Emilia’s POV As we continue our journey through the supermarket, someone suddenly calls my name and I turn to look. To my surprise, it was Dakota, one of my high schoolmates whom I haven’t met in a long time. I pause and regard her. It’s been a long time since I last saw her but she still seems to have that air of arrogance around her. I eye her, wondering why she chose to call me and say hi when she could have walked away. We have never been on good terms anyway. “Hi,” she calls out as she walks forward. “It’s been such a long time.” I feign a smile and respond, “Yes, it’s been a long time.” Dakota looks me up and down, her eyes lingering on my face for a moment. “You haven’t changed much,” she comments casually. I raise an eyebrow, somewhat taken aback by her statement. “Well, thank you, I suppose,” I reply, not entirely sure how to interpret her words. She quickly recovers and forces a smile on her face. “You’re living a good life, I can tell,” she says, her voice tinged wit

Emilia’s POV I raise an eyebrow, taken aback by Daisy’s sudden request. My eyes shift to the small, adorable puppy in her arms, its innocent gaze captivating me. “Daisy,” I begin in a gentle tone, “we can’t just take someone else’s dog. It wouldn’t be right to keep something that doesn’t belong to us.” Daisy’s bottom lip quivers, and she pouts, pleading with me. “But Aunt Emilia, the puppy doesn’t seem to have an owner. I found it, and it feels like it wants to be with me. Can’t I keep it?” Sighing softly, I understand Daisy’s attachment to the puppy. I notice how comfortable and at ease the dog seems in her embrace, as if it has already found its home. Perhaps Daisy could provide the love and care it needs. “I understand how you feel, Daisy,” I say, my voice filled with empathy. “But we have to make sure we do the right thing. We need to try and find the puppy’s owner first. If we can’t locate them, then we can consider you taking care of it.” A spark of hope gleams in Daisy’s

Emilia’s POV I am nervous due to how cold Alexander looks, and I muster up the courage to ask him what happened, mentioning that I thought he had already gone to work. The room feels tense as I cautiously approach him, my heart pounding in my chest. “Alexander, what’s going on?” I ask, my voice tinged with nervousness. “I thought you had already left for work.” He looks up at me, his gaze piercing and distant. “Change of plans,” he responds curtly. “I had some things to take care of here.” I swallow hard, trying to maintain my composure. The atmosphere feels heavy, and I can’t shake off the feeling that something is amiss. I decide to steer the conversation away from his unexpected presence at home. “Well, I found the kids downstairs. We were playing together and chatting,” I explain, my voice shaky. “They seem to be having a good time.” Alexander’s expression remains stoic, but I sense a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. “What were they talking about?” My heart skips a beat, a

Sophia’s POV The cab I'm in comes to a halt, and I gracefully emerge, my hands laden with a few shopping bags. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, I cast an appreciative glance at the bustling city around me. The cacophony of honking horns and the aroma of street food fills the air, reminding me that I've finally arrived at my new apartment. With a sense of anticipation, I make my way towards the entrance of the building. Pushing open the heavy glass door, a wave of excitement washes over me. The foyer is immaculate, with sleek marble floors and a modern reception desk. As I step into the building, I notice Linda, the receptionist, emerging from inside and taking a seat at the desk. She's a young woman, currently checking her makeup in a compact mirror. With a warm smile, I approach her and retrieve a small makeup bag from my belongings. "Hey, Linda! It's so good to see you," I greet her, extending the makeup bag towards her. Linda looks pleasantly surprised as she accepts the bag. "

Sophia's POVAfter all the ruckus that happened outside, I take Jake and Tyler into the apartment, closing the door behind them. They both glance around, their attention momentarily captivated by the aesthetics of the room. The events that just unfolded outside seem to fade into the background, but I know Jake and Tyler well enough to realize they won't let it go unmentioned for long.Jake's gaze shifts from one corner to another, taking in the carefully curated details. "Wow, Sophia, this place is amazing," he exclaims, admiration lacing his voice. Tyler nods in agreement, a slight smile forming on his lips. "It's so perfectly suited to your taste. You really hit the jackpot with this one."As they take in the surroundings, their eyes darting from one corner to another, I observe their expressions closely. They seem impressed, their voices filled with admiration as they comment on how perfectly suited this apartment is for me. It's both comforting and amusing to see how well they kno