Emily’s POVI woke up with that familiar wave of nausea, but it was nothing new. Morning sickness had become an old friend since I’d found out about the baby. I grumbled as I sat up in bed, trying to shake off the dizziness. I was still basking in the afterglow of my recent win—first prize in the costume design competition. It had been unexpected and thrilling, and my heart still fluttered with pride every time I thought about it.Shuffling into the kitchen, I prepared a quick breakfast, my mind already replaying the congratulatory messages I’d received over the past few days. With a half-eaten slice of toast in one hand and my phone in the other, I sat at the kitchen table, scrolling through social media. The news about my win was everywhere, but I stopped cold when I saw the latest headline: “Design Contest Winner Accused of Plagiarism”.“What the—” I exclaimed, my voice coming out as a strangled whisper. My heart raced as I tapped the article, my fingers trembling slightly.The
Sophia’s POVThe accusations against Emily had shaken us all, and we were on a mission to gather every piece of evidence we could. We all gathered in an empty studio inside the Raven Media complex. Chris was rubbing Emily’s back, trying to offer solace. “Okay, we need to get everything together,” I said, setting down my bag and pulling out the stack of design sketches Kayla and I had gathered from Emily’s office. Kayla immediately joined me, her fingers flying over her phone as she reviewed photos of Emily’s process and other relevant materials. “I’d taken several photos of Emily’s process and progress since she’d mostly worked here.” “I think I have some on my phone too,” Chris said, his face lighting up. “I have photos of fabrics and accessories that I’d searched for and I also have emails I’d sent to suppliers when I was helping source some of the materials. Let me send them now to you, Kayla.”“Great!” Kayla answered. Emily began to look more hopeful. “I have several on my ph
Emily’s POVSometimes it’s good to do a menial task when you’ve got so much in your mind. And I guess that's how I ended up walking through the supermarket despite the chaos in my mind. The empty shelves of my kitchen pantry had taunted me with their glaring emptiness, and my friends had kept reminding me to eat something. I reached for a jar of pasta sauce, but my fingers hovered over it as I ruminated on the recent plagiarism scandal. The more I thought about it, the more my anger simmered. Isabelle’s name alone made my blood boil. I wanted to bury her alive, to strangle the life out of her for all the trouble she’d caused me. Bitter thoughts coiled around my mind, tightening with each passing moment. God, I absolutely hate her. Why is she doing this? I’m not even meeting up with Antoine! I’ve divorced him, for Christ’s sake. She can have him. I dragged my cart down the aisle, trying to force my focus onto the task at hand, but my thoughts kept sliding back to the endless mess
Emily’s POVThe week that followed felt like a dream I couldn’t quite believe was real. Every day brought a new interview, another opportunity to share my story, and more excitement as my designs—and my name—were plastered across magazines, TV screens, and the internet. It felt like a dream, but it was admittedly exhilarating. The attention was overwhelming at times too, yet it was the kind of attention I’d always longed for. To top it all off, a major international clothing company reached out, inviting me to create a series of designs for their upcoming collection. When I received that email, I could hardly contain my excitement. This is the perfect validation of everything I’d worked so hard for—a chance to show the world what I could do on a grand scale!In the midst of all the excitement, I knew I needed to do something to show my appreciation for the friends who had stood by me through the darkest times. I decided to host a simple dinner party, a way to say thank you for their
Emily’s POV"To you, Emily," Chris said softly, his eyes meeting mine with genuine warmth as he raised his glass to me. We each held a mocktail in a wine glass. I looked up, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. We stood on the patio, the night air cool and refreshing, the soft glow of the porch lights casting a serene ambiance around us. The small dinner party had settled down, the earlier liveliness replaced by a cozy calm. Elijah and Sophia had disappeared upstairs to put Reese to bed, and Connor and Kayla were tucked away in one corner of the living room, deep in an intimate conversation.“I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished,” Chris continued. “The way you’ve handled everything… it’s inspiring. Your resilience, your strength—it’s something to admire.”The warmth in his words and the way his eyes held mine made my heart flutter. I felt a rush of emotions that I couldn’t quite put into words. I clinked my glass against his, feeling a bit flustered by the intensity of
Emily’s POV“Antoine!” I gasped, my heart leaping into my throat as I rushed to Chris’s side, instinctively shielding him with my body. “What are you doing?”Antoine’s eyes blazed with anger as he pointed at Chris, his chest heaving with rage. “Stay away from her, you hear me? You don’t deserve her! And she is still mine!”Chris, still reeling from the punch, straightened up, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Antoine with a mix of confusion and defiance, but he didn’t retaliate.“Antoine, stop it!” I said, my voice shaking with both fear and anger. “This isn’t the way to handle things.”The evening, which had felt so perfect just moments ago, had taken a sudden and violent turn, and I didn’t know what to do. The tension in the air was thick as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my emotions a chaotic blend of fear, anger, and confusion. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, Elijah came
Sophia’s POVI awoke to the tantalizing aroma of something delicious wafting through the house. My groggy mind struggled to process the scent as I stretched and rubbed my eyes. It was the kind of smell that promised a good day, and my curiosity got the better of me.When I got into the kitchen, still in my pajamas, my heart skipped a beat at the sight before me. There, standing by the stove in a bright red apron that was way too big for him, was Elijah. His hair was a bit tousled, and he was intently focused on something sizzling in the pan. I couldn't help but chuckle as I took in the scene."What on earth are you doing?" I teased, unable to suppress my laughter.Elijah looked up, his eyes widening in mock surprise. "Well, you caught me," he said with a sheepish grin. "I wanted to surprise you and make breakfast."My heart melted at the sight of him like this—so charming and endearing. I walked over to him, still giggling. "You don’t know how to cook, and that’s okay. I love you none
Sophia’s POVI stepped out of the taxi and onto the cobblestone streets of Florence, the city that seemed to shimmer with a golden hue under the afternoon sun. I took a deep breath, trying to let go of the anxiety I had felt about leaving Kayla behind. She had insisted I come to this workshop, despite her heartache. “You need this, Sophia,” she had said. “I know you’ve been waiting for this for so long. It’s an amazing opportunity, and it’s only by invitation. So go! I’ll be okay.”I was relieved to see that Kayla seemed more stable now, throwing herself into work even though both of us hadn’t heard from Connor. I knew he was on leave from Elijah’s company, and the silence from him was troubling. But for now, I had to focus on the task at hand.The workshop was being held at a stunning villa on the outskirts of Florence, surrounded by lush gardens and rolling hills. Inside, the villa was an architectural marvel. High ceilings with ornate moldings, elegant chandeliers, and tasteful fu