Elijah’s POV
Who the hell was that man who’d answered her phone? I thought angrily, smoke coming out of my ears as I paced back and forth in my office. She can’t possibly be dating someone new already!
I couldn’t believe it. It just wasn’t like Sophia to forget me and move on that fast. It angered me so much, and at the same time, it squeezed my heart painfully, knowing that it might really be over between us now, that this wasn’t just some temper tantrum or momentary insanity on her part.
I remembered then how I’d overheard my assistant Connor apparently talking to a lawyer, his tone hushed but urgent.
I strained to listen, my heart pounding in my chest. That time, Sophia and I had just signed the divorce papers.
“...file this divorce as soon as possible,” Connor's voice was clear and determined.
I found it hard to believe. Sophia was truly in a hurry to get out of this marriage. I knew she was unhappy, but the finality of this step hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought that maybe it had just been some cruel joke, or she was just not thinking clearly.
At the time, I agreed to sign the divorce papers only because Sophia was acting very erratically. In a moment of shock, I went along with it.
What the hell is going on with her? I thought she would regret it. I didn't expect her to be so determined.
Since we lost our child, Sophia has been demoralized, and I can't comprehend why she sees Serena as an enemy.
There's nothing going on between me and Serena. Maybe if I explain things to her, she’ll understand and forgive me. She’ll come back to me.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling greatly confused and stunned. It was also incredulous that she’d asked Connor to do it for her. I knew they had become friends over the years, but I never expected this.
Yet this could be a twist of luck for me that she’d asked Connor, I thought, hope surging within my heart. After I had stormed out of the house, I had begun having second thoughts. I wasn’t ready to let go yet.
Immediately, I talked to Connor then. “Connor, what date is it now?”
“July 10th,” he replied.
I looked up from the mess on my desk. “And when was the last time you saw Sophia?”
He paused for a while, thinking. “Uh, I believe about a month ago.”
“You have our divorce papers, right?” I started.
Connor’s eyes widened. He didn’t have a choice but to say yes.
“This is our marriage, Connor. You must understand that couples go through challenges in their relationship from time to time. I know we signed those papers, but perhaps we just got carried away…”
He was listening to me, nodding in agreement.
I took a deep breath and went on. “Can you give me the papers? I need to talk to Sophia again first.”
That memory was very fresh in my mind. Until now, Sophia had no idea that the divorce had not been filed. Connor didn’t tell her.
Now it’s time to speak to her. I’ve given her enough time to calm down, and now I need to see her.
Even if I’m pissed off that she may be seeing other men.
Maybe this time, I could try to persuade her. I wasn't sure where I had gone wrong, but I knew Sophia had a soft heart. All I had to do was apologize first, and then maybe she would come back to me.
I found myself rushing through the city to get to Brenda Bennett’s house. Maybe they could tell me where she was.
A few days ago, I’d already gone to where Sophia had moved after she left the house, but it was empty. I had no idea where she could have gone. Her best friend Kayla kept avoiding me too.
I needed to see her, to talk to her, to make things right.
“Elijah!” Brenda greeted me in a cheerful tone when she saw me. “What brings you here?”
I was straight to the point. “Hi. Do you know where Sophia is?”
Her face fell. “Not really. That woman is just so confused, so you have to understand her. But I know that she really loves you and —”
“Where is she?” I demanded, cutting her off. “I must talk to her.”
“Uhm… We haven’t seen her for a long time,” she finally admitted.
“What?!”
Suddenly, Sophia’s younger brother Troy came out. When he saw me, his lips turned up into a grin. “Hey, bro. How’ve you been? We miss you, man.” He was always like that, acting as if we were the best of buddies. But really, he was just after my money all the time.
“He’s looking for Sophia,” Brenda informed him with a meaningful look that wasn’t lost on me.
“Ohhh, you won’t find Sophia anywhere here,” Troy said, chuckling. “She probably left already to study abroad.”
“What?! When? Where?”
He shrugged, looking as if he was trying to rack his brain. Then his eyes lit up. “How much can I get for telling you which country she was planning to go to?”
Asshole, I silently thought, anger and frustration welling up inside me. “Forget it. I can hire private investigators, anyway.”
As soon as I turned around to leave, Troy called out, “It’s France!”
I stopped in my tracks as a shiver went through my limbs. She’s in France, I thought in alarm.
I was engulfed in shock and disbelief all at once. I hastily went inside my car and dialed her number again, feeling the steam coming out of my ears as my blood boiled.
“Why did you leave the country, Sophia?” I muttered furiously as I waited for the ring.
But to my bewilderment, no ring came. I heard an error tone, so I dialed again.
This time, an automated voice said, “Sorry, the number you dialed is not in service.”
