Sophia’s POVEmily’s studio was once again alive with energy, a controlled chaos of bustling staff, racks of flowing dresses, and the constant sound of conversation. I stood by one of the long tables, reviewing the latest sketches for the upcoming fashion show while Kayla worked beside me, her usual sharp, efficient self.“Alright,” she called to a group of assistants who were sorting through fabric samples. “The cobalt gown goes with the amber accessories, not the pearl set. Let’s keep it consistent with Emily’s original palette, people.”The assistants nodded quickly and got to work, their hands moving deftly through the fabrics. Kayla turned to me, arching an eyebrow. “Sophia, are you with me, or are you somewhere far, far away?”I blinked, realizing I’d been staring at the sketches without really seeing them. “Sorry,” I said with a sheepish smile. “I’m here. Sort of.”“Sort of,” she echoed, crossing her arms. “What’s going on? You’ve been zoning out since we got here.”Before I co
Sophia’s POV“Jared?” I called gently, kneeling to his level. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”He didn’t answer, but his defiance wavered for just a moment. Enough for me to know something had happened. Reese stepped forward, her expression serious. “Mommy, I saw what happened,” she said, her voice small but certain. “Jared was teasing Asha. Maybe he was trying to make her cry.”I turned back to Jared, who shifted on his feet, his defiance giving way to guilt. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and he stared at the floor, silent.“Jared,” I said softly, my tone even and calm. “Is that true? Were you teasing Asha?”He hesitated, but after a moment, he shrugged, looking unsure and still not meeting my eyes.I reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Sweetheart, I think you just wanted to play with her, right? But Asha’s just a baby. Babies can’t always understand when someone’s playing. Sometimes, our words and actions might upset them, even if we don’t mean to.”His lip t
Sophia’s POV“Her name is Luana,” I said, staring up at the soft ceiling lights of Dr. Lawson’s clinic. “She knew me as Sabrina. She remembered things about my life, about people I’ve forgotten completely. And she seems… kind, like she genuinely wants to help me.”Dr. Lawson’s calm voice came from just beyond my line of sight. “That’s a good sign, Sophia. Reconnecting with someone from your past can be a powerful trigger for recovering memories. The more you engage with her, the better chance you have of uncovering the missing pieces.”I turned my head slightly, glancing at her. “Do you really think it’s possible? That I could remember everything again?”Dr. Lawson’s expression was thoughtful but encouraging. “The mind is resilient, and memory is complex. While I can’t promise full restoration, I believe reconnecting with people, revisiting places, and being open to the process will help. Your determination will make all the difference.”Her words filled me with hope, and as the sessi
Sophia’s POV“You’re glowing,” Elijah teased as we headed back to the car, nudging me gently.I laughed. “Can you blame me? This was amazing. I’m so touched you did this for me.”He grinned, but then a playful glint entered his eye. “Well, I’m not done yet.”My eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean you’re not done?”“One more stop before we head home,” he said, leading me to the car.I climbed into the passenger seat, grinning as anticipation bubbled up. “You’re really pulling out all the stops today, aren’t you?”He chuckled as he started the engine. “Let’s just say I’ve had this planned for a while.”As we drove, I watched the familiar streets roll by, my curiosity growing with every turn. Suddenly, recognition hit me like a wave. The road. The trees. The white picket fence up ahead. I burst out laughing.“You’re taking me to my parents and grandparents?” I asked, unable to hide my excitement.Elijah glanced at me with a knowing smile. “Of course. We haven’t visited the Bakers in a wh
Elijah’s POVSophia’s hand rested lightly on my arm as we walked up the steps toward the front door of the mansion — Morgana and Lennon’s abode. Tonight wasn’t just a casual dinner—it was a calculated opportunity. One where I intended to finally confront Lennon and see if there was more to his connection with Les Ombres Écarlates than he was letting on.Morgana greeted us at the door, her smile warm but a hint of nervous energy beneath it. “Elijah, Sophia, come in! I’m so glad you could make it.”Sophia leaned in to give her a quick hug, and I followed with a polite nod. “Thank you for having us.”As we stepped into the foyer, the familiar aroma of roasted spices and caramelized onions wafted through the air. I caught the faintest trace of saffron—a hint of one of my favorite dishes. Morgana caught my expression and smiled knowingly.“I may have asked the cafe chef to prepare a little something special tonight,” she said, her tone light and casual as she led us further inside. “I rem
Emily’s POV“I think it’s your turn to chop the firewood,” I called out to Chris, balancing a basket of freshly picked herbs on my hip. The crisp air nipped at my cheeks, the forest surrounding our cabin alive with the rustling of leaves and the faint chirping of birds. It was peaceful here, simple. But simplicity often came with a price: vigilance.Chris looked up from the small stack of logs near the cabin’s edge, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “I did it yesterday,” he replied with mock indignation, his lopsided grin breaking through his tired expression. “Besides, I’m busy perfecting my stew.”I laughed softly, stepping onto the wooden porch. “That’s fair. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your masterpiece.”Inside the cabin, the air was warm and smelled of the comforting blend of woodsmoke and rosemary. Yet even in this serenity, the shadow of Les Ombres Écarlates loomed over us. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt truly at ease.As I set the herbs on the kitchen count
