He collapsed into a chair, his body wracked with sobs. His mother tried to comfort him, but Griffin pushed her away."I mean it, Mom," he said, his voice cold and hard. "I'll make them pay. I'll make them sorry they ever crossed us. Villains are not born, people make them"His mother looked at him, her eyes filled with worry and fear. She knew her son was slipping away from her, consumed by his anger and desire for revenge. But Griffin didn't care. He was too far gone, too hurt, too angry. He had made up his mind, and nothing would ever change it again.Nicholas stumbled through the front door, his eyes bloodshot, his clothes disheveled, and his hair a mess. His mother, who was sitting in the living room, saw him and immediately jumped up from the couch, her eyes wide with worry."Nicholas, what's wrong?" She exclaimed, rushing to his side. "What happened to you?"Nicholas didn't answer. He just stumbled past her, making his way to the stairs, his movements slow and labored."Ni
"It's about your daughter, Sarah," James Hill spat. "She's been seen with my son, Nicholas. And I don't approve of it."Joseph's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong with Sarah, sir?"James Hill sneered. "She's a gold-digger, Joseph. She's trapped my son with her charms, and I won't stand for it."Joseph's face fell, and he felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. "I...I don't know what to say, sir."James Hill's anger boiled over. "You should have controlled your daughter, Joseph. She's a shame to your family. And now, she's going to ruin my son's life."Joseph felt a surge of anger, but he bit it back. He knew that he couldn't afford to lose his job. "I'll talk to her, sir," he said meekly.James Hill turned to leave but then spun back around. "And Joseph? If I see your daughter with my son again, there will be consequences. Do you understand?"Joseph nodded, feeling a sense of fear wash over him. "Yes, sir."As James Hill stormed out of the office, Joseph felt a wave of despair
James' mind raced with ways to keep Sarah at bay. He would investigate her and find out everything he could about her. He would make sure Nicholas knew the truth about her, and he would do whatever it took to keep them apart.But as he sat there, lost in his thoughts, James didn't realize one thing—his son was in love with Sarah. And nothing he did would ever change that.Nicholas pulled up to Sarah's house, his heart racing with excitement. He had been thinking about her all day and couldn't wait to see her. He knocked on the door, and it was answered by her brother, Matt."Hey, Matt! Is Sarah around?" Nicholas asked, trying to sound casual."No, she's not here right now," Matt replied, eyeing Nicholas warily. "She went with Mom to the grocery store."Nicholas' face fell, but he didn't give up. "Oh, okay. Do you know when they'll be back?"Matt shrugged. "Probably soon. They just went to pick up a few things."Nicholas nodded, thinking quickly. "Okay, I'll go to the grocery st
Sarah's heart sank, but she didn't want her mom to know about their complicated history, so she nodded in agreement. "Yeah, just a friend."Her mother's face lit up with a warm smile. "Well, nice to meet you, Nicholas. Would you like to join us for dinner tonight?"Nicholas' smile grew wider. "I'd love to; thank you for inviting me."Sarah's eyes widened in horror, but she couldn't think of a way to get out of it without arousing her mother's suspicion. She nodded reluctantly, trying to hide her dismay."Great, we'll head home then," her mother said, beaming at Nicholas. "I'm sure we can catch up more over dinner."As they walked out of the store together, Sarah felt trapped. She didn't want Nicholas in her home; she didn't want him pretending to be her friend. But for now, she was stuck with him.*****************************Nicholas launched into a charming smile as he helped Elizabeth Lewis, Sarah's mom, with the dishes. "You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Lewis. I can see where Sara
James and Nicholas both stopped shouting, but their faces still showed signs of anger."Nicholas is being disobedient, Olivia," James said, his voice still raised. "He's getting too close to the Lewis family, and I won't stand for it."Olivia looked at Nicholas, concern etched on her face. "Nicholas, what's going on? Why are you arguing with your father?"Nicholas took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Father threatened Sarah's father, Mother. He told him to stay away from me."Olivia's expression turned stern. "James, is this true?"James nodded. "I did what was necessary to protect our family's interests, Olivia."Olivia sighed. "James, we've talked about this. We can't keep controlling Nicholas' life. He's an adult now."James scowled. "You're always taking his side, Olivia. You never support me."Olivia stood firm. "I'm trying to find a balance, James. Nicholas needs to learn to make his own decisions."The argument continued, with Olivia trying to mediate between her husband a
She watched, a pang of guilt and regret shot through her heart. She knew that her father's suffering was a direct result of her own actions and her involvement with the Hill family.Sarah's eyes welled up with tears. She turned away from the window, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for an escape from her emotions. But there was no escape, only the haunting feeling that she had brought shame and pain to her loved one.Sarah's body felt heavy, weighed down by the burden of her guilt. She knew she had to make things right, to find a way to heal the wounds she had inflicted on her family. But for now, she could only stand there, frozen in her sorrow, her heart aching with regret.Sarah's gaze was still fixed on the floor when she heard a faint knock on the window. She turned to see Arthur, her friend and neighbor, standing at the window of his house, his face etched with concern.Arthur gestured to her, asking silently what was wrong. Sarah's eyes welled up with tears as she hes
