Elijah blinked as Olivia’s request hung in the air."James... can I see your face? Please..." she had asked again, her voice soft and filled with curiosity. Of course, she could see his face. It was lunch, and he had meticulously prepared for this very moment.He had worked on subtle changes to his appearance, especially from the nose to the chin, tweaking his features just enough to avoid anyone recognizing him as Elijah Norton. He was about to pull the mask from his face when Olivia’s phone rang, piercing through the tension in the room.Olivia flinched, her fingers frozen in mid-air."Oh, sorry, I should get this," she mumbled, stepping away as she glanced at the screen.Her eyes widened, and the color drained from her face as she answered. "Yes... this is Olivia Winter," she said, her voice wavering slightly. Elijah listened quietly, but his senses were on high alert. Something was wrong. "Wait—what? I was attacked? It’s all over the news already?" Olivia gasped, shooting a g
Inside the opulent halls of the Winters' Palace, tension crackled in the air. The news of Olivia's near-death experience had already spread, but instead of rushing to her side in concern, the family was far more preoccupied with something else—what her death could have meant for their empire.In the grand study, Olivia’s father, Gerald Winter, sat behind an expansive mahogany desk. His graying hair was slicked back, his piercing blue eyes sharp with worry, but not for Olivia. He drummed his fingers on the polished wood, deep in thought. William, his son, leaned against the fireplace, a glass of bourbon in his hand, swirling the liquid as he brooded."If Olivia had been killed today, our stock would have plummeted," William muttered, not bothering to look at his father."Do you realize how fragile her position makes us? She holds too much sway with the board."Kate, standing by the window, crossed her arms, her face twisted in annoyance."She’s a liability," she said coldly."Always ha
Elijah’s heart pounded in his chest as he moved deeper into the dark forest, his eyes scanning every shadow, every rustle of the leaves. He wasn’t used to feeling this kind of fear—not for himself, but for her. “Sophia!” he called out, his voice echoing through the stillness. There was no answer, just the distant hum of the wind threading through the trees.He quickened his pace, the ground uneven beneath his boots. Just when his frustration was starting to boil over, he heard a faint sound. A meow.Elijah froze, his sharp eyes catching movement between the thick trees. He pushed through the underbrush, following the sound until he saw her.Sophia was crouched on the ground, a tiny, trembling kitten in her hands. Her face was lit by the soft glow of her phone, and her eyes were focused entirely on the little creature.Elijah felt both relief and a flare of anger."Sophia!" he barked, striding toward her.Sophia flinched and looked up, guilt flooding her expression. "Elijah... I’m sor
Olivia lay in bed, her thoughts racing, her emotions tangled between fear and yearning. The memory of the attack at the restaurant still haunted her, the sound of the gunshot replaying in her mind. She had narrowly escaped death, and it left her feeling fragile, exposed.But then, as if to comfort herself, she thought of James—the man who had saved her. "Such a humble guy," she thought.His strong arms, his steady gaze... she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. His masculine presence had been both protective and tender.Even in the chaos of the shooting, he had been calm, his touch reassuring. She found herself longing for that warmth again, the way his hands had steadied her trembling shoulders. Her family never showed her such care. They were cold, distant, only concerned with the family fortune. No one would lose sleep over her safety—not her father, not William, not even Kate. But James... he was different. He had saved her. He cared. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she
Elijah worked swiftly, carefully bandaging Sophia’s hand. The cloth was tight, but not too tight to hurt her further. His face was serious, focused entirely on making sure she was alright."Ouch-" Sophia winced slightly as he wrapped the bandage, but she didn’t pull away.“There,” Elijah said, tying the final knot. “It’s done. How does it feel?”Sophia gave him a small smile, though her eyes still held pain. “It’s better. Thank you, Elijah.”Elijah kissed her forehead softly, his worry evident in his eyes. "I hate seeing you hurt, Sophia."Before Sophia could respond, the room remained tense, and everyone was silent, watching them.The weight of what had just happened hung heavily in the air.Sophia’s eyes swept over the room, her voice steady but cold.“I’ll make this very clear,” she began, her tone unyielding.“If anyone dares to insult my husband again, I’ll break all ties with this family. I won’t tolerate disrespect toward Elijah.”The room seemed to collectively hold its breath
Sophia sat quietly at the breakfast table, her eyes fixed on the plate in front of her. She didn’t touch her food, nor did she say a word.Elijah glanced at her from across the table, sensing the tension in the air.She hadn’t spoken much the night before either, and he respected her need for space. But now, watching her silently push her food around, a pang of guilt tugged at him. He sipped his coffee, contemplating whether to speak, but before he could say anything, his phone buzzed with an urgent message.Sophia noticed the sudden shift in his expression. Elijah stood up, walking over to her."Sophia, I have to go. There’s something urgent at the military camp," he said, his voice steady but laced with concern.Sophia’s eyes flickered up at him briefly before she nodded."Alright, be careful," she replied softly.Elijah paused, considering telling her more, but decided against it. She was already upset, and the details could wait. He gently kissed her forehead and turned to leave.
Elijah stood in the military camp’s office, his phone buzzing with updates. His jaw tightened as he read the message."Sophia wasn’t at the office. She went out for lunch. We’ve got two suspicious men tailing her."Doug was still busy at the camp, so Elijah had dispatched his men to keep an eye on Sophia while he dealt with the pressing situation at hand."Stay on her," Elijah instructed, his voice low and sharp. "Do not let her out of your sight."The reply was immediate."Understood, Marshal. We’re keeping her safe."His men were skilled and discreet, perfect for situations like this. Elijah knew they would handle the situation professionally, but his mind was still a storm of worry.Whoever had sent that message knew exactly how to get under his skin, and he wasn’t about to let them succeed.... ...Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, two of Elijah's trusted men shadowed Sophia, carefully blending into the background as she moved from the restaurant to her car. Sophia, blissfully
Elijah leaned back against the kitchen counter, his phone still buzzing in his pocket from the threats earlier that day. But tonight wasn’t about that. It was about Sophia. His thoughts shifted as he heard soft footsteps behind him.Turning, he found Sophia walking into the kitchen, her white nightgown flowing around her like a soft breeze. She looked both elegant and effortless, her hair tumbling over her shoulders. Despite the simple look, there was something ethereal about her tonight.“Hey,” she said, her voice soft, “I was thinking… since it’s such a beautiful night, what if we had dinner on the roof? Just the two of us, under the stars?”Elijah’s serious expression melted into a warm smile. He reached for her hand, pulling her closer. “You always have the best ideas.”Sophia beamed. “I’ve always dreamed of doing something like this, but I never thought I’d get the chance. My... appearance used to make me so anxious. I’d feel like I was hiding behind something, never comfortable