Sophia’s POVWhen Julia mentioned the name Sabrina, my heart skipped a beat. Even though there could be plenty of other people with the same name, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was significant. I glanced over at the man she was arguing with and immediately recognized him as the same Chris who’d been bothering here before. Is he a stalker? What does he really want and why did Julia mention Sabrina?I could feel a migraine forming as the unanswered questions swam in my mind. I wanted to help out Julia and talk to her, but she’d already moved away. Luckily, Trevis called me and distracted me from the weird situation. I forced myself to brush off the odd feeling that there was more to this thing.Shut up, Sophia, I told myself silently. But on the surface, I was smiling and nodding as Trevis congratulated me. Don’t even go there anymore. You’ve lived your life to the fullest for the last three years and things are going great. You’ve already moved on from everything that had oc
Elijah’s POVI settled back into my office chair, the familiar surroundings offering some comfort after my business trip to Italy. Connor, my assistant, was updating me on the latest developments when he hesitated, a furrow appearing on his brow.“Is something wrong, Connor?” I asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.“Well, um, I heard something... about Sophia,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “She's back here in the city. It seems like she's planning to stay for a while.”My heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name. Sophia, back here in our city. The thought filled me with a mixture of emotions, but I kept my composure, not wanting to show any vulnerability.“Thank you for letting me know, Connor,” I replied calmly, though my mind was racing. I wanted to ask more questions, to find out where she was staying, and what she was doing, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I focused on the task at hand, trying to push aside the thoughts of Sophia that thr
Elijah’s POV“Hi, Sophia,” I heard myself say to her. My voice was filled with mixed emotions upon seeing her. Sophia looked shocked at first, but then she relaxed and managed a faint smile. “Hello, Elijah.” She didn’t give me a chance to say anything else, though. It was as if we were acquaintances chancing upon each other. She just simply continued to walk on. I turned around, trying to decide if I should follow her. I saw her eventually put her phone to her ear. “Daniel?” I heard her say. “Meet me now at Georgia’s.”Hearing Daniel’s name and Sophia's tone of voice, I felt a surge of curiosity. As she passed by the little girl's table, I decided to follow her, intrigued by their interaction. Sophia seemed unusually distant from the child, almost as if she were pretending not to know her. I watched them closely, trying to gauge their connection. Sophia didn’t even glance at the child. She walked much faster toward the exit while talking on the phone. “Reese, darling!” I suddenly
Sophia’s POVBefore returning to the United States, I had prepared myself for another encounter with Elijah, but I hadn't expected it to happen so soon. As I walked out of the restroom, my mind was racing. I had thought about this moment for so long, rehearsing what I would say and how I would act, but now that it was actually happening, all of that preparation seemed to have vanished from my mind. I’m just glad I’m not panicking. I remembered how I had prepared for this before coming over here. I had arranged for Reese's nanny and the nanny's sister to come and help look after my daughter. Now, I was grateful for that foresight, as it gave me some peace of mind knowing that Reese was in good hands and I could continue to pretend that she wasn't my own child while Elijah was around. “It’s going to be okay,” Daniel assured me, reaching over the table to gently rub my hand.“I want to get out of here now, but it might seem too obvious,” I told him nervously. “Relax, Sophia. Everyth
Serena’s POVElijah’s in love with Sophia. It was a realization that had hit me years ago, but was now rushing back like a terrifying flood as Sophia stood in front of me — live in the flesh. Right here in the Sinclair Realty Group building. He loves her, I thought bitterly, a lump forming in my throat while anger rose within me like a huge flame of fire. I could see it in his eyes, and hear it in his voice, long before he even acknowledged it himself. I thought he'd give up on her once he was back in the States, especially after Sophia terminated her pregnancy. But no… He chose to dive headfirst into work, burying himself in projects and meetings, because he’s affected by what happened. Because he didn’t want to get emotionally involved.As the days turned into weeks, I noticed a change in Elijah. He became more distant, more formal. Our interactions became purely professional, and I found myself missing the easy banter we used to share. He trusted me with the design department, le