Emily’s POVI flipped to a random page of the journal, and the scrawled date at the top caught my eye: just over a year ago. My heart skipped a beat. This wasn’t just an old relic from the past—this was recent. Whoever had written this had been here not long before us.They’re getting closer. I can feel it. Every shadow, every sound—it all feels like them. I thought I’d lost them, but they always find a way. How many more nights can I stay one step ahead?A chill ran down my spine as I read the words. I flipped through the pages, the entries growing more sporadic and desperate. The writer—a man, judging by the style of writing—had been on the run, just like us.I’ve heard whispers of Les Ombres Écarlates. They’re everywhere, more powerful than I imagined. If they know where I am, I won’t survive this.My heart drummed faster. Whoever had written this had been hiding from the same mob that now hunted us. The journal was a record of fear, of survival, of someone trying to escape the ver
Elijah’s POVThe silence was suffocating as I leaned forward, my gaze locked onto Lennon’s. His composure was good—too good—but I’d spent years reading people, and I could see it: the faint tension in his shoulders, the barely perceptible wariness in his look. He was hiding something.I let the silence stretch before I spoke with a deliberate tone. “You care about Morgana and Lila, don’t you?”Lennon’s head snapped toward me, his jaw tightening. “Of course I do,” he said sharply. “What kind of question is that?”“Then you should understand why this is a problem,” I continued without flinching. “The threats against the cafe, the vandalism, and now these connections to Les Ombres Écarlates—it all paints a troubling picture. If you’re involved, in any way, you’re putting them directly in harm’s way.”Lennon’s grip on his wine glass tightened, his knuckles whitening. “Those matters are being handled by the investigators and the lawyer,” he said tersely. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”“Yet som
Sophia’s POVThe warmth of freshly baked cookies filled the air, a scent that felt so familiar, so comforting, that for a moment, it was easy to forget all the fear and uncertainty of the past few days.My mother bustled around the kitchen, setting out plates and pouring tea, determined to make this a small celebration, in spite of her still being a bit rattled. But more than anything, I could see that she was very, very happy. Emily and Chris had showered and changed, looking far better than they had when I first walked in. The exhaustion was still there, written in the lines of their faces, but they were standing tall, present, and—most importantly—home.Elijah arrived shortly after, his presence filling the room with steady reassurance. When he saw Chris, he didn’t hesitate, pulling him into a tight embrace. They had been best friends since childhood, and after everything Chris had been through, I could see the relief in Elijah’s eyes. He held onto Emily for a moment, too, murmuri
Sophia’s POVMy heart pounded as I gripped the phone tighter. "Mom? What’s wrong?"There was a moment of silence, just soft, uneven breaths on the other end of the line. My stomach twisted painfully. "Mom, talk to me!""S-Sophia…" her voice cracked, and I felt my chest constrict. "They’re here."I blinked, my mind struggling to keep up. "Who’s here?""Chris and Emily. They’re home."I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat. For a second, I couldn't move, couldn't think. My pulse raced as my mind fought to process what she had just said.Chris and Emily are back.My grip on the phone loosened, my knees nearly buckling from the sudden rush of emotions. Relief, disbelief, overwhelming gratitude."Oh my God," I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. "Are they okay?""I… I don’t know," my mother admitted, still sounding shaken. "They haven’t said much. But you need to come quick."I didn’t hesitate. "I’ll be right there."As I ended the call, I turned to see Elijah watching me,
Sophia’s POVThe kitchen was quiet except for the faint sizzle of eggs in the pan. It was still very early in the morning, and I could see the sun rising through the window. Normally, I would have stopped to admire the view. But my mind was still preoccupied with a lot of chaotic things. I had barely slept.Everything Lucas had told me last night still lingered in my mind, a tangled mess of unanswered questions and uneasy truths. Hugo Tournier. He had been part of my family's past all along, a ghost lurking in the shadows, and now he was back. It settled over me like a heavy fog, impossible to shake.But as much as my thoughts circled around Hugo, it was Elijah’s reaction that unsettled me more. The way he had looked at me. The sharpness in his voice when he told me I didn’t need to talk to Lucas anymore, that Joe would handle the investigation.He hadn’t accused me outright, but I could feel the tension beneath his words. The distance. Lucas was a sensitive issue between us—alwa
Sophia’s POVLucas stood in front of me, his face partially shadowed by the porch light, his eyes unreadable but filled with something that made my stomach twist—regret, sorrow, maybe even guilt.“I don’t even know where to start,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair.I crossed my arms, bracing myself. “Just tell me what you found.”He exhaled sharply, nodding. "I started looking into the records of missing children around the time you disappeared. A lot of reports were vague, but… I found something." He hesitated before continuing, his voice tight. "There was an old witness statement—a retired cop who had once suspected a man named Hugo Tournier."My breath hitched. The name. I had heard it before. Grandpa George had mentioned it when we talked about the man who might have taken me.Lucas continued, unaware of my growing realization. "The name meant nothing to me at first, but when I dug deeper, I realized it was connected to your family."My pulse quickened. “Connected how?
