Nicholas's eyes fluttered open, groggily taking in his surroundings. He was in his bedroom, surrounded by the familiar comforts of his childhood. But his parents' worried faces hovering over him told a different story."Nicholas, oh, thank God you're awake!" Olivia exclaimed, relief etched on her face.James nodded in agreement. "Son, we were so worried about you. What happened? Who did this to you?"Nicholas tried to speak, but his throat felt parched and sore. He winced, trying to remember the events leading up to his current state."I...I don't know," he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.Olivia's eyes widened. "You don't remember? Nicholas, you were found on the street, lifeless. If it wasn't for the passerby who called an ambulance, you might not be here right now."James's face darkened. "We need to know who did this to you, son. You have to remember something."Nicholas's mind raced, fragments of memories slowly resurfacing. He recalled the fight, the feeling of being o
After a weekSarah walked down the sidewalk, her backpack slung over her shoulder, still shaken by the events of the previous night. She had been kidnapped, but thankfully, Griffin had appeared out of nowhere and saved her. She couldn't believe she had almost lost her life.She walked, she couldn't help but think about Griffin's bravery and selflessness. He had risked his own life to save hers, and she was forever grateful.After a few blocks, she began to feel the weight of her backpack. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed how far she had walked.Just as she was wondering if she should take a break, a sleek black car pulled up alongside her. The window rolled down, revealing Griffin's charming smile."Hey, need a ride?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she smiled back at him. "Griffin! I didn't expect to see you again so soon.""Hey, I wanted to make sure you're doing okay after last night," Griffin replied, hi
Nikolas sat in his luxurious bedroom, surrounded by the finest furnishings and artwork that money could buy. His family's wealth and influence had always been a gift, but now it seemed like a hollow comfort.He looked out the window of his penthouse apartment, watching the city's skyline, feeling like a prisoner in his own gilded cage. It had been a week since he had last seen Sarah, and the pain of not being able to see her still lingered.Nikolas' mind was filled with thoughts of what he could have done differently. He thought about the way he had treated his father, James Hill, the billionaire mogul who had built his family's empire from scratch. He had been so blinded by his desires that he had turned against the one person who had brought him into this world.And now, his father was his enemy. Nikolas did not understand the irony. She hurt the one person who tried his best to give her a sense of peace and luxury, but the same person wanted to hurt her love; she didn't know what t
Sarah sat across from Griffin in the cozy cafe, her heart heavy with emotion. Griffin's eyes shone with sincerity as he expressed his love for her, his words dripping with passion. But Sarah's heart belonged to another, and she knew she had to be honest with Griffin."Griffin, I...I don't know what to say," Sarah stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.Griffin's face lit up with hope. "Just tell me you feel the same way, Sarah. Tell me you love me too."Sarah's eyes dropped, her gaze falling on their entwined hands. She gently pulled her hand free, her touch sparking a pang of guilt."Griffin, I want to thank you for saving me from those kidnappers. I owe you my life, and I'll never forget that."Griffin's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You don't have to thank me, Sarah. I'd do anything for you."Sarah's heart ached as she shook her head. "I know, Griffin. And that's what makes this so hard. You're an amazing person. You're handsome, intelligent, and kind. You dese
Reginald Smith sat at the head of the polished mahogany table, his eyes scanning the room as his team of executives presented their latest proposal. The meeting room was dimly lit, the only sound being the soft hum of the projector and the murmur of voices."...and as you can see, Reginald, the Bluebird deal offers a significant increase in profits," one of the executives said, clicking to the next slide.Reginald nodded thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. "I like it. Let's move forward with the negotiations."Just as the meeting was wrapping up, the door burst open and James Hill stormed in, his face red with anger."Reginald, we need to talk," James growled, his eyes blazing with intensity.Reginald's expression didn't change, but his voice took on a hint ofannoyance. "James, I'm busy. Can't you see I'm in a meeting?"James ignored the executives, his gaze fixed on Reginald. "This can't wait. You're canceling our deals and demanding compensation? You're the one who breached the
"It's the truth, Nicholas. It's all Griffin Morrati's plan."Nicholas' eyes narrowed as he took the envelope from his mother, Olivia. "What's this supposed to prove?" he asked, his anger still simmering.Olivia's expression was calm, but her voice was firm. "Nicolas, listen to me. Mark, my investigator, found out that Griffin is behind Sarah's kidnapping. He paid those men to take her and then pretended to save her just to frame your father, James."Nicholas scowled. "That doesn't make sense. Father had plenty of reasons to kidnap Sarah. He never liked our relationship and always said she wasn't good enough for me."Olivia's grip on his arm tightened. "Nicolas, think logically. If your father wanted to keep you apart from Sarah, he would have done something more subtle. Kidnapping her would only push you closer together. And what about the sabotage against James' business? Griffin is trying to destroy your father's reputation and take everything away from him...from us."Nicholas hesi
Joseph's anger was palpable as he pushed Sarah onto her bed. "You should have stayed away from that, Nicholas!" he thundered, his face red with rage.Sarah sat up, trying to reason with him. "Father, please listen."But Joseph cut her off. "Why did you go to meet him? After everything I told you about his family?"Sarah took a deep breath. "Nicholas said that Griffin could be behind my kidnapping."Joseph's expression twisted in disgust. "Nicholas is just blaming innocent Griffin to save his father James. He's trying to deflect attention from his own family's crimes."Sarah shook her head. "No, Father, that's not true. Nicholas is telling the truth. And I love him."Joseph's face turned purple with anger. "You love him? After everything we've told you about his family? You're just blind to the truth!"Sarah stood up, trying to calm him down. "Father, please listen to me."But Joseph was beyond reason. "No, Sarah, you'll do as I say. You'll stay away from Nicholas and his family. You'l
Sarah paced back and forth in her room, her mind racing with thoughts and questions. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease and uncertainty that had been building up inside her. She stopped pacing and turned to her brother Matthew, who was sitting on the bed, watching her with concern."What should I do now, Matt? I can't leave this room; Father forbade it. But I have to see Nicholas; I have to know why he accused Griffin," Sarah said, her voice laced with frustration and desperation.Matthew got up from the bed and walked over to his sister. "Sarah, I think I have an idea. Why don't you run away? Go to Nicholas, and don't look back."Sarah's eyes widened in shock. "Matt, no! I can't do that! Father would never forgive me."Matthew's expression turned serious. "Sarah, Father will never accept your relationship with Nicholas. I know he's been against it from the start. And to be honest, I was skeptical too. I even thought maybe his father was involved in your kidnapping, but when
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