Sophia’s POVIt felt good to finally be back in my office and to be working on a new design project. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of my computer. I loved this part of the process, where creativity flowed freely, and the outside world faded away.As I was sketching out ideas, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see Julia standing there with a look of concern on her face.“Hey, Sophia,” Julia began, stepping into the room. “I heard from Elijah about what happened. Are you okay?”I forced a smile, though my heart tightened at the mention of Elijah. “I'm fine, Julia. Really. Just trying to get this project done.”Julia nodded, but I could tell that she didn’t plan on going away soon. She glanced at my sketches, then back at me. “I know you're busy, but I was wondering if I could study with you. I know I'm not as good a designer as you, which is why Chris chose you for this project. I really want to learn more from you so I can improve faster.”Her sin
Sophia’s POVI froze, my heart pounding in my chest, as Daniel's words sank in. “I've liked you since high school,” he confessed, his voice filled with sincerity. “Back then, I thought you were too focused on your studies to pay attention to me. And I guess I was too… afraid to approach you.”High school felt like a lifetime ago. I had been so engrossed in my academic pursuits that I hadn't paid much attention to anything else. Certainly not to Daniel, who had apparently been quietly looking out for me all along. I did vaguely remember some encounters we had then, but we never even became close friends during that time. “Even in college, though I was studying abroad, I still kept checking your social media,” he admitted. “And asking some people about you.”“Oh,” was all I could say at the moment. This was indeed a revelation. “I was sad when I found out you were married,” Daniel continued, his eyes searching mine. “But it was even harder to learn that you were unhappy. I was very ha
Elijah’s POVI walked into the police station, the familiar scent of disinfectant hitting me as I approached the front desk. Serena had asked to see me urgently, something about having important information. I found her in a small interrogation room that they used for visiting prisoners, looking nothing like her usual self. Her hair was disheveled, dark circles marred her eyes, and she seemed to have aged overnight. Nevertheless, I didn’t feel an ounce of pity for her. “What's going on, Serena?” I asked as I sat down across from her, not wanting to beat around the bush. “Why did you want to talk to me?”She glanced up, her expression weary. “I need to tell you something, Elijah. Something important.”“What is it?” I asked straightaway, trying to gauge if she was telling the truth. “I'm not the one behind everything,” she said quietly. I frowned, taken aback. “What do you mean? You've done so many terrible things, Serena. Are you trying to pass the blame onto someone else now? And w
Sophia’s POV I opened the door to my apartment, and was surprised to see my ex-husband standing there. My heart unexpectedly skipped a beat, and I felt a flutter of excitement mixed with uncertainty. “Hey,” Elijah said, a small smile playing on his lips. “Hi,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “What are you doing here?” “Sorry to bother you… I just wanted to talk,” he said, his expression serious. “Can I come in?” I hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside to let him in. Daniel was just heading out at that time. I saw how Elijah's eyes narrowed when he saw him, especially when Daniel touched my hand briefly. “Sophia, think about what I said, okay?” Daniel said before moving past Elijah. “I’ll see you soon.” “Uh, okay,” was all I could reply. It was definitely an awkward moment, having both him and Elijah there, especially after Daniel had just confessed his feelings. As Daniel left, Elijah turned to me, his gaze searching. “What was that all about?” “It was nothing,” I sai
Sophia’s POV “Who was that?” Elijah asked. “Uh, just a friend,” I answered, not wanting to get into the details. I knew that he didn’t trust Adrian. I stood up and excused myself for a while. I went out to the balcony, feeling the cool evening breeze on my skin as I dialed Adrian's number. He picked up after a few rings, his voice filled with a sense of urgency. “Sophia, I’m so sorry to bother you at this time,” Adrian said, his tone cryptic. “I just didn’t know who else to contact… Uh, can you come to the grocery store near Raven Media? I need your help with something.” I furrowed my brow, wondering what could be so important at this hour. “Sure, Adrian. I'll be there soon,” I replied, already thinking about how to get there quickly. Turning back inside, I found Elijah playing with Reese on the floor. “I need to go out for a bit, Elijah. Can you watch Reese for me?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual. Elijah looked up, concern evident in his eyes. “Where are you going? Is
Elijah’s POVI stood by the window, watching the rain pour down in nonstop sheets, drenching everything in sight. The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one adding to my growing anxiety.And when I heard that man’s voice in the background, addressing Sophia, calling her name, my heart jumped and my anxiety intensified.I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me. Who the hell is that man? Why is she with him this late? I wanted to demand answers, to tell her to come home immediately. But I knew I didn't have the right. We weren't together. She had her own life, her own choices.“Who's with you?” I couldn’t help asking, my voice turning cold despite my efforts to stay calm.“Elijah, it's nothing,” she replied quickly. “I'll explain everything later. I promise.”I wanted to protest, to tell her that I needed to know now, but the words stuck in my throat. Before I could say another word, the line went dead. She had hung up on me.I stood there, staring at the phone in my h
