Elijah’s POVI stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office on the top floor, looking down at the park below where several kids were playing happily. It reminded me of when things were so simple and I could just be happy and carefree with Sabrina. Sighing, I sank back into my leather executive chair and let it swivel as my thoughts went back to my conversation with Sophia. Immediately, I called my assistant Connor to my office. “Connor, I need you to look into Craig. Something about him doesn’t sit right with me,” I said, getting straight to the point.“Of course. I’ll get on it immediately,” Connor replied without hesitation. That’s one of the reasons I valued him so much. He never questioned my instincts.“And there’s something else,” I continued, glancing at the clock on my desk. “I need you to get a copy of Julia and Sophia’s design from Trevis. I want to review them closely.”“Understood. I’ll have it to you by the end of the day,” Connor promised.“Thanks. I appreciate
Elijah’s POVI froze. Now I’m going to find out if Reese’s mother is Sophia…My heart raced as I turned slowly, scanning the area, half-expecting to see Sophia's familiar face rushing toward us. Instead, I saw the woman from the restaurant, the same one who had been with the little girl. My face fell. I was greatly disappointed. I don't know why, but I always thought it would be Sophia. Maybe it’s because Reese looked so much like her, but it was probably just a coincidence. The woman hurried over, her eyes filled with concern. Reese's little arms wrapped around my neck in a tight hug. “Take care of the little one,” I told the mom. “I think she was lost earlier, so I stayed with her.”“Thank you,” she said, almost breathlessly. She hoisted Reese onto her hip and began to walk away, clearly in a hurry.As they moved further away, I overheard her soft voice ask Reese, “Where's Dan?”The question stopped me in my tracks. Dan? Who was Dan?“I talked to your Uncle Dan,” I heard the woma
Sophia’s POV I leaned against the old oak tree, my breath catching in my throat as I remembered watching Reese play at the park with none other than Elijah! It had definitely been a shock to me, and panic had immediately gripped my heart. Elijah's laughter had filled the air, mingling with Reese's giggles. Seeing him then, so patient and kind with Reese, stirred something deep within me. Should I tell him the truth? It was what had gone through my head in that instance. Should I let him know that the little girl he’s playing with is actually his own flesh and blood? Suddenly, my phone rang, jarring me from my thoughts. “Hello?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Sophia, thank God,” Daniel's voice was tight with concern. “Where's Reese? Is she with you now?” “Yes, she's right here,” I assured him quickly, as I smiled down at Reese who was resting on the grass beside me. “I asked the nanny's sister to find her and play the role of her mother, since you know I can’t risk Eli
Sophia’s POV I held my breath, wide-eyed, as I listened to Elijah. He didn’t even glance at me, but was looking straight at Morgana. “Even though you initiated this project, this company is still mine. I have the right to choose my own designers.” The tension in the air just escalated even more. Morgana suddenly looked flustered. “I’m sorry, but I just remembered I have something urgent to take care of,” she said, standing abruptly. As she left, she called Julia, who had been sitting quietly, observing. Julia’s eyes flicked from Morgana to Elijah, and I saw a hint of anger and pain that she seemed to be holding back. After all, Elijah was now saying that he was choosing my work after having declared at the meeting that he’d decided to use Julia’s proposal over mine. “Excuse me, Elijah,” Julia said softly, standing up and giving him a nod. “I need to go, too.” Elijah didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the papers in front of him, but I noticed a flicker of something in his express
Sophia’s POV“I’m so sorry, Sophia,” Elijah repeated. “For everything.”I was certainly caught off guard and didn’t know what to say. Elijah, always so composed and arrogant, rarely showed such vulnerability.Eventually, I said, “It's okay,” I wanted to end the conversation already because I had a feeling he wanted to talk about personal things already. “No, it’s not okay,” he insisted. “I, uh… I’m not okay. I need to talk to you about the past.”Just then, Trevis followed us, curiosity evident on his face. “What's going on here?” he asked, looking between Elijah and me. There was a mischievous glint in this eye as he fixed an amused gaze on Elijah. Elijah shot him a look that could freeze water. “Let us talk first. This is between Sophia and me.”Trevis hesitated, clearly intrigued by the unusual display of emotion from Elijah. But a firm gesture from his friend finally sent him back to his chair, albeit reluctantly.I sighed, crossing my arms. “There's nothing to talk about. The p
Elijah’s POVThe morning after my meeting with Sophia and Trevis, I walked into the office with a clear goal in mind: investigate Julia’s plagiarism. It was the first thing on my to-do list, and I wanted it done without delay. As I settled into my desk, I opened the file containing Julia’s designs and the alleged copied work of Sophia. Just as I was making headway, Chris barged in, a stack of invitations in hand. He placed them on my desk with a flourish.“Here are the invitations for the reception celebrating Julia’s return,” he announced with a grin. “Or rather, Sabrina’s return to the Baker family!”Before I could respond, Julia swept into the room, her presence quite overbearing. I noticed how she linked her arm with Chris’s and grinned excitedly. “Thanks so much, my brother!” she gushed. Then turning to me, she sweetly smiled and said, “Elijah, you must come to the party!”Before I could respond, though, I saw her glance down at the papers spread across my desk and frowned. “Wha
