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
Sophia’s POVI stood frozen, unable to mask the shock that must have been written all over my face. Morgana’s words echoed in my mind: Elijah and Julia getting married. It felt like someone had just dropped a bucket of ice water over me.Elijah told me he’s going to talk to Julia about this, I thought, remembering what he’d told me before. He intends to fix this because he doesn’t want to marry her at all. But how can he do that when Julia isn’t even in her right mind right now?Aloud I said, “Elijah cares a lot about Julia, but I don’t believe he’s going to marry her. He feels guilty for what happened, and he feels sorry for her. But that shouldn’t be a reason to marry someone.”Morgana raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk that made my skin crawl. “Well, suit yourself. Keep fooling yourself all you want, Sophia, but it’s not going to make the wedding go away. It will happen soon, just wait and see.”I felt a surge of alarm but forced myself to remain composed. “It doesn’t
Sophia’s POVThe following day, Henry arrived at our Urban Next office right on time, his tall frame silhouetted against the glass doors. I stood up from my desk as he entered, offering him a polite smile.“It's good to see you again, Sophia,” he said, his voice smooth but with an edge that made me uneasy.“Same here, Henry,” I replied, trying to match his cordial tone. Inside, I couldn't shake the suspicion that something about him didn't quite feel right. There was an air of secrecy about him that set my instincts on edge.Henry settled into the chair opposite mine, placing a thick folder on my desk. “I've got an exciting project to discuss with you, as I’m sure Trevis has already mentioned,” he began, opening the folder to reveal a series of detailed blueprints and some rough concept sketches. “My company is developing an upscale residential and commercial hub. It will feature high-end residential units, state-of-the-art office spaces, upscale retail outlets, and recreational faci
Sophia’s POVI walked into the cozy little restaurant, my heels clicking on the wooden floor, and scanned the room for Daniel. I spotted him at a corner table, waving enthusiastically. His bright smile and relaxed demeanor instantly put me at ease.“Sophia! Over here!” he called out, standing up to greet me.I made my way over, smiling back. “Hey, Daniel! Thanks for inviting me.”“Of course,” he said, pulling out a chair for me. “How was your day?”“Busy, as usual. But I’m glad to be here. This place is charming,” I replied, glancing around at the warm lighting and rustic decor.“Yeah, it’s one of my favorites. They have great food, too,” he said, sitting down across from me. “So, what’s new with you?”“Well, I have a bit of news,” I started, leaning in slightly. “I met with Henry Standord today. He’s Julia’s brother from her adoptive family... Anyway, we talked about his project, and I wanted to know if your project with Urban Next is still pushing through.”Daniel’s eyes lit up with