Sabrina sat in the silence of her office, gazing out at the rain falling in horizontal sheets. The city had been under a steady cloud of tension, like the chaos that had grown deep within her life. The light tapping of the rain against the windowpane only served to remind of a storm closing in that she wouldn't outrun no matter how fast she ran. She shuffled papers on her desk, tracing the edges absent-mindedly with her fingers, but her thoughts went drifting back to Saben. Her son. The only stable figure in her life, and for that, she fought with a fire burning inside every single day. Her heart wrenched as she replayed in her mind the talk she had had with him this morning and how he had looked at her through his big, innocent eyes with no knowledge of the burdens he had to carry for so long. And she wasn't ready for it. She had never prepared herself for the weight of this responsibility, raising a child on her own. But in the days that were passing now, Sabrina was increasingly loa
Wendy looked at Sabrina, her lips pursed tightly as her eyes welled with concern. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," she started softly. "But you need to think about what's best for Saben. He's growing up so fast, and one day, he'll be asking why his father didn't show up for him."The frustration inside Sabrina became unbearable; she shot back, "I know that,Grandma" Wendy's words were so heavy to bear that Sabrina could hardly be patient as they sank on her shoulders. “I’m doing the best I can!. I am the one raising him. Not Benedict. Me."Leila, the peacemaker, reached out to touch Sabrina's shoulder with a soft hand. "Sweetheart, I know it's hard. But maybe. maybe it's time to face him, even if it's just for Saben's sake."Sabrina shook her head. Her frustration was building. "No, Mom. I can't. Each time I let him back in, it feels like reopening old wounds. It always ends the same. He doesn't care. He never has."."Sometimes," Wendy said, her voice firm, "we hav
Sabrina took a shuddering breath. She wanted so much to believe her grandmother. She wanted so desperately to trust that she would find the strength needed to get through this. But the doubt remained, shrouded at the periphery of her mind like the dark cloud that hovered off to one side. Then there was Benedict's echo, his sudden invasion into their lives.The doorbell rang, cutting the silence. Sabrina jumped in surprise at the sudden ringing of the doorbell. Leila got up with ease, but Sabrina didn't budge. She was in a state of deep thought, trying to connect the dots of her emotions.Wendy, however, noticed that tension in Sabrina's shoulders. "You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Sabrina. Even when you're weak, you rise. You always do."Sabrina looked at her grandmother. Her heart was heavy, yet strangely comforted by her words. It was true. She had risen. Even when Benedict's betrayal had well and truly shattered her, and everything she'd fought for seemed to
Meanwhile, in the elegant Thompson Mansion, Teresa sat at her grand mahogany desk, lightly tapping her fingers on the surface as she went through a stack of documents. She was deep in thought about recent events with Benedict, trying to understand the growing tension between him and Sabrina. Benedict wanted to see their son again, and it stirred up feelings in Teresa that she hadn't expected. Sabrina had been gone for about five years, and Teresa always treated her as a daughter. The point remains that Benedict never loved her fully, which was the reason that made her leave him.Teresa missed Sabrina and wanted to find out about a child named Saben, whom she considered might be her grandchild. Benedict said their child was gone long before, that Saben was actually from another man.She suddenly got her phone buzzing. She got distracted from her thoughts. She looked at the screen and felt her heart beating fast when she saw an unknown number. In bold letters, it read "Private Investiga
Teresa thought of everything and went wild with her thoughts. Los Angeles is the place for fashion and luxury, and it is right that Sabrina is there. She missed Sabrina as a mother misses her child and felt a very strong urge to find out what was going on with her grandchild."I want you to keep a close watch on her, Detective," Teresa said, her voice steady and cold. "I need every piece of information you can gather. Where does Sabrina live? What school does her son Saben attend? I want to meet them in person.""Understood, Mrs. Thompson. We'll continue monitoring her and keep you informed of any new developments," the detective replied.Hanging up the phone, Teresa slumped in her chair and leaned back and stared out into the window as the sky was now spread before her. Now she only focused on that: Sabrina had gone off with a child. Even though Sabrina built the best possible life for herself, all of that aside, it meant to Teresa if Saben was really her grandchild, that she should
Teresa sat on the sofa and gazed at her phone; on its screen, a message from an investigator was staring back. Inside, everything she had: the office address of Sabrina, along with her mobile phone number. As she began rereading, her hands became slightly trembling. Mixed within her was excitement and nervousness as well as this yearning deep in to reconnect again.For a moment, she hesitated. What would Sabrina think? Would she even respond? Would she be angry that Teresa had gone to such lengths to find her? Despite the fears, Teresa knew this was something she had to do. There were too many years of silence, too many questions left unanswered. She couldn't let another day go by without trying.Deep breathing in, Teresa opened the messaging application and started typing on her device.Teresa:Sabrina,This is Teresa Thompson. I wish this text comes well to you. It will sound strange to you I think, but I want to see you. I have to say so much, and it is about time for us to see eac
