some of the staff, but no one saw Sophia after she left the building. Someone saw her getting into a cab, and it had been proven that this was the same one reported stolen by a cab driver. Oh, god! I should have just gone with her to the Hall of Justice. I can’t believe I just talked to her, and then she was kidnapped afterwards! She came here looking for you, so I tol
Sophia’s POVThe airport’s fluorescent lights flickered overhead, illuminating the terminal with a harsh brightness.My heart pounded in my chest, each beat feeling like a drum roll leading to my impending doom. Henry’s grip on my arm was ironclad, and every time I tried to shift away, he tightened his hold, his fingers digging into my flesh through the thick layers of my disguise.“Keep moving,” Henry growled, his voice a menacing whisper against my ear. The rough texture of his breath sent shivers down my spine. I glanced at him, my eyes hidden behind the dark lenses of my sunglasses, but I could feel his piercing gaze burning through them.He had gone to great lengths to ensure we were unrecognizable. His face was obscured by a floppy hat and a fake beard, and I was equally concealed, wrapped in a scarf and sporting black-dyed hair. He shoved a pair of fake passports in front of me. “Look at these,” he demanded. “This is our new identity. We’re a couple flying to France.” The pas
Henry’s POVJulia's presence beside me was like a balm to my weary soul. Her side profile was illuminated by the dim overhead light, and I couldn't help but gaze at her, memorizing every delicate feature. Her hand, warm and soft, lay in mine, and I rubbed it absentmindedly, savoring the contact. The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, but I knew it wasn't the right time. Not yet. But very soon, we will be together forever, Julia. My one and only love. We were on the plane heading to France, still in our disguises and clearly unrecognizable. It had been a cinch using our fake passports to board. In front of us, Daniel and Sophia sat together, but they weren’t talking. Good, then they can’t plan anything at the moment. Less problems for us. I looked around, and the men sitting around us all belonged to Vito Romano and me, making sure that everything would go according to plan. We needed to get to the safe house as soon as possible, the secret base that I had bought a long time ago a
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