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 I’ve withdrawn from the project, hoping it might make things right.”I sighed, leaning back in my chair.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
Elijah’s POVI’m supposed to be celebrating Sabrina’s return, I thought. But to be honest, I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate because I still had doubts about Julia.My mind was elsewhere, tethered to the woman in the blue dress.Sophia looks so beautiful tonight. Her laughter was genuine, but there was a tension in her shoulders that only I seemed to notice.Just then, a tall, well-built man was introduced by Kayla to Sophia. That definitely got my attention, especially when the two of them were left alone to talk. Andrew, a family friend of the Bakers. We’d met a few times and exchanged polite nods. I watched as he engaged Sophia in conversation, his body language all too familiar, all too close. It made me frown and clench my fists.Sophia’s smile was tight, and the way she glanced around the room, as if searching for an escape, told me she didn’t really want to be talking to him.I began weaving my way through the crowd, my pulse quickening with each step. Just as I got close eno
Sophia’s POVWhen I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the unfamiliar ceiling. The second thing was the scent of lavender and cedarwood that filled the room. Confusion gripped me as I struggled to piece together where I was. I pushed myself up on the soft mattress, my eyes scanning the elegant, well-decorated bedroom. Panic bubbled within me.“Where am I?”Then, like a floodgate bursting open, the memories of last night came rushing back. Julia's party at the Bakers’ estate. The laughter, the music, the sparkling chandeliers, and the endless glasses of champagne. I remembered chatting with friends, mingling with strangers, and...and then… oh, my god!My eyes widened in horror as I remembered lying down beside Elijah on this very bed. Oh, shit! No, no, no!I sat up in bed and suddenly felt a headache coming on. I pressed my temples hard, thinking about the images in my head. Are they from a dream or are they real?I couldn’t even recall everything. Most of the images were hazy, and
Sophia’s POVI had been dreading this business trip. I didn’t even have much time to prepare myself emotionally!The thought of being confined in a car with Elijah for hours filled me with anxiety and resentment. But as I stood in the driveway, watching Connor load our bags into the trunk, I reminded myself that this was just another professional obligation. I can handle this. “Ready to go, Sophia?” Connor called, his usual cheerful demeanor on full display. He glanced at Trevis, who was already settling into the passenger seat with a stack of papers on his lap.“Ready,” I replied, plastering a smile on my face as I approached the car. My heart sank when I realized I’d be sitting in the back with Elijah. No avoiding him today.As I slid into the back seat, Elijah gave me a brief nod. “Sophia.”“Elijah,” I responded, keeping my tone neutral. The tension I expected wasn’t there, though. Instead, there was a strange calmness between us, as if we both silently agreed to keep things prof
Elijah’s POVThe house felt like it was holding its breath. Morgana’s sobs broke the silence occasionally, raw and gut-wrenching, as Lila and Adrian hovered near her, offering words of comfort that felt paper-thin in the face of her grief. Morgana sat slumped on the couch, her face buried in her hands, while Lila rubbed soothing circles on her back and Adrian paced, his expression dark with worry.In the corner of the room, Kayla and Sophia sat close together, their heads bowed in hushed conversation. Whatever they were saying, it seemed to offer Sophia a sliver of solace, though her eyes darted toward me every now and then, filled with the same lingering apprehension I felt. She looked pale, her shoulders drawn tight as if she were holding herself together by sheer willpower.An hour had crawled by since the explosion. An hour of unanswered questions and unanswered calls. Connor and I had tried every line, every contact, but no one from Joe’s side had picked up. Each failed attempt f
Sophia’s POVThe air thrummed with a tension so thick it felt alive, no matter how hard we all tried to mask it. Morgana’s living room was warm and inviting, as always, but even the crackling fireplace couldn’t chase away the chill of unease that had settled over us. I sat on the edge of the plush sofa, my hands gripping a mug of tea that had long since gone cold.Across from me, Elijah leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees, his gaze fixed on the carpet as though it held the answers we were all waiting for. Lila and Adrian were perched on the loveseat, talking in low voices, though their words seemed more like an effort to fill the silence than an actual conversation. Connor stood by the window, staring out into the sprawling garden, while Kayla hovered near the kitchen, pretending to busy herself with the cheese platter she'd brought.Morgana herself sat quietly. As always, her eyes were red and puffy, her face haggard, and she had grown noticeably thinner.I took a deep b
Elijah’s POVIt was one of those days when the weight of the world seemed to rest on my shoulders. My office at Sinclair Realty was awash with sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but the brightness did little to alleviate the turmoil brewing in my thoughts. Connor, my ever-efficient assistant, sat across from me, tablet in hand, as we combed through the final details of the new condo project. "The eco-friendly features are going to be the highlight," Connor was saying. "Solar panels, water recycling—it's all here. If we market it right, we'll tap into that green investor demographic."Just as Connor began discussing potential investors, my phone buzzed on the desk. Joe’s name lit up the screen. Joe rarely called—and never during office hours unless it was urgent."Give me a minute," I told Connor, picking up the phone. "Joe, what is it?""Elijah, turn on the news. Now."There was an urgency in his voice that made my stomach tighten. "What’s going on?""Just do it