This shadow, the shadow of the betrayal Clara, the lover of Benedict, had waited for, just begun to glow in Sabrina's life. All these years she was there but always on the sidelines watching with her eagle eye. Benedict's attentions waxed and waned toward Sabrina after all these years, and what drove Clara now was jealousy mixed with a desperate refusal to let go of what she thought hers. If Clara could not have Benedict then she could ruin Sabrina's life. Clara sat in her plush apartment, tapping the long, polished fingernails of her hand against the champagne flute.A wicked grin crept across her face as she opened up her laptop and scrolled through photos and whispers of Sabrina's success. Sabrina Ultra, the brand, was now the epitome of elegance and resilience, of strength and creativity. That was the thing Clara had hated about it. I will let the world see what is really behind that faultless mask,' Clara thought wickedly to herself, her eyes blazing with wickedness. She approache
A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, and Penelope entered, her face set with determination. “The PR team is ready to draft a response. Also, the legal team is preparing to send a cease-and-desist to Clara.” Sabrina nodded. “Good. Let’s make it clear that I’m not going to let this slide.” As Penelope left to tidy up the loose ends, Sabrina's phone buzzed with a message. It was from an unknown number: "Enjoy your moment in the spotlight, Sabrina. It won't last long."Her hands gripped the phone tightly, her pulse racing. Clara wasn't finished yet—but neither was she. The next evening, she stormed into an exclusive restaurant where she knew Clara was dining. Heads turned as she crossed the room, exuding the aura of grandeur. Clara looked up to pretend surprise."Ah, if it isn't the woman of the hour," Clara said mockingly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Cut the drama," Sabrina snapped. "I know it was you who dished out that trash to the press.". Clara leaned back in her c
11:47 PM – Sabrina Ultra HeadquartersEliana slumped over in the dark design room, exhaustion gnawing at her body. The glowing screens reflected off her face as she strived to recreate every minute detail of the ruined designs.She would not allow Nathaniel Harper to win.She had spent hours undoing the damage. Making calls to suppliers. Conducting meetings with designers. Keeping the Sabrina Ultra Worldwide Collection perfect as the legend that everyone knew.Everything mattered.Her mother's honor hung in the balance. And better than that—her own credibility.Eliana rubbed her temples, telling herself to stay focused. The battle was far from lost.Then her phone vibrated.She breathed deeply, knowing even before a glance who stood on the other end.Mom.With a weary groan, she answered."Eliana Hope Thompson, where are you?!"She flinched at the full-name treatment. Her mother only employed that when she was angry—or concerned."I'm at the office, Mom."A curt pause. Then:"At this
A few weeks from now. Eliana stepped into Sabrina Ultra's high-ceilinged, sleek design studio, her heels clicking briskly on the marble floor. The whole department was in a sunny hum.Gridded ranks of seated designers, seamstresses, and textile specialists were bent over drawings and swatches of fabric, their faces lighting with imagination.This was her war zone.This was where Sabrina Ultra would carve its niche in the international arena.As she approached the lead designer, Amara Vasquez, a tall woman with an elegant presence and decades of experience, she felt a swell of pride. This was the dream she was building."Ms. Thompson," Amara said with a nod. "All is set for the global launch. The designs are done, and we're waiting for the final quality inspection before we send them to production."Eliana smiled. "Show me what we have."Amara gestured with her hand towards the giant glass table centering the room, where the most desirable, high-end items were displayed. The new Sabrina
The following day.Tension hung heavy in the boardroom.Eliana remained seated in one of the chairs by the very long, polished mahogany table, her clenched fingers tightened together in a small fist. Nathaniel Harper stretched out in front of her, an exasperating blend of relaxation and restraint.They had been here on the first day of something that neither of them had wanted but had to tolerate nonetheless.Sabrina Ultra and Harper Global directors sat in chairs surrounding them, patiently waiting.Eliana pulled her shoulders back. She was not going to let him have the upper hand.Nathaniel's smile broadened. "Shall we begin, Princess?"Her jaw hardened. "Let me clarify something for you, Harper. We are not friends. We are not friends. We are not friends." She slowly emphasized the final word, her rage blazing from her eyes so that Nathaniel's smile creased further.Nathaniel's smile spread wider. "Whatever it is that lets you sleep better at night."Eliana ignored him and turned to
