Sophia’s POVAs I parked outside Emily’s boutique that morning, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about the matching dresses I was about to discuss. Reese needed one for her upcoming school recital—it was a big event, one of those “proud mom” moments where every child would shine on stage. Reese had been talking about it for weeks, except lately when she’d become a bit quiet and disturbed because of the bullying incidents in schoolWell, all the more that I want her to feel special!I had this idea for her and Roxy to wear matching dresses. I could just imagine how adorable they would look. And of course it may help Reese feel that they’re really equally loved and that there’s no competition for their parents’ love at all. “Hhmm… Maybe we should all wear matching outfits,” I said out loud with a grin. “Emily can surely pull it off wonderfully.”Just as I was about to step out of the car, a familiar figure caught my eye. My hand froze on the door handle.No. It can’t be. I didn’t re
Sophia’s POV“Ah, ah, ah,” Isabelle cooed, her voice mocking as she waved the gun slightly. “Let’s not make any hasty decisions, shall we?”I stared at the gun, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every ounce of fear I’d been suppressing rushed in all at once. This wasn’t just some petty grudge. This was real. Dangerous.The world seemed to slow as I stood there, trapped, staring down the barrel of the gun, knowing there was no easy way out of this.Suddenly, I heard the animated chatter and some footsteps coming closer. Several people were approaching the studio. Isabelle’s eyes shifted to the group in alarm. She lowered the gun quickly, her expression changing into one of frustration. Without another word, she turned and bolted, her dark coat flaring out behind her as she sprinted down the street.I stood there, frozen, my breath shallow and uneven. My hands trembled, and it took everything in me not to collapse right there on the sidewalk.The group passed me, com
Sophia’s POVAs soon as I stepped into the familiar office of Urban Next Design Studio, I immediately spotted Trevis at the lobby, his face lit up with a broad grin, already waiting for me. It wasn’t unusual to see him in a good mood, but today there was something different. The energy in the room felt more charged than usual. He stood up the moment he saw me. “Sophia! Just the person I needed!” Trevis walked over, practically bouncing on his heels. “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive. I've got some incredible news.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “This new client’s got you all excited like this, huh? You look like you’re about to burst.”He laughed, clearly not able to contain himself any longer. “Okay, okay. So, get this—I've just been contacted by this huge restaurant company—Delmare Hospitality Group. They’re expanding their portfolio in the city, and they want us to design their new line of restaurants.”I blinked, taking a second to process the name. Delmare Hospitality? I kn
Sophia’s POVTrevis cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence that lingered after Morgana’s last remark. “Why don’t we move into my office so we can discuss the project in more detail?” He gestured toward the glass-walled room behind him.I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral as I followed them. Inside, the tension eased only slightly, though Morgana’s presence still felt suffocating. Trevis motioned for us to sit around the table, and I chose the chair furthest from her, needing the distance to collect myself.“Sophia here,” Trevis began, with his trademark enthusiasm, “is our best designer. She’ll be the one working closely with you on this, Morg—uh, Mrs. Delmare.” He corrected himself quickly, throwing an apologetic glance her way.Morgana smiled, the same practiced expression she’d worn since she entered. “Of course she is. That’s why I specifically requested her for this project. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to bring our vision to life.” Her words, while flattering,
Sophia’s POV“That's not the color I wanted, Sophia,” Morgana said, her voice sharp and dismissive as she pointed to the color swatch on the table. “How many times do I have to repeat myself?”I clenched my jaw and forced a smile, doing everything I could to remain calm. “You mentioned you wanted a muted earth tone, Morgana. This shade matches what we discussed earlier—”“Well, now I want something bolder. This is too bland, too safe. I need something that pops,” she interrupted, her manicured fingers tapping impatiently on the conference table.I nodded, pulling out a few alternative swatches. “Of course. Let’s look at some more vibrant options. How about this one? It’s a deep terracotta, and it could bring warmth to the space without being overwhelming.”Morgana barely glanced at it, her lips tightening into a thin line. “No, no, no. You’re not listening, Sophia. I need something with character, something that screams luxury and style. I don’t want my restaurants to look like every
Sophia's POVToday was no different. I walked into the office and saw the latest email from her, blinking in my inbox like a cruel taunt. She wanted a full redesign of the flagship restaurant. Again. Only this time, she wanted it done in a completely different theme. By the end of the week.I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to digest her latest demand. We had already gone through multiple iterations of the design—each one painstakingly crafted to meet her ever-changing vision. And now she wanted to scrap all of it and start over.I forwarded the email to the rest of the team and called a quick meeting. They arrived in the conference room, each of them looking as worn out as I felt. We had all been running ourselves ragged trying to keep up with Morgana’s impossible standards.“This is what she wants now,” I said, gesturing to the screen where her email was projected. “A full redesign. And she wants it done in three days.”Groans and frustrated sighs filled the room.“This is ins
