Elijah and Sophia stepped into the grand halls of Arthur Palace, the serenity of the space offering a stark contrast to the chaos they had recently endured. The sunlight streaming through the tall windows painted golden patterns on the marble floors, but the tension between them was palpable. Sophia slipped her hand into Elijah’s as they walked, her voice breaking the silence. “I know you want to keep me close, Elijah. But I need to get back to work. I can’t let fear control my life.” Elijah stopped, his grip tightening slightly around her fingers. “Sophia, you know it’s not just about fear. There are still people out there who’d use you to get to me.” Sophia met his gaze, her eyes firm but warm. “And I trust you to keep me safe. But I need to prove to myself that I can stand on my own, even after everything that’s happened.” Elijah sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Alright. But I’m assigning extra security to you, no arguments.” She smiled, leaning up to kis

Elijah stood in Sophia’s ransacked office, his fists clenched as he surveyed the chaos. Doug approached cautiously, holding a folder with initial reports from the security team. “Marshal, we’ve traced the van to an industrial area about ten miles away,” Doug said, his tone grave. “They abandoned it there, but we found some markings inside.” “Markings?” Elijah turned sharply, his voice low and dangerous. Doug handed him photographs of symbols etched into the van’s interior. “They’re tied to an international criminal syndicate. Hague Donald has been in contact with them. He’s trying to expand his power by leveraging the remnants of the Thompson Accord.” Elijah’s jaw tightened as he studied the symbols. “Sophia’s just a pawn to them,” he muttered, his anger simmering. “But they’ve made a grave mistake taking her.” Doug nodded. “We’ll find her, Sir. I’ve sent teams to investigate the warehouse district. The trail doesn’t end here.” ...Sophia groaned as she stirred, her head p

Sophia sat across from Hague in the spacious yet cold Donald family sitting room. The air between them was thick with tension, and Hague’s smug demeanor grated on her nerves. She gripped the armrests of her chair, her knuckles white as she fought to remain composed.  “Hague,” she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her, “I know you’re involved in this. I’ve seen enough to understand your resentment toward Elijah, but dragging me into this—your own family—crosses a line.”  Hague chuckled, leaning back lazily. “Dragging you into this? Oh, Sophia, you’ve always been blind. I didn’t drag you into anything. You walked into it yourself the moment you aligned with that man.”  Sophia’s eyes narrowed. “That man is my husband, and he’s done more for me and this family than you ever have. What’s your real issue with him?”  

Hague stumbled back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as Elijah advanced, his fists clenched. The room was silent except for Hague’s ragged breathing and the ominous creak of the old floor beneath Elijah’s boots. “You think you’ve won, Marshal?” Hague spat, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’ll never find her in time.”Elijah’s jaw tightened, his voice cold. “You’ve already lost. Where is Sophia?”Hague smirked, wiping the blood from his lip. “She’s being moved as we speak. A chopper will take her far beyond your reach.”Elijah didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, grabbing Hague by the collar and slamming him against the wall. “Where?” he demanded, his voice sharp. “Where are they taking her?”Hague struggled but couldn’t escape Elijah’s iron grip. “It won’t matter. By the time you get there, she’ll be long gone.”With a calculated punch to the stomach, Elijah forced Hague to double over. “You don’t get to decide what matters,” Elijah said, his voice low. “Start talkin

Sophia sat in the grand lounge of Arthur Palace, her hand cradling a warm cup of tea. The room’s opulence did little to ease her frayed nerves, and her gaze remained fixed on the fireplace, the flickering flames reflecting her turbulent emotions. Elijah walked in, his expression calm but his movements deliberate. His sharp eyes scanned her, noticing the tension in her posture. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice softer than usual. Sophia glanced up, managing a small smile. “I’m recovering. Physically, I’m fine. But… emotionally, it’s been a lot to process.” Elijah moved closer, sitting beside her. He reached for her free hand, his grip firm but reassuring. “You’ve been through more than anyone should. But you’re strong, Sophia. You’ve proven that time and again.”She nodded, a flicker of determination returning to her eyes. “I’ll be fine. I just need to stay focused. And I need to be by your side, Elijah. No more keeping me in the dark.”Elijah’s jaw tightened slightly. “You