Elijah’s POVDespite Morgana’s absence, Bella Sera was bustling with activity when I arrived. The place seemed to be running like a well-oiled machine. Clara, Morgana’s assistant, was standing by the counter, speaking animatedly with one of the chefs.I made my way to her, and she noticed me immediately. “Elijah,” she said with a smile. “Good to see you. Morgana mentioned you might stop by.”“How’s everything going?” I asked, leaning against the counter.Clara handed me a clipboard with the latest reports. “Sales have been steady. We’ve introduced a few new menu items, and they’re doing really well. Customers seem to love the seasonal specials. Morgana’s been signing off on everything remotely, but honestly, she’s been distant. Understandably so.”I nodded, flipping through the reports. The numbers looked solid. “You’re doing great, Clara. Morgana will appreciate this.”Clara gave me a grateful smile, but before she could respond, I felt a hand on my arm—a touch too familiar. I turne
Sophia’s POVWe always tried to set aside our concerns whenever we got together for meals at home with the kids. Tonight’s dinner turned out to be lively, especially because we’d invited Phoebe to join. Jared was animated, recounting his favorite parts of the school performance to Phoebe, who listened with rapt attention. It was sweet to see the bond forming between them—Jared had taken to her so naturally, as though some invisible thread tied them together.“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the show,” Phoebe said, her tone genuinely regretful. She reached over to ruffle Jared’s hair. “Work’s been hectic, and I just couldn’t leave my new job.”Jared shrugged, smiling at her. “It’s okay, Aunt Phoebe. There’ll be more performances. You can come next time.”“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Phoebe promised, her eyes softening.Roxy, who had been unusually quiet throughout dinner, suddenly spoke up. “Royce wasn’t in school today.”I paused mid-bite, glancing at Elijah. He stilled too, h
Elijah’s POVThe morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of my office, but it did little to lift the cloud hanging over me. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the reports spread across my desk, though my mind wasn’t focused on them. Victoria’s sudden disappearance had thrown me off balance.A part of me wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. If she was gone, it meant she couldn’t interfere with my family anymore—or so I hoped. I don’t know her too well. But I know Julia, and won’t just give up. If using Victoria didn’t work, she’ll find another way soon. The phone on my desk buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. My assistant’s voice came through the intercom. “Mr. Sinclair, Joe is here to see you.”“Send him in,” I said, sitting up straighter.Moments later, Joe stepped into the room, carrying a folder and his usual air of quiet efficiency. He placed the folder on my desk and sat across from me, his expression grim.“I’ve got updates,” he began, pulling a few papers fro
Sophia’s POVI leaned over my desk, the soft glow of the desk lamp spilling over my sketches. The lines were clean, precise, but my mind wasn’t. I’d been at this all day, refining designs for Lucas’s ski resort renovations. Thankfully, it had been days since I’d last heard from him. That alone brought a sense of relief. I wasn’t sure if it was because of our last encounter or he’s just been busy. As I worked on shading the next section of my blueprint, my phone buzzed against the desk. I glanced at it, surprised to see Elijah’s name flashing on the screen. A small smile tugged at my lips as I answered.“Hi,” I said, cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder as I continued sketching.“Hey,” Elijah’s warm voice greeted me. “I just wanted to ask… what time are you coming home?”I paused, setting my pencil down. “In a bit. Just wrapping up a few things.”“Good,” he said, a faint smile audible in his tone. “I miss you.”The words caught me off guard. A rush of warmth spread through m
Elijah’s POVIt was one of those days when the weight of the world seemed to rest on my shoulders. My office at Sinclair Realty was awash with sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but the brightness did little to alleviate the turmoil brewing in my thoughts. Connor, my ever-efficient assistant, sat across from me, tablet in hand, as we combed through the final details of the new condo project. "The eco-friendly features are going to be the highlight," Connor was saying. "Solar panels, water recycling—it's all here. If we market it right, we'll tap into that green investor demographic."Just as Connor began discussing potential investors, my phone buzzed on the desk. Joe’s name lit up the screen. Joe rarely called—and never during office hours unless it was urgent."Give me a minute," I told Connor, picking up the phone. "Joe, what is it?""Elijah, turn on the news. Now."There was an urgency in his voice that made my stomach tighten. "What’s going on?""Just do it
Sophia’s POVThe air thrummed with a tension so thick it felt alive, no matter how hard we all tried to mask it. Morgana’s living room was warm and inviting, as always, but even the crackling fireplace couldn’t chase away the chill of unease that had settled over us. I sat on the edge of the plush sofa, my hands gripping a mug of tea that had long since gone cold.Across from me, Elijah leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees, his gaze fixed on the carpet as though it held the answers we were all waiting for. Lila and Adrian were perched on the loveseat, talking in low voices, though their words seemed more like an effort to fill the silence than an actual conversation. Connor stood by the window, staring out into the sprawling garden, while Kayla hovered near the kitchen, pretending to busy herself with the cheese platter she'd brought.Morgana herself sat quietly. As always, her eyes were red and puffy, her face haggard, and she had grown noticeably thinner.I took a deep b
Elijah’s POVThe house felt like it was holding its breath. Morgana’s sobs broke the silence occasionally, raw and gut-wrenching, as Lila and Adrian hovered near her, offering words of comfort that felt paper-thin in the face of her grief. Morgana sat slumped on the couch, her face buried in her hands, while Lila rubbed soothing circles on her back and Adrian paced, his expression dark with worry.In the corner of the room, Kayla and Sophia sat close together, their heads bowed in hushed conversation. Whatever they were saying, it seemed to offer Sophia a sliver of solace, though her eyes darted toward me every now and then, filled with the same lingering apprehension I felt. She looked pale, her shoulders drawn tight as if she were holding herself together by sheer willpower.An hour had crawled by since the explosion. An hour of unanswered questions and unanswered calls. Connor and I had tried every line, every contact, but no one from Joe’s side had picked up. Each failed attempt f
Elijah’s POVThe next morning felt heavy, as if the house itself was carrying the weight of the night before. The quiet was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of the floorboards or the distant hum of a car passing by.I sat at the dining table, staring into my coffee. The steam curled lazily upward, but the rich aroma did nothing to soothe my nerves. My phone lay face up beside the mug, its screen dark but ever-present, a reminder of the silence on the other end.I’d stayed at my stepmother’s house for the night, unable to leave her in the state she was in. Sophia had wanted to stay too since Phoebe was with our kids anyway, but I’d insisted she go home to the kids. “I’ll be fine,” I’d told her, even though fine was the last thing I felt. Now, as I sipped my coffee, I kept glancing at my phone, willing it to buzz or ring—anything to break the unbearable silence. My thoughts were consumed with Joe and Lennon. The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. I looked 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.