Sophia’s POVSeeing the memo that Craig was no longer with the company hit me like a punch to the gut. I sat at my desk, my mind racing and my heart bursting with various emotions. It’s so unfair that Julia got away with the plagiarism issue scot-free while Craig was blamed and fired! The injustice of it all churned my stomach.Craig had always been a stickler for the rules, almost to a fault. The idea of him violating company policy was ludicrous. Something's not right, I thought. This is fishy. My initial shock quickly gave way to anger, and I stood up, determined to march straight to Trevis's office to get some answers.As I grabbed my phone and headed toward the door, it buzzed in my hand. I glanced at the screen and saw Craig's name. Speak of the devil…“Sophia, can you meet me at the café in the lobby?” Craig's voice was tense, yet calm.“Craig, I was just about to—”“Please, Sophia. I need to talk to you.”“I’m going to help you, Craig. Don’t worry about it. I’ll have to tal
Sophia’s POV“Sophia, can we talk?” Julia's voice was soft, almost hesitant. I glanced up, seeing the remorse in her eyes. She looked genuinely sorry, but I couldn't shake the irritation bubbling within me.“Sure,” I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. Julia closed the door behind her and took a seat across from me.“I owe you an apology,” she began, wringing her hands nervously. “I know my design was too similar to yours, and I’m sorry that I thought there was a chance you copied some of my elements. Honestly, it wasn’t intentional. I saw some of Craig’s sketches by accident, and they must have stuck in my mind. I didn’t know that you two have been working together.”I raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying it was subconscious?”“Yes,” Julia nodded vigorously. “I never meant to cause any harm. And now, Craig is the one suffering for it, and that’s not fair. I’ve withdrawn from the project, hoping it might make things right.”I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “It’s not Craig who
Emily’s POVThe worn leather journal felt heavier in my hands than it should have, its frayed edges brushing against my fingertips as I clutched it tightly. Every step I took on the narrow mountain trail seemed to amplify the weight of it, as if it held not just pages of memories, but the crushing reality of the life Chris and I now led, lived before by someone else. The peaks of Mercantour National Park loomed ahead, their jagged edges shrouded in mist. Chris walked a few steps in front of me, his head turning every so often to scan the trail behind us."Do you think this place will be safe?" I asked. Chris slowed his pace, waiting for me to catch up. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he adjusted the strap of his backpack and glanced at me, his face unreadable. “It’s secluded. Hard to find, even harder to reach. That’s something.”Not exactly comforting. “But for how long?” I pressed. “How long until they find us again?”Chris’s jaw tightened, the tension in his shoulders makin
Elijah’s POVThe café had transformed under the warm glow of evening lights, its usual charm elevated by strings of delicate fairy lights and subtle touches of elegance. Tables were arranged to face a small stage near the window, where a sleek microphone and a guitar stand hinted at the night’s entertainment. Lila stood nearby, radiant in a flowing dress, her hand entwined with Adrian’s. Their closeness was unmistakable, their easy smiles a reflection of the love they now shared.I leaned against the counter, nursing a glass of sparkling water, and watched as they chatted with Morgana. Adrian was gesturing animatedly, and Lila laughed, leaning into his shoulder. Their new album launch was clearly more than just a career milestone—it was a celebration of their partnership.The sound of the door opening drew my attention. My grip on the glass tightened as Camille stepped inside, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. She was dressed to impress, her bold red dress catching the light
Elijah’s POVDetective Marcus and I met the vendor in a discreet corner of the back room. The man glanced nervously between us as Marcus explained the plan.“You’re going to approach your contact,” Marcus told him firmly. “Tell them there’s an opportunity tonight—something disruptive, something damaging. Be clear, but not pushy. If they bite, we’ll catch them red-handed.”The vendor nodded, swallowing hard. “Alright. What do you want me to suggest?”“Target the performance,” I said, crossing my arms. “Lila’s scheduled to sing tonight. Make it sound like ruining her set would humiliate Morgana and damage the café’s reputation. It’s the kind of petty, public sabotage this person seems to thrive on.”The vendor shifted uncomfortably. “And you’re sure I’ll be safe?”“You’ll be wired,” Marcus assured him, holding up a small device. “We’ll monitor everything, and my team will be close by. As soon as we have what we need, you’re out.”I stepped forward, fixing the vendor with a hard stare. “
