After her emotional talk with Benedict's mom, Sabrina spent most of her day planting flowers in the garden. It was her way of trying to forget the stress and emotional turmoil she felt because of Benedict. As evening fell, she found herself alone again. She never expected Benedict to come home just to have dinner with her. After everything that happened last night, when they were together in the shower, she thought he despised her. To him, she was just a maid, and he saw no feelings involved, only lust. But for Sabrina, it was different, as she loved him deeply.She took a warm shower and changed into a nightgown, hoping for some peace. But around midnight, she heard the doorbell ring. Everyone was asleep, so she had to go downstairs to know who it was. And it was Benedict, but this time he was drunk. He had been drinking much lately, perhaps owing to the problems at his company, but he never spoke to her about it.The door creaked into her nostrils with a strong whiff of alcohol. No
She tilted her head to his face, dark eyes, hard face, but none of the vulnerability she so desperately wanted to see reflected anywhere on his face."Benedict," she stuttered, a little voice shaking. "What… what are you doing?"He burst into a laugh, humorless as it was, and at the same time reeking of bitterness."What are you doing, Sabrina? Isn't that exactly what you agreed on, the doting wife for me to command when so pleased, no need for questions?Sabrina blushes, but she isn't embarrassed; more rage is burning within. All these months, she kept carrying it inside of herself; she allowed all the twisting to seethe like a burning fire in the pit of her abdomen."So you really think that is all I am?"She said low, but firm as she could muster the strength for."A convenience to you?"Benedict raised an eyebrow. He rolled his eyes, disgust clear in his face. "What else would you be here for, Sabrina? You're not exactly my first choice." Each of his words stung her, sharper than
Sabrina waited, her phone glued to her eyes, almost as if it were to magically flash a message from Benedict. Every passing hour without one only grew the ache inside her chest. She found herself occupied cleaning up the garden, reorganizing closets. Anything to not feel the chasm of silence stretching between them. But with each task accomplished, she could only see that she was alone in a marriage she was promised to feel treasured for.With night again falling two days running, Sabrina could no longer wait up for him to come back home. She settled down by the edge of their bed; her fingers played over the phone on her lap for what felt like the millionth time, as the calls to his number hadn't received an answer once, the messages she tried to send went unanswered - they'd gotten more panicky than ever, one every few minutes."I'm your wife, Benedict. Don't I at least deserve an explanation?""I'm here, waiting for you. Please just come home. We can talk."But the messages sat on h
Almost 5days had gone by, and not a single word, message, or call from his end. The deafening silence on the other end of the line was more agonizing than anything he could have hurled at her as Sabrina walked across the living room, clutching her phone in hand with unanswered calls and messages piling up.She kept replaying the argument in her head and trying to understand the whole situation. She had bared her soul before him, hoping that he would see her pain and understand that she needed him to see her as a partner. He shrugged off everything, leaving her to drown in the echo of her own desperation. Just as she was starting to believe that no one had returned, the front door clicked open. Sabrina froze, her heart racing with every beat as Benedict strode into the room, his face blank and indifferent as he dropped his keys on the table. He didn't even look or glance at her, walking past her as if she wasn't even there and never existed. "Benedict," she whispered, trying to keep
Weeks have gone by since Sabrina last saw Benedict. Barely able to decide what to feel-hurt , anger , or maybe just numbness-Sabrina didn't know how to handle the pain. Its absence had grown so ordinary that it almost felt easier to bear the load when he was not around, but loneliness weighed heavily on her during quiet mornings. She had grown accustomed to the sound of silence, but now it felt louder than ever.Recently, something else had changed. She hadn't been feeling well. Almost every morning, nausea greeted her, making it hard to keep anything down. She was exhausted, too, as if she were carrying a weight she couldn't see. At first, she dismissed it, thinking it was just the stress of everything with Benedict. Then her period didn't come. Days turned into weeks.With each passing morning as the cars rolled down the driveway while she lay there, she grew worried about whether she had to see where his car was or wasn't. She felt both a flicker of hope and a chill of fear at what
Sabrina sat alone in the dim light of early morning, shaking in her hands, clutching a positive pregnancy test. She stared at it and just could not understand what this little line meant to her. After all, she should have been experienced with this happenstance, bubbling over and full to the brim with delight. When she thought of being pregnant, it was under very different circumstances—sharing news with a husband who loved her, supported her, and cherished her. Now, the reality stared her in the face: she would bring this child into a world of broken silence with a man who hardly glanced at her, viewing her as an inconvenience. Hours later, Sabrina finally resolved to call Benedict again. She dialed his number, her heart pounding with the hope that somehow, someday, it would be enough to finally reach whatever small portion of his heart remained. This time, though, the ringing went straight to voicemail, and she whispered a message she had no hope of him ever hearing. "Benedict, it'
