Elijah and Sophia spent their days immersed in each other’s company, exploring the winding paths of the island and savoring every moment together. It was a new world for them—one where there was no need to look over their shoulders, no reason to hold back. Late in the afternoon, they walked along the beach, their hands intertwined as they gazed out at the endless horizon.Elijah glanced over at Sophia, his usual guarded expression softened. “You know,” he began, his voice low, “I never thought I’d have a moment like this. With someone like you.” Sophia looked up, smiling. “And what’s that supposed

The silence in the room was thick, an unspoken tension settling between them as they returned to their suite. Sophia’s mind spun with Olivia’s accusations, the words replaying in fragments, twisting her understanding of Elijah’s past.Elijah noticed the shift in her gaze, the uncertainty that shadowed her usually bright expression. He took her hands gently, guiding her to sit down beside him. “Sophia,” he began, his voice soft but steady, “I know Olivia’s words… they were painful to hear. There are things in my past that I haven’t fully told you. I never wanted you to be burdened by them.”Sophia studied his face, seeing the traces of pain he h

Elijah stirred restlessly in his sleep, his brow furrowed.The room around him darkened, shifting into the smoke-filled remnants of his childhood home.Flames licked up the walls, casting a horrific glow as they ate away at everything familiar. His heart pounded as he watched the destruction unfold, powerless to stop it, every sound swallowed by the crackling fire.“No… stop!” he whispered in his sleep, clutching at his blanket as though trying to shield himself.A loud crash echoed in his dream, and he bolted upright, his chest heaving. The bedroom was dark, silent. The only sound was his own labored breathing.“Elijah?” Sophia’s soft voice broke through his haze, bringing him back to the present. She placed a gentle hand on his arm, worry filling her eyes as she searched his face. “What happened? You looked… frightened.”Elijah exhaled deeply, running a hand over his face. “It was just… memories,” he said, his voice strained. “I saw the fire… my home…”Sophia’s eyes softened, and sh

Elijah's heart pounded, his breath coming short as he scoured the resort, his gaze darting sharply around each hallway, every garden path, and shadowed corner. The realization that Sophia had gone for her morning walk but hadn’t returned sank in like a heavy weight, each passing minute intensifying his panic. Each missed corner and empty corridor chipped away at his calm, leaving an unfamiliar, raw anxiety clawing at him. He strode up to the front desk, trying to keep his tone level but barely managing it. "Did anyone see my wife this morning?” His voice came out sharper than intended. “Sophia… she’s been gone for hours.”The receptionist blinked, startled, before nodding cautiously. “Let me check with security, sir,” she said, glancing at his strained expression. “A few guests did mention seeing a woman who fits her description early this morning…”She was cut off by a nearby security guard who stepped closer, looking uncertain. “Sir, I remember seeing someone who looked like her. S

Elijah paced along the cliffside, his phone gripped tightly in his hand as he replayed every hint and clue, desperate to piece together the mystery of Sophia’s capture. Each passing second heightened his tension.A sudden buzz in his hand made him pause. He glanced down to see an unfamiliar number lighting up his screen. He answered cautiously.“Elijah Norton,” came a voice from his past, rich with a mixture of familiarity and a tone he hadn’t heard in years. “It’s been too long, hasn’t it?”Elijah’s jaw tightened. “Connor,” he replied, disbelief evident in his tone. “Why on earth are you calling me?”A quiet chuckle echoed from the other end. “I think you already know, Elijah. Word travels fast around Evendore, and it’s reached my ears that you’ve misplaced someone important to you.” Connor’s voice softened slightly, but the smugness remained. “I can help you… if you’re willing to listen.”Elijah’s hand clenched around his phone. Connor Aldridge had once been a close confidant, but t