Hazel's POV
Carefully, I leaned down and kissed Charlie on the forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart... Mommy Hazel loves you so much,” I whispered softly, trying to hold back the surge of emotions pressing from within.I took a deep breath, then opened the door and got out of the car. Outside, the night air touched my face, bringing a slight chill that didn’t come from the weather but from the heavy heart of leaving my son.Nicholas got out as well and looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Thank you... for giving me this time,” I said, my voice slightly trembling.He simply nodded. “See you, Hazel.”I stood there, watching the car slowly pull away from the parking lot, taking my sleeping child with it. And as the taillights disappeared around the corner, I felt as if a part of me was leaving with him.My steps felt heavy as I entered the apartment. The door closed quietly behind me, leaving a silence that echoeSabrina's POVI waited in the living room, watching the clock on the wall move painfully slow. It was past nine in the evening, and the house was still quiet. Just a moment ago, I heard the door open and Nicholas's careful footsteps as he carried a sleeping Charlie in his arms.I watched them in silence, holding back the anger that had been rumbling in my chest.“He's back,” I said, my tone icy. My eyes never left Nicholas's face.He turned quickly, perhaps sensing the tone in my voice. “He fell asleep after playing…”“I know he fell asleep,” I cut in sharply. “What I don’t understand is why you took Hazel to meet Charlie… even coming home this late.”Nicholas's face hardened for a moment. He avoided my gaze and walked slowly toward Charlie’s room. I followed behind, watching him lay Charlie down carefully, cover him with a blanket, then stand back with a long sigh.Seeing Nicholas so calm while holding Charlie made me f
Sabrina's POV I stepped closer, bent down for a moment, then sat on the edge of Charlie’s bed. The little one was still sound asleep, unaware that he had become the center of my worries tonight. Seeing his peaceful face made me feel calmer, even though the weight in my heart still lingered.Nicholas stood by the door, looking contemplative. I could sense the depth of our feelings. We were both parents trying to do what was best for Charlie, even though sometimes our ways were different.I turned my gaze to Nicholas, trying to find a way to bridge our feelings. “We need to be better at communicating,” I said softly, hoping to open the door to a more constructive discussion.Nicholas nodded, as if he agreed with what I was saying. A sense of guilt began to envelop my heart, reminding me that we both just wanted to protect Charlie, even though we often got caught up in differing perspectives.The tense atmosphere began to so
Sabrina's POV My eyes lingered on his face longer than usual. I knew that the fear I had expressed to Nicholas wasn’t just an ordinary worry. I truly didn’t want to lose this child. Charlie meant everything to me. He might not be my biological child, but my love for him had surpassed the boundaries of blood and birth ties. My gaze fell on an object at the edge of the bed. A small toy robot from Hazel. I reached out and gently grabbed it. The toy was still lit, its light blinking softly. Charlie must have been so happy earlier. I could imagine his face when he received it directly from Hazel. But because of that, my feelings churned again. There was a faint yet piercing wound. I stared at the toy, then back at Charlie’s face. I gently caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry if I was selfish earlier,” I whispered softly, more to myself. “I was just scared. So scared…” I took a deep breath
Nicholas’s POV That morning, I woke up earlier than usual. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, but its soft light was already streaming through our bedroom window. Beside me, Sabrina was still asleep, her face calm despite our deep conversation the night before.I felt relieved to have comforted her, assuring her that I would always be there for her and Charlie. Seeing her sleep peacefully made me grateful. We had been through so much, and although there were tensions to face, I believed we could find a way out together.As I gazed at her face, my mind drifted back to our conversation last night. Her fear of losing Charlie was very real, and I wanted to protect both of them from anything that could hurt them. I knew that Hazel was part of our past, and although there was hope for change, I had to remain vigilant.I quietly got out of bed, not wanting to wake her. After showering and changing into my work clothes, I left the room and caught the delici
Sabrina's POV "Leave Nicholas! Because soon he will reconcile with his ex-wife!" My body jerked in shock, and my eyes widened in disbelief at what my mother-in-law had just said. I am a twenty-three-year-old woman squeezing the blue party dress I am wearing. "W-what do you mean by that, Mom?" I asked in a choked voice. My mother-in-law smiled sarcastically, her eyes staring at me with a sharp gaze. "Don't you realize? Since the beginning of your marriage until now, Nicholas has never loved you!" said the glamorously dressed middle-aged woman. "Because Nicholas's true love is only Hazel!" I was silent, with mixed feelings. I wanted to refute, but my tongue felt numb because I knew my mother-in-law was right. My husband never loved me. My heart was beating fast; fear and confusion engulfed my mind. I never expected that Nicholas's relationship with his ex-wife was still unfinished. I felt like I was kicked from a height, my trust shattered into pieces. "You see there!" said my m
