4. The Rebirth

The air felt different in Paris. Colder, sharper. The rain that had followed Sofia from Aaron’s estate had long since disappeared, replaced by the muted chill of winter sweeping through the narrow streets. Yet, the ache in her chest remained.

She stood by the window of her modest apartment, a far cry from the lavish Kingston mansion she once called home. It was smaller, quieter, but it was hers. And for the first time in months, she felt a flicker of peace—fragile but present.

Her gaze dropped to her swollen belly. The twins. Her boy and girl.

She ran a gentle hand over the curve, feeling the soft movement beneath her palm. They were her reason now. Her anchor.

But the hole left behind by the son she lost… that ache hadn’t faded. It gnawed at her in the silent moments, a relentless whisper reminding her of all she’d failed to protect.

A knock echoed through the small space, jolting her from her thoughts.

Sofia turned, heart pounding for a reason she couldn’t explain.

She opened the door cautiously, half-expecting Daniel even though they’d agreed to cut contact. But it wasn’t him.

It was a woman.

Tall, elegant, dressed in a tailored black coat and leather gloves. Her eyes—an icy blue that seemed to pierce through Sofia’s soul—held a kind of power that made her instantly wary.

“Ms. Kingston?”

Sofia’s spine stiffened. “It’s Sofia Laurent now.”

The woman offered a cold, knowing smile. “Of course it is. May I come in? My name is Madame Elise. Daniel sent me.”

Sofia hesitated. She didn’t trust easily anymore.

But Daniel had promised someone would help her. And something about this woman—her commanding presence—felt… different.

She stepped aside, allowing Elise to enter.

The woman moved with grace, scanning the space with a single glance before turning back to face Sofia.

“You’ve been through a great deal,” Elise began softly, though there was steel behind her voice. “I’m not here to offer pity. I’m here because Daniel told me you wish to rebuild yourself. To rise from what you were. Is that true?”

Sofia’s heart clenched, remembering the rain. The pain. Aaron’s cruel words.

“I don’t want to be the same woman anymore,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I want to be stronger. Unbreakable.”

Elise’s gaze narrowed. “Then you’ve come to the right person. But let me be clear—what I offer will not be easy.

The world you came from, the wealth, the power? You had no control there. If you want true power, you will have to become it. I can give you the tools, the knowledge, the connections. But your strength must come from here.”

She placed a gloved hand over Sofia’s heart.

“You will have to bury the woman who loved blindly. The woman who trusted too easily. That part of you must die. Do you understand?”

Sofia’s throat tightened.

That woman was already gone.

“Yes,” she said, her voice hardening. “Teach me.”

THREE YEARS LATER

Sofia stood in front of the mirror, staring at the woman she was becoming.

Her body had grown stronger despite the pregnancy. No longer fragile, no longer vulnerable. The soft curves remained, but her posture was different—poised. Regal.

The bruises on her heart hadn’t healed. But they had hardened her.

Elise had been relentless. Daily lessons in business strategy, negotiation, public speaking, personal branding. Sofia had learned how to read contracts with the precision of a lawyer. How to command attention without uttering a word.

She has always been a talented fashion designer while Chloe was considered the perfect model sister.

She had been reshaped. Refined.

Yet, there was still pain beneath the surface. The kind that whispered in the quiet moments when the lessons stopped.

She hadn’t forgotten Aaron’s betrayal.

And she never would.

But she had other priorities now.

Her children.

She ran her hands over her stomach, feeling the kicks. The twins were growing strong.

“I’ll never let anyone take you from me,” she whispered to them.

Not Chloe. Not Aaron. No one.

A knock pulled her from her thoughts again.

Elise entered, dressed impeccably in navy silk, a file tucked beneath her arm.

“It’s time,” Elise said simply. “Your new identity is fully established. The offshore accounts are secure. And the brand you will launch—La Reina—is ready for its debut.”

Sofia inhaled deeply.

La Reina.

The Queen.

The name she had chosen to represent the woman she was becoming. Fierce. Unstoppable.

Elise handed her the file. “This fashion line will be your first step into power. It’s not just about the designs—it’s the face you will wear. A mask for the world. But underneath, you must remain sharp. Focused.

And one day, when the moment is right, you will take back everything stolen from you.”

Sofia’s lips pressed into a hard line. “I won’t just take it back. I’ll make them regret ever doubting me.”

Elise’s gaze softened for the first time since their lessons began.

“Good. Because I just received word… Aaron Kingston is in Paris. He’s hosting a charity gala. If you want to make your entrance… this would be the stage.”

The mention of his name sent a rush of emotions crashing through her—anger, pain… and something she hated.

Longing.

But she buried it deep.

Sofia stared at her reflection once more, adjusting the silk dress Elise had chosen for her—a masterpiece of emerald green that made her eyes glimmer like precious jewels.

“Perfect,” she whispered.

Aaron Kingston would see her again.

But this time, she wouldn’t be the broken girl he discarded.

She would be the woman he couldn’t touch.

And when the moment came…

He would beg.

But she wouldn’t break.