Serena’s POVI sat on the hard, cold bench in my cell, my mind swirling with thoughts of regret and self-loathing. How did I end up here? I never wanted any of this to happen. I should have told Elijah everything from the start, but fear had paralyzed me.“I shouldn't be here,” I muttered to myself, gripping the edge of the bench tightly. “I'm not the one who planned this.”But here I was, locked up and alone, my only company the echoes of my own thoughts bouncing off the walls. I knew Elijah blamed me for what had happened to Sophia and Reese. He refused to even look at me, let alone speak to me. And I couldn't blame him. I had failed him so badly. “Why didn't I tell him everything?” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. “Why did I let fear control me?”The answer was simple. The mastermind behind it all had threatened Elijah's life if I said anything. I couldn't risk that, no matter how much I wanted to. The thought of Elijah getting hurt because of me was unbearable.“I love you, E
Julia’s POVI sat in the passenger seat of Elijah's car, staring out the window and thinking about how Grandma Evelyn had treated me. That old woman doesn’t know what she’s saying!It made me feel so frustrated that Evelyn never really accepted me as her granddaughter Sabrina. But having her insist that Sophia was the real Sabrina was truly pissing me off. “I don't want to go home,” I muttered, breaking the silence. “I'll just feel even sadder and lonelier.”Elijah glanced at me, concern etched on his face. “But Julia, where will you go? Would you rather return to the party? Perhaps some of your friends are still there.”“No,” I said, frowning. “I’m not in the mood anymore.” Then slowly, I reached out to touch his hand gently. “I’d rather spend the evening at your house, Elijah. Just like old times.” I was well aware that growing up, Sabrina used to spend a lot of time at his house. I wanted to prove to him that I could really be Sabrina, his long-lost love and best friend. He hesi
Sophia’s POVGrandma Evelyn's voice was filled with emotion. “I'm sorry, Sabrina. I just can't bear the thought of you leaving,” she said, her eyes misty. “You’ve been gone for a long time and now that you’re back…” She trailed off, and I bit my lower lip. Gosh, I can’t leave like this. Glancing at Grandpa George, he simply shrugged helplessly. “It's okay, Evelyn,” I reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her arm. “Maybe I'll stay for the night. Anyway, Reese is already asleep now.”Evelyn sniffled, smiling. “You're such a good girl, Sabrina. I don't know what we'd do without you.”I squeezed her hand gently. “I'm Sophia. Remember?”She blinked, confusion clouding her eyes for a moment before she nodded. “Yes, of course, Sophia. You're my Sophia. Also my Sabrina.”I sent a quick message to Reese's nanny, letting her know that Kayla, my best friend, would be sleeping over and that I'd be back in the morning. Evelyn led me to the bedroom that used to belong to Sabrina whenever s
Sophia’s POV“Sophia, how about joining us for a stroll in the park this morning?” Grandpa George suggested as he joined us. “If you don’t have to go yet, it would be great for you to join us. It's Evelyn's daily exercise, and she could use your help.”“I’d love to,” I replied, which made Evelyn smile widely and look quite eager to get started. The three of us made our way to the park, the cool breeze carrying the promise of a beautiful day. As Grandma Evelyn practiced walking, she was unusually cheerful and talkative. She kept sharing stories of Sabrina, which I found entertaining. “Her favorite part was always the slide,” Grandma reminisced, her eyes glimmering with delight. “And she loved playing hide and seek with Elijah. They were inseparable.”The mention of Elijah brought a smile to my face. I could almost see him as a child, his eyes wide with excitement. But amidst the warmth of Grandma's stories, a shadow of doubt lingered in my mind. Could I really be Sabrina? Julia had
Sophia’s POVAm I Sabrina? What kind of question is that, coming from Julia?I gave her a puzzled look, remembering those moments when Elijah and I were just getting to know each other and I thought that he could really begin to care for me and eventually fall in love with me. Apparently, he was just using me as a substitute for Sabrina, I thought bitterly. That’s why he never learned to appreciate and truly love me. “What do you mean, am I Sabrina?” I asked Julia, bewildered. She blinked and suddenly looked flustered. She straightened her shoulders and replied, “I mean, you look like you really want to become Sabrina, you know. And that was probably the reason Elijah became attracted to you in the first place.”A crease formed on my forehead and I felt a surge of annoyance. “It doesn’t matter, we’re divorced already. And no, I don’t intend on taking your place as Sabrina. I’m not sure why your grandmother keeps saying I’m Sabrina, but it’s not who I want to be. I just want to be m
