Emily’s POVI spotted Elijah and Sophia down the corridor, panic flooding through me. My heart raced as I rushed toward them, tears spilling down my cheeks the moment I reached Sophia.“Sophia! I can’t believe this happened to Chris!” I sobbed, throwing my arms around her. “He was coming to see me! I told him I wanted to talk about us—what if this is my fault?”I felt her pull back slightly, concern apparent on her face. “Emily, no! This isn’t your fault,” she insisted, her voice steady and soothing. “You couldn’t have known.”Elijah stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You need to breathe, Em. We’re going to figure this out, but you can’t blame yourself for what happened. Chris is strong; he’s going to get through this.”I took a shaky breath, but the guilt clung to me heavily. “Tell me the truth,” I said desperately. “Do you think Isabelle had something to do with this? Did you find out anything about the accident?”I looked from Sophia to Elijah, my heart poun
Emily’s POVChris grinned, a flicker of his usual humor shining through despite the hospital setting. “I didn’t know there was a party going on in here or I wouldn’t have slept so long,” he quipped, his voice still raspy but infused with that familiar charm that made my heart flutter.Relief washed over me, and without thinking, I rushed forward and enveloped him in a hug. “Thank God you’re alright,” I whispered, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. I held him tightly, soaking in the moment, the scent of his cologne and the beat of his heart beneath my ear. For those few seconds, it felt like everything would be okay.But as I pulled back, I suddenly remembered that Elijah and Sophia were still in the room. I stepped back, my face burning with embarrassment. “I—uh, I’m so glad you’re awake,” I stammered. Elijah moved forward, concern showing on his features. “How are you feeling, Chris?” he asked, studying him carefully.“Real bad,” Chris replied, attempting to chuckle despit
Elijah’s POV“Looks like I’m going to need a few more days of pampering in this hospital bed,” Chris quipped, his trademark grin lighting up his face despite the bruises and scratches that marred his skin.The doctor chuckled lightly, adjusting his glasses. “You’re lucky to be in here just for a couple of scrapes and bruises. No broken bones, and your brain scans came back clean. Just keep resting, and we’ll have you back on your feet in no time.”“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to ruin your perfect record, Doc,” Chris shot back, his humor infectious, easing the tension in the room. “But seriously, sorry for scaring you, Emily. I didn’t mean to make you panic like that.”Emily smiled, but the unease in her eyes lingered. “It’s just... I wasn’t expecting to see you like this. I’m so relieved you’re okay.”Sophia glanced at Emily, then back at Chris. “You really gave us all quite the scare. But I’m glad you’re here and recovering. We’re all just happy to see you awake and talking.”“Yeah,” I
Elijah’s POVHer blonde hair was a tangled mess, half-hiding her face, and she kept her gaze lowered, refusing to meet my eyes.She looked so familiar, and I felt like I knew her. But I couldn’t quite place her face. “What’s your name?” I asked sharply. She didn’t respond at first, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. The silence in the room stretched, tense and suffocating. I tried again. “Look at me.”Still, she refused, her shoulders curling inward as if to shield herself. My eyes drifted down to the file the officer had handed me on the way in. Her name was there, in bold print, along with a rap sheet that made my blood run cold. She’d been in and out of prison since her teenage years, her crimes escalating over time. Fights, theft, assault. She was known for causing trouble wherever she went.And there was more—her background. Born in France, she had connections to Les Ombres Écarlates—the Scarlet Shadows.My heart skipped a beat. The gang had been involved in cou
Elijah’s POV“I can’t,” she muttered. “You don’t get it. It’s not just Isabelle. There are people… dangerous people… people she’s tied up with.” Her voice broke, and she looked up at me for the first time, her eyes brimming with fear. “If I talk, they’ll come for me. For my family.”I studied her for a long moment, trying to figure out how much of that was true and how much was fear clouding her judgment. “You think staying silent will protect you?” I asked in a firm voice. “Isabelle isn’t going to stop. You know that. If you don’t speak up now, she’ll bury you along with anyone else who gets in her way.”She shook her head again, more desperately this time. “I don’t want to cooperate. You don’t understand… they’ll kill me before I even get the chance.”“Zoey, look at me,” I said, leaning forward, my voice commanding. “This is your chance. You can either be a pawn in Isabelle’s game, or you can help take her down. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you’re the one who gets blamed for all of
Sophia’s POVI stepped into the hospital lobby, exhaustion clinging to my every step. Work had been brutal—Morgana was on one of her impossible streaks again, firing off demands that even a team of magicians couldn’t pull off. But as always, I was trying to meet them, bending over backward to please her as our high-profile client. But right now, none of that mattered. All I could think about was Chris.My gaze darted around, looking for my mom, and I spotted her standing near the information desk, her face softening when she saw me.“Mom,” I called out, walking quickly toward her.She turned and opened her arms, pulling me into a quick hug. “Sophia,” she said softly, patting my back before pulling away. Her eyes scanned my face, relief and concern reflecting there. “I’m glad you’re here. I was just about to head up to see Chris.”“How’s he doing today?” I asked, even though I already knew. I’d been in touch with the doctors, but somehow hearing it from her always made it feel more re
Emily’s POVI fluffed the pillow under Chris’s head, gently lifting it to give him more support. He winced slightly as I adjusted him, and I immediately paused, worried I’d hurt him.“Too much?” I asked, biting my lip as I hovered over him.“Nah,” he replied, flashing me a playful grin despite the pain flickering in his eyes. “Just giving me an excuse to complain more. I might just stretch out this whole injury for a few extra pillows and more time with you.”I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”“Yeah, but you love it,” he teased, his grin widening.I couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. I glanced down at him, wondering how he could be so cheerful when he was clearly in pain.“You seem pretty happy for someone who was just in a hit-and-run with a truck,” I said, half-joking but genuinely curious.Chris leaned back, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of humor and something deeper. “Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise,” he said softly. “I mean, look at what
Sophia’s POVThe house was quiet when we walked in, a calm serenity hanging in the air that I hadn’t felt in a long time. As soon as we stepped inside, I saw Elijah waiting for us in the living room, his tall frame silhouetted against the window. “Hey,” he murmured, stepping forward to meet me. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into his warm embrace.I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his familiar scent. “Hey,” I whispered back, my voice muffled. It was just a single word, but it held so much—relief, gratitude, love. We stood like that for a moment, holding on to each other, before I pulled away slightly, feeling the soft tap of a tiny foot against my arm.The nanny had been standing a few feet away, cradling Roxy with her gentle, practiced ease. She smiled softly as she approached and handed my baby girl to me. My heart melted the second Roxy's tiny face turned towards me, her chubby cheeks pink and her little mouth forming a sleepy pout.“Hi, sweetheart,” I cooed, gently
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