Sophia’s POVI was halfway to my apartment when I realized I was still wearing Adrian's jacket. The rain had poured down heavily earlier, soaking my thin blouse and leaving me shivering in the cold. Adrian had draped his jacket over my shoulders without hesitation, also insisting to come with me in my car and make sure I was safe coming back home.“Oh, shucks, I need to return this to him,” I muttered, turning around to go back to the lobby. “Hope he’s still there.”The elevator ride was quick, and as the doors slid open to the lobby, I heard voices. I paused, recognizing Adrian's voice immediately.“Why do you care so much about Sophia? Is she your girlfriend?”I held my breath, peering around the corner just enough to see them. Elijah stood with his back to me, his posture tense, while Adrian faced him, arms crossed defensively.Elijah's response was calm but firm. “No, she's not my girlfriend.”A flicker of relief and disappointment mingled within me, confusing my emotions. But bef
Sophia’s POVChris and I pulled up to his grandparents' old house, its charming, weathered facade standing as a testament to years gone by. The paint was peeling, and the roof looked like it had weathered one too many storms. Chris parked the car and turned to me, a look of excitement mixed with nervousness in his eyes.“This is it, Sophia,” he said, turning to me after he parked in front. “I’m so glad you were able to come today. My grandparents mean the world to me, and this house... well, it's seen better days. This is why I’ve decided to gift them a new one, to show my appreciation for everything they've done for me.”“That’s such a beautiful gesture, Chris,” I told him sincerely. I knew that he had a lot of money, but choosing to spend it on a new house for his grandparents showed that he really cared about them. “I’m glad to be a part of the project.”We got out of the car and made our way to the front porch. As Chris knocked on the door, I could hear faint sounds from inside, s
Sophia’s POVA hush of golden light slipped through the curtains, draping the room in warmth and calm. It felt like the kind of morning that only came after surviving the storm.Weeks had passed since the chaos faded, and for once, the quiet didn’t feel temporary—it felt earned. I stirred slowly, eyes drifting open to find Elijah beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine. I studied him in the silence, taking in the softened edges of a man who’d carried us through fire and finally found peace.I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, he smiled sleepily."Morning," he murmured."Morning," I whispered back, letting my fingers trace the line of his jaw. "Can you believe we actually get to wake up like this? No chaos, no danger—just us."He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "I could get used to this."Just as I was about to say something, the door burst open."Mommy! Daddy!" Reese called out, followed quickly by Roxy an
Elijah’s POVWe weaved through the cracked streets, deeper into a part of the city that felt like time had forgotten it. Boarded-up windows, rusted signage, buildings collapsing in on themselves. This was the kind of place where ghosts lingered, and today, we were chasing one of them."We’re close," Joe muttered from the front seat, his eyes scanning the GPS on his phone. "This is the last possible location that fits Hugo's hideouts."Antoine sat beside me in the back, silent but focused. His jaw was tight, hands clenched. I still didn’t know if I fully trusted him, but I couldn’t deny this: he was here, risking his neck like the rest of us. And right now, I’d take any edge we could get.I have to find Grandpa George. For Sophia.When we pulled up to the burned-out remains of what once looked like a chapel, a chill shot down my spine. The stone structure still stood, half-charred, the wooden beams above blackened and skeletal. Nature had tried to reclaim it—vines curling around scorch
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…”Her name was the only thing in my mind as I stormed through the decaying hallway, boots slamming against rotting wood, gun drawn. My pulse thundered in my ears. The floor creaked beneath every step, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.Joe and his men fanned out behind me, covering corners, checking every room.We were running out of time.Then—A scream.My heart nearly stopped. It was her.I charged forward, slamming my shoulder into the door at the end of the hall. It burst open—and I saw red.Morgana was on the ground, gasping for air as Hugo’s hand squeezed her throat, and across the room, Sophia was trying to drag herself toward them, her face pale and streaked with tears.“NO!” I shouted, and without hesitation, I raised my gun.Hugo turned just as I fired.The bullet tore through his shoulder. He howled, stumbling back and releasing Morgana, who crumpled to the floor, coughing violently.I crossed the room in three strides and tackled Hugo before he could