Sabrina is riding in the back of the car as it pulls toward Thompson Mansion, the grand estate her husband's family calls home. She stands out against the magnificent mansion, framed by tall gates and meandering grounds, like some castle where, honestly, she never really belonged. But tonight, dusk settling in a golden haze, Sabrina felt more disconnected than ever. Her world has shrunk, grown quiet. Benedict's absence cast a dark shadow over her life.She hadn't wanted to burden her mother-in-law, Teresa Thompson, with the news just yet. But with her mother, Leila, egging her on to tell Teresa, Sabrina knew it was time. Time to face the truth, and maybe, just maybe, seek a little solace.The car pulled up, and Sabrina stepped out, her body heavy with the weight of everything she hadn't shared. She hadn't expected this day to go smoothly. Nothing about her life seemed to go the way she wanted anymore.Leila was sitting on the porch, a calm smile on her face. She welcomed Sabrina into
As Sabrina settled back onto the pillows, a quiet resilience began to beat in her chest—a feeling she hadn't experienced in years. She allowed herself to glance around the room, letting reality sink in—she was going to be a mother with or without Benedict's approval or belief. Where she had once dreamed of their future together, she now realized that hers didn't need to end where his indifference began.She had spent so long trying to piece together the broken shards of their crippled marriage, hanging onto every crumb of affection that Benedict had dangled in her way, no matter how small or short-lived. It was freeing and terrifying. In the warm light of Teresa's encouragement, a new path lay before Sabrina, one of joy and strength untainted by Benedict's presence.She was carrying this child, a part of her, a new life she got to nurture and protect. And if Benedict refused to believe, if he turned his back on them, then so be it. She would give all the love, strength, and happiness
Teresa sat in the living room of her house in the quiet darkness of the evening, a glass of wine sitting untouched on the table before her. The soft ticking of the clock on the wall filled the only remaining silence in the room, but in her mind, there was no silence; she had just gotten off the phone with Benedict, and the finalized divorce news still weighed at the center of her heart.She loved Sabrina like her daughter. She had always seen in Sabrina all the warmth, kindness, and grace she had hoped for in a daughter-in-law. Now, it was all gone. Sabrina was taken out of their family, and with her, the future of that grandchild becomes worrisome.Teresa took the wine glass, but did not drink from it. She simply let her eyes lose themselves in the space inside the glass as if lost in a thought. Sabrina came from humble beginnings. Teresa knew that raising a child on her own, without the security of having Benedict, without the financial backing that protecting and advancing her fami
Benedict sat in his sleek office, with papers all over the top of his desk, completely consumed by the stack of contracts in front of him. The phone buzzed once more, but he didn't answer. He had reached a point where all the business dealings, mergers, and partnerships had taken over his life. It had taken months, but finally his company was back on track. The bankruptcy was a distant memory, and now he had an empire flourishing with partnerships coming in and investors clamoring at the door.But as his business grew, something inside him changed. The hollow hollowness that had plagued him after Sabrina left had begun to recede into a dull ache, an ache that he learned to ignore. His world was centered on success - on his success - with little room for regret or thoughts of the past.That was all before the call came.He glanced at the screen of his phone and saw the name of his attorney. A strange, unfamiliar tightness spread across his chest. He hesitated, his fingers lingering ove
The gentle knock at the bedroom door extracted her from the reverie. In the doorway was "Wendy." Her warm heart immediately saw written on Sabrina's face all the storm and turmoil that had raged behind those bright eyes. She crossed the room without a word and held her granddaughter close."It's all right to feel sad, Sabrina," Wendy whispered softly, her voice calm and soothing. "You have been through so much, and only natural that you would want things to be different."Sabrina leaned into her grandmother's embrace, letting the tears she had been holding back stream freely. "I just. I thought he might change. That he'd realize how much he meant to me, to us."Wendy drew back a little, her hands reaching to cup Sabrina's face. "Some people only see what is right in front of them when it's too late, though. That's not something you get to carry around, my dear. You've already given so much of yourself. Now it's time to pay attention to you and that gorgeous baby."Sabrina nodded, wipi