Eliana stepped out of her car and walked through the grand door of the Thompson compound, a sense of exhaustion over her shoulders. The meeting had tested all of her patience and control, and now she found herself confronted by another battle—the one within the house.She had barely walked into the living room when she heard her father's voice."Tell me I misheard, Eliana."Her head lifted to see her parents, Sabrina and Benedict, along with her eldest brother, Saben, waiting for her. Their faces were unreadable, but their stiff postures and the tension in the air told her everything she needed to know.Her mother was the first to speak, her sharp brown eyes narrowing. "You’re collaborating with Nathaniel Harper?"Eliana breathed in deeply. "I wouldn't say it was a collaboration. More of… a business arrangement."Benedict emitted a rough laugh, his head shaking. "A business arrangement? With him? Of all people?"Saben moved forward, his face grim. "Are you crazy, Eliana?"Eliana gritt
The instant Eliana entered the Sabrina Ultra boardroom the following morning, she felt the burden of the glares. Some were hopeful, some were cautious, and some, such as the in-your-face Jonathan Fields-one of the longest-serving board members-were downright hostile. She had scarcely sat down at the head of the table when he had his mouth going, speaking in a condescending tone."Miss Thompson, I'm not going to sugarcoat anything.". Your fellow board members have serious concerns about whether you have what it takes to head this company."Eliana restrained a sigh. Of course. Here we go. She put aside her tablet, putting her hands together on the table. "And what are those concerns, Mr. Fields?"Jonathan snorted. "Experience. You've never run a company in your life. You've never negotiated high-stakes deals or managed corporate disasters. Why in the world would you think you can occupy that seat?"Eliana smiled coolly. "Because my mother does. And if the woman who constructed this empi
The high-ceilinged conference room of Sabrina Ultra was heavy with tension. The firm's strongest board members occupied the gleaming, mahogany table, their eyes keen and critical as they examined the young woman before them.Eliana Hope Thompson.Daughter of Benedict Thompson and Sabrina Auburn, heiress to one of the largest luxury brands in the nation.But was she really up to it?That was the question hanging over all of us like a sword in the air waiting to descend.Sabrina was quietly tall and statuesque, standing beside her daughter, whose anger, like the swirling tongues of fire, raged left and right, backward and forward, across her face. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are today at the turning point for Sabrina Ultra. You all know I have been the head of this company for many decades, and I have taken it to what it stands now. Today is the day, however, to bring in the future. The future of the company—the future leader—is my daughter, Eliana Hope Thompson."Murmurs spread among boa
Eliana sat cramped in the back of the family's luxury vehicle, her arms crossed as she stared out the window. Lights from the city whizzed by, but her mind was taken up with the one thing—Nathaniel Harper.That egotistical, condescending asshole.He believed she was fragile. He believed she would break beneath the strain.She gripped her fists.Let him believe that. For when the moment arrived, she would show him—and everyone else—otherwise.As the vehicle arrived at the Thompson Estate, Benedict stepped out first, his stance stiff. Saben got out next, looking at his sister before heaving a sigh."Eliana," he grumbled, shaking his head. "I recognize that expression. Don't be foolish."She got out, her heels clicking on the ground. "Define foolish.""Taking on Nathaniel Harper without a clear plan," Saben retorted. "He's not some entitled rich kid pretending to be a businessman. He's merciless, and he doesn't lose."Eliana smiled. "Neither do I."Benedict spun round, his face impassiv
Saben paced a vexed hand through his hair. "This is no laughing matter, Eliana! I'm warning you, stay away from him. Don't let your defenses down. Don't trust him."Eliana's eyes flashed with mutiny. "I never said I trusted him. But I'm not going to hide from him either.""You should," Saben bit out. "For your own safety."She didn't know what to say before someone else interjected."Well, well. Talking about me behind my back already?"Both of the kids spun around.There, leaning against a marble column, was Nathaniel Harper.They were crinkled with amusement, furrowed at the edges, a broad smile spreading from his mouth. "I didn't know I'd impressed you that much Eliana."Saben bristled immediately, standing watch over Eliana. "What in the devil are you still doing hanging around here?"Nathaniel took a slow drink of his whiskey."I was leaving, but someone called out my name. Figured I'd stay for a little while."Eliana stood around Saben, planted firmly in front of Nathaniel. "You'
At the same time, Nathaniel Harper was not your average businessman—he was the son of Theodore Harper, one of the erstwhile board members of BMX Estates, who had been charged with money laundering by no less a person than Benedict Thompson himself.That scandal had threatened to bankrupt BMX Estates back in the old days. Whereas Benedict had defended the company tooth and nail, the Harper clan had been gaining strength behind the scenes, benefiting from the pandemonium.The acrimony between the Harpers and the Thompsons was more than professional—it was personal.Nathaniel sipped his whiskey slowly, observing Eliana across the ballroom. She had the same spark as her father, the same resolve as her mother.Interesting.He smiled to himself.So this is the girl they are counting on to lead Sabrina Ultra?She was young, too young. Regardless of how poised she seemed in that instant, Nathaniel knew business was ruthless—a war where only the fittest remained.And if she believed she could