Con

CHAPTER 106

Elijah’s POV

“It’s Adrian,” Sophia whispered, her eyes wide with recognition. “I haven’t seen him in a long time. I should say hi.”

Before I could react, she was already standing up. I had no choice but to follow her as she weaved her way through the tables towards the entrance. My mood soured with every step. The evening was supposed to be about us, not some guy from her past. Adrian should certainly stay in her past, but somehow, he keeps showing up in her present. I just hate it. And I really don’t trust this guy.

As we got closer, the crowd around Adrian began to thin. Sophia looked eager, almost glowing with excitement, which only served to annoy me more. Who is this Adrian to her, anyway? The good evening we were having suddenly felt overshadowed by this guy’s presence.

Sophia turned to me, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “Adrian’s been busy doing local tours for his new single. People are loving him. He’s a really great singer and songwriter.”

I grunted but said nothing. My mind was screaming, So what? Sure, he may be talented, but does that mean he could just waltz in and hijack our evening?

Before Sophia could get close enough to say hello, more fans surrounded Adrian, clamoring for autographs and selfies. He didn’t see Sophia, but she didn’t seem to mind. Instead, she looked genuinely happy for him.

“It’s great he’s getting so much recognition,” she said, more to herself than to me. “It means his musical talent is being discovered by more people. He’ll definitely get better and better in the future.”

I was well aware that it was Sophia who had recommended him to Kayla, and recently she had also helped design photo shoot sets and other stuff for that Adrian guy.

It just makes me loathe him more.

I watched as Adrian interacted with his fans, a wide smile plastered on his face. There was something familiar about him, something that tugged at a memory.

“Sophia,” I began, my voice low, “there’s something you need to know.”

She tore her gaze away from Adrian and looked at me, her brow furrowing in concern. “What is it, Elijah?”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself for what I was about to say. “The police investigation… about -the attack on the beach… they found out it wasn’t Serena.”

Her eyes widened in shock, her lips parting slightly. “What? But… I always thought-”

“I know,” Linterrupted gently. “We all did. But the evidence points to someone else.”

Sophia’s expression turned grim, the color draining from her face. “Who, then? Who would want to hurt me like that?”

I glanced over at Adrian, still surrounded by his adoring fans, and then back at Sophia. “I think Adrian

+15 BONUS

might be a suspect.”

Her eye’s followed mine, landing on Adrian. For a moment, she seemed to be processing what I had just told her. The gravity of the situation sank in, her face reflecting a mixture of fear and disbelief.

“Adrian? But why? Why would he do something like that?” Her voice trembled, and she reached out to grip my hand, seeking reassurance.

“I don’t know yet,” I admitted, my fingers closing around hers. “But I promise you, Sophia, I’ll find out. And I won’t let anyone hurt you or Reese.”

“I… I can’t believe it could be Adrian,” she said, obviously trying to calm herself. “It’s surely not him. He was good to me after he saved me at the beach. He could have had many chances to harm me again.”

I frowned, not liking it that she seemed to believe in his goodness so much, that she couldn’t make herself doubt him. “Just stay away from him for now, Sophia. It’s better that way. At least after the investigation.”

Sophia gave Adrian one last glance, and then let me lead her back to our table. We couldn’t very well head out yet while he and his fans were there in the way. I was relieved that Sophia didn’t go ahead

and talk to him.

As I sat down on my chair, my phone rang. I narrowed my eyes when I saw that it was Julia. Upon answering it, I immediately heard the panic in her voice, which made my blood run cold.

“Help me, Elijah,” she hissed into the phone, sounding desperate and frightened. “Please come back, to the hotel now. I’m here at the bar alone and I don’t know where Trevis is. He’s not answering his phone! Please come. There are some guys harassing me!”

I stood up hurriedly, feeling alarmed. “We have to go back to the hotel now,” I told Sophia.

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