ALWAYS IN MY HEART

Sophie's POV

The bedroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a golden hue over the silk sheets. Rain drummed lightly against the window, the scent of earth and damp pavement seeping into the room. The air was warm, intimate.

Daniel's fingers traced absent patterns along my bare shoulder, his touch gentle yet distant. I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, steady yet unreadable. Tonight, he felt present-physically, at least.

I wanted to believe that this moment was real. That for once, I wasn't just a replacement for someone else.

"You seem lost in thought," I murmured, my fingers lightly skimming over his jawline.

Daniel exhaled softly, his lips curving into a small smile. "Do I?"

I nodded. "Like your mind is somewhere else."

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached up, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear before pulling me into a slow, lingering kiss. His lips were warm, insistent, as if he was trying to erase my doubts without words.

For a moment, I let myself melt into him.

We made love that night-slowly, deeply, as if we were both trying to convince ourselves that this was enough. That I was enough.

His hands roamed my body with familiarity, his lips whispering my name like a silent promise. But beneath the passion, something felt different.

Like a goodbye.

A chill ran through me at the thought, but I pushed it away, focusing on the man in my arms.

I wasn't ready to face the truth just yet.

The room was quiet in the aftermath, our bodies tangled together beneath the sheets. Daniel lay beside me, his arm draped lazily over my waist. His fingers moved absently along my skin, but I could tell his mind was already slipping away.

I turned to him, my voice barely above a whisper. "Stay with me tonight."

He let out a low chuckle. "I always stay."

"No, I mean... don't go to work," I pressed, studying his expression.

Daniel sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "You know I can't do that, Sophie."

"But it's late."

"I have responsibilities," he said, his tone firm but gentle.

I swallowed down the frustration bubbling inside me. Of course, he had responsibilities. Daniel Sinclair was a powerful man, a CEO running an empire.

But tonight... tonight, something about the way he spoke felt off.

Just as I was about to question him further, his phone rang.

The sound shattered the quiet like a knife slicing through silk.

Daniel tensed beside me, reaching for the device on the nightstand. He glanced at the screen, his jaw tightening.

"Who is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"A work emergency," he muttered, too quickly.

I frowned. "At this hour?"

He slid out of bed, already reaching for his clothes. "It happens."

My heart clenched as I watched him dress. His movements were rushed, his fingers fumbling slightly with his shirt buttons.

And in that moment, I knew.

He was lying.

But instead of calling him out on it, I stayed silent, my nails digging into the sheets as I forced a smile. "Will you be back soon?"

Daniel hesitated-a split second of uncertainty-before plastering on a reassuring expression. "Yeah. Don't wait up."

He kissed my forehead, a brief, fleeting touch. Then he was gone, leaving behind the scent of his cologne and a sinking feeling in my chest.

For a long moment, I just sat there, staring at the closed door. My fingers curled around the sheets, my mind replaying every detail of the night.

Daniel had always been distant, but tonight was different.

Tonight, he was hiding something.

I reached for my phone, my hands trembling slightly. Before I could even think about checking Daniel's second phone-the one he used for business-my own phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand.

I jumped, my breath catching.

Unknown Number.

I hesitated before answering. "Hello?"

"Dr. Carter?" a familiar voice asked-it was one of the night-shift nurses from the hospital.

"Yes, speaking," I answered, my stomach twisting.

"I'm sorry to call so late, but we have a patient in labor-severe contractions, possible complications. Can you come in?"

An emergency.

I let out a slow breath, nodding even though she couldn't see me.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes," I said firmly, already sliding out of bed.

As I dressed, my thoughts kept drifting back to Daniel.

Two emergencies at the same time.

What were the odds?

And why did I have the horrible feeling that his emergency had nothing to do with work at all?

The city lights blurred as I drove through the near-empty streets. The rain had stopped, leaving behind a cold mist that clung to the pavement. The silence in the car should have been calming, but my thoughts were anything but still.

Daniel's departure still lingered in my mind.

A work emergency at this hour? It didn't sit right with me.

Not when his expression had been so guarded. Not when his hands had trembled slightly as he buttoned his shirt. I had spent years studying people, reading emotions-it was part of my job as a doctor. But when it came to Daniel, I had ignored the signs for too long.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, forcing myself to focus on what was ahead.