Sophia’s POVMy mind was stuck in that hospital hallway, replaying the scene between Julia and Elijah over and over. By the time I parked and walked into the Italian restaurant, I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.I spotted Kayla at our usual corner table, slightly secluded from the rest of the diners. She stood up with a warm smile, and we hugged tightly.“Soph! It’s been too long,” she said, pulling back to look at me. Her smile faltered slightly. “You okay? You don't seem like your usual jolly self.”I waved a hand dismissively, trying to brush off her concern. “It's nothing, really.”Kayla frowned, her eyes narrowing. "I know something's up. Come on, tell me."We sat down, and I took a deep breath, knowing she wouldn’t let it go. “I was at the hospital earlier,” I began, my voice shaking slightly. “Julia was screaming and crying because the doctor told her she might never be able to use her right hand again. Elijah was there comforting her. Then she… she asked him to
Sophia’s POVKayla's mention of Morgana snapped me out of my daze. The dim lighting of the restaurant cast shadows on Kayla’s face, making her look more mysterious. Intrigued, I leaned in closer. “What secret about Morgana?” I asked.Kayla glanced around the restaurant, her eyes scanning the room for any eavesdroppers. Then she leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “You know my grandmother lives in Lyon, right? My parents and I went to visit her for a week. While we were there, we spent a lot of time at Place Bellecour, one of the largest open squares in Europe. It's this beautiful, bustling place with a statue of Louis XIV right in the center.”I nodded, urging her to continue. “Yeah, I’ve been there once.” Memories of the picturesque square flashed in my mind, the lively atmosphere and the grandeur of the statue.“One afternoon, while we were at Place Bellecour, I heard this familiar voice that made me turn around. That’s when I saw Morgana walking with a man. She
Sophia’s POVUnlocking the door to my apartment, images of Elijah and Julia at the hospital flashed again through my mind, their raw emotions lingering in my thoughts. What’s more, I kept thinking about Morgana and the conversation she had with that strange man. As I stepped inside, laughter from the living room caught me off guard. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Elijah on the floor, playing with Reese. They were both laughing, completely absorbed in their game. Elijah looked up and smiled warmly. “Hey, Sophia.”I forced a smile, feeling my heart race. “Hi, Elijah.” I then remembered what Kayla had said to me — I needed to face him, to talk this out with him. Besides, I had to get used to the idea of Elijah being around often even if he did marry Julia; after all, he would always be a part of my life because of Reese.Quickly, I turned my attention to Reese, who was beaming with excitement.“Mommy, look! Daddy and I are playing a game!” Reese exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with
Elijah’s POVI stood outside Julia's hospital room, taking a deep breath before entering. My mind raced with thoughts of how to approach her delicately, how to reassure her that I cared deeply for her but only as a sister. It was a conversation I was dreading, especially now with everything she was going through.As I pushed the door open, Julia's cries filled the room. She was inconsolable, her emotions swinging wildly from fear to anger to moments of sweetness. “Julia,” I said softly, approaching her bedside. “I'm here. It's going to be okay.”She looked up at me with tear-streaked cheeks, her eyes filled with a mix of desperation and accusation. “You're tired of me, aren't you? You don't want to take care of me anymore,” she sobbed.“No, Julia, that's not true,” I replied gently, sitting down beside her and taking her hand. “I care about you so much. You're like family to me.”Her expression softened briefly, and she squeezed my hand. “I know you do, Elijah. I'm sorry for being lik
Elijah’s POVI carried the tray of medicine and water to the guest room where Julia was staying. The doctor had discharged her from the hospital that morning, and now she was comfortably settled in my home. I pushed open the door and found her sitting up in bed, her smile bright despite everything she’d been through.“Hey there,” I said, crossing the room to her side. “Time for your medicine.”“Thanks, Elijah,” Julia replied, her voice warm. “I’m feeling much better already.”I handed her the pills and a glass of water. “Here you go. Make sure you take these.”She took the medicine obediently, then handed the glass back to me. I set it on the bedside table and propped up her pillows, ensuring she was comfortable.“How’s that? Comfy enough?” I asked, adjusting the pillows a bit more.“Perfect,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re spoiling me.”“I’m happy to take care of you, Julia. You know that.”She sighed contentedly and leaned back. “The new treatments the doctor mentioned, they
Sophia’s POVThe hospital was quieter than usual today. I held Reese's hand as we walked down the sterile, white hallway toward Dr. Lansing's office. It had only been a few days since they removed my cast, and this follow-up check-up was to ensure everything was healing properly. Reese skipped beside me, her wavy hair bouncing with each step.“Mommy, can I get a chocolate drink after this?” Reese asked, her eyes lighting up as she spotted a vending machine at the end of the hallway.“We'll see, sweetie,” I replied, squeezing her hand gently.Dr. Lansing's check-up was thorough but quick. He reassured me that my arm was healing well and gave me a few exercises to help regain my strength. With a fresh set of instructions and a reminder to schedule another appointment in a few weeks, we were on our way out.As we walked down the now-empty hallway, Reese's attention was caught by the vending machine. She let go of my hand and ran ahead, her small footsteps echoing.“Reese, wait!” I called
Sophia’s POVI took a deep breath before I knocked on the door of Elijah's house. I hadn’t been here many times since our divorce, but today felt even weirder. I knew Julia was staying here, and I wasn't sure what to expect. The door swung open, and the maid, Maria, greeted me with a polite nod.“Good morning, Miss Bennett. Mr. Sinclair is in his office. Please, come in.”“Thank you, Maria,” I said, stepping inside. The house felt different too, colder somehow, and I couldn't shake the feeling of being unwelcome.As I walked toward Elijah's office, I heard the unmistakable sound of Julia's voice. I rounded the corner and there she was, standing in the hallway with her hand still bandaged. Her eyes narrowed as soon as she saw me.“Well, well, if it isn't Sophia Bennett,” Julia sneered. “What are you doing here?”I held up the document I needed Elijah to sign. “I'm here for work, Julia. I need Elijah's signature on this.”Julia scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “You just can
Sophia’s POVI stood in Elijah's spacious living room, unable to believe what was taking place. The luxurious surroundings felt oppressive in the midst of the unfolding chaos.Julia’s sobs echoed against the walls, increasing the tension even more. She’d been holding the document that I’d brought with me because I was supposed to leave already. But because of her antics, she dropped it. Elijah and I instinctively bent over to pick it up at the same time. His fingers brushed mine briefly, sending a jolt through me that I barely registered amid the unfolding drama. My heart beat fast, and I felt disoriented for a little while. “I... I can't... I can't do this!” Julia cried out, her voice trembling with distress. “Sophia, get out of here!” She looked at me in horror, and I didn’t know what to make of it. Elijah moved closer, murmuring something to Julia that I couldn't quite catch over her sobs. He quickly took the documents from my hands, signed them in a hurried motion, and handed