Sophia sat on the edge of the bed, her face pale and her hands tightly clasped together.When Elijah walked in, she didn’t look up; instead, her voice broke the silence."Elijah… why does it feel like I'm losing everything?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard every word.He took a step toward her, concern creasing his brow. “Sophia, what’s wrong?” “What’s wrong?” she echoed, finally looking up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.“Everything is wrong, Elijah. I thought… I thought I had a family, a husband, someone I could rely on.”She shook her head, trying to keep her composure.“But my family, they treat me like a pawn in their games. And you… you’re never here.”The pain in her words sliced through him, and he took her hands gently, his grip firm but careful.“Sophia, I know I haven’t been able to be around as much as I should. But it’s not because I don’t want to be with you. I’m trying to protect you from things you can’t even imagine.”She searched his face,
Elijah’s gaze narrowed as he watched Duke West speak with Sophia, every instinct in him flaring with urgency.Steeling himself, he crossed the room with calculated strides, forcing a disarming smile as he reached her side.“Sophia,” he said, slipping an arm around her shoulders, “sorry to keep you waiting.”Sophia’s eyes flashed with confusion, but she didn’t pull away.Duke West’s expression remained unbothered, though a flicker of irritation flashed across his gaze.“Mr. Hamesworth,” Duke West greeted with an icy smile. “Didn’t realize you were here tonight. Olivia Winter isn't around for another surprise.”Elijah met Duke’s gaze head-on. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he replied smoothly, tightening his grip on Sophia. “And it looks like I arrived just in time.”Sophia glanced between the two men, suspicion creeping into her expression. “Umm… can we talk?”Elijah’s nod was curt. “Of course.”He guided her through the crowded room and into a quieter corridor.Once they were alo
Elijah leaned back in his chair, gazing across the dimly lit hotel suite at Olivia.She looked at him with equal parts hurt and fascination, her eyes searching his as though trying to piece together a puzzle.“Elijah, or... James,” she started slowly, “I need to know what you’re hiding, the real reason you’re here. If you expect me to trust you, I have to know. After all, you might guess already that I know a lot, Mr. Norton.”Taking a deep breath, Elijah softened his expression. “Olivia, what I’m going to tell you can’t leave this room,” he said firmly, his tone laced with enough sincerity to draw her closer. “I came here under the name James for protection, to get close to people who might betray everything I stand for.”She studied him, doubt flickering in her eyes. “And you’re saying Duke West and even my family are involved in that?”Elijah held her gaze, feigning hesitation. “You may think you know your family, Olivia, but they’re more entangled in dangerous schemes than you can
Elijah stood in the courtyard of Arthur Palace, directing his men to take defensive positions.The night was eerily quiet, the calm before the storm. He caught sight of Doug, his right-hand man, signaling for him to come closer.“Doug, I need you to protect Sophia,” Elijah ordered, his voice low but firm.“This assault is only going to get worse, and Duke West won’t spare anyone in his way.”Doug nodded, his eyes hard with determination.“Understood, Marshal. I’ll make sure she’s safe, no matter what.”Just then, footsteps echoed through the hall, and Sophia appeared, her expression a mixture of anger and worry.She moved toward Elijah, ignoring the soldiers bustling around her.“Elijah, I need answers now,” she demanded, her voice shaking slightly.“What’s going on? Why are we preparing for what looks like… a war?”Elijah’s shoulders tensed, and he met her gaze, knowing he owed her the truth—at least part of it.“Sophia, you deserve to know,” he began.“I’ve been in an ongoing battle
Elijah moved through the aftermath of battle, leaving Doug and his men with strict instructions to guard Arthur Palace and, above all, protect Sophia.His mind was set—this final confrontation was inevitable.He made his way toward the dark, isolated part of the grounds where Duke West had stationed himself, awaiting their last clash.The night air was thick with tension as he arrived.Duke West stood under the cold, flickering light, his expression twisted with a self-satisfied smirk.“Elijah,” Duke West greeted, his voice dripping with contempt.“I didn’t think you’d have the nerve to face me alone.”Elijah’s gaze remained steady. “I’m here to end this. All of it.”Duke chuckled, his eyes narrowing. “End it? This has only just begun. Everything you hold dear, I’ve had my hands on it—controlling, twisting.”He tilted his head, a gleam of triumph in his eyes. “Your family’s destruction? That was me, boy. Your enemies? They all answered to me.”Elijah’s jaw tightened, but he held his g
The remnants of battle were still fresh in Elijah’s mind as he walked back to Arthur Palace, every step heavy with Duke West’s final words haunting him.By the time he reached the door, he was greeted by Doug, who looked tense but relieved.“Elijah, Sophia’s been asking about you since the attack began,” Doug said, his voice lowered. “She’s safe, but… shaken.”Elijah nodded, running a hand through his hair. “Keep the defenses up, Doug. This might not be over.”As he walked into the main hall, Sophia rushed toward him, her eyes wide with worry. She wrapped her arms around him without hesitation. Elijah stood in his study, poring over Duke West’s records that Doug had retrieved.The name of the elusive third player remained hidden, but every detail he uncovered pointed to a force even more cunning than Duke West had ever been.Doug entered the room, carrying a set of files.“Marshal, I dug deeper, but this person—whoever they are—knew how to cover their tracks. The few names we found are aliases, but one of them connects to multiple arms deals and covert missions in Evendore.”Elijah’s eyes narrowed.“So, this isn’t just another power-hungry figurehead. They know the game well enough to staThe Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 106. The Unseen Enemy
Elijah paced in his study, the weight of the latest findings pressing heavily on him. Doug stood beside him, a file open in his hands.“Here’s what we’ve uncovered so far,” Doug said, tapping the coded messages. “Someone close to Sophia is sending intel to Duke West’s partner. Reno confessed, but this… this runs deeper.”Elijah nodded, his jaw clenched. “If Reno’s involved, he’s not alone. The family has become a conduit of information to my enemies, and it’s putting Sophia at risk.”Doug sighed, glancing up at Elijah. “What’s your next move, Marshal?”Elijah’s gaze sharpened. “We need to keep watching. Until we have proof, we can’t make a move, or they’ll just retreat further into the shadows. Right now, Sophia’s family is gathering. I’m attending that meeting with her to get a clearer view of where they all stand.”...At the Donald estate, Sophia entered the meeting room beside Elijah, her expression a mix of determination and apprehension. The room was filled with her family membe