Sophia’s POVThe message was short, deliberate, and blisteringly clear.Board meeting scheduled. Emergency protocol invoked. Attendance is mandatory. 7:00 AM sharp.I hit send before I could second-guess myself. The moment the notification disappeared from my screen, a strange calm settled over me. The kind that hits just before a storm, not the eye of it—but that breathless anticipation of destruction. My fingers are steady now. Purpose had that effect.Mark turned toward me, brow raised. “Are you sure you want to go this route tonight?”“No,” I said, standing up straighter, “but I have to.”Julian looked up from his laptop. “We’ll need everything airtight by morning. You don’t want to walk into that room half-cocked.”“I won’t.” I walked to the table and began collecting the relevant files, scanning every line of Nathan’s carefully plotted trap. His wording was clever—subtle, plausible deniability woven into every clause. But I knew what he was doing. And I could beat him at it.Ale
Sophia’s POVThe room was quiet, too quiet, save for the steady ticking of the clock on the wall. It was nearly midnight, but sleep felt like a foreign concept. We had made it out alive, but the weight of what had happened tonight pressed down on my chest like a stone.Mark stood by the window, phone to his ear, issuing orders in that clipped, commanding tone he used when things were spiraling. Alex paced beside the table we’d set up, files, and monitors spread across it like a battlefield. Julian sat on the edge of the couch, tapping furiously at his laptop, trying to trace the identities of the men Nathan had sent.And me?I sat in the corner, my fingers trembling as I clutched a mug of tea I hadn’t taken a sip from. My mind refused to slow down. Every second replayed in agonizing clarity—the moment Nathan slid that signed document toward me, the sound of gunfire, the way Alex had pulled me through that door like his life depended on it.Because it had,our life had seriously depende
Sophia’s POVThe drive to the meeting spot was tense. My fingers drummed against the steering wheel, my mind racing with every possible scenario. Nathan was unpredictable, and though I had agreed to meet him alone, I wasn’t foolish enough to go completely unprotected. Mark had insisted on having a team nearby, hidden but ready to intervene if things went south. Alex had reluctantly agreed, though his jaw had been clenched so tight I thought his teeth might crack. "If anything—anything—happens, you signal them immediately," he had growled before I left, gripping my shoulders like he wanted to forbid me from going altogether. I had kissed him, lingering just long enough to reassure him. "I’ll be fine. Trust me."Now, as I pulled into the dimly lit parking lot of the upscale restaurant Nathan had chosen, I steeled myself. This place was one of his favorites—private, exclusive, and most importantly, his territory. The hostess recognized me immediately, her smile tight. "Mr. Carter
Sophia’s pov"Sophia, thank goodness you're back," he said, rushing towards me. "We need to talk."My heart sank. What now?I got down from the car and took Lina along. The nanny for Lina was already outside waiting, I handed her over to her.“Lina, be a good girl, and mummy will come back to check up on you, okay?” She nodded and hugged me tight before she ran inside with her nanny. I turned to Alex, who stood there, waiting for the conversation to be over.“So, what is so important that you wouldnt wait for me to drop our daughter.“ I frowned.He pulled me closed to his chest as he placed a little kiss on my lips, “Hey, don't be mad at me. I'm sorry.” he kissed me again and I just melted in his arms. “Fine, you are forgiven, but do not do that again,” I said to him as I snuggled into his warm embrace.“Sure.”“So, let’s get on with business. What's the problem.” I asked“We organized a meeting with the company’s board, but it wouldn't pull through.” Alex broke the news.“What? Why
Sophia’s POVI sat in the dimly lit nursery, my fingers gently tracing the edge of Lina’s crib as I watched her sleep. Her tiny chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her soft curls splayed across the pillow. The quiet hum of the baby monitor was the only sound in the room, but my mind was anything but calm. Nathan’s lawsuit weighed heavily on me. The idea that he was trying to take Lina away—and now, claiming rights to the baby I was carrying—made my stomach twist. I placed a protective hand over my still-flat abdomen, my jaw tightening. He doesn’t get to do this.A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Alex standing there, her expression a mix of concern and exhaustion. “Sophia, you should rest,” he murmured, stepping inside. “You’ve been in here for hours.” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I can’t. Not when Nathan is—” “I know.” He cut me off gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. “But stressing yourself won’t help Lina or the baby.” I swallo
