Elijah’s POV “Let her go!” Those were the words that came out of Daniel’s mouth when he stormed into Sophia’s apartment. The way he rushed to her protectively and how he looked at her lovingly, was just all too familiar. Sophia’s boyfriend, I thought bitterly. As I watched them interact, I could tell how close they were and how deeply in love this man was with my wife. I wanted to push him away from her, to punch him in the face repeatedly until he bled. But I knew it wouldn’t help my situation with Sophia. So instead, I looked away and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. I tried to control the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. Finally, I told Daniel, “You and I have got to talk. Outside.” As Daniel and I stood in the hallway outside Sophia's apartment, I couldn't hold back the question burning in my mind. "Are you and Sophia... dating?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual despite the knot of emotions in my chest. He didn’t answer at once, so
Sophia’s POV “Oh, boy…” I whispered with great excitement and nervousness as I clicked on the email from Urban Next Design Studio. This is it, my dream internship! I truly admired their work and have heard how interns were always treated wonderfully and given great opportunities. I’m eager to meet new people in the field and learn from them. It’ll be amazing! Plus, I’ll get a monthly salary too! I scanned the email with eager anticipation. The company was impressed with my portfolio and wanted to schedule an interview during their presentation this weekend at the Goldwell Institute of Art. Excitement bubbled up inside me. Oh, gosh! Some good news, finally! The weekend was approaching, and I was looking forward to the design presentation on campus. It had become a place I loved, almost like a second home. Daniel was supposed to come with me, but he had to cancel at the last minute due to an important school project. As I entered the auditorium, I could feel the buzz of exciteme
Sophia’s POV As Trevis sat across from me in a small office near the exhibit hall, his eyes keen with interest, I felt a surge of excitement mixed with nervousness. This interview was my chance to secure an internship at his prestigious interior design studio, and I was determined to make a good impression. “So, Sophia,” he began, flipping through my portfolio, “what inspired you to pursue a career in interior design?” I smiled, feeling a rush of passion for my craft. “I've always been fascinated by the way spaces can evoke emotions and enhance experiences. I believe that thoughtful design can truly improve people's lives, and I want to be a part of creating those meaningful spaces.” Trevis nodded, clearly impressed. “And how do you approach a new design project?” I explained my process, emphasizing the importance of understanding the client's needs and vision while incorporating elements of functionality and aesthetics. Trevis seemed pleased with my response, nodding along as I
Elijah’s POV As I entered the dimly lit bar, the slap mark burning on my cheek, I spotted my friend Trevis at the far end of the counter, starting the drinking without me. When he caught sight of me, he waved with a grin, looking cheerful and apparently not noticing the mark on my face. “Hey,” I greeted, sliding into the seat next to him. Trevis glanced up, and that’s when I saw the shock registering on his face. “What happened to you?” I shrugged, trying to play it off. “Just a little misunderstanding.” “Who did it?” Trevis asked, concern lacing his voice as he leaned in closer. I hesitated, remaining quiet. The bartender approached me, asking for my order. “I’ll have a whiskey neat.” “Coming right up,” the bartender replied, quickly preparing my drink. Trevis continued to look at me curiously. He could tell at once that something was up, and he seemed to stifle his amusement at the way I was reacting. I sighed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “Long story
Elijah’s POV I shook my head, not wanting to delve into any more details about Sabrina or Julia. The rest of the night, my conversation with Trevis was distracted. "Hey, man, you seem really off tonight. Everything okay?" Trevis asked with concern. I sighed, swirling the drink in my glass. “I don't know, Trevis. Just a lot of stuff on my mind.” “Emotional stuff?” he probed, raising an eyebrow. “Something to do with that slap mark on your cheek, perhaps?” He was making it light, but I knew that he was becoming greatly concerned because I’d never been like this around him. “Because I don’t think it’s work-related,” Trevis added. He was really quite perceptive. “You’re never like this when it’s about business. You would have tackled it head-on already.” I shrugged, finishing my drink again and signaling to the bartender for a refill. I denied any issues but found myself drinking glass after glass, trying to numb everything that was bothering me. As Trevis pulled out his cell p
Sophia’s POVI woke up with a start, my body tense. I had just drifted into a light sleep when the knock on the door jolted me awake. I glanced at the clock — past midnight.For a moment, I lay still, listening intently, trying to make sense of the late-night disturbance. Burglar? Visitor? Or just a mistake?I grabbed my phone, its soft glow illuminating the dark room, and dialed the police’s number. But I didn’t tap on the call button yet. Slowly I tiptoed to the door, my heart pounding. The knock came again, louder this time, echoing through the silent apartment. I hesitated, unsure whether to answer. But a burglar wouldn't knock, right? I looked through the peephole and saw the man standing there outside my door. “Elijah!” I gasped in surprise. What the hell is he doing here again, and at this time of the night?!Taking a few deep breaths, I was about to walk away and go back to sleep when I heard him call my name. For a while, I’d wanted to pretend it was just some bad dream. But
Serena’s POVRrriiiinnngggg!I woke up with a start. For a while, I thought it was morning already. But it was still dark outside. It’s almost 3 am. Who the hell could be calling me? The number was unfamiliar. I answered it, anyway. “Hello?” I said in a sleepy voice, sitting up on my hotel bed. “Hi,” a low male voice greeted. “I’m so sorry to call you at this hour. My name is Trevis, and I’m a friend of Elijah’s. I got your number from his assistant Connor.”“Oh, okay…” “Listen, Serena, I was just wondering if you know whether Elijah got back to your hotel already?” He sounded worried. “It’s just that we were together earlier and I noticed that his mood was a little off. He wasn’t his usual self, and I’m just a bit worried about him.”I had already climbed off the bed and put on my slippers. “Let me check,” I told Trevis. “Hold on.” I quickly went to the room beside mine and knocked several times on the door. There was no answer. “He just suddenly took off while we were at the bar
Elijah’s POVMy eyes widened in alarm. I felt my heart plummeting to the ground just as I heard my breaths coming in short and raspy. “Don’t you remember what you said last night, Elijah?” Serena asked, looking anxious. “I, uh…” My mind was a complete blank. I was so drunk last night that I couldn’t remember what had happened when I went to Sophia’s apartment. But I was pretty sure that we hadn’t talked about anything of that sort. “I don’t remember, but I know that Sophia would never do something like that. If she really said it, then she was probably just making it up or exaggerating to drive me away!”“Well, it didn’t seem like it,” Serena responded casually. “I don’t think a woman can joke about something like that. And you know that Sophia’s not the type to drop empty threats. Besides, she already lost her baby once so perhaps it doesn’t really matter to her anymore, especially if it’s your child.”Her words made my heart ache. It made me remember how Sophia and I met at the uni