Sophie removed her clothes, revealing the scars on her pale back. She sank into the bathtub until her brown hair was submerged and briefly thought about the past.

The green eyes of the man she once loved still appeared in her thoughts, tempting her to fall in love again. If indeed she had truly lost that love.

Three years ago, Sophie had been an innocent young woman, in love with the one who taught her to become the best spy. Even though there were only a few years between them, Edward had taught her everything he knew. And she was deeply grateful.

However, that gratitude turned into love. And that should never have happened. The hotel room she was in now was very similar to the one from that day, even if the alcohol had blurred her memory a little.

She placed her hand on her belly, remembering when her baby was still there. Sophie wondered what the child would have been like. Would the baby have brown hair like hers? Or the father’s red hair? Would the eyes be brown, or green and deep like those that haunted her thoughts?

After putting on a white dress, the woman looked out the window at the city below her. The city she had returned to only for revenge. Now coldness inhabited her gaze, and her gentle smile could no longer be seen. After all, just by existing, some people were already hated.

Sophie clutched the crystal that had been set as a pendant on a simple chain. The only clue the killer had left was a small shiny object made from Miami’s sand. And that was why her feet were here today.

She went down to the lobby in the elevator, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Sunglasses hid her eyes. But still, few recognized her. The benefits of not being famous.

On the city streets, Edward’s image was plastered on posters and television screens. He was older now, just like her. But he was still handsome. Even though her heart still carried resentment, she couldn’t deny her attraction.

Her hair swayed as she walked toward the jewelry store. The jeweler, with already graying hair, greeted her with a smile.

“Good morning, sir.” Sophie greeted him.

The store was beautiful and well-lit, with large windows and filled with chandeliers and jewels displayed in glass-topped cases.

She was the only one in the store.

“Could you check this stone for me, please?” she asked, handing the necklace to the man.

“Hmm.” The man examined the crystal carefully under a light and said, “How curious. This is a unique crystal from here, made with Miami’s sands. Only the richest man in the city would have such a stone at his disposal.”

The richest—meaning Edward. Sophie took a step back, unsettled. She wasn’t surprised, since she already suspected him. But hearing that information shook her.

She tried to hide her discomfort. She needed to think clearly at this moment. Edward himself would never personally kill her child. He could only have sent someone.

Still, there was a gap—every leader needed an heir. It was no coincidence that Sophie had heard he had adopted a child.

Besides, if they were the same people from the past, why hadn’t Sophie been beaten instead of poisoned?

Her mind was clouded; there were so many pieces, but she knew they were connected somehow. She just had to figure out how.

“Sir, could this stone be part of a piece of jewelry? It seems too small to be given to someone on its own.”

“Oh yes,” the jeweler replied, looking at the stone again. “Certainly, this piece once belonged to something larger, perhaps a brooch or bracelet,” he stated.

“So, it was a gift then,” Sophie thought. After all, Edward himself didn’t usually wear jewelry.

But there were still pieces missing from the puzzle. Could it have been a woman? Deep inside, a pang of jealousy stirred in her chest. However, she couldn’t allow herself to be overtaken by such feelings.

Still, even if it was, if Sophie was already out of the way, why follow her to another country? To eliminate a future rival?

She sighed deeply as her hand trembled. Who was responsible for this? Who hated her enough to pursue her?

Sophie needed answers, and anger took hold of her when she didn’t find them immediately.

“Thank you, sir.” She thanked him and left.

Sophie thought she would find answers by returning to her homeland. But it seemed that the questions only kept piling up, and she would never find a solution to them.

Now the street was usually bustling. She took a step, but something stopped her feet from moving. A familiar scent she had once smelled back then. Even though it had been mixed with blood, that odor could never be forgotten.

Her brown eyes searched for the owner of that peculiar scent. She saw someone in black clothing with a dark hat crossing the street. Her mind locked onto discovering one of her tormentors.

Sophie took two steps to follow the unknown figure and didn’t hear the car horn. By the time her attention was drawn to the vehicle, the headlights were already too close.

There was no way to escape at that moment. But then she felt something on her arm—a grip pulling her away from the vehicle. The driver cursed, angry at someone standing in the street with the light green.

Sophie felt her heart racing and her breath quick from the scare. She looked up at her savior and held her breath when she saw those green eyes again, so close to her.

Her heart sped up, but the look of anger was also there. A mixture of emotions overwhelmed her, leaving her unsure of what to do.

Edward had his hands on her waist and a smile on his face. A smile he rarely gave to anyone.

His eyes could still paralyze her. But his spell wouldn’t last long. He helped her stand up and looked her in the eyes.

