Emily’s POVMy mind was lost in the rhythmic motions of my work, the soft rustle of fabric, and the click of the needle. I’d been working nonstop for several days now to meet the deadlines for my clients’ fashion needs. As I now listened to the steady beat of the sewing machine, it seemed to calm me down and at the same time place me in the zone. My own studio was a sanctuary for me. The sharp trill of my phone cut through the tranquility. Frowning, I glanced at the screen—an unfamiliar number. I hesitated for a moment before answering.“Hello?”“Ms. Emily? This is Linda, the nanny. I’m afraid I have some troubling news.”My heart skipped a beat. Linda’s voice, usually so calm, sounded very much on edge. “What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to remain calm. “It’s Jared. He’s developed a very high fever. I’m really sorry to bother you, but I think we need to take him to the hospital.”Panic began to engulf me. “Oh my God. Yes, of course. Take him to the nearest hospital. I’ll meet you the
Emily’s POVThe doctor’s face remained grave. “Ms. Emily, I need to inform you that Jared has a weak immune system. He’s more susceptible to illnesses if he’s not properly cared for. The fever could be a sign of something more serious if we don’t manage it correctly.”A cold shiver ran down my spine, and I felt myself struggling to breathe. “I understand,” I managed to say. Phoebe wrapped her arms around me, looking really worried. “It’s going to be okay,” she murmured, trying to be strong and brave for me. At that moment, Linda, the nanny, approached us, her face etched with guilt. “Emily, I’m so sorry. I was busy preparing Jared’s formula and didn’t notice that he had kicked off his blanket. I tried to bring his fever down, but his temperature just kept rising, and he wouldn’t stop crying. That’s when I decided to call you.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “Linda, it’s not your fault. We all did what we could. Thank you for acting quickly and letting me know.”
Emily’s POVThe situation was dire, and I appreciated his offer. But as he stepped closer, his expression filled with a desperate kind of resolve, I knew I couldn’t accept his help.“Your house?” I repeated, still trying to process what he was suggesting.I shook my head firmly. “Thank you, Antoine, but Phoebe and I are fine. We’re already planning to move to a bigger apartment soon. It will give us more space, and I can set up a work area there.”Antoine’s face fell, looking very disappointed. “I see,” he said quietly. “I just wanted to make things easier for you.”“I appreciate that,” I said sincerely. But in my head, a hundred possibilities and questions were running. I certainly can’t stay under one roof with him again! No way! That would never work under any circumstances. And what about Phoebe? Also, that could be risky because it might be easier for Isabelle to have access to Jared!Antoine took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly. “Okay. I understand. If that’s what you need
Sophia’s POVAs I parked outside Emily’s boutique that morning, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about the matching dresses I was about to discuss. Reese needed one for her upcoming school recital—it was a big event, one of those “proud mom” moments where every child would shine on stage. Reese had been talking about it for weeks, except lately when she’d become a bit quiet and disturbed because of the bullying incidents in schoolWell, all the more that I want her to feel special!I had this idea for her and Roxy to wear matching dresses. I could just imagine how adorable they would look. And of course it may help Reese feel that they’re really equally loved and that there’s no competition for their parents’ love at all. “Hhmm… Maybe we should all wear matching outfits,” I said out loud with a grin. “Emily can surely pull it off wonderfully.”Just as I was about to step out of the car, a familiar figure caught my eye. My hand froze on the door handle.No. It can’t be. I didn’t re
Sophia’s POV“Ah, ah, ah,” Isabelle cooed, her voice mocking as she waved the gun slightly. “Let’s not make any hasty decisions, shall we?”I stared at the gun, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every ounce of fear I’d been suppressing rushed in all at once. This wasn’t just some petty grudge. This was real. Dangerous.The world seemed to slow as I stood there, trapped, staring down the barrel of the gun, knowing there was no easy way out of this.Suddenly, I heard the animated chatter and some footsteps coming closer. Several people were approaching the studio. Isabelle’s eyes shifted to the group in alarm. She lowered the gun quickly, her expression changing into one of frustration. Without another word, she turned and bolted, her dark coat flaring out behind her as she sprinted down the street.I stood there, frozen, my breath shallow and uneven. My hands trembled, and it took everything in me not to collapse right there on the sidewalk.The group passed me, com
Sophia’s POVAs soon as I stepped into the familiar office of Urban Next Design Studio, I immediately spotted Trevis at the lobby, his face lit up with a broad grin, already waiting for me. It wasn’t unusual to see him in a good mood, but today there was something different. The energy in the room felt more charged than usual. He stood up the moment he saw me. “Sophia! Just the person I needed!” Trevis walked over, practically bouncing on his heels. “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive. I've got some incredible news.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “This new client’s got you all excited like this, huh? You look like you’re about to burst.”He laughed, clearly not able to contain himself any longer. “Okay, okay. So, get this—I've just been contacted by this huge restaurant company—Delmare Hospitality Group. They’re expanding their portfolio in the city, and they want us to design their new line of restaurants.”I blinked, taking a second to process the name. Delmare Hospitality? I kn
Sophia’s POVTrevis cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence that lingered after Morgana’s last remark. “Why don’t we move into my office so we can discuss the project in more detail?” He gestured toward the glass-walled room behind him.I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral as I followed them. Inside, the tension eased only slightly, though Morgana’s presence still felt suffocating. Trevis motioned for us to sit around the table, and I chose the chair furthest from her, needing the distance to collect myself.“Sophia here,” Trevis began, with his trademark enthusiasm, “is our best designer. She’ll be the one working closely with you on this, Morg—uh, Mrs. Delmare.” He corrected himself quickly, throwing an apologetic glance her way.Morgana smiled, the same practiced expression she’d worn since she entered. “Of course she is. That’s why I specifically requested her for this project. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to bring our vision to life.” Her words, while flattering,
Sophia’s POV“That's not the color I wanted, Sophia,” Morgana said, her voice sharp and dismissive as she pointed to the color swatch on the table. “How many times do I have to repeat myself?”I clenched my jaw and forced a smile, doing everything I could to remain calm. “You mentioned you wanted a muted earth tone, Morgana. This shade matches what we discussed earlier—”“Well, now I want something bolder. This is too bland, too safe. I need something that pops,” she interrupted, her manicured fingers tapping impatiently on the conference table.I nodded, pulling out a few alternative swatches. “Of course. Let’s look at some more vibrant options. How about this one? It’s a deep terracotta, and it could bring warmth to the space without being overwhelming.”Morgana barely glanced at it, her lips tightening into a thin line. “No, no, no. You’re not listening, Sophia. I need something with character, something that screams luxury and style. I don’t want my restaurants to look like every