Sophia’s POVElijah! With Julia?! These were the words that immediately formed in my head upon seeing them together outside the elevator. So I guess they talked more in the restaurant and came here together!I was still fuming from my heated exchange with Serena, but now, my anger had turned toward my ex-husband. What a real jerk! I’m so lucky to have gotten rid of him when I could. Elijah and Julia stepped in to join us within the small confines of the elevator. I felt trapped, making it harder for me to breathe. “Hi again, Sophia,” Julia greeted me warmly. She probably still had no idea that Elijah was my ex-husband. “Hey, Julia,” I greeted back, trying to sound normal. The elevator continued its ascent, and I could feel Elijah's gaze on me. I fixed my eyes on the digital screen that showed the floor number, waiting for us to reach the 8th where Urban Next was located. When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, I quickly stepped out, feeling relieved. Julia followed behind
Sophia’s POVI tried to control my feelings and remain cool and professional, especially since Elijah’s company was technically our client. “I’ll talk to you later, Sophia,” Craig murmured before hastily leaving the room. He nodded in acknowledgment to Elijah, who simply ignored him and invited himself in. He closed the door behind him and faced me squarely. “We need to talk, Sophia.”“You’ve been saying that for the longest time, Elijah,” I said, rolling my eyes. “It’s getting old, and I have a lot of work to do.”I sat behind my desk and began sifting through the documents and design plates on top of it, completely ignoring Elijah. “I came across this little girl today, about the age of three,” he began, making my heart skip a beat. I certainly knew who he was talking about, but I tried not to let him see that. I continued what I was doing without bothering to look up. He went on, “She looked so much like you, Sophia. And she was in that restaurant where I happened to see you to
Sophia’s POVThe next two weeks were a whirlwind of creativity and productivity. I threw myself into refining my design, working day and night to bring my vision to life. The last time I devoted myself to a project like this was back in school, and I relished every moment of it.It’s tough, but quite thrilling. As I immersed myself in my work, I felt a renewed sense of passion and purpose. I realized that being a designer wasn't just a job for me—it was a calling. The thrill of bringing my ideas to life, of creating something truly unique and impactful, was exhilarating. I was in my element, and I loved every minute of it.The days blurred into nights as I poured myself into perfecting my design. I often found myself staying late in the office, most of the time the only company being Craig, my architect partner. He shared my dedication to the project, which I truly appreciated. He would linger, offering insights and ideas that helped me refine my work.One evening, as we worked side
Sophia’s POVMy heart pounded as I gripped the phone tighter. "Mom? What’s wrong?"There was a moment of silence, just soft, uneven breaths on the other end of the line. My stomach twisted painfully. "Mom, talk to me!""S-Sophia…" her voice cracked, and I felt my chest constrict. "They’re here."I blinked, my mind struggling to keep up. "Who’s here?""Chris and Emily. They’re home."I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat. For a second, I couldn't move, couldn't think. My pulse raced as my mind fought to process what she had just said.Chris and Emily are back.My grip on the phone loosened, my knees nearly buckling from the sudden rush of emotions. Relief, disbelief, overwhelming gratitude."Oh my God," I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. "Are they okay?""I… I don’t know," my mother admitted, still sounding shaken. "They haven’t said much. But you need to come quick."I didn’t hesitate. "I’ll be right there."As I ended the call, I turned to see Elijah watching me,
Sophia’s POVThe kitchen was quiet except for the faint sizzle of eggs in the pan. It was still very early in the morning, and I could see the sun rising through the window. Normally, I would have stopped to admire the view. But my mind was still preoccupied with a lot of chaotic things. I had barely slept.Everything Lucas had told me last night still lingered in my mind, a tangled mess of unanswered questions and uneasy truths. Hugo Tournier. He had been part of my family's past all along, a ghost lurking in the shadows, and now he was back. It settled over me like a heavy fog, impossible to shake.But as much as my thoughts circled around Hugo, it was Elijah’s reaction that unsettled me more. The way he had looked at me. The sharpness in his voice when he told me I didn’t need to talk to Lucas anymore, that Joe would handle the investigation.He hadn’t accused me outright, but I could feel the tension beneath his words. The distance. Lucas was a sensitive issue between us—alwa
Sophia’s POVLucas stood in front of me, his face partially shadowed by the porch light, his eyes unreadable but filled with something that made my stomach twist—regret, sorrow, maybe even guilt.“I don’t even know where to start,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair.I crossed my arms, bracing myself. “Just tell me what you found.”He exhaled sharply, nodding. "I started looking into the records of missing children around the time you disappeared. A lot of reports were vague, but… I found something." He hesitated before continuing, his voice tight. "There was an old witness statement—a retired cop who had once suspected a man named Hugo Tournier."My breath hitched. The name. I had heard it before. Grandpa George had mentioned it when we talked about the man who might have taken me.Lucas continued, unaware of my growing realization. "The name meant nothing to me at first, but when I dug deeper, I realized it was connected to your family."My pulse quickened. “Connected how?
