The day of the press conference arrived, and Benedict stood before the flashing cameras, his face a mixture of determination and frustration. He knew this wasn’t just about clearing his name—it was about protecting Sabrina, their son Saben, and the family he had let fall apart for far too long. The room was crammed full of reporters, with their microphones extended toward him, like vultures waiting to snatch the first drop of blood. Benedict cast a glance in the direction of his PR team, who were nodding as if every thing was in place. Benedict cleared his throat and advanced toward the podium, his deep voice cutting across the noise."Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here," Benedict started, his voice low but firm. "I've called this press conference to address the recent allegations surrounding my family, specifically regarding my relationship with Sabrina Auburn and the child we have together, Saben."The murmurs in the room went louder, but Benedict kept his hand up, s
Clara fumed furiously as she paced around her fancy penthouse, her phone clutched tightly to her ear. It was after the press conference was over, and Benedict's words echoed in her brain like a cruel reminder of her defeat. She thought that by spreading lies against Sabrina, she would destroy her and get ahead in Benedict's life, but little did she know that the man would do the unthinkable to her—he would publicly declare to the world that he stood with Sabrina and his child. Her hands were shaking with anger as she dialed Benedict's number.She needed to see him, make him see reason. This could not be the end. "Clara," he said, his voice level, as if he were already tired of this conversation. "You think you can just go ahead and declare to the world that Sabrina and you have a child together, and that is going to be all right?" Clara's voice was acid sharp, laced with venom."You embarrassed me. You broke me!" Benedict let out a heavy sigh. "Clara, it needs to stop now. I am not do
As Benedict stood there, his eyes remained fixed on Saben, so did Sabrina's voice break the silence. "This is Saben, Benedict," she said. "Your son."There, in the air, hung such heavy and powerful words that shook Benedict's core. His breath hitched; he took a step closer; his eyes never left Saben."Saben …" he whispered, in awe and regret.Saben looked at him curiously, clutching his drawing. "You my daddy?" he said, his innocent voice penetrating Benedict's heart.Benedict knelt before him, the tears building in his eyes. "Yes, Saben," he said, trying to sound steady. "I am your daddy."Saben's lips curled into a small smile. "Mommy said you're a good man.Benedict looked at Sabrina, his eyes full of thanks and tears. "I am trying to be," he whispered, turning back to Saben. "I promise I will never leave you again."Teresa came forward, her face wet with tears. "Is this my grandchild?" she asked, her voice shaking.Sabrina nodded, letting her own tears fall unreservedly now. "Yes,
Benedict's jaw clenched in place. He seemed to be flashing a fleeting guilt across his face. "Because I see it now. I see what I lost. I see what I could've had if I had been the man she needed me to be back then. I'm not asking for forgiveness, Mrs. Taylor—I know I don't deserve it yet. But I'm asking for a chance. A chance to earn back their trust."Wendy's eyes softened ever so slightly, but her voice remained firm. "This isn't about earning trust, Benedict. It's about proving you're worth the pain they've endured. If you falter, if you let them down again, it won't just break their hearts-it will destroy them. Can you carry that burden?"Benedict straightened, his resolve hardening. "I can. I will.Wendy’s silence returned, but this time, there was a flicker of approval in her eyes. “We shall see,” she murmured, her voice thoughtful. “You’ve taken the first step, but there are many more ahead.”As they left the study, the tension eased slightly. In the living room, Sabrina sat on
From then on, Benedict accepted fatherhood with a vengeance in him. He set out and, for the first time ever in his life, chose to be in Saben's life. The same corporate head who used to pride himself on contracts signed, profits generated, and profits accounted for now stood beside those he had never meant for anything.Each morning, Benedict made it a point to drive to the Taylor mansion to have breakfast with Saben. The first time he arrived, the boy’s face lit up with pure delight. “You’re here, Daddy!” Saben exclaimed, running into Benedict’s arms. It was a moment Benedict would never forget—the simple yet profound joy of his son’s embrace.Benedict started planning his days around Saben, such that he was there for every milestone that occurred. Whether it was school events or homework, he was also there to cheer him through soccer practice.“Daddy, look!” Saben called one afternoon, holding up a drawing he had made of their family. It was a colorful crayon illustration of Saben,
Gradually, Sabrina began to discover another Benedict. He had come off of that workaholic, snobbish man she was acquainted with earlier. He proved to be patient, attentive, and truly committed to amends. Whether helping Saben build a treehouse in the backyard or volunteering to cook family dinners – much though his culinary skills left many things to be desired - actions were louder than words for Benedict.One evening, as Benedict tucked Saben into bed, Sabrina stood by the door, quietly observing. Saben had his giggles as Benedict attempted to read him the bedtime story in funny voices, his deep baritone an amusing contrast for the whimsical characters."Goodnight, Daddy.""Goodnight, champ," replied Benedict, leaning forward to kiss his forehead.And then Benedict turned and met Sabrina's gaze. Some things said no word. But in the expression exchanged, forgiveness did not shine. Still, there was some sort of acknowledgment made here—a tiny baby step toward mutual comprehension.Ben
