2024-09-10 00:45:01The morning sun streamed through the window as Elijah and Sophia stood before a modest altar, their hands clasped together.
The ceremony was simple but heartfelt. Sophia’s heart pounded in her chest.
"I do," she whispered, her voice steady with determination.
Elijah's eyes met hers.
"I do," he said firmly, sealing their vows.
After the ceremony, they returned to the Donald family home where Sophia's father, Bob, lived in a small, worn-down wing of the estate.
His influence in the family was minimal, and it showed in his modest surroundings.
Sophia's eyes were saddened at the sight.
"Father," she called softly, approaching him.
Bob looked up, his eyes dull.
"Sophia?" he mumbled, his voice weak.
He hadn’t expected her to visit, let alone look so radiant.
"I’m back, Father," Sophia said, smiling warmly.
"And I’m married now."
Bob’s eyes widened.
"Married? To him?" he asked, glancing at Elijah with a mix of confusion and fear.
Elijah nodded, stepping forward.
"Yes, sir. I’m Elijah Norton, Sophia’s husband," he introduced himself, his tone respectful.
Bob nodded slowly.
"I see… I see…" he murmured, still processing the information.
Just then, May entered the room, her eyes scanning Sophia from head to toe.
"Who is this woman?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"Why is she here?"
Sophia turned to her mother.
"It’s me, Mother. Sophia," she said softly.
May’s eyes widened as she finally recognized her daughter.
"Sophia? Is that really you?" she gasped, stepping closer.
"What happened to your face? You’re… you’re beautiful again!"
Sophia inclined.
"Elijah helped me," she said simply.
May’s attitude shifted instantly.
"Oh, my dear daughter!" she exclaimed, her tone suddenly sweet.
She embraced Sophia, but her eyes quickly turned cold toward Elijah.
"But you, Elijah, you’re not good enough for her," she said bluntly.
Elijah didn’t flinch.
"I’m her husband now," he replied calmly.
"That’s not going to change."
May’s face tightened.
"We’ll see about that. Sophia, come with me," she said, taking Sophia’s hand.
"We’re going to see your grandfather."
Sophia hesitated.
"Mother, I’m not going to ask him to cancel anything," she said firmly.
May’s eyes flashed with irritation.
"You will do as I say," she insisted.
"This is for your own good."
Reluctantly, Sophia followed May to the main Donald family villa. Elijah trailed behind, his expression unreadable.
When they entered, the room fell silent.
The family members stared at Sophia, their jaws dropping.
She looked like a heavenly beauty, nothing like the disfigured woman they remembered.
Ethan’s eyes widened.
"Sophia?" he asked, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Is that really you?"
May stepped forward.
"Father, look at her! She’s stunning now. She can do much better than Elijah. Break the tie between them," she demanded.
Ethan nodded slowly.
"You’re right," he said, stroking his chin.
"Elijah isn’t worthy of someone like her."
Sophia stepped forward, her eyes blazing.
"I’m already married to Elijah," she declared.
"And if you try to annul this marriage, I’ll disfigure myself again!"
Gasps filled the room.
Ethan’s face darkened.
"You dare threaten me?" he thundered.
Elijah stepped up beside her.
"No one will force my wife to do anything," he said, his voice calm but strong.
"We are already married. It’s done."
Reno, who had been watching from the side, scoffed.
"You? A lowly soldier, married to Sophia? What a joke."
Elijah turned to him, his eyes cold.
"Careful, boy," he warned.
"You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of everyone."
Reno's smirk faltered.
"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"
Elijah’s eyes narrowed.
"Someone who isn’t afraid to put you in your place," he shot back.
"Do you want to find out just how much of a joke I am?"
Reno clenched his fists, his face reddening.
"You think you can come here and talk down to me?" he spat.
"You’re nothing!"
Elijah’s tone remained calm but firm.
"Talk is cheap, kid. Step up if you’ve got something to prove."
Ethan, seeing his grandson embarrassed, snapped.
"Enough, Elijah! I don’t care who you think you are. You’re not welcome here. Leave now, and I’ll pay you to stay away."
Sophia grabbed Elijah’s arm.
"Grandfather, please," she pleaded.
"Don’t do this. Elijah has done nothing wrong."
Elijah put a hand on Sophia's shoulder.
"It’s okay," he whispered to her.
He turned to Ethan, his expression serious.
"I’m not interested in your money, old man."
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
"Then what do you want? To drag our family name through the mud?"
Elijah chuckled softly.
"No. But I don’t mind proving my worth," he said.
"Let’s make a bet."
Ethan leaned forward, intrigued despite himself.
"A bet? What kind of bet?"
"If I can secure a cooperation order worth thirty million with the Yale Group within ten days, you accept our marriage," Elijah proposed.
