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 POVAs we approached the chateau, I couldn’t help but marvel at its grandeur. The massive stone structure was nestled in a valley surrounded by lush hills, its tall windows glinting in the waning light. This place was the epitome of elegance and luxury, far removed from the dire circumstances Daniel and I now found ourselves in.We pulled up to the entrance, and Henry and Julia stepped out of the car with a haughty, satisfied air. I followed reluctantly alongside Daniel, my heart thumping hard as I felt the cold pistol touching my back. Henry’s men had us surrounded all the time. There were a lot of them, and there was no way we could escape this. Inside, the chateau was even more impressive. High ceilings embellished with chandeliers, sweeping staircases, and richly furnished rooms greeted us at every turn. The floors were made of polished marble, and the walls were decorated with intricate tapestries and paintings.Julia’s eyes twinkled with delight as she looked around. “
Elijah’s POVI disembarked from the plane, my heart pounding with urgency and frustration. The Paris airport pulsed with its usual activity, but for me, it felt like a chaotic maze. I was determined to find Sophia, no matter the cost. When I noticed a group of security officers and police officials, I quickly headed over there and introduced myself. “Mr. Sinclair?” the officer asked, his accent thick with French inflections.“Yes, that’s me,” I replied sharply. “I need to speak with the head investigator in charge of the search.”The officer nodded and led me to a small office just off the main terminal. Inside, a tall man with a well-tailored suit and a sharp gaze sat behind a desk cluttered with maps and reports.“Mr. Sinclair, I’m Inspector Laurent,” he said, extending a hand. His tone was calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of frustration.“Inspector Laurent, I need to know what you’ve found,” I said, barely managing to keep my composure. “Have you seen any sign of Henry, Julia,
Sophia’s POVThe warm scent of baked rosemary chicken and freshly baked bread greeted me as I stepped into Phoebe’s cozy apartment, immediately putting me at ease. Roxy and Jared scurried ahead, their laughter bouncing off the walls. Reese was the first to greet them, her face lighting up as she jumped up from the playmat in the corner.“Mommy!” Reese ran over, wrapping her arms around me in a quick hug before joining her siblings. “We’re playing house! Jared is the baby!”I laughed, kissing the top of her head. “You all behave, alright? And no bossing Jared around too much, Reese.”Kayla emerged from the small kitchen, balancing baby Asha on her hip. Her warm smile widened when she saw me. “Sophia! Finally. I was starting to think you’d gotten stuck in another snowstorm.”“Trust me, I almost did,” I said, exhaling as I set down my bag. “Thanks for picking up Reese. You’re a lifesaver.”“No problem,” Kayla replied, adjusting Asha in her arms. “You know I love spending time with your l
Sophia’s POVAs I stepped into my car, the cold leather seats sent a sharp chill through me. The afternoon sun, shy but persistent, peeked through scattered clouds, bathing the pristine snow in a gentle radiance. Thankfully, the blizzard had blown over quickly, and the roads were clear enough to navigate. It was the kind of crisp day that made the world feel brand new, but my thoughts were far from fresh.Lucas stood near the entrance of the ski resort, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. He waved, a warm smile on his face as I rolled down my window.“Thanks for coming, Sabrina,” he called, his voice carrying easily in the still air. I forced a polite smile, not knowing how to feel about him still calling me Sabrina up to now, especially after what I'd just discovered about my childhood. “Thanks, Lucas. The resort has so much potential. I’ll send over the updated designs soon.”“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, stepping back. “Drive safe. Roads might still be icy in some spot
Emily’s POVThe biting cold wrapped around me like a vice as the forest settled into an eerie stillness. The sounds of the chase from the night before had faded, but they seemed to continue echoing in my head. My legs ached, my hands were raw, and my breath fogged in the frigid air as I stumbled forward, searching for something—anything—that could serve as a refuge.It’s getting late. I have to find shelter first. The darkness was suffocating, but then, faintly, through the trees, I saw a glimmer of light. My heart leaped as I cautiously approached, praying it wasn’t a trap. What I found instead was a small, dilapidated hunting shack, nearly swallowed by the forest. Its wooden walls were warped, the roof sagging in places, but it was shelter. For now, it was enough.Inside, the air was stale and cold, but at least it shielded me from the howling wind. I found a dusty lantern and managed to light it with trembling hands, its soft glow pushing back the shadows. There was an old cot in