Sophia’s POVThe first thing I felt was cold.A biting chill that wrapped around my arms and legs like a second set of restraints. Then came the pressure—tight, scratchy ropes cutting into my wrists. My head pounded like a drum, fog thick behind my eyes. Everything smelled like mildew and dust.My eyes struggled to make sense of the shadows.The room was dim, lit only by a weak bulb overhead that flickered like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay on. I was on a metal chair, hands tied behind my back, ankles secured to the legs. The air tasted stale and old, like the walls had been sealed off from the world for decades.Panic bloomed in my chest.My brother Chris. What had become of him?I jerked forward, straining against the ropes. “Chris!” I called, my voice hoarse and raw. “Where is he?!”I noticed some movement in the darkness. A shadow stirred in the corner of the room. I froze as a figure stepped out into the light. Tall. Gray-streaked beard. Sunken eyes like old coals. A d
Sophia’s POV“This is insane,” Elijah muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “We’re relying on Antoine to lead us to Hugo. Does no one else see how crazy that is?”Joe, who had been checking messages on his phone, barely looked up. “We don’t have another choice.”I watched Elijah pace the room, his frustration clear. He wasn’t wrong, but I knew that if there was even the smallest chance of finding Grandpa George, we had to take it.Joe sighed and turned to Antoine. “You sure you can make him bite?”Antoine shrugged. “I know Hugo. He’s a cockroach—he won’t go down without a fight. But if he thinks his last hiding spot is compromised, he’ll make a move. That’s when we strike.”Elijah muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Joe’s phone buzzed. As he studied the screen, he said, “We got something. Two possible locations.”Elijah straightened. “Then let’s move.”They all hurried out, and I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to call Elijah back—to make sure he’d pick up
Sophia’s POVMy mother sat on the couch, clutching Grandma Evelyn’s hands, trying to calm her down. My father stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, his face pale and unreadable.Chris and Connor were huddled over a laptop at the dining table, analyzing security footage.Joe was already there, speaking into his phone, barking orders to his contacts.But no one had any answers yet.And Grandpa George was still missing.I turned to my grandmother, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma—did you see anything? Anyone suspicious? A car, a stranger?”Her red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook her head. “No… nothing. I don’t know how this happened.” Her voice broke. “George was just in his study… and then he was gone.”Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He wasn’t just worried—he was furiousJust then, Chris snapped his fingers at the screen. “We’ve got something.”Connor turned the laptop t
Sophia’s POVWe had been trying to track down both Antoine and Hugo, but they had vanished like ghosts.No leads. No sightings. Nothing.Lucas had called me earlier, still searching, still digging. Even Elijah and his contacts have been working doubly hard. But so far, they’d come up empty too. It was frustrating—knowing the danger was out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.But tonight…Tonight, we weren’t going to think about it.Tonight, we were here to celebrate.After all, Lila and Adrian’s joint concert was finally happening. This was their moment, their dream unfolding before them.And for the first time in what felt like forever, we were all together, enjoying something good.Kayla was everywhere at once, her headset on, clipboard in hand, barking last-minute instructions into her earpiece. She was stressed, frantic… but glowing. Even though there could have been other people to take care of all this from her company, she wanted to be in charge, to personal
Emily’s POV“Walk away, Hugo,” Antoine said sharply, stepping in front of us as if to shield us from the strange man.The name triggered a memory.Chris had mentioned it just yesterday—Hugo Tournier. Suddenly, I remembered. It’s the name Sophia and Elijah had been trying to track down. The man who had supposedly changed Sophia’s life forever.And now he’s here. Why?!My hands instinctively balled up as my heart slammed against my ribs. Could this really be the same man?Hugo’s expression darkened with satisfaction as he took another step, exuding an air of quiet arrogance.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. “You’re not as fun outside of prison, Antoine.”Phoebe’s grip on my wrist tightened. “Emily, let’s go,” she muttered under her breath.I wanted to. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave. But I couldn’t—not yet.Hugo came forward, his eyes staring straight at me. He gave a low chuckle, mocking. “It’s interesting to meet Sabrina Ba
Emily’s POVI refused to flinch. Even as Antoine stood in front of me, blocking my way, I forced my body to stay still, to stay firm.I squared my shoulders, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Move.”Antoine didn’t budge. His gaze shifted between me and Phoebe, like he wasn’t sure if I’d actually listen or turn and run.“I’m not here to fight,” he said, his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”Phoebe’s grip on my arm tightened, and her anger was immediate, sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let him see me feeling nervous or affected by him. Antoine exhaled, his face unreadable. “I just wanted to talk.”Phoebe laughed coldly. “Talk? You took Jared, Antoine. Without permission. Do you have any idea what you put us through?”“I know,” he admitted. “I made a mistake.”Phoebe scoffed. “A mistake?”I stepped forward, my gaze hardening. “Please, Antoine.