Sophia’s POVIt was well past 10 p.m., and the office was eerily quiet. Everyone had gone home hours ago. My eyes stung from staring at the design for too long, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I was determined to perfect the revisions Morgana had demanded. She’d torn apart the last iteration, claiming it lacked “soul” — whatever that meant. I wasn’t going to give her any more reason to complain.My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I tweaked the placement of the lighting fixtures in the restaurant’s new blueprint. Every detail had to be flawless. Maybe if I nailed this, Morgana would finally be satisfied. Maybe I could stop feeling like the failure of a wife she deemed me to be before. Just as I leaned in to make another adjustment, my phone buzzed on the desk. I glanced at the screen, expecting to see another email or message from someone on the team, but it was Elijah.“Hey,” I answered, my voice coming out tired but relieved to hear from him.“Sophia,” he said, his voice
Emily’s POVI spotted Elijah and Sophia down the corridor, panic flooding through me. My heart raced as I rushed toward them, tears spilling down my cheeks the moment I reached Sophia.“Sophia! I can’t believe this happened to Chris!” I sobbed, throwing my arms around her. “He was coming to see me! I told him I wanted to talk about us—what if this is my fault?”I felt her pull back slightly, concern apparent on her face. “Emily, no! This isn’t your fault,” she insisted, her voice steady and soothing. “You couldn’t have known.”Elijah stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You need to breathe, Em. We’re going to figure this out, but you can’t blame yourself for what happened. Chris is strong; he’s going to get through this.”I took a shaky breath, but the guilt clung to me heavily. “Tell me the truth,” I said desperately. “Do you think Isabelle had something to do with this? Did you find out anything about the accident?”I looked from Sophia to Elijah, my heart poun
Sophia’s POVThe following morning, as sunlight streamed through our bedroom window, I lay awake, staring up at the ceiling, the events of last night playing on an endless loop in my mind. I couldn’t shake the image of Lennon clutching that ominous envelope… or the strange woman and her little boy, who somehow felt so familiar.Lost in thought, I barely heard Elijah enter the room until he sat on the edge of the bed, his hand resting on my shoulder. “You’re up early,” he noted, studying me with a concerned expression.I managed a weak smile. “Couldn’t sleep. I keep thinking about last night. Lennon and that… envelope.” I hesitated, lowering my voice. He reached out, taking my hand in his. “Well, maybe we’ll have a chance to find out. Mom invited us for brunch at the cafe today. She said she’d love to see the kids again.”I sat up, my heart pounding at the prospect. “Maybe… maybe we could use it as a chance to ask her. About Lennon, I mean. If she’s hiding something, I think you’d be
Sophia’s POVI was trying to steady my racing heart, unable to get back to the festivities yet, when my husband Elijah approached me. “Sophia, where have you been? Everyone’s been asking about you,” he said, his tone gentle but laced with worry.I forced a small smile. “I just… needed a moment to think. But actually, I have to talk to you.” I reached out, grasping his arm, and pulled him aside into a quieter corner of the hallway, far from prying ears.“What’s going on?” he asked, his gaze intense.“Lennon,” I whispered, casting a glance down the hallway to make sure no one was listening. “I just ran into him by the restroom. He was carrying an envelope…” My voice trembled as I continued. “It had the Les Ombres Écarlates emblem on it.”Elijah’s eyes widened. “Wait—are you sure?”“Yes. I’m sure. He even hurried away when he saw me glancing at it.” I bit my lip, trying to calm the anxiety clawing at my insides. “What could he possibly want with them? And if Lennon’s involved… does that
Sophia’s POVJared squirmed in my arms, distracting me from my thoughts. I set him down, smiling as he took off again, this time circling around me in playful loops.As I watched him, my gaze drifted back to the table where Elijah was talking with Kayla, and I noticed his expression—serene but thoughtful, as if he, too, was carrying an invisible weight.Les Ombres Écarlates had fallen silent in the U.S. since Henry and Julia were locked away, but whispers remained that the syndicate still operated in France. No one knew who might be leading them now.Isabelle had remained in prison, and for all we knew, she’d been cut off from her network… or perhaps she was working wonders from the shadows, keeping her influence alive from a distance. No one could tell for sure.“Mommy?” Jared tugged on my hand, bringing me back to the present. “Can I go play with Roxy and Reese?”“Of course, sweetheart,” I said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “They’re right over there with Daddy.”Jared darted fo