Emily’s POVDarkened streets stretched endlessly ahead as we sped through the city, the glow of neon signs flickering across the windshield. The sound of other cars was distant, almost muffled, drowned out by the pounding of my heart. My grip tightened on the edge of my seat, eyes darting to every shadowed alley, every figure on the sidewalk. It felt like eyes were on us—watching, waiting.Chris’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw set in a hard line. He hadn’t said much since we got the warning. The burner phone lay silent between us, the last message still glowing on the screen:“Do not go to the docks. You are being watched.”I swallowed hard. "Who sent it?""No idea," Chris muttered. "Could be someone helping us. Could be someone luring us into another trap."My stomach twisted. "So what do we do?"He exhaled sharply, eyes darting to the rearview mirror. "We can’t risk it. If someone’s waiting for us at the docks, we won’t stand a chance. We haven't been able to reach Crimson Ve
Sophia’s POVJared was safe. That was all that mattered.We were gathered in the house, the weight of the night still pressing heavily on our shoulders. But at least Jared was asleep now, curled up in his bed like nothing had happened. He hadn’t seemed afraid, hadn’t even realized the gravity of what Antoine had done. And for that, I was grateful. The last thing I wanted was for him to carry fear because of this.But once he woke up, I knew I would have to face the reality of telling him about his father. And why it was only now that he was finding out about Antoine. “We’re not pressing charges,” I had told Elijah. But we did have to watch our backs more carefully, to stay guarded and alert all the time. And we needed to make sure never to let Jared out of our sights again. Still, we had made Antoine promise never to pull something like this again. Not that his word meant much. I didn’t trust him, and I knew Elijah didn’t either. This wasn’t over. Not really.Phoebe sat beside me,
Sophia’s POVElijah and I sprinted through the mall, dodging past confused shoppers and security personnel as the urgency of the moment drove us forward. My heart pounded in my ears, my breaths coming fast and shallow.“We need to check the parking lot exits,” Elijah said, his voice tight with controlled fury. “If Antoine took Jared, he won’t risk staying here much longer.”Elijah nodded, pulling out his phone and dialing Joe. The moment Joe answered, Elijah got straight to the point. “Antoine’s here. He took Jared. We need to know if he has a car registered in his name or any known places he might go.”I looked at Elijah in anticipation. He nodded then ended the call. "He said he'll get back to us soon."My eyes darted around the busy corridor, searching for any sign of our son.Jared, my sweet boy. Where are you?Phoebe ran alongside me, her face streaked with tears. “He must’ve followed us,” she choked out. “I swear, I didn’t think— I mean, I saw someone watching, but I wasn’t sure
Sophia’s POVI pushed through the crowded mall, my heart hammering in my chest, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The world around me blurred into a haze of faces and voices, none of them the one I was searching for. Oh, god, Jared. Please be okay.My mind screamed his name with every step I took, my hands trembling as I grabbed Phoebe’s arm, trying to keep both of us steady.“He has to be here,” Phoebe said, her voice shaking as she wiped at her tear-streaked face. “He has to be here somewhere.”I wanted to believe her. I had to believe her. But the sheer panic clawing at my throat made it hard to hold on to hope. Jared wasn’t just missing—he seemed to have vanished into thin air. And the longer he was gone, the worse the possibilities became.“Elijah’s talking to security,” I said, scanning every store, every passerby, searching for even a glimpse of him. “They’re checking the cameras. We just have to keep looking.”Phoebe nodded frantically, but guilt was etched into every
Elijah’s POVAcross from me, I gazed lovingly at my wife. Sophia looked beautiful, her hair framing her face perfectly as she sipped her wine. For a moment, I let myself pretend that this was just a regular dinner date, that everything was normal.But it wasn’t.“The food’s amazing,” I said, taking another bite of my steak. “You picked a great place.”Sophia smiled faintly, but the crease between her brows betrayed the worry she was trying to hide. “I’m glad you like it,” she said softly. Her fork hovered over her plate for a moment before she set it down. “Elijah… do you think Chris and Emily are okay?”I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “They’ll be fine,” I said firmly, though the weight in my chest made me doubt my own words. “The mob’s on its last legs. Even if there are survivors, they’re scattered and in no position to orchestrate anything.”She nodded, but her eyes didn’t meet mine. “I can’t help but worry. What if… what if some of them intercepted Chris and E
Sophia’s POVLennon, who had recently been transferred to a local hospital in the city, sat up in his bed, looking pale but stronger than I’d expected. Morgana sat by his side, her hand clutching his as if letting go would make him disappear. Her eyes were wet with happy tears, her face a mix of relief and joy that she was finally reunited with him.Elijah stood at the foot of the bed, his posture stiff, but his expression was open, filled with something I rarely saw: vulnerability. He cleared his throat, his voice low but steady as he spoke. “Lennon, I need to say something.”Lennon looked at him calmly. “Go on.”“I…” Elijah hesitated, then sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. For doubting you. For questioning your motives. You’ve done so much for all of us, for Morgana, for our family. And… I didn’t trust you the way I should have.”Lennon smiled faintly, shaking his head. “You don’t have to apologize, Elijah. I understand. With everything that’s happened, with all t