"And you treat Sophia with the respect she deserves."
Reno burst out laughing.
"You think you can negotiate with the Yale Group? Dream on!"
Elijah’s eyes locked onto Reno's.
"What’s wrong, Reno? Afraid of a challenge?" he taunted.
Reno scowled, glaring at him.
"You’re going to fail, and I can’t wait to see it."
Ethan raised a hand, silencing the room.
"Very well," he said.
"You have ten days, Elijah. If you fail, you will leave Sophia and this family forever."
Elijah nodded.
"Agreed. But I don’t need ten days," he said confidently.
"I’ll have the deal done by tomorrow."
The room erupted in murmurs of disbelief.
Ethan scoffed.
"Tomorrow? Do you think we’re fools?"
Elijah smiled coolly.
"No, I think you underestimate me. And that’s your mistake," he replied.
Sophia turned to Elijah, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope.
"Can you really do it?" she whispered.
Elijah smiled, squeezing her hand.
"Trust me," he said softly.
"I always keep my promises."
Ethan leaned back, a skeptical look on his face.
"We’ll see, Elijah. We’ll see," he said, almost daring him.
As they left the villa, Sophia looked up at Elijah, her heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
"You’re really something," she said quietly.
Elijah chuckled, his confidence unshaken.
"Just wait until tomorrow," he replied.
"I’ll show them who they’re dealing with."
Sophia smiled, her nerves calming a bit.
"I believe you, Elijah," she said.
"I really do."
Previous Chapter
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“Elijah Norton.” Elijah barely looked up as Lando strode into the dimly lit war room. His hands tightened into fists at the sound of the man’s voice, but he remained still, his expression unreadable. The tension in the air was suffocating. Doug stepped forward, his voice rigid with contempt. “You’ve got some nerve showing your face here, Yale.” Lando smirked, completely unfazed. He moved with an air of confidence, like he belonged—like he hadn’t been one of the reasons Sophia had been taken in the first place. “I could say the same to you, Commander,” Lando replied smoothly, then turned his gaze back to Elijah. “I assume you know why I’m here.” Elijah’s eyes darkened. “That depends. Are you here to waste my time, or do you actually have something useful to say?” Lando chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Straight to the point, as always.” He folded his arms, leaning slightly against the table. “Sophia has escaped.” Silence. Elijah’s fingers twitched, but his expres
323. The Chase Begins
“She’s gone.” The soldier stood stiffly, his breath shallow, waiting for The Warden’s reaction. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. But instead of rage, The Warden merely smiled. His eyes, sharp and knowing, gleamed under the dim light. “Let her run,” he said, his voice smooth, almost amused. The soldier hesitated. “Sir, should we—” The Warden’s gaze flicked to him, freezing him in place. “She thinks she’s free,” he murmured, turning toward the massive map stretched across the wall. “But freedom is an illusion. She will learn that soon enough.” ...Sophia ran. Branches slashed at her arms, her legs ached, and every breath was a fight. But she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. The cold night air burned her lungs, but it was nothing compared to the fear clawing at her chest. She had heard them. The hunters. They were coming. The eerie silence of the forest was the worst part. No birds. No rustling leaves. Just the whisper of the wind and her own rag
322. Breaking Point
“Do you see it now, Sophia?” The Warden’s voice was calm, almost soothing. “This is who you are meant to be.” Sophia gasped, her body trembling. The air around her pulsed with raw energy, crackling like a storm barely contained. The sterile white chamber seemed to shift, bending under the sheer force radiating from her. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “This… isn’t me.” The Warden watched her with a knowing smile. “But it is.” Sophia’s breaths came shallow and fast. Moments ago, she had been strapped to a machine, her mind forced into visions—visions of fire, destruction, and a power beyond her control. She had seen herself standing atop a ruined city, people kneeling before her in fear. Her hands curled into fists. “You forced this,” she spat. “You’re making me see what you want.” The Warden folded his hands behind his back. “I only unlocked what was already inside you.” Sophia wanted to deny it. To scream that he was wrong. But the lingering heat in her veins, th
321. The Ruins of Truth
“There it is,” Cassian muttered, lowering his scope. “Or at least, what’s left of it.” Elijah stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing down at the ruins below. The lost research facility lay in shambles, half-buried under rubble, its structure barely holding together. Wind howled through the broken metal beams, carrying the scent of dust and decay. Doug stepped forward, his expression tense. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been here for years, Sir.” “That’s what worries me,” Elijah said, his eyes narrowing. “If The Warden didn’t bother to salvage this place, then either it’s worthless… or it’s too dangerous.” Cassian adjusted his gloves. “Either way, we need to get inside.” The descent was rough, loose debris making every step a potential hazard. When they reached the entrance, they found their first obstacle—massive steel doors, rusted but still intact. A faint red light flickered on the control panel beside them. “Security’s still active,” Doug noted. Elijah glanced at Cassi