Sophia’s POVThe memory hung in my mind like a shadow, vivid and unsettling. Lucas’s voice—the one I had heard in my dream, the one calling for Sabrina—now felt too real to dismiss as just a fragment of my imagination.I tried to focus on the snow, its mesmerizing dance beyond the glass, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing.And then Lucas stepped closer, his presence pulling me from my turmoil. His eyes searched mine. “What are you remembering?” he asked carefully. I turned to face him fully, my heart thundering in my chest. “It’s… hard to explain,” I began, forcing the words out through the lump in my throat. “I had a dream—a nightmare, really—about when I got lost in the snowstorm as a child. I mean, I already know that it was Morgana who actually left me behind because she’d met with her lover then. But now…”Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Now what?”“Well, in my dream, I thought I heard Elijah calling my name. He’d been there with his family too, so…”Lucas’s expression tightened, but he s
Sophia’s POVThe view outside the window was breathtaking—snow-dusted hills stretching endlessly under a pale blue sky. The cozy lounge, with its crackling fire and soft golden lighting, felt like the perfect setting for a romantic moment. It should have been calming, but my mind was anything but calm.That photo of Elijah and Victoria burned in my memory. Her sitting so close to him, their laughter captured at just the right moment. It made my chest tighten with anger and something I didn’t want to name—jealousy. The thought alone made me queasy, but it also left me vulnerable. Vulnerable to Lucas.I glanced at him. He stood just a few feet away, his expression soft but intent, watching me like I was the only person in the world. His confession still echoed in my ears, and I couldn’t deny the pull of the moment. It was too perfect, too charged. For a brief, fleeting second, I let myself wonder what it would feel like to bask in his affection, to let myself be swept up in something s
Elijah’s POVThe silence in my office was deafening. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the half-empty coffee cup on my desk. The bitterness clung to my tongue, a reminder of the recent situation in my marriage. Oh, Sophia. What’s happening to us?She’d been consuming my every thought lately. And not in the way she used to. Not with warmth or laughter, but with cold uncertainty. We hadn’t spoken properly since I sent her those flowers. It was my way of saying: I still care about you. She’d thanked me, of course, but there was no follow-up. No deep conversation. I really miss her. God knows how much I miss my wife. We used to talk about everything. The kids. Work. The stupid little things that made up our days. Now? She was busy. Always busy. Late nights at the office. Early mornings. And when she was home, she was either buried in her laptop or tiptoeing around me like I was made of glass. And it wasn’t just work. It was that damn Lucas who found a way to be with her more. Just
Sophia’s POVThe image of Elijah and Victoria stayed with me, eating away at my thoughts like an unyielding tempest. They looked so comfortable together, so... familiar. It wasn’t just Victoria’s presence that unnerved me—it was the way Elijah seemed to let her get close. Is he falling for her? No. No, it’s impossible. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing faster than I could contain it.We need to talk. Soon. Heart to heart, I resolved, my chest tightening as I fought back a surge of emotion. The silence of the room around me only made the ache sharper, more vivid.Just then, Lucas’s footsteps broke through the quiet, and I quickly pushed my phone back into my pocket. He entered the lounge with a tray balanced in his hands, two mugs of steaming hot chocolate sending up tendrils of inviting warmth.The image of Elijah and Victoria lingered in my mind, gnawing at my thoughts like a relentless storm. They looked so comfortable together, so... familiar. It wasn’t j
Sophia’s POV“Lucas,” I called out, stepping onto the cobblestone path that led to the resort’s grand, albeit faded, entrance. “You’ve got a prime location here.”He emerged from the double doors, his familiar grin warm against the chilly mountain air. “Sophia, welcome. How was the drive up?”“Long,” I admitted, adjusting my scarf as the wind tugged at it. I was bundled up in a navy wool coat, a pair of tan ankle boots, and a thick cream-colored knit scarf. The frosty air bit at my cheeks, and I shoved my gloved hands into my coat pockets for warmth. “But worth it. This place…” I gestured to the sprawling ski resort behind him, its old-world charm dulled by time and neglect. “It’s stunning. Or at least, it has the bones to be.”Lucas chuckled, his gaze lingering on me. “That’s why you’re here. To make it amazing again.”As I stepped closer, I caught the faint scent of pine and woodsmoke clinging to the air, mingling with the crispness of the snow-dusted ground. For a brief moment, the
Sophia’s POVThe sight of Phoebe standing in the doorway took my breath away. She looked so different from the last time I’d seen her—thinner, her cheekbones more pronounced, her posture subdued. But her eyes, wide and shimmering with unshed tears, carried a familiar depth of emotion that struck me instantly. Before I could speak, she stepped forward and wrapped both Kayla and me in a tight embrace.“Phoebe,” I murmured, still stunned. “You’re here.”Her hug felt prolonged, as if she were drawing strength from it. When she pulled back, her hands rested firmly on my arms, her smile wavering slightly. “I couldn’t stay away any longer,” she said, her voice soft but laden with feeling. “I needed to see you.”“We’ve missed you so much,” Kayla said, adjusting Asha on her hip. Asha reached out with a tiny hand, patting Phoebe’s cheek, as if sensing the tension in the air. Kayla smiled gently, her tone as soothing as always. “How have you been?”Phoebe hesitated, brushing a tear from her chee