Sophia’s POV“We were so worried about you, Sophia!” Kayla exclaimed. “How are you feeling now?”“I’m good,” I answered with a little smile, taking my eyes off Elijah. “I was fortunate enough to have been found by good people.” I quickly explained how Adrian brought me to the hospital for a checkup and how he and his sister Amanda had taken care of me while I recuperated. Kayla smiled at them. But then, I moved forward and clutched her hand. “But what happened to Reese? I’ve been desperate to find out, to get out of here and resume my search for her…”The fear for my daughter surged through me like a tidal wave, overpowering the pain.Elijah stepped forward then, his face serious but calm. “Reese is safe. We found that same day when you disappeared. She doesn’t seem to remember much about what happened, which is a good thing. She's not traumatized at all because she isn’t aware that a kidnapping happened.”“She’s been asking about you, though,” Kayla said. Now that I looked at her c

Sophia’s POVI could feel the color getting drained from my face. “Why is she calling you that?” I hissed. Kayla’s eyes widened as she took the phone from me and began chatting with Reese to distract her. Elijah glanced at me as he continued to drive. He was quiet for a while. “Sophia, I…” He was hesitant for a while, making my heart race even more. “I’ve already told Reese that I’m her father.”My mouth dropped open. “You what?” I whispered, barely hearing my own voice. I remembered that I hadn’t even divulged it directly to him yet. “How did you… I mean, why…” I paused, taking a few deep breaths. For a while, I considered denying it again. “Sophia, I’m her father, am I not?” Elijah said with emphasis. “It’s the truth, and I’ve always felt it in my heart ever since I met her.”I gulped, feeling tears rising up in my eyes. My heart was swept up in a storm of emotions. But I reminded myself that this wasn’t about me. It’s my daughter and her feelings that count the most. It’s the r

Sophia’s POVI froze, my heart pounding in my chest, as Daniel's words sank in. “I've liked you since high school,” he confessed, his voice filled with sincerity. “Back then, I thought you were too focused on your studies to pay attention to me. And I guess I was too… afraid to approach you.”High school felt like a lifetime ago. I had been so engrossed in my academic pursuits that I hadn't paid much attention to anything else. Certainly not to Daniel, who had apparently been quietly looking out for me all along. I did vaguely remember some encounters we had then, but we never even became close friends during that time. “Even in college, though I was studying abroad, I still kept checking your social media,” he admitted. “And asking some people about you.”“Oh,” was all I could say at the moment. This was indeed a revelation. “I was sad when I found out you were married,” Daniel continued, his eyes searching mine. “But it was even harder to learn that you were unhappy. I was very ha

Sophia’s POV I opened the door to my apartment, and was surprised to see my ex-husband standing there. My heart unexpectedly skipped a beat, and I felt a flutter of excitement mixed with uncertainty. “Hey,” Elijah said, a small smile playing on his lips. “Hi,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “What are you doing here?” “Sorry to bother you… I just wanted to talk,” he said, his expression serious. “Can I come in?” I hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside to let him in. Daniel was just heading out at that time. I saw how Elijah's eyes narrowed when he saw him, especially when Daniel touched my hand briefly. “Sophia, think about what I said, okay?” Daniel said before moving past Elijah. “I’ll see you soon.” “Uh, okay,” was all I could reply. It was definitely an awkward moment, having both him and Elijah there, especially after Daniel had just confessed his feelings. As Daniel left, Elijah turned to me, his gaze searching. “What was that all about?” “It was nothing,” I sai

Elijah’s POVI stood by the window, watching the rain pour down in nonstop sheets, drenching everything in sight. The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one adding to my growing anxiety.And when I heard that man’s voice in the background, addressing Sophia, calling her name, my heart jumped and my anxiety intensified.I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me. Who the hell is that man? Why is she with him this late? I wanted to demand answers, to tell her to come home immediately. But I knew I didn't have the right. We weren't together. She had her own life, her own choices.“Who's with you?” I couldn’t help asking, my voice turning cold despite my efforts to stay calm.“Elijah, it's nothing,” she replied quickly. “I'll explain everything later. I promise.”I wanted to protest, to tell her that I needed to know now, but the words stuck in my throat. Before I could say another word, the line went dead. She had hung up on me.I stood there, staring at the phone in my h