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
Emily’s POVIt felt like I had been holding my breath for hours, my chest constricting with fear and uncertainty. But as Elijah's words sank in—We’ve got her—I finally let it out, slow and shaky. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my nerves. When I opened them, Sophia was next to me, her arm slipping around my shoulders. “It’s going to be okay, Emily,” she whispered. I nodded, not trusting my voice. And then, as if sensing the shift in the room, little Roxy let out a happy, gurgling sound from Sophia’s arms, her tiny face lighting up with a smile. That innocent, joyful noise broke through the tension, and for a moment, everything felt… lighter.I looked down at Roxy, and despite the chaos in my mind, I couldn’t help but smile back at the baby. She didn’t know about the darkness we were fighting. She didn’t know how much pain and chaos Isabelle had caused. She just radiated pure, uncomplicated joy.But the reality of the situation snapped back into place, and I turned to
Emily’s POVI sat quietly on the bench, staring at the still surface of the pond. The park near the hospital had become my escape, a place where I could think. I took a deep breath, the crisp air filling my lungs, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the thoughts of Antoine and Isabelle. How did it come to this? How had I let myself get caught up in their twisted lives?I closed my eyes, the regret heavy in my chest. I wished I had never met either of them. But then, despite everything, my mind drifted to Jared, my sweet baby boy. He was the only light in this dark and tangled web. He was my absolute joy, my everything. Without Antoine, I wouldn’t have him. And for that alone, I couldn’t completely hate him.I let out a sigh, watching the gentle ripples across the pond as the breeze caught the surface. I had no idea how I was supposed to feel. It was all too much, too overwhelming.Suddenly, as if my thoughts had somehow summoned him, I sensed a presence beside me. I turne