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
Sophia’s POVThe elevator ride to our hotel room was suffocatingly silent. I could hear every tick of the numbers as we ascended. When we finally reached our floor, I breathed a small sigh of relief.We walked to our room with no one speaking, the soft carpet muting our steps. Elijah unlocked the door and gestured for me to enter first. I stepped inside, feeling the dampness of my clothes clings to my skin even more uncomfortably in the cool air of the room.I can’t believe I’m going to have to sleep in the same room with him!“Give me a second,” Elijah said, breaking the silence as he rummaged through the closet. I watched him pull out a hair dryer.“Here,” he said, holding it out to me. “Let's get you dried off a bit.”“Thanks,” I replied, taking the hair dryer from him. My fingers brushed against his for a brief moment, and I pulled back as if I'd touched a hot stove. I plugged in the dryer and began to work on my dripping clothes.For a moment, I felt as if we were husband and wif
Sophia’s POVI stared at the bathroom door, my heart thumping in my chest. I held my breath as I waited for it to open, bracing myself for his presence. But then, the sound of the shower came again, and I realized he was still in there, oblivious to the world outside, including Reese's tiny voice over the phone.I turned my attention back to the screen where Reese's face filled the frame. Her big, expressive eyes stared back at me with confusion and disappointment. “Mommy, why can't you come home and sleep beside me?” she asked, her lower lip quivering.I sighed softly, my heart aching at the sight. “Sweetheart, I have some work to do, and I'll be away for a few days. But don't worry, your Aunt Kayla and your nanny will be with you the whole time. They'll take good care of you.”Reese's small brow furrowed, and she didn't nod. Her eyes, so much like Elijah's, mirrored the same stubbornness I often saw in him. “But I want you, Mommy.”“I know, baby,” I whispered, trying to keep my voi
Sophia’s POVThe storm raged outside, the wind howling like a restless spirit, and the thunder clapped with such ferocity it felt like the world was splitting in two. I lay on the bed, rigid and tense, my heart racing as I realized that I had an arm draped over the man lying beside me. The room was dark, save for the occasional flashes of lightning that illuminated Elijah's profile. As the rain pounded against the window, I listened to the steady rhythm of Elijah's breathing. I began to pull away. But then, thunder boomed again, and I flinched involuntarily. In the darkness, I felt the mattress shift as Elijah turned toward me, opening his eyes and gazing at me with deep longing. “Sophia,” he murmured, touching my face and leaning in to kiss me. It was gentle at first, and I found myself closing my eyes and simply relishing the familiar taste of his lips on mine, only passively responding. I didn’t move away, even though every rational part of me screamed that I should. His kiss
Sophia’s POVI opened my eyes the next morning and gasped as I realized I was being held tightly in Elijah’s arms — wearing nothing!My heart raced as memories of last night flooded back. The craziness, getting carried away in the middle of the night—I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. Carefully, I slipped out of his arms, not wanting to wake him.The rain was still pouring outside, a steady rhythm against the window. I made my way to the bathroom, cleaned up, and got dressed. When I returned, I noticed Elijah was awake too. The words caught in my throat as we stared at each other for a while. “Hey, good morning,” he said a little awkwardly. Perhaps he too was unsure how to address what had happened between us. “Uh, good morning,” I replied, my voice squeaking out in a weird way. I tried to suppress the fluttering in my chest.Elijah sat on the bed, shirtless, already engrossed in answering emails. He didn’t say anything else but went back to what he was doing. I sat on the couc
Sophia’s POVThe morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the hotel room with a gentle warmth. I took a deep breath, savoring the freshness of the new day, a stark contrast to the storm that had confined us indoors the last few days. The memory of those days—and nights—lingered vividly in my mind, making my heart jump. A knock on the door made me sit up in bed. Elijah and I exchanged glances, realizing that we were wearing only our undergarments. “Elijah? Sophia?” I heard Trevis’s voice through the door. Elijah quickly got dressed and went to open the door, while I rushed to the bathroom to shower. “Hey, come on in…” I heard Elijah say. Then I heard footsteps coming in, and they all began chatting about the storm finally relenting. “Where’s Sophia?” Trevis asked. “I think she, uh, woke up early and took a shower,” Elijah fibbed. I turned on the water and couldn’t hear them anymore. After taking a quick shower and changing into a fresh set of clothes, I came out
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