Sabrina's POV "Put on new clothes for Charlie; Hazel and I will take him out." Nicholas's deep baritone voice sounded firmly to me as I was dressing Charlie this morning. After not sleeping at home all night, Nicholas returned with Hazel, who was now waiting on the first floor. "Yes. Will you be home in the evening?" I asked my husband. While wearing his black tuxedo, Nicholas answered, "Yes, so that Hazel can be satisfied playing with Charlie all day." I was silent for a moment, feeling that my days were now very stressful. In addition to having less time with my husband, I might often be lonely because Charlie would also spend time with Hazel. "Mommy... where am I going? Why are you wearing new clothes?" Charlie’s tiny voice made me smile softly, especially since my little boy was pouting at me. "Charlie is coming with Daddy today, honey. Remember... no naughty behavior, no crying, and no screaming. Understand?” I said softly while holding out my little finger, "Promise Cha
Sabrina's POV After fainting a few days ago, my condition has not improved. I feel my body getting weaker, which makes me wonder what happened because I'm not usually like this. With a pale face, I supported my body with my hands on the sink because I wanted to vomit a few minutes ago. However, nothing came out of my mouth. After washing my face with cold water, I came out of the bathroom and found my husband, who was already looking neat. I approached Nicholas, who was standing in front of the mirror while putting on his watch. "Nicholas, do you have free time today?" I asked, looking up at him. "No, my schedule is very busy today," Nicholas answered coldly, as usual. I grabbed Nicholas's black tuxedo from the edge of the bed and handed it to him with great care. "I wanted to ask for a moment of your time to accompany me—" Before I had time to finish my sentence, I heard a soft snort from Nicholas. He turned his body to look at me and grabbed the tuxedo his wife had brought.
Sabrina's POV When I got home, I stayed in my private room. For hours, I drowned in suffocating sadness. "It turns out that my presence means nothing to my husband. Is this what is called old love, the real winner?" I said softly and sadly. Not long after that, a loud car horn was heard. "He's home." I opened the curtains and peeked down. It turned out to be true; it was the sound of Nicholas's car. Slowly, I stood up, left the room, and rushed to meet my husband in the bedroom. I pulled the doorknob of the room and stepped inside. I saw Nicholas, who was taking off his black tuxedo. "You're home? It's so rare to be out so late..." I said while walking carefully towards Nicholas. "Where have you been?” "There's important business outside," Nicholas answered indifferently while unbuttoning his shirt sleeve. The answer my husband gave made me feel suffocated. He was clearly lying; my husband was dishonest. How could Nicholas lie to me for his ex-wife? When Nicholas was about
Nicholas’s POV That morning, I woke up earlier than usual. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, but its soft light was already streaming through our bedroom window. Beside me, Sabrina was still asleep, her face calm despite our deep conversation the night before.I felt relieved to have comforted her, assuring her that I would always be there for her and Charlie. Seeing her sleep peacefully made me grateful. We had been through so much, and although there were tensions to face, I believed we could find a way out together.As I gazed at her face, my mind drifted back to our conversation last night. Her fear of losing Charlie was very real, and I wanted to protect both of them from anything that could hurt them. I knew that Hazel was part of our past, and although there was hope for change, I had to remain vigilant.I quietly got out of bed, not wanting to wake her. After showering and changing into my work clothes, I left the room and caught the delici
Sabrina's POV My eyes lingered on his face longer than usual. I knew that the fear I had expressed to Nicholas wasn’t just an ordinary worry. I truly didn’t want to lose this child. Charlie meant everything to me. He might not be my biological child, but my love for him had surpassed the boundaries of blood and birth ties. My gaze fell on an object at the edge of the bed. A small toy robot from Hazel. I reached out and gently grabbed it. The toy was still lit, its light blinking softly. Charlie must have been so happy earlier. I could imagine his face when he received it directly from Hazel. But because of that, my feelings churned again. There was a faint yet piercing wound. I stared at the toy, then back at Charlie’s face. I gently caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry if I was selfish earlier,” I whispered softly, more to myself. “I was just scared. So scared…” I took a deep breath
Sabrina's POV I stepped closer, bent down for a moment, then sat on the edge of Charlie’s bed. The little one was still sound asleep, unaware that he had become the center of my worries tonight. Seeing his peaceful face made me feel calmer, even though the weight in my heart still lingered.Nicholas stood by the door, looking contemplative. I could sense the depth of our feelings. We were both parents trying to do what was best for Charlie, even though sometimes our ways were different.I turned my gaze to Nicholas, trying to find a way to bridge our feelings. “We need to be better at communicating,” I said softly, hoping to open the door to a more constructive discussion.Nicholas nodded, as if he agreed with what I was saying. A sense of guilt began to envelop my heart, reminding me that we both just wanted to protect Charlie, even though we often got caught up in differing perspectives.The tense atmosphere began to so