The next morning, she was awakened by the birds at the window chirping their melodies out into the air, spilling through the slats of blinds. Warm buttery smells of fresh-baked croissants drifted about the house, and a smile crossed her face. She stretched, yawned lazily, had the comfort of her bed, and then slid out to greet the day. Her dreams from last night lingered, filling her with a quiet determination.Wendy and Leila were already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Wendy was always going to be that matriarch, coordinating the perfect spread, while Leila softly sang in the background, sorting out a vase of fresh flowers in the table center."Good morning, dear," Wendy said, eyes lighting up upon seeing Sabrina come into the room. "How are you feeling today? Does the little one let you sleep well?"Sabrina nodded, touching her belly. "We slept well, Grandma. Thanks."Leila turned, holding a plate of warm pastries. "Sit down, sweetie. You've been working so hard lately; you des
Pregnant or not, Sabrina always joins her university's competitions. She never lets go of an opportunity to compete. Her hands lay gently on her baby bump under the soft lighting from her studio's single overhead lamp. Rain was drumming against the window in a soothing rhythm as she thought. In front of her lay a mannequin draped in the beginnings of her latest design - a gown which would be inspired by her journey. The fabric rippled like waves across the ocean she had crossed to start this new chapter in Paris. She smiled faintly, brushing her fingertips along the intricate stitching. "We did this," she murmured to her unborn child. "Every stitch, every sketch - it's for us." The baby responded with a soft flutter, and Sabrina laughed out in that quiet joy filling her. It was her sanctuary now, a place where creativity could breathe and dreams take shape. It's everything she wanted but never knew she needed-the simplicity, the focus of it-and yet, far removed from the life left beh
Each passing day, Sabrina's reputation as a designer continued to grow. She threw herself into every project, creativity flowing through her with a fierceness that stunned her professors and peers alike. Her passion for fashion was undeniable, and with each passing week and growing baby bump, the fire inside her to create something that would make her and her child proud had grown just as fervently.There were moments when she couldn't handle it at all-when the countless hours spent in studio sessions and the burden of carrying a child became unbearable.. But every time, she'd think of what Leila said, of the promise she had made to herself and to her baby, and somehow, that's enough to keep her going.As time went by, Sabrina's designs started to stir the waters in the fashion world. Her name started to get whispered with other established names of the best up-and-coming designers in Paris. Rave reviews coupled with subsequent competition entry to make her more stable in the world of
Sabrina's days in Paris had blurred into one another, with classes, sketches, fabric swatches, and runway rehearsals consuming every waking moment. She was awakened each morning by early rising and deep breaths as the external city outside her window slowly came to life. She was not unaware of what she was up against—it was more than a career to which she was joining. This was her chance at building a future, for herself and for her unborn child.Despite the constant fatigue that came with being pregnant, Sabrina never lost her will to draw. Every design she made was a gesture of love — not only for the unborn baby but also for that which she would be crafting for the future. She learned to balance her dreams with her physical limitations, leaving her feeling exhausted yet pushing herself forward while still needing a lot of rest when necessary.There were days when the exhaustion threatened to consume her. She spent long hours sitting at her desk, going over and perfecting her design
Meanwhile, Benedict sat in his office, the faint lights of the city casting shadows on the massive heaps of papers on his desk. The room was silent, except for the tick-tock of the clock, each tick singing of the growing pressure mounting against him. The company was at the point of impending doom - once a blooming empire now teetering on the point of collapse. Investors were pulling out, and employees were on their toes. But he had become so caught up in his work and in pride that he hadn't seen this coming.He sank back into his chair, the weight of fatigue pressing down on him like a stone. Still, it wasn't all this-all the chaos and the meetings, nights, and stress-that hollowed him out. It was an absence he hadn't acknowledged before, one that seemed to creep in during the quiet moments.Sabrina.And this memory of her name was like a knife cutting through him as he recalled, in vivid memory, the smooth contours of her face, the gentle smile she habitually wore, the way she would
As Sabrina emerged from the conference room, she could barely hold herself in. Her heart pounded within her chest as she scanned the hall for Wendy and Leila. The meeting had gone better than she had dared hope for—she was officially accepted into one of Paris's most prestigious fashion schools. Her dream, once a far-off spark, was now almost within reach.She glanced in just beyond, holding her breath. Wendy's face alight as she caught sight of Sabrina coming into view; Leila leaped forward, her eyes raking Sabrina's face for the answer."Okay?" she ventured, her voice full of anticipating question. "How was it?"Sabrina took a deep breath. A large, shimmering smile burst forth on her face. "I got in mom," she said, her voice quivering with emotion. "They loved my designs. They said… they said I have potential."Wendy beamed, pulling Sabrina into a tight hug. "Of course you do, dear," she whispered. "I've always known you had it in you."Leila's eyes sparkled with pride as she reached