Sophia’s POVI made my way down the narrow aisle of the airplane, scanning the seat numbers until I found mine. The anticipation of attending the design conference in New York with Trevis filled me with excitement and nervous energy.Nevermind if Julia’s there. Hopefully she won’t be weird anymore. Just as I was about to settle into my seat, a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.“Hi, Sophia!”I turned, and there was Elijah, smiling at me. “Elijah? What are you doing here?”He grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Business trip to New York. I heard about the design conference and thought I'd drop by. So Trevis and I booked our tickets together.”Before I could respond, Julia, who had been walking behind me, piped up. “Well, isn't this a coincidence? How about we switch places, Trevis?” She didn't wait for a response, immediately taking Trevis's seat next to Elijah.I glanced at Trevis, who shrugged and gave me a reassuring smile. “Guess it's you and me, Sophia.”As we settled
Sophia’s POVThe elevator ride up to the executive suite was enveloped in an uneasy silence. Julia and I stood side by side, the quiet hum of the elevator filling the space between us. I glanced at her reflection in the mirrored walls, noticing the furrow in her brow and the way she kept wringing her hands.When the elevator dinged softly and the doors slid open, we stepped out and walked down the plush carpeted hallway. Gosh, she seems so tense. I wonder what’s going on in her mind. We reached the door to our suite, and I swiped the keycard, pushing the door open.The moment we stepped inside, Julia broke the silence. “Sophia,” she began, her voice wavering, “I need to apologize for the way I acted the other day.”I turned to look at her, surprised. “What do you mean?”She took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I was rude to you. I said some things I shouldn't have. I... I was missing my grandmother a lot that day. Grandma Evelyn... she’s never really accepted
Sophia’s POVThe restaurant Elijah chose was tucked away on a quiet street, its dim lighting and vintage decor exuding an old-world charm. I took in the cozy ambiance, feeling both excited and uneasy. This feels an awful lot like a date. Elijah led me to a corner table and, to my surprise, pulled out my chair for me. “Here you go,” he said with a small smile.“Thank you,” I replied, sitting down and trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. Elijah had never treated me like this when we were married. It made me wonder if he had changed since I left him.We perused the menu in silence for a moment before the waiter came to take our order. I chose the pan-seared salmon, while Elijah opted for the house special, a hearty beef stew. Once the waiter left, Elijah leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening as he looked at me.“So, how's Reese doing?” he asked, his voice gentle.“She's good,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “She's been really into drawing lately. It's amazing how fo
Elijah’s POVI ended the call with Emily and let out a long, slow breath, leaning back in the chair. Her pain lingered in my chest like an echo. The weight of everything—the mob, Jared, keeping everyone safe—pressed heavily on my shoulders.“You okay?” Joe asked, his sharp eyes scanning me from across the room.I nodded, though the tightness in my chest hadn’t eased. “Yeah. Just a lot to think about.”I glanced at him then, leaning against his desk, his ever-present sharpness softened just a fraction. “Emily’s strong,” I said, more to myself than to him. “But even she has her breaking point.”Joe nodded, picking at the corner of a file on his desk. “She’s got Chris, though. Guy’s solid, if a little rough around the edges. They’ll hold out.”“Chris isn’t used to this kind of life, but he’s never loved someone like how he loves Emily. It’s really admirable that he’s doing all this for her. She needs him by her side.”Joe rubbed the back of his neck, his face tight with thought. “The mob
Elijah’s POVI leaned back in my chair, glancing at the neatly organized business reports in front of me. Normally, mornings like these were a steady grind, but today, I couldn’t keep the small smile off my face.Last night replayed in my mind, unbidden but welcome. The warmth of Sophia’s touch, her whispered promises, and the way we’d melted into each other as though the rest of the world didn’t exist. It had been intense, much more than the usual. Definitely one of the most memorable. The sound of my phone shattered the moment, pulling me back to the present. I picked it up, spotting Joe’s name flashing on the screen. His timing was rarely coincidental.“Joe,” I answered, straightening in my chair. “What’s the update?”“Got something big,” he said, his voice urgent, but low enough that I knew he was being cautious. “I managed to connect with Emily and Chris. Used a secure satellite line. They’re safe for now.”Relief washed over me. “That’s good to hear. And Marc and Luc? What are
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