Sophia’s POVI leaned over my desk, the soft glow of the desk lamp spilling over my sketches. The lines were clean, precise, but my mind wasn’t. I’d been at this all day, refining designs for Lucas’s ski resort renovations. Thankfully, it had been days since I’d last heard from him. That alone brought a sense of relief. I wasn’t sure if it was because of our last encounter or he’s just been busy. As I worked on shading the next section of my blueprint, my phone buzzed against the desk. I glanced at it, surprised to see Elijah’s name flashing on the screen. A small smile tugged at my lips as I answered.“Hi,” I said, cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder as I continued sketching.“Hey,” Elijah’s warm voice greeted me. “I just wanted to ask… what time are you coming home?”I paused, setting my pencil down. “In a bit. Just wrapping up a few things.”“Good,” he said, a faint smile audible in his tone. “I miss you.”The words caught me off guard. A rush of warmth spread through m
Elijah’s POVThe morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of my office, but it did little to lift the cloud hanging over me. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the reports spread across my desk, though my mind wasn’t focused on them. Victoria’s sudden disappearance had thrown me off balance.A part of me wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. If she was gone, it meant she couldn’t interfere with my family anymore—or so I hoped. I don’t know her too well. But I know Julia, and won’t just give up. If using Victoria didn’t work, she’ll find another way soon. The phone on my desk buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. My assistant’s voice came through the intercom. “Mr. Sinclair, Joe is here to see you.”“Send him in,” I said, sitting up straighter.Moments later, Joe stepped into the room, carrying a folder and his usual air of quiet efficiency. He placed the folder on my desk and sat across from me, his expression grim.“I’ve got updates,” he began, pulling a few papers fro
Sophia’s POVWe always tried to set aside our concerns whenever we got together for meals at home with the kids. Tonight’s dinner turned out to be lively, especially because we’d invited Phoebe to join. Jared was animated, recounting his favorite parts of the school performance to Phoebe, who listened with rapt attention. It was sweet to see the bond forming between them—Jared had taken to her so naturally, as though some invisible thread tied them together.“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the show,” Phoebe said, her tone genuinely regretful. She reached over to ruffle Jared’s hair. “Work’s been hectic, and I just couldn’t leave my new job.”Jared shrugged, smiling at her. “It’s okay, Aunt Phoebe. There’ll be more performances. You can come next time.”“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Phoebe promised, her eyes softening.Roxy, who had been unusually quiet throughout dinner, suddenly spoke up. “Royce wasn’t in school today.”I paused mid-bite, glancing at Elijah. He stilled too, h
Elijah’s POVDespite Morgana’s absence, Bella Sera was bustling with activity when I arrived. The place seemed to be running like a well-oiled machine. Clara, Morgana’s assistant, was standing by the counter, speaking animatedly with one of the chefs.I made my way to her, and she noticed me immediately. “Elijah,” she said with a smile. “Good to see you. Morgana mentioned you might stop by.”“How’s everything going?” I asked, leaning against the counter.Clara handed me a clipboard with the latest reports. “Sales have been steady. We’ve introduced a few new menu items, and they’re doing really well. Customers seem to love the seasonal specials. Morgana’s been signing off on everything remotely, but honestly, she’s been distant. Understandably so.”I nodded, flipping through the reports. The numbers looked solid. “You’re doing great, Clara. Morgana will appreciate this.”Clara gave me a grateful smile, but before she could respond, I felt a hand on my arm—a touch too familiar. I turne
Sophia’s POVLila opened the door slowly, and for a brief moment, the porch light framed a familiar figure. Relief flooded through me when I realized who it was.“Adrian!” I exclaimed, a smile breaking across my face.He stood there with his signature easy grin, dressed in a dark jacket with his hands shoved into the pockets. His eyes met mine briefly before shifting to Lila, softening with concern.“Hey, Sophia,” he greeted warmly. “Glad to know you’re here.”Before I could respond, Lila let out a soft cry and threw her arms around him. Adrian caught her effortlessly, wrapping her in a tight embrace. Her shoulders shook as she buried her face into his chest, and he murmured something soothing into her hair.“It’s good you showed up,” I said gently, stepping back to give them space. “You’re just what she needs right now.”Adrian led Lila inside, still holding her close. She clung to him as though he were a lifeline, her earlier composure crumbling into quiet sobs. It was clear that th
Sophia’s POV“We should’ve gone to see Morgana sooner,” I said softly as Elijah and I drove to his stepmother’s house. “Lila says she’s not herself. Refusing to leave the house? That’s really not like her.”“She’s probably overwhelmed,” Elijah replied. “Lennon’s disappearance, the uncertainty… it’s a lot. But we’ll get through to her.”I nodded, staring out at the rain-speckled window. “She’s always been so strong. A fighter, you know? It’s hard to imagine her like this.”“She’s human,” Elijah said with understanding and concern. “Even the strongest people have their breaking points.”For a moment, we were quiet again. Then my mind drifted back to the preschool show we had recently attended, to the moment Victoria had dropped that prison visitor’s log.“Elijah,” I began, my tone tentative.“Hmm?” he murmured, glancing at me briefly before focusing back on the road.“I didn’t tell you everything about what happened at the preschool.”His eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Go on.”“Victoria d