Sophia’s POVI pulled up to Grandma Evelyn's house, not knowing how to feel. Reese sat in the back seat, humming a tune from her recent piano lesson. I took a deep breath and turned off the engine, my fingers lingering on the key.Grandma Evelyn had been calling me almost every day, asking me to visit and bring Reese. Knowing now that I was her real, biological granddaughter—the real Sabrina—made everything feel awkward and weird. But I knew I had to face it eventually. Besides, Evelyn and her husband George had always been good and welcoming to me.“Ready, Reese?” I asked, turning to my daughter.“Yep!” she chirped, bouncing in her seat.We walked up the path to the house, and I rang the doorbell. Moments later, Grandpa George opened the door with a warm smile.“Sophia, Reese, come on in,” he greeted us, stepping aside to let us enter.“Hi, Grandpa George!” Reese exclaimed, giving him a big hug.“Hello, sweetheart,” he chuckled, patting her back. “Evelyn's in the living room.”We mad
Sophia’s POVEvelyn’s room was quiet and peaceful, the sound of the piano drifting in from the next room where Reese and Grandpa George were still playing. I carefully helped Evelyn from her wheelchair to the bed, making sure she was comfortable before moving into the chair beside her.“Thank you, Sophia,” Evelyn said as she adjusted her pillow. Her eyes, though tired, still held that familiar sparkle.“It's no trouble at all, Grandma Evelyn,” I replied, smoothing the covers around her.She reached out and took my hand gently. “How are you really doing these days?”I took a deep breath, glancing toward the door where the sounds of Reese's laughter and the piano notes blended harmoniously. “Work is good. I have plenty of projects keeping me busy.”Evelyn nodded, her expression thoughtful. “And what about matters of the heart?”I hesitated for a moment, thinking hard about her question and feeling my emotions reacting to it. “Well, it's complicated,” I began, finding it oddly comforting
Sophia’s POVI heard Chris’s voice coming from the hallway. “Sophia, are you in here?”I turned toward the doorway, and there he was, poking his head into the room. His eyes took in the scene—Grandma Evelyn lying on the bed with me seated beside her, and Reese's happy laughter filling the space.His smile was meaningful, a mixture of relief, joy, and something else that pulled at my heartstrings. "Hey there," I greeted him warmly, trying to understand the look on his face.“Sophia,” he replied, his voice filled with a warmth I hadn’t heard before. He stepped into the room, and to my surprise, he came over and gave me a quick embrace. My heart beat fast, wondering why he was being like this. He was always friendly but never this way. He pulled back, and I searched his face for answers, but he turned to Grandma Evelyn instead. His expression softened as he looked at her, and he said, “You were right all along.”We all looked puzzled, exchanging glances. Chris continued, his voice trem
Henry’s POVThe weight of the night pressed heavily upon me as I paced the confines of my dimly lit room. The ticking clock on the wall seemed to mock me with every second that passed, each one a reminder of how precariously I was balancing on the edge of a razor-thin line. The authorities had cast their net wide across France, and I could feel the pressure closing in on me. The whole world seemed to be a trap, and escape was slipping through my fingers.My breath came in short, ragged bursts as I struggled to keep my nerves in check. The only solace was the knowledge that tomorrow morning, I would be on a private plane back to the US, thanks to my associate Vito Romano. He really did have plenty of helpful underground connections. The thought of finally being reunited with Julia was the only thing that kept me going, the only thing that made the fear and frustration bearable.I stepped over to the window and stared out into the darkness, the city lights below shimmering like distan
Sophia’s POVI sighed as I stared at Daniel's text on my phone, asking if I wanted to grab dinner on Saturday night. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before I typed out a polite refusal. Sorry, Daniel. I'm just not feeling up to going out this weekend. Maybe another time?I hit send and tossed my phone onto the couch, sinking back into the cushions. It buzzed almost immediately, and I groaned, half-expecting Daniel to try and convince me otherwise. But it wasn't Daniel—it was Elijah.Hey, Sophia. Any chance you're free this weekend? I'd love to catch up.I couldn't help but sigh. Two invitations in one day? I quickly typed out another refusal. Sorry, Elijah. I'm taking it easy this weekend. Maybe next week?With both invitations turned down, I felt a mixture of relief and guilt. I needed a break, some time to just unwind without the pressure of socializing or pretending everything was fine. And I especially needed time away from the two men who were causing my inter
Sophia’s POVI glanced at my watch, anxiety prickling at my fingertips. The seconds seemed to tick by with persistent urgency as I hurriedly wrapped up my conversation with Trevis. “Thank you for everything today, Trevis. I really appreciate it,” I said, my voice catching slightly. His reassuring smile did little to quell my growing unease.“I’m just glad I could help,” he replied. “Go on, get to the court. You don’t want to miss anything.”I nodded, giving him a quick hug before sprinting out of the building. The chilly air hit me like a splash of cold water, but I barely noticed as I dashed to the curb. My car was in the shop, so I needed a cab. I hailed the first one that came by, the yellow vehicle screeching to a halt in front of me.“Hall of Justice, please,” I told the driver, hopping into the back seat. I felt a jolt of relief as the cab pulled away from the curb, heading toward my destination. My thoughts raced ahead to the courtroom, where I hoped to find Elijah and Chris,
