Con

НАРТЕР 96

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CHAPTER 96

Sophia’s POV

My breath hitched when I heard the dare they gave Elijah, and I felt a cold wave wash over me.

Is he going to do it?

Elijah and Julia exchanged a look, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them. I could feel my heart tightening in my chest, my mind racing with questions I had no answers to. Why was this affecting me so much?

Elijah broke the tense silence with a chuckle. “Oh, come on, Jenna. Julia’s like a sister to me.”

I felt the color returning to my cheeks, and my breath seemed to return to normal.

Julia’s expression wavered. For a split second, I saw the hurt in her eyes before she plastered on a smile and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, totally. Like a sister.. And Elijah’s always been like a brother to me because we grew up together.”

Jenna’s playful frown didn’t hide her disappointment, but she quickly recovered. “Fine, fine. But…” She was cut off by Mark, one of our more inebriated colleagues.

“Maybe our boss likes someone else, huh?” Mark slurred, nudging the person next to him with a wink. Wonder who it is?”

Another voice chimed in, “Yeah, Mr. Sinclair, you haven’t dated anyone for ages. Spill the beans!*

Η

It should have been funny, the way these employees were talking to Elijah that way and joking around as if he weren’t their much–feared and greatly respected big boss. But most of them have had a lot to drink, and I was pretty sure that they were curious about his personal life.

The dare suddenly shifted. Elijah was now tasked with revealing his romantic interest by kissing that person. My nerves were a tangled mess, and I could feel my pulse in my throat. I held my breath, staring at him, unable to look away.

Elijah chuckled again, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. “Nice try, guys,” he said, shaking his head. He reached for the bottle of vodka, pouring himself a generous glass. “But I’m not playing that game.”

He downed the vodka in one swift gulp, the burn evident in his wince. A collective groan of disappointment rose from the group, but Elijah just shrugged it off with a nonchalant smile.

He was just about to spin the bottle when Julia’s phone rang, interrupting the game.

“Sorry, I need to take this,” Julia said, standing up abruptly. We all paused, our attention momentarily diverted from the game. Julia’s expression shifted from curiosity to alarm as she spoke into the phone.

“Chris, slow down. What do you mean Grandma’s missing?” Julia’s voice wavered, and the room fell silent. All eyes were on her as she listened intently. “Okay, okay. I’ll be there soon.”

Elijah was the first to react, his concern evident. “What happened?” he asked, his tone gentle yet urgent.

Julia’s eyes were wide with worry. “It’s Grandma Evelyn Chris just called, She went for a walk without telling anyone, but she hasn’t come back. And she can’t even walk well yet! Grandpa’s worried sick, and

CHAPTER 96

they can’t find her anywhere.”

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Without hesitation, Elijah stood up. “I’ll drive you to your grandparents‘ house. We can help look for her.”

My mind raced, recalling the kind old woman I had met recently. Evelyn had been so sweet and welcoming, her gentle smile and twinkling eyes leaving a lasting impression. The thought of her being missing made me very anxious.

“I want to come too,” I said, standing up. “Maybe I can help.”

Julia gave me an odd look and was about to speak up when Elijah beat her to it. “Thank you, Sophia. Let’s go.”

Elijah asked Trevis to continue the party without us. “This is probably nothing,” he assured everyone. “Just go on with the fun. We’ll be back before you know it.”

Elijah grabbed his keys, and we hurried out. The drive to Julia’s grandparents‘ house felt like an eternity. I kept drumming my fingers on my lap, silently praying that Evelyn was okay.

Julia had taken the passenger’s seat beside Elijah. The fact that it was only the three of us in the enclosed space of the car made the tension even more intense.

When we arrived, Chris and Julia’s grandfather were already outside, their faces etched with worry. “Any news?” Julia asked as she jumped out of the car.

Chris shook his head. “We’ve searched the usual routes she takes. Nothing. The neighbors haven’t seen

her either.”

Julia’s grandfather, his voice trembling, said, “I don’t know what could have happened. I usually go with her so she can practice walking little by little because her legs aren’t that strong yet. But today she went on her own.”

“So she left her wheelchair here?” I asked, feeling terrified.

Grandpa George nodded.

“Sophia, you and Julia check the park,” Elijah said, pointing towards the path. “Chris and I will look around the neighborhood.”

Julia and I nodded, making our way towards the park where Evelyn often took her walks with her husband

George.

I glanced at my watch and felt a knot tighten in my stomach. It was getting late, and we still hadn’t found Grandma Evelyn. The park was sprawling, with paths that seemed to twist and turn in endless directions, and the shadows were growing longer as the sun dipped below the horizon.

As I walked around, I found myself feeling strange about the park. The children’s playground to my left seemed oddly familiar, even though I was certain I had never brought Reese here before. It was empty now, but in my head, I could recall kids playing there. I was suddenly enveloped with a feeling of nostalgia.

The swings, the slide, even the faded wooden seesaw–all seemed like fragments of a dream I couldn’t quite place.

What the heck’s happening to me, I wondered silently, shaking my head in disbelief.

I continued down the path, past the playground and toward the large oak trees that lined the park. Just as

CHAPTER 96

I was starting to wonder if I was walking in circles, I st from the children’s playground.

“Grandma Evelyn!” I called, relief flooding my voice.

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CHAPTER 96

I was starting to wonder if I was walking in circles, I spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench not far from the children’s playground.

“Grandma Evelyn!” I called, relief flooding my voice.