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
Sabrina was a thousand miles away from everything Benedict knew. For her, Paris was an refuge, a place of peace, of healing. The city had wrapped arms of surprise around her, and she had thrown herself into work, into a life for herself and her child.But despite all these new beginnings, there were still moments when loneliness crept in. The desire for the family she would have once wanted, for Benedict. She still loved him, despite everything. She couldn't help but return that love she had for him, no matter what. But the pain of betrayal, of simply being treated as an afterthought in their lives, was too deep to handle. Thus, she left.Now, as the due date approached, Sabrina started thinking about the future—not the one she had envision with Benedict, but one she was going to create on her own, for her child.Her baby deserved better than a broken home. Her baby deserved love, security, and a family, even if it wasn't the one she once hoped for.But as much as Sabrina wanted to sl
Standing there, with the outside world slowly fading away from her, Sabrina felt an intensity of clarity beyond anything she had ever felt. The dim hum of hospital monitors and the soft glow of lights emanating into her window from the city were all muted by the profound silence of the moment. She clutched Saben close, his small body warm against her chest, soft breaths a reassuring reminder of the life she had made—one that depended entirely upon her.Her heart swelled as she studied his delicate features. His tiny hands curled into fists, his lashes brushing against his rosy cheeks, and the faint hint of a smile that tugged at his lips even in sleep. He was perfect. A pure, untainted blessing born from the chaos of her past. In his innocent face, she saw her strength, her resilience, reflected back at her."I have everything I will ever need, that's you, my baby," she whispered, her voice shaking with a mixture of thankfulness and determination. Pressing her lips to his soft forehea
Her words seemed logical, but only made it worse for Benedict. He closed his eyes, and visions of Sabrina danced through his mind: the way she used to wait for him every night, her hopeful eyes, the quiet strength she had always shown despite his coldness. In fact, he had not only lost Sabrina but driven her away.And the baby," Teresa said quietly, her voice trembling a little. "Can't help but think about Benedict, my grandchild. They must be out there somewhere, growing and living.and I cannot even see them, know them.Her words were like a knife cutting through him. Benedict straightened, his jaw compressing. He didn't even want to admit it, but he had avoided thinking about the child. The possibility of fatherhood was something he'd just settled for another day. Now, seeing that his child was out there, it became an awful emptiness."I never thought I'd say this," Teresa continued, her voice heavy with emotion, "but I'm angry with you, Benedict. Angry that you let this happen. Sab
The weight of his promise settled over him, heavier than the silence that had enveloped his life since Sabrina left. The city below pulsed with life, oblivious to his turmoil, a stark contrast to the emptiness he felt within. He knew that simply finding her wouldn't be enough. He would have to prove to Sabrina that he had changed—not with words, but through his actions.And the hours bled into one another as his mind replayed every moment he'd failed her and every time he'd dismissed her love and every time she waited for him, only to find him indifferent to it all.The regret was suffocating. And it was fuel.He rose from his chair, took up a notepad, and began jotting down ideas-ways to rebuild what he'd broken. He would find Sabrina, but when he did he would not be the man she left behind. He would be the man she and their child deserved.Across the ocean, Sabrina sat in the nursery she set up for Saben, rocking him gently in her arms. Gently lit with the nightlight, the room was w
Three years had gone by since Sabrina left, and Benedict channeled all his energy into his work, determined to rebuild everything he'd lost. His company, which nearly collapsed, was slowly regaining its reputation and steadily climbing back to where it once was. This was a blur of meetings, contracts, and late nights in the office. The work was grueling but kept him focused, drowning out the ache in his chest that had never quite gone away.But no matter how much he repeated to himself that success was enough, it was not. He still woke up in the middle of the night haunted by the memory of Sabrina's face-the look she gave when leaving with their child. His son, Saben—he was turning two now, and Benedict had never been able to hold him, to tell him he loved him or see his first steps. Being without his son was a pain he could not think about too much without going over the edge into despair.His office was now filled with documents, ledgers, and new partnership proposals. His team was w
Clara had closed the door behind her before Benedict stood there transfixed, staring out the window. The city spread beneath him, lights catching like glistening jewels at the possibility that opened before him now. Clara's words struck in his mind like a sharp ragged knife cutting through the noise in his head.He couldn't erase the mistakes of the past. The guilt, the lost opportunities, the broken promises, were part of him now, but they defined who he could still become. And Sabrina - the love, the passion, the child he'd never met - all the memories and feelings she invoked stirred something deep within him.He had been hiding behind his work for years, building walls around himself, convinced that success and money would fill in the hole inside. But Clara made him see reality-nothing could replace what he lost. Nothing could bring him peace but a chance at making things right. His phone was ringing inside his pocket, startling him out of his dreaminess. He pulled it out, his fi