Elijah’s POVI sat in the courtroom, the air heavy with the murmur of spectators and the tension of the day’s proceedings. Chris was beside me, fidgeting nervously. He leaned in close, trying to whisper and yet be heard above the ambient noise.“Julia promised she’d tell the truth today,” he said, a faint note of hope in his tone.I nodded, though I couldn’t muster any optimism. My trust in Julia was long gone, eroded by countless betrayals. I expected nothing from her. The bitterness had set in so deep that even the prospect of justice couldn’t stir much excitement within me.She had betrayed me so damn hard. I was so stupid for believing her, and for almost marrying her. Twice. I couldn’t help but hate myself for this, for being fooled by her. And it made me despise her even more. As the court clerk began calling for order, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I discreetly pulled it out, glancing at the screen. The message was from Trevis: Sophia went to the office looking for you. She t
Julia’s POVI must tell the truth. This is my chance to start fresh, to get a lower sentence. I have no other choice. These were the thoughts swirling in my head as I took the witness stand. Henry has failed me, I thought, my chest feeling heavy. I glanced around the courtroom, trying to make sense of everything. The lawyer's voice cut through the din, demanding my attention.“Julia,” he asked sharply, “did you plan the kidnapping of Reese Sinclair? And did you hurt Reese’s mother, Sophia Bennett, at the beach?”His words felt distant, as if they were coming from underwater. My eyes were locked on Chris and Elijah, their expressions a mix of alarm and urgency. I couldn’t shake the sense that something was terribly wrong. My mind raced, my heart pounding in my chest.A sudden, jarring thought pierced through my confusion: What if Henry had done something? The hope that Henry was back and maybe orchestrating something to get me out of this situation surged within me. My emotions chur
Sophia’s POVA hush of golden light slipped through the curtains, draping the room in warmth and calm. It felt like the kind of morning that only came after surviving the storm.Weeks had passed since the chaos faded, and for once, the quiet didn’t feel temporary—it felt earned. I stirred slowly, eyes drifting open to find Elijah beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine. I studied him in the silence, taking in the softened edges of a man who’d carried us through fire and finally found peace.I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, he smiled sleepily."Morning," he murmured."Morning," I whispered back, letting my fingers trace the line of his jaw. "Can you believe we actually get to wake up like this? No chaos, no danger—just us."He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "I could get used to this."Just as I was about to say something, the door burst open."Mommy! Daddy!" Reese called out, followed quickly by Roxy an
Elijah’s POVWe weaved through the cracked streets, deeper into a part of the city that felt like time had forgotten it. Boarded-up windows, rusted signage, buildings collapsing in on themselves. This was the kind of place where ghosts lingered, and today, we were chasing one of them."We’re close," Joe muttered from the front seat, his eyes scanning the GPS on his phone. "This is the last possible location that fits Hugo's hideouts."Antoine sat beside me in the back, silent but focused. His jaw was tight, hands clenched. I still didn’t know if I fully trusted him, but I couldn’t deny this: he was here, risking his neck like the rest of us. And right now, I’d take any edge we could get.I have to find Grandpa George. For Sophia.When we pulled up to the burned-out remains of what once looked like a chapel, a chill shot down my spine. The stone structure still stood, half-charred, the wooden beams above blackened and skeletal. Nature had tried to reclaim it—vines curling around scorch
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…”Her name was the only thing in my mind as I stormed through the decaying hallway, boots slamming against rotting wood, gun drawn. My pulse thundered in my ears. The floor creaked beneath every step, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.Joe and his men fanned out behind me, covering corners, checking every room.We were running out of time.Then—A scream.My heart nearly stopped. It was her.I charged forward, slamming my shoulder into the door at the end of the hall. It burst open—and I saw red.Morgana was on the ground, gasping for air as Hugo’s hand squeezed her throat, and across the room, Sophia was trying to drag herself toward them, her face pale and streaked with tears.“NO!” I shouted, and without hesitation, I raised my gun.Hugo turned just as I fired.The bullet tore through his shoulder. He howled, stumbling back and releasing Morgana, who crumpled to the floor, coughing violently.I crossed the room in three strides and tackled Hugo before he could