Emily’s POV“You look like you’re waiting for someone to burst through that door and drag you back into hiding.”Phoebe’s voice was light, teasing, but I still flinched. We were sitting in a cafe near Emily’s house, trying to relax and simply enjoy our time together. But it was still challenging for me. I forced a smile, stirring my coffee even though I wasn’t planning to drink it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”Phoebe snorted, popping another bite of pastry into her mouth. “Em, I’ve known you since birth. That’s your I’m on edge but pretending I’m fine face.”I sighed, rubbing my temple. “I just… I don’t know. It feels too good to be true. Jared is finally warming up to me. I have you here. I should be happy. I am happy.”“But?” Phoebe pressed.“But I keep waiting for something to go wrong.”She gave me a knowing look. “Because that’s all you’ve known for years.”I nodded, staring down at the swirl of foam in my untouched coffee. “I don’t know how to turn it off.”Before
Emily’s POVI barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Jared’s voice again—calling for Sophia instead of me. It shouldn’t have hurt this much. But it did.I stared at the ceiling, exhaustion weighing on me, but my mind refused to rest. It kept replaying the moment at the park—Jared’s hesitation, his little hands reaching for Sophia instead of me. I told myself I understood. He didn’t know me. But understanding it didn’t make it hurt any less.A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Before I could answer, my sister Phoebe peeked in, holding two steaming mugs of coffee.“Morning,” she said gently, stepping inside and handing me a cup.I pushed myself up against the headboard, taking the mug with shaky hands. “Thanks.”She sat beside me, studying my face. “You didn’t sleep, did you?”I shook my head, staring into the dark liquid. “Not really.”Phoebe sighed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t go with you yesterday. Work was crazy, and I couldn’t get out of it.”I looked at her
Sophia’s POV"Mom! Look at the rabbits!" Reese’s excited voice rang out as she dashed ahead, her little sister Roxy giggling as she tried to keep up. Jared wasn’t far behind, his laughter ringing through the air. I smiled, watching my children run toward the petting zoo, their energy contagious.Beside me, Emily tensed.I glanced at her, noticing how her shoulders tightened, how her eyes darted around like she was scanning for threats. She was supposed to be enjoying this—a simple afternoon in the botanical garden, surrounded by friends, fresh air, and laughter. It was the perfect opportunity for Emily to bond with Jared, without him feeling nervous or out of place. But years of running, hiding, and surviving had wired her differently.She wasn’t relaxed. She seemed to be waiting for something to go wrong. And I really couldn’t blame her. I reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. “You’re safe here,” I murmured.Emily forced a small smile, nodding, but her fingers still trem
Sophia’s POVThe warmth of freshly baked cookies filled the air, a scent that felt so familiar, so comforting, that for a moment, it was easy to forget all the fear and uncertainty of the past few days.My mother bustled around the kitchen, setting out plates and pouring tea, determined to make this a small celebration, in spite of her still being a bit rattled. But more than anything, I could see that she was very, very happy. Emily and Chris had showered and changed, looking far better than they had when I first walked in. The exhaustion was still there, written in the lines of their faces, but they were standing tall, present, and—most importantly—home.Elijah arrived shortly after, his presence filling the room with steady reassurance. When he saw Chris, he didn’t hesitate, pulling him into a tight embrace. They had been best friends since childhood, and after everything Chris had been through, I could see the relief in Elijah’s eyes. He held onto Emily for a moment, too, murmuri
Sophia’s POVMy heart pounded as I gripped the phone tighter. "Mom? What’s wrong?"There was a moment of silence, just soft, uneven breaths on the other end of the line. My stomach twisted painfully. "Mom, talk to me!""S-Sophia…" her voice cracked, and I felt my chest constrict. "They’re here."I blinked, my mind struggling to keep up. "Who’s here?""Chris and Emily. They’re home."I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat. For a second, I couldn't move, couldn't think. My pulse raced as my mind fought to process what she had just said.Chris and Emily are back.My grip on the phone loosened, my knees nearly buckling from the sudden rush of emotions. Relief, disbelief, overwhelming gratitude."Oh my God," I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. "Are they okay?""I… I don’t know," my mother admitted, still sounding shaken. "They haven’t said much. But you need to come quick."I didn’t hesitate. "I’ll be right there."As I ended the call, I turned to see Elijah watching me,