Sophia’s POVFor the first time in weeks, the morning was still.No court summons. No press statements. No chaos.Just the golden spill of sunlight across Alex’s bare chest as he slept beside me, one arm tucked under his head, the other curled protectively around my waist. I watched him for a moment, letting myself simply be—no masks, no fear. Just me. Just him.He stirred, eyes blinking open, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Staring at me again?”“You talk in your sleep,” I teased, brushing a lock of hair off his forehead.He stretched lazily. “Let me guess. I professed my love and undying devotion again?”“You accused me of stealing the covers.”He chuckled, pulling me closer. “Well, did you?”“Absolutely,” I said with a grin, “and I’d do it again.”He rolled on top of me in one swift movement, bracing his weight on his forearms, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Thief.”“Guilty,” I whispered, breath catching as his lips found my collarbone. “But I’d like to plea for leniency.”“Denie
Sophia’s POVFor the first time in weeks, the morning was still.No court summons. No press statements. No chaos.Just the golden spill of sunlight across Alex’s bare chest as he slept beside me, one arm tucked under his head, the other curled protectively around my waist. I watched him for a moment, letting myself simply be—no masks, no fear. Just me. Just him.He stirred, eyes blinking open, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Staring at me again?”“You talk in your sleep,” I teased, brushing a lock of hair off his forehead.He stretched lazily. “Let me guess. I professed my love and undying devotion again?”“You accused me of stealing the covers.”He chuckled, pulling me closer. “Well, did you?”“Absolutely,” I said with a grin, “and I’d do it again.”He rolled on top of me in one swift movement, bracing his weight on his forearms, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Thief.”“Guilty,” I whispered, breath catching as his lips found my collarbone. “But I’d like to plea for leniency.”“Denie
Sophia’s POVBy morning, the world had already taken sides.The news had spread like wildfire. My face was everywhere—headlines questioning my character, my daughter’s paternity, and my so-called lies. The media didn’t care about facts; they fed on scandal. Photos of Lina and Nathan were already being compared by strangers online. Hashtags trended. Conspiracy threads circulated like poison.It wasn’t just my name on the line anymore. It was Lina’s future. Her identity.I stood in front of the mirror in the penthouse bedroom, watching myself as Alex spoke quietly into the phone behind me. I was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, my hair a tangled mess, but none of that mattered. There was a fire in my chest now. An anger I hadn’t known I was capable of.“I don’t care what it costs,” Alex said, his voice low and sharp. “I want a full investigation into Victor’s finances and Chloe’s communications. Backdate it. Dig as far back as you need.”He ended the call and looked at me. “You okay?”
Sophia’s POVThe next morning arrived with a storm in its wake—figuratively and literally. Rain lashed against the windows of the penthouse, a dull gray mist casting a somber hue over the city. It mirrored my mood far too well.Alex had been up since dawn, pacing in his office, fielding calls from his legal team, PR experts, and Mark. I stood in the kitchen, staring into a cup of untouched coffee as Lina played quietly in the living room, her favorite sketchbook resting on her knees.But my mind was far from calm.Julian had promised to send over security footage—something he’d managed to obtain through one of his sources. Apparently, Nathan had been spotted meeting someone suspicious late last night. He hadn’t said who. Not yet.Just as I lifted the cup to my lips, Alex strode into the kitchen, his phone pressed to his ear. He gave me a tight nod before finishing the call and slipping the phone into his pocket.“Julian’s on his way over,” he said, brushing a hand over his jaw. “He sa