Betrayal of Our Blood

Sophia's POV

********

Jealousy doesn't begin with hate.

It starts as a whisper. A fleeting thought. A seed planted deep in the heart, watered by comparison and doubt, growing slowly-too slowly to notice until its roots have taken hold. Until it's too late.

I didn't see it in Serena at first. Or maybe I refused to. Because when you've loved someone your entire life, it's hard to believe they might one day become the reason for your undoing.

---

Growing up, Serena and I had everything. A loving home, two doting parents, and a life that many would envy. Our father, Richard Alden, was a powerful businessman-respected, successful, and the owner of Alden Enterprises, the very company where Serena and I worked.

From the outside, we were the perfect family.

But perfection is just an illusion.

The truth was, Serena and I had never been the same.

I was the focused one, the responsible daughter who worked tirelessly to prove myself. I climbed my way up at Alden Enterprises, not because I was the boss's daughter, but because I earned it. People respected me. They listened when I spoke.

Serena, on the other hand, was different. She had charm, beauty, and an effortless way with people. But she lacked patience. Discipline. The hunger to truly succeed. She wanted everything handed to her, the way she believed it had always been handed to me.

And that was the problem.

Serena had spent her entire life living in my shadow.

And she hated me for it.

---

The day I met Danny Jacobs should have been just another day at work.

I had arrived early, as usual, making my way through the sleek, glass-walled office with my tablet in hand. Meetings, deadlines, emails-I had too much on my plate to entertain distractions.

But distractions have a way of finding you.

I heard them before I saw them-my father's warm laughter, followed by the deep, rich voice of a man I didn't recognize. As I turned the corner, I nearly bumped into them.

My father stood beside a tall, striking man with sun-kissed skin, dark curls, and the kind of presence that made people take notice.

Danny Jacobs.

I had heard of him before. The son of James Jacobs, my father's oldest friend. A name whispered around the office, a man rumored to be just as ambitious as his father.

His gaze landed on me, curious and assessing.

"So," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips, "this is the famous Sophia Alden."

I raised an eyebrow. "Famous?"

"My father talks about you all the time. Says you're the future of Alden Enterprises."

I forced a polite smile. "That's the goal."

My father beamed with pride. "Sophia is one of the most brilliant minds in the company. She's worked hard for her position."

Danny nodded, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Impressive."

I didn't have time to dwell on it. I had work to do, meetings to attend, deadlines to meet.

So I excused myself and left.

And that was the difference between me and Serena.

I walked away.

She didn't.

---

Later that afternoon, I found Serena in the lounge, her posture relaxed, her eyes bright with amusement. And sitting across from her-leaning just slightly closer than necessary-was Danny.

I paused in the doorway, unnoticed for a moment.

Serena was laughing at something he had said, her hand lightly grazing his arm. It was effortless, the way she did it. The way she drew men in without even trying.