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
Sophia’s POV“Uncle Daniel!” Reese exclaimed. I turned, relief flooding through me as I saw Daniel's kind smile instead of Elijah's piercing gaze. Reese ran up to him, her tiny arms wrapping around his legs. I took a deep breath, beginning to relax. “Daniel,” I said, my voice steadying. “Thank goodness it's you.”He bent down to Reese's level, ruffling her hair before straightening up to face me. “Sophia, what happened?”I glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, then told him everything. The words tumbled out in a rush. “Reese and I were shopping with Kayla when I heard Elijah and Julia talking… I’m not sure if Elijah saw me and my daughter, but he could have, you know? He turned around and I tried to hide! Then we immediately left the store!” I could hear the tension and anxiety in my voice. My ex-husband could find out the truth about Reese, and it wasn’t something I was prepared for yet. “I’m just so scared that he might try to check the security cameras just to make
Elijah’s POV“No, everything’s fine,” I replied, my eyes locked on Sophia's. “I’ll be out in a while.”At that moment, she stomped on my foot, her eyes flashing with anger. But instead of reacting with pain, I simply grinned at her. The look of astonishment on her face was almost comical, and she glared at me, her fury evident.The cramped dressing room was suffocating, the walls pressing in on us as Sophia and I stood mere inches apart. I had dragged her in here, desperate for a private moment. And now that I found myself facing her closely, our breaths blending with one another, I could feel my heart jumping to my throat. Julia's voice faded as she moved away, leaving us in silence. My eyes didn’t leave Sophia’s. “What are you doing here?” I asked her. “Shopping with Daniel,” she said, her voice calm but defiant. “He had to leave earlier, so I came in here to buy a shirt for him.” Her words felt like a sharp blow to my stomach. Something in my chest ached. Daniel. This man's nam
Sophia’s POVKayla and I arrived at the Baker's estate, the grand house already buzzing with activity. The party was in full swing, and I felt a pang of nervousness as we walked up the driveway. Kayla must have noticed the look on my face. “Hey, relax,” she whispered with a smile. “You look amazing.”With my best friend by my side, I managed to smile and feel more confident. “Well, you did do my makeup,” I joked. “And you did pick out this dress for me.”Kayla laughed. “Yes, you’re so lucky to have me as a friend!”We both giggled. “But really, Sophia, you look fabulous!”I squeezed her hand gratefully. “Thank you. I do feel fabulous tonight.”Inside, the house was a swirl of colors, laughter, and music. Chris Baker and his parents had spared no expense for Julia's party. I spotted Julia across the room, looking radiant as ever, surrounded by a group of admirers including her brother and parents. For a moment, I felt a twinge of insecurity, but it quickly dissipated. Today, I was d
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