Clara paced in her dimly lit apartment, her manicured nails tapping rhythmically against the glass of wine in her hand. Her world was crumbling; her reputation lay in shambles and the career she had fought so hard for was now in ruin.The press conference held by Benedict absolved Sabrina from all accusations and portrayed Clara as a liar. It was simply humiliating. “This isn’t over,” Clara hissed to herself, her lips curling into a bitter smile.“Sabrina might think she’s won, but I’ll make her pay. I’ll make them all pay.” She retrieved her phone and started frittering through social media, where anger gave fingers to tremble as there would be pictures of Benedict with Sabrina and Saben in the park. And they looked happy, glowing, as if nothing ever could touch their perfect family. It was sick."They'll regret this," Clara murmured, her voice venomous. She opened a new folder on her laptop titled Justice and began gathering information. Photos, old messages, any scrap of detail she
The lies were vicious but gained currency quickly; soon an onslaught by trolls online threatened Sabrina's character. Sabrina wanted to and tried to tune out some of the comments, not easy. One evening, tearing through her phone, it brought tears to her eyes; Benedict found her in the living room tightly clutching her device: "Don't read that crap," he took the phone from her face. "None of that is ever true." "I know," Sabrina whispered, her voice trembling. "But it still hurts.". Benedict pulled her into his arms, holding her close. “We’ll get through this, Sabrina. Together.”Despite Clara’s relentless efforts, Benedict and Sabrina refused to crumble under the weight of her schemes. Each attack only solidified their resolve to protect their family. Late-night conversations, whispered promises, and shared moments with Saben began to fill the cracks in their fractured relationship. Benedict was no longer the man Sabrina had known once. He had transformed into a devoted father and man
Nathaniel looked up, unruffled. "Good morning, Princess. You appear. well, exhausted."Eliana waved the comment aside. "You're distracting my team."Nathaniel rested his arms on the table and leaned back against it. "I prefer to say 'cooperating.'"Her eyes narrowed. "That's ironic, because it appears a good deal of adjusting around here is accomplished without consulting me."Nathaniel assumed an innocent expression. "Oh? I thought you had too much to do last night fixing things up to care about opinions."Her blood boiled. "I don't require your help.""No, but your staff does," he replied with a suave smile, glancing around the designers. "They're skilled, but they don't have vision."Eliana leaned in, fire blazing in her eyes. "And you possess it?"Nathaniel's smile expanded. "I do."She gasped roughly. "This is my company. My mother started this from the ground up. You don't get to waltz in and act like you own the company."Nathaniel moved in closer, his voice low. "Oh, but I do,
Eliana pulled herself in, spent. Her whole body hurt from the hours of repairing the damage Nathaniel had done. Her body longed to sleep, but her mind refused to. Not yet. Not while he was out there deceiving her guests.Light in the living room illuminated as the sole hint to anybody that somebody was awake. The moment she closed the door, she could already hear the approaching footsteps.Sabrina Auburn-Thompson was standing before her, with arms folded and a concerned expression on her face."You're late Eliana," her mother replied back, tone tinged with concern and ire. "Again."Eliana sighed and rubbed her temple. "Mom, not tonight. Please."Sabrina came near, her sharp eyes scanning her daughter's weary face. "You didn't have dinner. Your father, Saben, and I waited."Guilt settled in Eliana's heart. "I was working on something. I didn't mean to—"Her mother cut in. "This is because of Nathaniel Harper, isn't it?"Eliana clenched her teeth. "He messed with the designs, Mom. I had
Eliana stepped into the brand new joint venture office, wearing a chic navy-blue dress and razor-sharp heels.Today would be the day they settled the next phase in the expansion—whether or not Nathaniel intervened.She approached, expecting already to find him inside, sneering at her with that odious smirk.She was right.Nathaniel leaned at an angle on the conference table. His arms crossed over his chest, his bright blue eyes still shot with a twinkle of amusement."Eliana," Nathaniel drawled.She set her tablet down on the table, scowling. "Some of us actually get things done, Harper."Nathaniel rose from his chair, laughing. "Oh, don't try to tell me you're still furious at what happened last night Eliana."Her eyes blazed with anger. "Oh, I'm far beyond furious."Nathaniel grinned. "Good. I prefer you angry."Eliana's jaw hardened. "And I prefer you not standing over me." Nathaniel chuckled. "Where's the fun in that Elaine?"There was a fury on Eliana's face and in the way she h
She hated the way he said it—like he was so sure she would lose. Like he was so sure he would win.Not on your life.Eliana grabbed her phone and dialed in a rush."Mark. Summon an emergency meeting of the design and logistics staff. Now. I want all department heads there in thirty minutes.""As you command, ma'am," Mark replied sharply.She would not let Nathaniel Harper destroy all she had built.Not now.Not ever.Thirty Minutes Later – Conference RoomEliana flung open the door, her mere arrival commanding everyone's attention who sat at the long glass table.“I assume you’ve all heard about the recent ‘technical difficulties’ in our design department,” she began, her voice sharp and clipped.The team exchanged nervous glances."Yes, Ms. Thompson," one of the older designers answered cautiously. "The system crash destroyed a number of design drafts and corrupted others. We've been trying to—""I don't want to hear excuses," Eliana interrupted, her gaze flashing. "I want answers."
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