Nicholas tossed and turned in bed, his mind racing with thoughts of Sarah's father, Joseph. In his mind's eye, he saw a future where Joseph, defeated and humiliated, took his own life. The thought sent a chill down Nicholas's spine. He couldn't let that happen. He had to act. Nicholas threw off the covers and got out of bed. He paced back and forth in his room, trying to think of a way to prevent the tragedy from occurring. He knew he had to protect Joseph, no matter what it took.As he walked, Nicholas's mind replayed the events of a few hours ago. Nicholas's mind was racing with thoughts of how to protect Joseph and Sarah from his father's wrath. He knew that James Hill would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, and Nicholas couldn't let that happen."I won't let you hurt them, Father," Nicholas whispered to himself, his eyes blazing with determination. "I'll protect them, no matter what it takes."**************************************Elizabeth walked into the garden, the cool n
The group took their seats, and the professor began the lesson. But Nicholas's mind was elsewhere, thinking about the Moratti family and his father's involvement in their downfall.The English class was in full swing, with the professor discussing the nuances of Shakespeare's sonnets. Nicholas sat at his desk, his mind a thousand miles away, lost in thought. He was still reeling from the conversation about the Moratti family and his father's involvement in their downfall.As the professor droned on, the classroom door opened, and Sarah walked in, followed by her friend Julia. Sarah's eyes scanned the room, searching for Nicholas, but he didn't notice her. This was unusual, as Nicholas always made it a point to catch Sarah's eye and exchange a warm smile whenever she entered the room.But today, Nicholas was too caught up in his own thoughts to notice Sarah's arrival. He didn't even flinch when she sat down in the empty chair beside him; her presence is usually a source of comfort a
The weekend passed in a blur of quality time with Nicholas and romantic moments with Sarah.On Monday morning, Nicholas reminded Sarah of an upcoming family business party."Next Saturday, we need to attend the Smith's annual gala," Nicholas said, sipping his coffee.Sarah nodded, checking her calendar. "I remember. It's a big event for your family's business."Nicholas smiled. "We'll make it a family affair. Mom, Jace, and us."Sarah's eyes sparkled. "I'll make sure to get a new dress."Nicholas chuckled. "You'll stun them all."***************************The day of the party arrived. Nicholas and Jace waited in the living room, dressed to impress.Jace, in a miniature tuxedo, giggled as Nicholas tied his own bow tie."Daddy's going to be the most handsome man there," Nicholas whispered, making Jace chuckle.Sarah emerged from their bedroom, breathtaking in a red evening gown.Nicholas's jaw dropped. "Wow."Jace cooed, reaching out for Sarah.Sarah smiled, taking Jace from Nicholas.
Every Saturday and Sunday, Olivia, Nicholas's mother, visited Jace.She'd spend hours cuddling, playing, and reading to her beloved grandson.Olivia's eyes sparkled as she entered the nursery, filled with toys and colorful mobiles."Hello, my little prince!" she exclaimed, scooping up Jace in her arms.Jace giggled, and Olivia's heart melted.Nicholas and Sarah watched, smiling, as Olivia showered Jace with love."Mom, you're spoiling him rotten," Nicholas teased.Olivia chuckled. "That's what grandmas are for!"Sarah laughed. "We don't mind. Jace loves his grandma time."As Olivia played with Jace, Nicholas couldn't help but notice the resemblance between his mother and son.The same bright smile.The same sparkling eyes."Mom, do you remember Dad's stories?" Nicholas asked, his voice filled with nostalgia.Olivia's expression softened. "Of course, sweetie. Your father was an amazing storyteller."Nicholas smiled. "I want to pass those stories down to Jace."Olivia's eyes welled up w
Nicholas and Sarah sat in their opulent living room, surrounded by plush furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. Baby books and prenatal guides littered the coffee table, a testament to their excitement. They had just confirmed the pregnancy, and the air was electric.Sarah's hands cradled her barely visible bump, a soft smile on her face. "We're going to be parents."Nicholas's eyes sparkled, his hand covering hers. "We're going to be amazing parents."Their luxurious lifestyle ensured every possible comfort for their growing family.Their private estate, nestled in the heart of the city, would soon welcome its newest member.But as the reality of parenthood set in, anxiety crept in.Sarah worried about balancing her thriving art career and motherhood. "What if I'm not good enough?"Nicholas reassured her, "You'll be an incredible mom. We'll figure it out together. We'll hire the best nannies and staff to support us."Nicholas, meanwhile, fretted about