320. Sophia’s Chains
“You’re wasting your time,” Sophia said, her voice steady despite the cold metal restraints biting into her wrists. The Warden sat across from her, calm, composed, his piercing eyes studying her like a specimen in a lab. “Am I?” he mused, tilting his head. “I think, in time, you’ll see things differently.” Sophia forced a smirk. “I wouldn’t count on it.” The room around her was stark white, devoid of warmth, devoid of life. A single monitor flickered to the side, filled with images—visions of destruction, cities in flames, people bowing before a figure she barely recognized—herself. The Warden leaned forward. “Look at them, Sophia. This is your destiny. A world free of weak rulers. A world that kneels only to true power.” She turned away. “You call that a future? Looks more like a nightmare.” He sighed, as if disappointed. “You resist because you’re afraid. Afraid of what you could be.” Sophia glared at him. “No, I resist because I have a choice.” The Warden’s lips twi
319. Shadows of the Past
“Keep moving,” Elijah ordered, his voice firm. The wind howled through the wasteland, carrying the scent of ash and decay. The land before them stretched endlessly, a graveyard of forgotten battles. Crumbling watchtowers, rusted weapons, and scorched earth told the tale of past wars—wars that had shaped the world they now struggled to survive in. Doug tightened his grip on his weapon as he scanned the ruins. “Sir, this place… it feels wrong.” Cassian nodded. “Too quiet. Someone’s watching.” Elijah didn’t need to be told. He felt it too—the weight of unseen eyes, the tension of an ambush waiting to happen. He glanced at his men, weary but determined. They couldn’t afford to turn back. Night fell fast in the wasteland, wrapping them in thick darkness. They set up camp within the broken remains of a collapsed building, the crumbling walls offering minimal protection from the cold. “Elijah,” Cassian muttered, crouching beside him. “We should set extra watches. If I were The Wa
318. The Hunt for Answers
“Elijah, you need to see this,” Cassian said, his voice tense. Elijah turned from the dim lantern casting shadows on the stone walls. Cassian held the decrypted data chip, his expression grim. Doug stood nearby, waiting. The flickering light barely reached the edges of the battered war table between them, but the weight of what they had just uncovered made the space feel suffocating. “What did you find?” Elijah asked, stepping closer. Cassian inserted the chip into the old projector, and a series of documents flashed onto the cracked surface of the wall. The text, though worn with age, was clear enough to read. ~Sophia Donald. Subject 09. Genetic Anomaly Detected. Experimentation Status: Approved.Elijah’s jaw tightened. He had expected something like this, but seeing her name in black and white made his stomach churn. “They’ve been monitoring her for years,” Cassian muttered. “Maybe since birth.”Doug exhaled sharply. “Sir, this isn’t just about Sophia. Look here.” He point
317. Fire in the Dark
“Move! We don’t have much time,” Elijah ordered, his voice sharp over the crackling of distant flames. Cassian was right beside him, gripping his weapon. “No resistance so far. That’s not a good sign.” Elijah nodded grimly. The underground facility stretched before them, dimly lit corridors twisting into darkness. They had expected guards, alarms, a fight—but instead, the silence was unnerving. The rebels, moving in disciplined formation, exchanged uneasy glances. Doug tightened his grip on his sword. “Marshal, this feels like a trap.” “I know,” Elijah muttered. “Stay sharp.” They advanced deeper into the facility, their boots echoing off the metal floors. Then, without warning, the lights flickered. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the corridor. Cassian tensed. “What the hell was that?” The answer came in the form of a shadow lunging from the darkness. It wasn’t a man—it was something else. Twisted. Unnatural. The creature’s body was humanoid but grotesquely alte
316. A Prisoner’s Defiance
“You look tired, Sophia.” Lando’s voice echoed in the dimly lit chamber where Sophia sat, her hands resting on her lap, her expression blank. She didn’t acknowledge him. She had stopped dignifying his words with a response days ago. Lando sighed and leaned against the cold metal table. “I know you hate me. But you need to understand—I’m the only one keeping you from complete ruin.” Sophia finally turned her gaze to him, her eyes sharp. “I don’t need saving, least of all from you.” Lando let out a dry chuckle. “You’re stubborn. I’ll give you that.” She was more than stubborn. She was determined. Every moment in this facility, she studied her surroundings—the routines of the guards, the placement of surveillance devices, the way The Warden operated. She wasn’t waiting for rescue. She was planning her own escape. The door hissed open, and The Warden entered. His presence was suffocating, commanding, as if the air bent to his will. “Sophia,” he greeted smoothly. “How are you