However, Sophie didn’t do the same. She greeted him, bowing slightly before him and saying: “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry for taking your time.” Her voice trembled as she tried not to be impolite.

And before there was a chance, he was abandoned. She left him behind, and before he could follow her, someone called out to him.

________________________________________

Sophie entered her hotel room, breathless. She had never run so much in her life. Leaning on her right hand on the table, she collapsed.

“Damn it,” she exclaimed. Ever since that mission that got her expelled from Miami, her fingers had been broken, and the bones hadn’t healed properly, leaving her with a weak hand.

Pressing her back against the hotel’s cream-colored wall, she sighed, trying to calm her heart. Edward could still stir something crazy in her, leaving her with a mix of indecipherable emotions that could push her into doing something wrong. And Sophie could not afford to anger the Lewis family on her very first day.

Edward left her with her heart in her throat. His gaze made her blush, his touch made her body shiver. However, the words from the night they spent together were still alive in her mind. What was his intention? To play with her again? Besides, he despised her, considered her unworthy—he had ordered her to be expelled from Miami.

Anger consumed her, and her fingers clenched in friction, punished by her own emotions. She would not be used again. The old Sophie would never return.

The morning after she became pregnant, when she woke up, her memories were still scrambled. But she remembered going upstairs to one of the rooms to look for Edward, who had probably fallen ill.

However, both of them were drunk, and well… that led to that night, the night that made her wake up in a panic, hurriedly putting her clothes back on, and slipping out the door before seeing her boss’s sleeping face.

Sophie heard footsteps and hid. It was Edward’s brother, who had just entered. She should have left, but instead, she leaned against the opposite wall to listen.

“It was a mistake, John. I cannot bring trouble to Miami. My relationships must be chosen carefully and not decided by a careless act. You know that not just anyone can be part of Miami’s Elite.”

At that moment, tears streamed down her face, making her feel used and humiliated, even though she knew it was just a foolish night.

An orphan was never suitable for someone like Edward Lewis anyway. And even knowing that, Sophie couldn’t stop sadness and shame from trying to claim her heart.

Today, she no longer cried when she remembered it. That memory only gave her strength never to be carried away by foolish feelings again. That night was a choice. Now, she would never again give herself the chance of being anyone’s plaything.

Sophie stood up and grabbed one of the unopened water bottles she had bought. After the poisoning that killed her baby, she never again had the courage to consume anything already opened. Everything she ate had to be prepared by her at the moment of consumption or come sealed and new.

As she drank, her mind began to reorganize itself. That familiar scent intrigued her. It meant that one of her attackers was still there.

Her mind filled with memories of malicious laughter and male voices. Her body remembered the sting of the whip on her back, the scratches, and the crushing weight of feet on her hand.

She hurled the bottle away in anger. Standing up, Sophie went to the bedroom and pulled out papers stored in a folder in the wardrobe.

Each one listed names of factions from Miami and neighboring countries and cities. Sophie didn’t remember the exact appearance of any of them, but their methods were certainly not those of honorable men.

Either they were corrupt agents, or they had been paid to disguise themselves. What mattered was that Sophie was getting closer to them. However, there was a problem. She needed greater access to the country’s agents. And that wasn’t easily achieved.

Still, there were ways other than asking Edward for help—that would be her last option, since he was a suspect.

Even so, the way he looked at her didn’t seem malicious. Could it really have been Edward who orchestrated the ambush that got her expelled from the country? Could he truly be so vile?

She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. Humans were complicated. The ones you least expect are often the ones who betray you. That’s why she couldn’t trust anyone at that moment.

And besides Edward, who else had the power and the desire to harm Sophie? Perhaps the council of elders. Still, she preferred to tread carefully now.

Her phone rang, and she smiled when she saw the name on the screen.

“Hello. How are you, Hanna?” she asked softly.

A delicate but calm voice answered on the other end: “I’m fine, sis. I’m more worried about you. I know how hard it is for you to return to that place.” Hanna’s voice carried concern.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. You know, I have some leads,” Sophie reassured her as she shared her day.

“And what did you feel? Seeing Edward again?” Hanna asked, pretending not to be curious.

Sophie sighed. “I don’t know. There’s hatred, anger, confusion—everything. It feels like my heart is a hurricane of mixed emotions. I want to hate him, but I hate the way he looks at me as if he doesn’t hate me.”

“It really is confusing,” Hanna replied, but Sophie interrupted her.

“Wait, there’s someone at the door. Tomorrow I’ll send you the object so you can do what needs to be done.”

Hanging up, Sophie rushed to open the door—and destiny seemed to be telling her she wouldn’t escape Edward so easily.

He was on the other side of the door. And well, since the universe kept bringing them together, she had to take the chance.