Emily’s POVDarkened streets stretched endlessly ahead as we sped through the city, the glow of neon signs flickering across the windshield. The sound of other cars was distant, almost muffled, drowned out by the pounding of my heart. My grip tightened on the edge of my seat, eyes darting to every shadowed alley, every figure on the sidewalk. It felt like eyes were on us—watching, waiting.Chris’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw set in a hard line. He hadn’t said much since we got the warning. The burner phone lay silent between us, the last message still glowing on the screen:“Do not go to the docks. You are being watched.”I swallowed hard. "Who sent it?""No idea," Chris muttered. "Could be someone helping us. Could be someone luring us into another trap."My stomach twisted. "So what do we do?"He exhaled sharply, eyes darting to the rearview mirror. "We can’t risk it. If someone’s waiting for us at the docks, we won’t stand a chance. We haven't been able to reach Crimson Ve
Sophia’s POVJared was safe. That was all that mattered.We were gathered in the house, the weight of the night still pressing heavily on our shoulders. But at least Jared was asleep now, curled up in his bed like nothing had happened. He hadn’t seemed afraid, hadn’t even realized the gravity of what Antoine had done. And for that, I was grateful. The last thing I wanted was for him to carry fear because of this.But once he woke up, I knew I would have to face the reality of telling him about his father. And why it was only now that he was finding out about Antoine. “We’re not pressing charges,” I had told Elijah. But we did have to watch our backs more carefully, to stay guarded and alert all the time. And we needed to make sure never to let Jared out of our sights again. Still, we had made Antoine promise never to pull something like this again. Not that his word meant much. I didn’t trust him, and I knew Elijah didn’t either. This wasn’t over. Not really.Phoebe sat beside me,
Sophia’s POVElijah and I sprinted through the mall, dodging past confused shoppers and security personnel as the urgency of the moment drove us forward. My heart pounded in my ears, my breaths coming fast and shallow.“We need to check the parking lot exits,” Elijah said, his voice tight with controlled fury. “If Antoine took Jared, he won’t risk staying here much longer.”Elijah nodded, pulling out his phone and dialing Joe. The moment Joe answered, Elijah got straight to the point. “Antoine’s here. He took Jared. We need to know if he has a car registered in his name or any known places he might go.”I looked at Elijah in anticipation. He nodded then ended the call. "He said he'll get back to us soon."My eyes darted around the busy corridor, searching for any sign of our son.Jared, my sweet boy. Where are you?Phoebe ran alongside me, her face streaked with tears. “He must’ve followed us,” she choked out. “I swear, I didn’t think— I mean, I saw someone watching, but I wasn’t sure
Sophia’s POVI pushed through the crowded mall, my heart hammering in my chest, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The world around me blurred into a haze of faces and voices, none of them the one I was searching for. Oh, god, Jared. Please be okay.My mind screamed his name with every step I took, my hands trembling as I grabbed Phoebe’s arm, trying to keep both of us steady.“He has to be here,” Phoebe said, her voice shaking as she wiped at her tear-streaked face. “He has to be here somewhere.”I wanted to believe her. I had to believe her. But the sheer panic clawing at my throat made it hard to hold on to hope. Jared wasn’t just missing—he seemed to have vanished into thin air. And the longer he was gone, the worse the possibilities became.“Elijah’s talking to security,” I said, scanning every store, every passerby, searching for even a glimpse of him. “They’re checking the cameras. We just have to keep looking.”Phoebe nodded frantically, but guilt was etched into every
Elijah’s POVAcross from me, I gazed lovingly at my wife. Sophia looked beautiful, her hair framing her face perfectly as she sipped her wine. For a moment, I let myself pretend that this was just a regular dinner date, that everything was normal.But it wasn’t.“The food’s amazing,” I said, taking another bite of my steak. “You picked a great place.”Sophia smiled faintly, but the crease between her brows betrayed the worry she was trying to hide. “I’m glad you like it,” she said softly. Her fork hovered over her plate for a moment before she set it down. “Elijah… do you think Chris and Emily are okay?”I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “They’ll be fine,” I said firmly, though the weight in my chest made me doubt my own words. “The mob’s on its last legs. Even if there are survivors, they’re scattered and in no position to orchestrate anything.”She nodded, but her eyes didn’t meet mine. “I can’t help but worry. What if… what if some of them intercepted Chris and E