Meanwhile, in the sleek, modern office of BMX Estates, Benedict was lost in mountains of paperwork. The hustle and bustle of the corporate world circled around him, but his mind was not squarely here. His focus, sharp as ever, was split between the financials and the constant stream of meetings, but there was an underlying heaviness in his chest that no business deal could lift.He looked up at the clock, the hands ticking by as he bullied through emails, calls, and strategy plans for the next quarter. His company was thriving again, the damage of old slowly but surely being repaired. Still, no matter how successfully he was rewriting the story of his business again, there was a hole he couldn't ignore.Whenever, his mind seemed to wander back to Sabrina—to the contours of her face, the sound of her laughter, how she had kept him pieced together even when he didn't deserve it. How she had loved him for all his mistakes and flaws. She was everything to him, and now years have come and
One evening, when the setting sun painted the sky with soft hues of orange and pink, Benedict realized it was time to do something more to prove himself to Sabrina. Though he had been patient in giving her space, as she needed it, he felt the load of time. He wanted her to know that this was not a joke; he had serious intentions about them-that is, rebuilding their family. He fussed in front of the mirror over the knotting of his tie. Tonight had to be flawless; tonight was only one stop on the journey for that future he was setting to build with her.He took a deep breath and checked his time; his message was sent-simple as could be: "Would you go on a date with me? A real one this time. Just the two of us. I'll take care of everything. Sabrina’s response came a few minutes later: “Okay, Benedict. I’ll be there.” The thrill of anticipation coursed through him. It wasn’t just another dinner or a casual outing. This was his chance to show her that he was committed to more than just bei
"Everyone has a breaking point," she said to herself, a fierce determination in her voice. "And I’ll find theirs. With a steadying breath, she reached for her phone and dialed a number she hadn’t called in years.When someone finally picked up, she spoke in a chilling, calculated tone. "I need your help," she said. "It's personal, and I'm willing to pay—no questions asked." Then, there was a silence before the voice responded with, "What are you looking for?" Clara's obsession had finally peaked and had reached its dangerous point where all the calculated moves were going into desperation. She was storming around her apartment, with her anger barely under control. Her fingers tapped out on her phone as she scrolled through contacts with fury. "I need someone ruthless," she whispered to herself, narrowing her eyes at the number. Dialing fast, she tapped her foot impatiently. When the line clicked, a gruff voice answered, "Who is this?""It's Clara Hemp," she said coldly. "I have a job f
That evening, as they went back in the house, Benedict extended his hand toward Sabrina. She was hesitant for that moment, between uncertainty and hope, and then let her fingers intertwine with his. But warmth of his touch sent down shivers on her spine, reviving long buried feelings. The house was silent, the only sounds coming from the refrigerator humming in the kitchen and the gentle patter of Saben playing with his toys in the living room. Benedict looked into Sabrina's eyes; they were filled with warmth. "Thanks for trusting me today," he whispered softly."I know it's not easy."Sabrina sat there in silence, feeling the full weight of his words. She just looked at their joined hands and felt this nostalgic feeling. She was reminiscing about the early days when they were together and their relationship so carefree and easygoing. It included all of the laughter and whispering promises but how he looked at her as if she was the world. "Benedict," she started, her voice breaking."I
But even as regret flickered in her heart, Clara's pride refused to let her admit defeat. Every failure only fueled her desperation, and her obsession with Benedict and Sabrina grew darker. If she couldn't have Benedict, then she would ensure he couldn't be happy with Sabrina. She planned something ugly in her mind to spoil the fragile peace. Her hatred was a clouding judgment that she convinced herself that she had nothing left to lose.Sabrina and Saben became the obstacles on her path to vengeance, and she intended to remove them. Week after week passed since Clara stalked Sabrina, Benedict, and Saben, watching their daily habits through school drop-offs, a family outing, seeing him chuckle with Saben and hold Sabrina's hand. The sight alone inflamed her blood with those moments. It wasn't envy; it was something within herself-a sore that she could never seem to let heal. One evening, Clara sat in her dimly lit apartment, pouring over photos she had secretly taken. Images of the ha
As Clara stormed out, defeated, Sabrina turned to Benedict. She saw, for the first time, not the man who had hurt her but the man who had grown-a man who was willing to fight, to change, and to put his family above everything else. His transformation was undeniable, and in his eyes, she saw sincerity and regret mingled with hope. For a moment, the weight of their shared past pressed down on her chest, but alongside it came a newfound lightness. She didn't fully trust him yet, but she couldn't deny the shift in her heart.The walls she had built so carefully were beginning to crumble—not in an explosion of emotion, but in slow, deliberate cracks that allowed just enough room for forgiveness to seep through. He looked into her, his expression relaxing. "Sabrina," he murmured softly, coming closer. "Thank you for sticking up for me out there. I know that was no easy feat." "Yes,Sabrina." she said in barely audible tones, her voice strained with emotion. "But it wasn't just about you. It
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
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
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
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,