Sarah's face fell as she told Nicholas about the betrayal. "The head of my project, Alex, sold all the details to our rival company, Bluebird. And on the same night of your accident, Bluebird's owner, Marcus, burned down Alex's house and killed him and his family."Nicholas's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why didn't anyone do anything?"Sarah shook her head. "Andrew investigated, but there wasn't enough evidence to prove anything. Hill Cop suffered huge losses and is now bankrupt."Nicholas sighed, feeling a sense of responsibility. "I wasn't there to prevent it. This is why Hill Cop fell."Sarah looked crestfallen, but Nicholas took her hand. "Hey, business is like this. We'll start something new. How about a new cafe chain?"Sarah's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! We can make it happen."Nicholas smiled. "We will. We'll make it bigger and better than Hill Cop. And we'll do it together."Sarah nodded, a determined look on her face. "Let's do it. Let's show them that we won't give
Dr. Smith's eyes locked onto Sarah's, his expression empathetic. "Sarah, what Nicholas experienced is called confabulation. It's a phenomenon where the brain creates false memories or stories, often due to traumatic brain injury or other forms of brain damage."Sarah's brow furrowed, her eyes filled with concern. "So, you're saying Nicholas's memories weren't real?"Dr. Smith nodded. "Exactly. When Nicholas suffered the accident, his brain's ability to process and store memories was affected. As a result, his brain started to fill in gaps in his memory with fictional information, creating false narratives that he believed to be true."Sarah's gaze drifted to Nicholas, her heart aching. "But why? Why would his brain do that?"Dr. Smith's expression softened. "Confabulation is a coping mechanism. The brain tries to make sense of missing information by creating new stories. In Nicholas's case, his brain wove a tale of time travel, a son, and a future that never existed. It was his brain'
Sarah's thoughts drifted back to the past, to the accident that had changed everything. She had forgotten her resentment towards Nicholas's family; her anger and hurt were replaced by a deep concern for him. She missed him, his laughter, his teasing, and his flirtatious smile. She missed the way he made her feel, like she was the only person in the world.As she sat there, lost in thought, Sarah realized that she had been unfair to James and Olivia. They, too, had suffered, waiting for their son to wake up. They, too, had been hurt by her harsh words, but they never retaliated. They had borne it all, for Nicholas's sake.Sarah's gaze fell on her father's grave, and she felt a sense of peace wash over her. Time heals all wounds, she thought. And who am I to hold onto grudges when the person I love is fighting for his life?With a newfound sense of resolve, Sarah decided to let go of the past. She would forgive James and Olivia and start anew. For Nicholas's sake, for their sake, she wo
Nicholas's eyes fluttered open to the sound of beeping machines. He groggily sat up on the hospital bed, his mind foggy and disoriented. The nurse standing beside him took a step back, her eyes widening in surprise."Mr. Nicholas, you're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a mix of shock and curiosity.Nicholas rubbed his temples, trying to clear the haze from his mind. He looked around the hospital room, but nothing seemed familiar. He was already confused, and the nurse's reaction only added to his bewilderment."Wha...what happened?" Nicholas stammered, his throat dry and sore.The nurse's expression turned from surprise to concern. "You've been in an accident, Mr. Nicholas. You need to lie back down."But Nicholas was already throwing off the covers, his mind racing with questions. Had he traveled back in time again? Was this some kind of déjà vu?The nurse rushed to his side, trying to gently push him back onto the bed. "Mr. Nicholas, please, you need to rest."But Nichol
Griffin's eyes darted wildly, and he swiftly opened the drawer, pulling out a gun. He pointed it at the group, his hand shaking with desperation. "Stay back! I won't let you take him from me!"Sarah's eyes widened in horror, her voice trembling. "Griffin, please. Don't do this. You're scaring me."Griffin's gaze locked onto Sarah, his eyes pleading. "You don't understand, Sarah. I won't lose him. I won't lose Jace."Sarah took a step forward, her hands outstretched. "Griffin, listen to me. This isn't you. You're not a monster. You're kind, gentle...my friend."Griffin's face twisted, his voice cracking. "You don't know me, Sarah. You never knew me."Leena sneered. "Yes, Griffin, you're a monster. You kidnapped Jace, and now you're threatening us with a gun."Griffin's attention was focused on Sarah; his gun was still trained on the group. He didn't notice Nicholas slowly creeping up behind him, his eyes fixed on the gun.Sarah's words were a distraction, a diversion. And Griffin, blin
Griffin sat on the couch, playing with Jace's toy cars, completely absorbed in the little boy's world. He had never felt this way before, so carefree and happy. Jace's laughter and smiles had captured him, and for the first time in his life, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.Griffin's mind wandered back to his plans for revenge against Nicholas. But for the first time, he felt a twinge of doubt. Was it really worth it? Was his desire for revenge more important than the happiness he felt in this moment?Jace looked up at him, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Griffin, look! I built a castle!"Griffin smiled, feeling his heart melt. "That's amazing, Jace. You're so talented."Griffin realized he had forgotten all about his plans for revenge. He had forgotten about Nicholas, forgotten about the past, forgotten about everything except for this little boy and the joy he brought him.But little did Griffin know, his world was about to be turned upside down. Nicholas a