Sophia’s POVIt had been almost three months since I arrived in France, and I couldn't believe how much my life had changed. The vibrant atmosphere, the rich culture, and the artistic ambiance of this city had truly worked their magic on me.Initially, adjusting to life here was challenging. The language barrier, the unfamiliarity of everything, and being away from home weighed heavily on me. But gradually, I found my rhythm.I had just entered the hall where visual displays by selected graduate students of Interior Design were being exhibited. I was immediately greeted by a sea of familiar faces – friends, classmates, and professors – all smiling and congratulating me. As I moved through the exhibit, the compliments kept coming. “Sophia, your designs are so innovative!” one classmate remarked. “I love how you play with light and space.”“Thank you! I've been experimenting with new techniques,” I explained, eager to share my process.Approaching my professor, I was met with a smile
Sophia’s POV My heart pounded fast in my chest. I clutched my phone, where Kayla’s face was framed by the tidy office background of her new workspace. “I'll be right back,” she hissed anxiously, glancing off-screen.I nodded, trying to muster a semblance of calm.The minutes stretched on, each one feeling like an eternity. I stared at the screen, willing my breathing to slow, my heart to quiet. Did Elijah hear us talking?!Finally, Kayla returned. “Elijah's gone,” she said. “He didn't seem to hear me talking. He's meeting with Serena again, who's happy to kiss his ass.”A bitter laugh escaped me. Then Kayla leaned forward and spoke, her voice low and confiding. “I don't know what’s so great about Serena that Elijah would choose her over you. And, Sophia, I know you drafted the divorce settlement without including the division of property. Are you really willing to give up everything—the property and all of your supposed share in Elijah’s assets, and the man you love—for Serena?”I
Elijah’s POV It’s been weeks now since I last heard from Sophia. I couldn't shake the unsettling thought of the man who had answered Sophia's phone. His voice was unfamiliar, and I was certain I didn't know him. The realization that Sophia was with someone I had never even met was unacceptable. Desperation gnawed at my resolve as I reached out to her adoptive mother and brother, only to be met with the chilling news that they too had lost contact with Sophia. She must have changed her contact number! Was it because of me? How could she just cut off all ties with me like that?That whole day, I couldn’t focus on anything. I was still thinking about Sophia when I saw a familiar woman running across the lobby of our office, holding some huge envelopes. Kayla Davis, Sophia’s best friend. “I can’t believe her! She keeps rejecting all the programs I’ve submitted!” I heard her say furiously. That’s when I noticed that my assistant Connor was walking beside her, trying to catch up with her
Sophia’s POVDuring the three months I’d spent in Paris, I had gradually settled into the rhythm of life here and discovered some joys in my daily routine, such as going to the mall with my friend Daniel.“Don’t you need a new kettle?” Daniel asked, pointing at the display of kitchen equipment. We were strolling in the mall together after our classes at the university, picking out additional stuff for my apartment. “Okay, let’s check it out.” After a successful purchase, I was surprised when Daniel suddenly suggested that we visit the mother and baby section. But I knew I had to face it sooner or later, so I agreed. Would Elijah want this baby? I wondered as I strolled among the cribs, strollers, and tiny outfits. He probably wouldn’t care if he knew. I’m glad I went to Paris where I can be far away from him. “Oh, wow! Such charming teeny outfits!” a familiar voice exclaimed in a rather sarcastic way. I turned around in dread, hoping it wasn’t who I thought it was. But my heart d
Elijah’s POVIs Sophia seeing someone? Could she be hanging out or laughing with another man right this moment?I kept wondering how she was, and what she was doing. The thought of her being with someone else made me tense. Even though I was busy discussing important matters all day long with our real estate partners in Paris, my mind had kept drifting back to her. Earlier, I’d driven around some of the famous universities in the city, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. It was a long shot, of course, but I just couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t a coincidence that I’d booked a hotel within the vicinity of the Latin Quarter, which was a popular neighborhood for foreign students. I didn’t know yet where she was studying, but I could easily have Connor hire an investigator and look up that info for me. But I wasn’t sure yet if I was really going to push through with seeing her or not. As I approached my hotel room, I saw Serena waiting there outside with a mischievous glint in her twinkli
Sophia’s POV I was in a cafe just outside the school campus, enthusiastically discussing a big project with my classmates, when I noticed a luxury car parked on the other side of the street. My heart lurched when I saw a man step out and cross the street toward me. Elijah?! I thought incredulously, squinting through the glass window of the cafe. I had tuned out the voices of the group as I slowly stood up and focused on the man striding in my direction. Is it really him? My mind whirled with confusion. I gasped as he came into focus. Oh, my god. It’s him. What’s he doing here? Without thinking, my hand went to the bulge on my stomach. “Excuse me, I’ll be back,” I muttered to my classmates and felt an urgent need to escape. I had to get as far away from him as possible! Just then, I saw Serena come out of the car behind Elijah. Her beach waves blew gently in the wind as she joined him and linked her fingers with his. I can’t believe they came to Paris together, I thought bitter
Sophia’s POV Daniel barged into my apartment. “Let her go!” he shouted at Elijah. Elijah reluctantly stepped away. More tears filled my eyes. “What’s happening, Sophia?” Daniel asked as he came over to my side, looking like he wanted to punch Elijah. “It’s nothing,” I whispered, brushing away my tears with the back of my hand and trying to control my overwhelming emotions. As Daniel arrived, a wave of calm washed over me, settling my restless mind. In that moment, I realized that without him, I might have crumbled and confided everything to Elijah. Daniel turned toward Elijah. I could see his mouth twitching, as if he was trying to hold back his angry, sharp-edged words. His stance showed that he was doing his best not to cause any more trouble. And yet, at the same time, he wanted to protect me. Elijah began to calm down, to my relief. I could see him struggling to control himself. “You and I have got to talk,” he said sternly to Daniel. “Outside.” “Fine,” Daniel answered
Sophia’s POV I was glad when Elijah and Daniel came back in, so that I did not have to deal with Serena anymore. Yet at the same time, I was worried and curious about what they had talked about. Glancing at Daniel, I noticed he avoided meeting my eyes. Elijah, on the other hand, seemed composed but his gaze on me was intense, as if he had something important to say. “We better go now, Elijah,” Serena suddenly quipped, sounding more cheerful now. She grabbed his hand and began pulling him to the door. “Bye, everyone. It was great talking to you.” I looked at her incredulously, wondering how she could act like that after everything that had occurred. I let out a sigh of relief as soon as they were out of sight. I felt tired and stressed, so I plopped down on the sofa and leaned back, closing my eyes for a little bit. “Are you alright?” Daniel asked with concern, sitting beside me. I opened my eyes and gave him a faint smile. “Just tired, but I’ll be fine.” He nodded. “Maybe I