Elijah’s POVI could see my stepmother smiling, talking to a couple of regulars at the counter in her cafe. Business had become much better lately, and for the first time in weeks, she looked genuinely happy. It seemed as if the chaos of the past few months had been nothing but a bad dream. I glanced at my watch. The investigator I’d recommended—Detective Marcus—was due to arrive any moment. He’d personally called me and mentioned new leads on the vandalism and threats against Morgana and Lila, promising that this time, we’d finally get somewhere.I looked over at Morgana. Her genuine smile was a rare sight these days, and despite everything, it was a relief to see her like this. Yet, the faint strain in our dynamic was impossible to overlook.She hadn’t entirely forgiven me for investigating Lennon. The look of betrayal on her face when she caught me in my study weeks ago still lingered in my mind. But for all her anger, she hadn’t shut me out completely. She’d allowed me to continu
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…” I whispered, that one word sending all sorts of emotions shooting through my body. God, I miss my wife. I couldn’t stop replaying the moments of distance, the fractured conversations, and the way her eyes held questions I didn’t know how to answer. But right now, I couldn’t afford to dwell on it.My phone buzzed on the desk, pulling me from my thoughts. Joe’s name flashed across the screen.“Elijah,” his voice came through, sounding serious. “I’ve got an update. One of Lennon’s companies has a scheduled shipment tomorrow night. Destination? A port that’s had connections with Les Ombres Écarlates in the past.”I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing. “What’s being shipped?”“Hard to tell. The manifest says machinery parts, but the quantity doesn’t match the volume listed. It’s suspicious, to say the least.”I rubbed my temple, frustration mounting. “And Lennon? Is he directly involved?”“Hard to say,” Joe admitted. “But it’s his company’s name on the paperwork. If h
Sophia’s POVThe knock on my office door was brief but firm. I glanced up from my laptop, my brow furrowing as my assistant stepped in, holding a bouquet of vibrant roses and lilies.“This just came for you,” she said, her smile bright as she placed the vase on my desk.“For me?” I asked, surprised. My gaze dropped to the small white card nestled among the flowers. I reached for it, curiosity piqued.The handwriting was familiar, steady and bold: For Sophia – because I’m thinking of you. – E”Elijah.A soft warmth bloomed in my chest, quickly followed by doubt. Was this a genuine gesture, or was it guilt? My mind immediately replayed the strained conversations, the silent meals, the guarded looks we’d exchanged over the past weeks. But as I stared at the flowers, their vibrant colors brightening my desk, I pushed those thoughts aside. Whatever the reason, he’d thought of me. And wasn’t that what mattered?“Lovely bouquet,” my assistant commented before slipping out of the room, leavin
Sophia’s POVA rapid thudding filled my ears as I watched the elevator doors close, Camille’s figure disappearing behind the sleek metallic panels. She hadn’t seen me, but there was no mistaking her—she was here, in the Sinclair Realty building.What was she doing here? And more importantly, who was she here to see?I swallowed hard, my thoughts racing as I tried to keep my emotions in check. She couldn’t possibly still be pursuing Elijah? The very idea made me feel sick. I suddenly had the urge to run after her and grab her by the hair. Forcing a steadying breath, I turned and walked toward the lobby doors, my heels clicking against the polished floors. I told myself not to jump to conclusions, not to let my insecurities get the better of me. I walked briskly to my car, the thought of Camille’s presence lingering like a bad aftertaste. What the hell is she doing here? I repeated silently in my head. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking of all the possibilities—none of them good. My
Sophia’s POVBalancing the coffee and pastry bag in my hands, I hurried toward the door, eager to get back to the office and away from whatever awkwardness I’d just left behind. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, a tug-of-war between relief that nothing suspicious seemed to be happening and the persistent pang of doubt gnawing at me.Just as I stepped outside, I nearly collided with someone. “Oh!” I gasped, clutching the coffee tightly to avoid spilling it.“Sophia!” Luana’s voice greeted me warmly, her eyes wide with surprise before her expression shifted to a delighted smile. “It’s so good to see you!”“Luana!” I managed, trying to sound equally cheerful as my heart raced for entirely different reasons. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”“No harm done,” she said with a light laugh. “It’s been too long. I feel like we haven’t had a chance to properly catch up.”“I know,” I said, forcing a smile. “You’ve been busy, though. How’s everything going?”“Good, actually.” She
Sophia’s POVSee you later for lunch at Bella Sera.The words on the screen seemed to taunt me. It was early morning and I was rushing to prepare for work in the bedroom while I could hear Elijah in the shower. His phone had just buzzed with a message, and when I saw Victoria’s name pop up, I just couldn’t help myself. I had to read that woman’s message. My eyes stayed glued to the message, my heart hammering as I tried to make sense of it. Bella Sera was Morgana’s cafe, so it wasn’t entirely strange for Victoria to be meeting Elijah there. But why? The legal issues at the cafe had been handled, hadn’t they? They shouldn’t have any more reason to meet with one another, a voice whispered in my head. I closed my eyes, trying to suppress the jealousy bubbling inside me. This wasn’t who I was—or at least, it hadn’t been. Lately, though, it seemed like I’d turned into a completely different person. Suspicious. Distrusting. Always questioning.But could I really blame myself? Elijah and