Sabrina's POVI waited in the living room, watching the clock on the wall move painfully slow. It was past nine in the evening, and the house was still quiet. Just a moment ago, I heard the door open and Nicholas's careful footsteps as he carried a sleeping Charlie in his arms.I watched them in silence, holding back the anger that had been rumbling in my chest.“He's back,” I said, my tone icy. My eyes never left Nicholas's face.He turned quickly, perhaps sensing the tone in my voice. “He fell asleep after playing…”“I know he fell asleep,” I cut in sharply. “What I don’t understand is why you took Hazel to meet Charlie… even coming home this late.”Nicholas's face hardened for a moment. He avoided my gaze and walked slowly toward Charlie’s room. I followed behind, watching him lay Charlie down carefully, cover him with a blanket, then stand back with a long sigh.Seeing Nicholas so calm while holding Charlie made me f
Hazel's POV Carefully, I leaned down and kissed Charlie on the forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart... Mommy Hazel loves you so much,” I whispered softly, trying to hold back the surge of emotions pressing from within.I took a deep breath, then opened the door and got out of the car. Outside, the night air touched my face, bringing a slight chill that didn’t come from the weather but from the heavy heart of leaving my son.Nicholas got out as well and looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Thank you... for giving me this time,” I said, my voice slightly trembling.He simply nodded. “See you, Hazel.”I stood there, watching the car slowly pull away from the parking lot, taking my sleeping child with it. And as the taillights disappeared around the corner, I felt as if a part of me was leaving with him.My steps felt heavy as I entered the apartment. The door closed quietly behind me, leaving a silence that echoe
Hazel's POV Nicholas and I stood at the edge of the trampoline, watching Charlie’s every move. “Be careful, sweetheart!” I called out, though the smile never left my face.Charlie just nodded while continuing to jump. “I can do it, Mom! Look!” He jumped higher, trying to perform some small acrobatic moves.Nicholas looked at me with a broad smile. “He’s so happy. This is great for him,” he said.“Yes, it really is,” I replied, feeling warmth in my heart.Nicholas and I stood on the sidelines, exchanging smiles as we watched our child’s delight.“Look at me, Mom! Look, Dad!” Charlie shouted as he attempted a small somersault.I clapped my hands and cheered, “That’s amazing, sweetheart!” My voice was full of excitement, accompanying his joy.Seeing him so enthusiastic made me want to capture the moment in a video. I took out my phone and recorded Charlie’s happy antics. Each jump and laugh that came from him filled my
Hazel's POV We had just exited the restaurant when Charlie suddenly slowed his steps. His hand, which had been tightly holding mine, slowly slipped away. He turned to look at Nicholas, who was walking behind us. I glanced at the small face that now looked hesitant, his lips seemingly wanting to say something, but he remained silent.I bent down slightly to match his height and gently asked, “Charlie, do you want to go to the playground for a bit? It’s not far from here, just a five-minute walk. I saw something fun earlier.”Charlie looked at me, then turned his gaze back to Nicholas, as if seeking approval. In that silence, my heart felt heavy. I knew that my return to their lives was not something easy for a child to process.But when I saw Nicholas nod slowly, my heart warmed. He didn’t say anything, just looked at Charlie with a slight smile. That moment felt full of hope, and I could see Charlie relax a bit.Charlie turned back to me
Hazel's POV I turned to look at Nicholas, a bit hesitant. I knew this request might be too sudden. But I also knew how precious this time was, how every minute with Charlie was a chance that might not come again.Nicholas stared at both of us for a long time before finally nodding slowly. “If Charlie wants to, of course,” he said in a calm voice. “We can have dinner together.”I could hardly believe it. “Thank you,” I murmured quietly, more to Nicholas, even though I knew he heard me.Charlie smiled again. “Dinner for three? With Mommy Hazel and Daddy Nicholas?” he asked innocently.I nodded with slightly puffy eyes, gently ruffling his hair. “Yes, sweetheart. Just the three of us.”“Can I have spaghetti?” he asked excitedly.I laughed softly, a sound I had almost forgotten. “Of course, you can choose anything you want.”The three of us walked toward Nicholas's car. For the first time in a long time, my steps f
Hazel's POV “One more step,” I whispered to myself, trying to reassure myself. Every second felt like an eternity as we drove toward where Charlie was.I imagined how he would react when he saw me.Would he smile?Or maybe just look at me in confusion?Whatever happened, I knew I had to be ready. Tonight, I would fight to be a part of his life again, even if just for a moment.The car moved smoothly under the evening sky that was beginning to yellow. Through the window, the tall buildings and city traffic moved slowly, contrasting with the turmoil inside my chest. Nicholas remained silent for several minutes, focused on driving, and for some reason, I felt awkward. We used to be so close, knowing each other inside out. But now, everything felt like walking on a thin line.“Charlie… he’s healthy, right?” I finally asked, trying to break the heavy silence.Nicholas nodded without looking. “He’s good. Very active. And…