Sophia’s POVThe first thing I felt was cold.A biting chill that wrapped around my arms and legs like a second set of restraints. Then came the pressure—tight, scratchy ropes cutting into my wrists. My head pounded like a drum, fog thick behind my eyes. Everything smelled like mildew and dust.My eyes struggled to make sense of the shadows.The room was dim, lit only by a weak bulb overhead that flickered like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay on. I was on a metal chair, hands tied behind my back, ankles secured to the legs. The air tasted stale and old, like the walls had been sealed off from the world for decades.Panic bloomed in my chest.My brother Chris. What had become of him?I jerked forward, straining against the ropes. “Chris!” I called, my voice hoarse and raw. “Where is he?!”I noticed some movement in the darkness. A shadow stirred in the corner of the room. I froze as a figure stepped out into the light. Tall. Gray-streaked beard. Sunken eyes like old coals. A d
Sophia’s POV“This is insane,” Elijah muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “We’re relying on Antoine to lead us to Hugo. Does no one else see how crazy that is?”Joe, who had been checking messages on his phone, barely looked up. “We don’t have another choice.”I watched Elijah pace the room, his frustration clear. He wasn’t wrong, but I knew that if there was even the smallest chance of finding Grandpa George, we had to take it.Joe sighed and turned to Antoine. “You sure you can make him bite?”Antoine shrugged. “I know Hugo. He’s a cockroach—he won’t go down without a fight. But if he thinks his last hiding spot is compromised, he’ll make a move. That’s when we strike.”Elijah muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Joe’s phone buzzed. As he studied the screen, he said, “We got something. Two possible locations.”Elijah straightened. “Then let’s move.”They all hurried out, and I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to call Elijah back—to make sure he’d pick up
Sophia’s POVMy mother sat on the couch, clutching Grandma Evelyn’s hands, trying to calm her down. My father stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, his face pale and unreadable.Chris and Connor were huddled over a laptop at the dining table, analyzing security footage.Joe was already there, speaking into his phone, barking orders to his contacts.But no one had any answers yet.And Grandpa George was still missing.I turned to my grandmother, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma—did you see anything? Anyone suspicious? A car, a stranger?”Her red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook her head. “No… nothing. I don’t know how this happened.” Her voice broke. “George was just in his study… and then he was gone.”Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He wasn’t just worried—he was furiousJust then, Chris snapped his fingers at the screen. “We’ve got something.”Connor turned the laptop t
Sophia’s POVWe had been trying to track down both Antoine and Hugo, but they had vanished like ghosts.No leads. No sightings. Nothing.Lucas had called me earlier, still searching, still digging. Even Elijah and his contacts have been working doubly hard. But so far, they’d come up empty too. It was frustrating—knowing the danger was out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.But tonight…Tonight, we weren’t going to think about it.Tonight, we were here to celebrate.After all, Lila and Adrian’s joint concert was finally happening. This was their moment, their dream unfolding before them.And for the first time in what felt like forever, we were all together, enjoying something good.Kayla was everywhere at once, her headset on, clipboard in hand, barking last-minute instructions into her earpiece. She was stressed, frantic… but glowing. Even though there could have been other people to take care of all this from her company, she wanted to be in charge, to personal
Emily’s POV“Walk away, Hugo,” Antoine said sharply, stepping in front of us as if to shield us from the strange man.The name triggered a memory.Chris had mentioned it just yesterday—Hugo Tournier. Suddenly, I remembered. It’s the name Sophia and Elijah had been trying to track down. The man who had supposedly changed Sophia’s life forever.And now he’s here. Why?!My hands instinctively balled up as my heart slammed against my ribs. Could this really be the same man?Hugo’s expression darkened with satisfaction as he took another step, exuding an air of quiet arrogance.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. “You’re not as fun outside of prison, Antoine.”Phoebe’s grip on my wrist tightened. “Emily, let’s go,” she muttered under her breath.I wanted to. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave. But I couldn’t—not yet.Hugo came forward, his eyes staring straight at me. He gave a low chuckle, mocking. “It’s interesting to meet Sabrina Ba
Emily’s POVI refused to flinch. Even as Antoine stood in front of me, blocking my way, I forced my body to stay still, to stay firm.I squared my shoulders, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Move.”Antoine didn’t budge. His gaze shifted between me and Phoebe, like he wasn’t sure if I’d actually listen or turn and run.“I’m not here to fight,” he said, his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”Phoebe’s grip on my arm tightened, and her anger was immediate, sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let him see me feeling nervous or affected by him. Antoine exhaled, his face unreadable. “I just wanted to talk.”Phoebe laughed coldly. “Talk? You took Jared, Antoine. Without permission. Do you have any idea what you put us through?”“I know,” he admitted. “I made a mistake.”Phoebe scoffed. “A mistake?”I stepped forward, my gaze hardening. “Please, Antoine.