Elijah's POVSoon the smell of food from the buffet table beckoned everyone to the garden. The chef I’d hired, one of my personal favorites, had gone all out. The spread was a perfect mix of gourmet and comfort—grilled meats, fresh salads, finger foods for the kids, and even a few fancy dishes that caught everyone’s attention.“Time to eat!” I called out, and the guests eagerly made their way to the table, plates in hand.The pièce de résistance was the cake—a stunning masterpiece that sat in the middle of the dessert table. The cake was a soft pastel blue with fluffy clouds swirling around the sides. At the top, there was a miniature hot air balloon, and the words “Welcome to the World, Roxy!” were written in delicate gold lettering. Sophia stood beside me, holding Reese’s hand as we all gathered around the cake. Reese, of course, was bouncing with excitement, tugging at my shirt. “Daddy, can we eat it now?”I chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “In just a minute, Reese.”As th
Sophia’s POV“Throw it out,” I whispered, barely able to get the words past the tightness in my throat. My heart pounded painfully in my chest as I held Roxy closer, her small, warm body nestled against mine. It was irrational, I knew that, but the fear that settled inside me felt too real, too immediate. The moment I saw those initials, it was as if Julia and Henry were right there, in our home, threatening everything we had rebuilt.Elijah didn’t move right away. He just stood there, staring at the music box in his hands, his expression unreadable. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his knuckles whitened as he gripped it tighter.“Throw it out,” I repeated, louder this time, feeling more desperate. “I don’t want it anywhere near her.”Before Elijah could respond, Kayla rushed over, her eyes darting between us and the silver box. When she saw the initials, her face twisted with anger. “Those bastards,” she spat, her voice trembling with fury. “They’re still stirring up troub
Emily’s POVWhen I opened the door to my apartment, there was Phoebe, stretched out on the couch, one arm draped over her face as she slept soundly. And there, in the corner of the living room, was Jared’s crib, the soft blanket half-kicked off by his tiny feet as he squirmed in his sleep. I stood there for a moment, focusing on the little things I was grateful for. For one, I was thankful that Phoebe was here, safe, with me in the States. After what Isabelle had put her through in France, I knew the road to recovery wasn’t easy. But at least the truth had come out. I walked over to the crib and leaned down, gently adjusting Jared’s blanket. “Hello, my little Jared,” I whispered.He sighed softly, his tiny fingers twitching in his sleep. My heart overflowed with love, stronger and fiercer than ever.This little boy is now my world. My strength. My reason to keep going. “I don’t care what it takes, Jared. I’ll give you the best life.”I straightened up, glancing back at my older sis
Emily's POVI reached across and took her hand in a comforting gesture. “You’ll find something. I know you will. You’re smart, talented, and one of the hardest-working people I know. It’s only a matter of time before someone sees that.”Phoebe nodded, her shoulders relaxing a bit. “Thanks, Em. I hope you’re right.”“I am right,” I said firmly. “And if you need help with anything—reviewing applications, preparing for interviews—whatever it is, I’m here.”We shared a quick hug, brief but full of understanding and sisterly love. When we pulled apart, Phoebe seemed a little lighter, and so did I. “Don’t worry,” I told her. “Let me also ask Kayla and Sophia if they may know of any job openings for you. They do have plenty of connections.” “Thanks so much, Emily.” I could feel something negative rising within me then, something very familiar. Guilt. After all, it was my fault that all this had happened to her. If I hadn’t gotten entangled with Isabelle in the first place, our parents wou
Antoine’s POVI stood at the entrance of Emily's apartment building, my hands shoved deep into my pockets to stop them from trembling. My heart raced as I looked up at her window, and I could feel the anxiety clawing at my chest. I wasn’t sure how she’d react to seeing me here. But when I heard Phoebe was settling down in the city, looking for a job, I thought maybe... just maybe, I could help. Not just for her sake, but for Emily’s. I wanted to show her I wasn’t the same person I used to be. That I cared about her and her family, about the people she loved.And Jared. God, I want to be a part of his life, not just a fleeting visitor in the background.I swallowed hard and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. My hand lingered in the air for a second, hesitating, before it landed on the wood.A moment later, the door opened. Emily stood there, staring at me in surprise. She looked shaken. Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say a word.“Emily,” I started uncertainly. She did
Antoine's POVI knew I was asking a lot. She hadn’t let me hold Jared since he was born, and even though I’d come by to see him once or twice a week, I had only ever been allowed to watch him play or sleep or eat. Emily bit her lower lip, her gaze shifting from me to Jared. I could see the internal struggle on her face, and I knew she was torn. She had every reason to say no. I had given her more reasons than I’d care to admit. But I couldn’t help but wonder if helping Phoebe had put her in a position where saying no wasn’t as easy. A bitter thought crept into my mind—maybe that was why I did it. Maybe I had intended it that way, subconsciously, and that realization made me feel sick.For a long moment, Emily didn’t say anything. She stood there, her eyes full of conflict, but then, slowly, she nodded. “Okay... but just for a little while.”I couldn’t believe it. My heart raced as I stepped forward, reaching out cautiously. Emily lifted Jared from the crib, holding him close for a se
Elijah’s POVIt was strange waking up without Sophia next to me. For the past few months, she'd been home, and we'd settled into a routine. But today was different—she was back to work temporarily because Trevis had a high-profile client demanding only her for a real estate project. That left me home with the girls. Reese was easy enough. Roxy, on the other hand, was a whole different story.I stood in the kitchen, staring at the formula tin, instructions blurring in front of me. It couldn’t be that hard, right? Just mix the powder with water and shake. I grabbed a bottle, dumped what I hoped was the right amount of formula into it, and filled it with water. The formula floated at the top like clumps of flour.“Come on…” I muttered, shaking the bottle vigorously. Nothing. I swirled it around. Still nothing.Reese, my four-year-old, was sitting at the counter, watching me with an amused expression. “You’re doing it wrong, Daddy,” she said, swinging her legs back and forth. “Mommy shake
Sophia’s POVI tried to keep my panic in check as I shifted Roxy in my arms, her tiny body wriggling and her face flushed red from crying. “It's okay, baby girl,” I whispered, bouncing her gently as the sound of her cries seemed to echo off the walls. My heart was racing, but I needed to stay calm. “Did you help her burp after she drank her milk?” I suddenly asked Elijah. His eyes widened and he looked as if he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. “What’s wrong with her, Mommy? Why won’t she stop crying?” Reese asked with great worry. I forced a smile, even though my insides were twisted in knots. “She might just have some gas trapped in her tummy, sweetheart. Babies get uncomfortable sometimes.” I hoped that was all it was. I had to hope.I adjusted Roxy, propping her upright against my shoulder and gently rubbing her back in slow, firm circles. “Come on, Roxy,” I whispered softly. “Let’s get that little bubble out.”Her cries continued growing louder, piercing throu
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