Sophia’s POVThe restaurant, Bella Sera, stood glowing in soft, elegant lights as we approached. It was bustling with guests, laughter and conversations blending together to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. I could hardly believe a year had passed since its grand opening, during which my husband Elijah had reconciled with his stepmom.Tonight was Bella Sera’s first anniversary celebration, and for once, I felt a sense of calm and happiness surrounding us. I looked down, giving Reese’s hand a little squeeze as we stepped inside, with Roxy and Jared walking alongside us, their eyes wide with curiosity.As we entered, Morgana herself appeared, beaming as she saw us. She looked elegant, her face bright with pride, and there was something so genuine in her warmth that I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Behind her was her husband, Lennon Delmare, standing tall and grinning broadly.“Sophia, Elijah! And my little ones!” Morgana opened her arms, crouching down to embrace Reese, Roxy, and
Sophia’s POVOne year had passed. Just like that. One long, grueling year since they’d been captured in Mexico. Now, I sat in the trial court, my hand clasped tightly in Elijah’s as we waited for the final verdict.Anticipation hovered around us, every rustle and whispered breath amplifying the tension that had been simmering for so long.I glanced across the room at Henry and Julia, seated a few rows away, flanked by officers on either side. Henry’s once-sharp features were worn, his face gaunt, his hair graying and thinning.He looked hollowed out, as though the years of hiding, the trials in France and now here in the U.S., had sucked the life from him. His hands were bound, but I could still see the twitch of his fingers, the anger boiling beneath his carefully composed exterior.Beside him, Julia looked equally changed. She’d aged in ways that seemed impossible for just a year’s passing—her skin pale, her eyes shadowed and glassy, as if she’d been surviving on sleepless nights a
Elijah’s POV“Elijah,” Henry sneered, regaining a bit of his composure. “You think this is going to change anything?”I crossed my arms, blocking their only escape. “You’re right. It’s not going to change anything. But it’ll end everything.”Julia’s eyes darted to the side, searching for a way out. I could see the desperation rising in her, a trapped animal’s instinct kicking in. She looked to Henry, but he kept his gaze locked on me, his expression bitter.“You think you’ve won?” he spat, his voice laced with defiance. “You’re too late, Elijah. Everything’s already in place. You can’t stop us.”“We’ll see about that,” I said, taking a step forward. “You’re done running.”Behind them, Julian and Joe’s operatives moved in, sealing off any possible escape. Henry and Julia were completely surrounded, their backs against the wall. I could see the realization dawning in their eyes—that this was it. The end of the line.“Give it up,” Joe called out, his voice firm. “This is over. You’re not
Elijah’s POVThe bookstore in Guadalajara was hushed, with the quiet murmur of a few customers flipping through books or browsing the shelves. I sat in the far corner, half-hidden by a display of mystery novels, watching as the team casually took up positions around the room.Each one looked like they belonged there—disguised as staff, customers, a student reading by the window. I had to hand it to them; they blended in flawlessly.But under the calm, there was tension, and my heart thudded with the thrill and nerves that always came before a high-stakes operation. Today, we were either going to end this chase, or Henry and Julia would slip through our fingers once again.It made me stop and think all of a sudden. How did I come to be tangled up in such dangerous situations? A long time ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of being a part of something like this. I would have chosen not to be in the middle of the action but simply waiting for reports and updates. But I’ve changed already… And
Sophia’s POVI unfolded the note, my hands trembling as I absorbed each word. Chris’s handwriting was hurried, a bit messy, but very recognizable. I could almost hear his voice speaking the words as I read.Hi, Sabrina… We’re okay. Emily and I are safe, but for now, we can’t return to the States. There’s still too much risk, too many eyes watching. You and Elijah… I know I don’t have to ask, but please take care of Jared. He’s safer with you than he could ever be with us. Tell him, when he’s old enough, that his mother and Uncle Chris never stopped loving him and that we’ll be back for him when the time is right. Until then, he’s yours. We’ll keep fighting to get back. Trust that. And trust we’re always with you in spirit.Love, ChrisI clutched the note to my chest, my heart swelling with a bittersweet joy. They were alive. Somewhere out there, in the shadows they were forced to navigate, Chris and Emily were holding on, fighting to survive. And even if they couldn’t be here physi
Sophia’s POVI gently laid Roxy down, her tiny face peaceful as she drifted off into a deep sleep. Her soft breathing filled the quiet room, and I brushed a finger along her cheek, feeling a pang in my heart.My thoughts drifted immediately to Elijah—he was probably in Mexico by now, fully absorbed in their mission to track down Henry and Julia. It’s been two weeks since we found out that information from Lila. And just yesterday, Elijah had flown to Mexico to join Joe’s and Julian’s teams. The thought filled me with an equal mix of pride and worry.He’d been so determined, so resolved to see this through, but knowing he was out there in danger made me feel helpless.I closed my eyes, sending up a silent prayer. Please let him be safe. Keep my husband safe and make this operation successful. Henry and Julia have to be brought to justice. A soft giggle pulled me back, and I looked over to see Jared, his chubby fingers reaching for the toy blocks I’d set up on the play mat. I joined h