Sabrina's POV
When Nicholas finished speaking, the atmosphere felt even more tense. I stood there, still hugging Charlie who seemed very happy to hug me back. However, Nicholas' words just now surprised me. He... defended me?My head was spinning, trying to process everything. Nicholas, who was usually full of coldness and sarcasm, was suddenly standing beside me as if I was something very precious. Gratitude and confusion mixed in my chest. Charlie, in my arms, seemed oblivious to the tension that filled the air around us."I can't believe you would say that," I whispered softly, though only to myself. Maybe this was all just an illusion. Maybe Nicholas was just pretending to distract from the real problem. However, his steady gaze showed no signs of being insincere. He really did it for me.Our surroundings began to feel darker. Whispered voices began to break the silence, flowing like the wind carrying bad news.My little heart trembleSabrina's POV Charlie giggled happily and immediately stuck the "flag" on top of his sand castle. "Done! This castle is for you, mommy," he said proudly. I was silent for a moment, feeling emotion flood my heart. "Thank you, honey. Mommy really likes the castle." I stroked his hair, which was already messy from playing. "Does Charlie know? Mommy loves Charlie very much." Charlie paused for a moment, looking at me with his round eyes. "I love you too, Mom. If you leave again, I'll be sad," he said innocently.Those words stabbed my heart like a knife. I tried to smile, even though it was hard. "Mommy won't leave again, honey," I promised. Although in my heart, I knew I didn't know how long I could survive this situation.Charlie smiled again, returning to his imaginary world. He began to decorate his castle with small leaves that he had collected around him. While I sat beside him, watching him lovingly, trying to capture every detail of th
Sabrina's POV After we were tired of playing, we sat on one of the park benches eating ice cream. Charlie chewed on the strawberry ice cream in his hand enthusiastically, while I sat next to him, occasionally taking a bite of my own chocolate ice cream. The cold air from the ice cream was refreshing, even though the atmosphere between Nicholas and I was far from relaxed. Nicholas sat across from us, eating his vanilla ice cream quietly, although I could see his eyes glancing at me every now and then. I tried to avoid eye contact, focusing on Charlie who was telling me about his school. "Mom, I drew a family picture at school!" he said cheerfully. "There's me, Mom, Dad... but I forgot to draw Mom Hazel," he said innocently. I was silent for a moment, trying to cover up the stinging feeling that suddenly crept into my chest. I just smiled thinly. "You must have drawn a really good picture. When it’s finished, Mommy wants to see it, okay?” Charlie nodded enthusiastically, then t
Sabrina's POVWhen I arrived home, the silence enveloped me as soon as I opened the door. The darkness of the room felt more depressing than usual as if the house was feeling my emotional exhaustion. I turned on the lights, hung my bag near the door, then took off my shoes in slow motion.Every corner of the room was so familiar, yet it felt empty. I walked towards the sofa and let myself fall on it, my tired body leaning back while my thoughts drifted back to Charlie. His image kept ringing, his innocent smile when I gave him the robot earlier, his cheerful laughter when we played, and his satisfied face after eating ice cream. It was all like a beautiful dream that ended too quickly.In that silence, the ticking sound of the wall clock seemed to be a reminder of the time that continued to pass, while I was trapped in memories. Charlie was the light in my life, a light that seemed like it would never go out. But now, all that was left was a shadow, and ev
Sabrina's POV Slowly, I put the photo back in its place. My body was getting weaker, and finally, I let my eyes close again. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but tonight, I can only survive by embracing my longing for Charlie, hoping that I am strong enough to keep fighting. In the silence of the night that permeated, the image of Charlie continued to haunt my mind. He had always been the light of my life, and without him, the darkness felt even thicker. With every passing second, the feeling of loss was like a cut in my heart. I remembered his cheerful laughter, the times we played in the park, and how he could always make me smile, even on the hardest days. Now, all that was left was a suffocating memory. These hands that were once filled with warmth now felt cold and empty. I gripped the blanket tightly, trying to find comfort in this pain. "Charlie, I promise I will keep fighting," I said to myself. "I will use every precious second you
Sabrina's POV With a deep breath, I resolved not to let myself sink any deeper. If not for myself, then maybe for Nicholas, who despite his strong appearance, also harbored deep worries. Wherever this path took me, I had to try to get up, at least to lessen the burden that I had been carrying for far too long. That morning, I woke up with a body that felt much heavier than usual. My body temperature was getting higher, my head was throbbing, and my throat was as dry as a desert. I felt cold sweat soaking my body, but I forced myself to sit up in bed. I glanced at the bedside table, where the glass I had used to drink from the night before lay. I glanced at it; it was empty. The burning thirst in my throat forced me to get up. With faltering steps, I tried to stand, but my knees immediately felt weak. I braced myself, grabbing the wall to support my body. It felt like every step was a struggle, but I knew I had to reach the kitchen. I pus
Nicholas's POV The words were like lightning striking my chest. Cancer? Leukemia? Aggressive phase? I felt the whole world stop for a moment, trying to process what the doctor had just said.“Cancer?” I mumbled almost inaudibly. “She never… she never told me.”The doctor nodded slowly. “That happens often. Many patients choose to keep their condition a secret, even from those closest to them.” He continued in a more assertive tone. “Sabrina has also missed her last two chemotherapy appointments, which should be crucial to her condition. Skipping such treatments could speed up the progression of the disease.”I closed my eyes, trying to calm the turmoil that was roiling inside me. “Will she be okay now?” I asked, almost pleading.“We’ve given her initial treatment to control the infection and stabilize her condition. But this is not a long-term solution. Sabrina must continue her chemotherapy, and it must be done immediately. If she
Nicholas' POV“I was so stupid,” I muttered, mostly to myself. “I was too wrapped up in myself, in my job, in... Hazel. I was blind, Sabrina. I was blind to all the pain you were going through.”I closed my eyes, trying to hold back the tears that were finally falling uncontrollably. “I should have been the first person you trusted. But I didn’t even know you were fighting something this big. I didn’t know how hard it was for you to walk every day. Instead, I blamed you, made you feel worthless...”I took a deep breath, but my chest felt tight. “I’m sorry, Sabrina. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done or not done. If I had known, I wouldn’t have left you alone like this. I would never have let you fight alone.” The sound of the medical equipment kept ticking as if a constant reminder that time was ticking. I rubbed her hand slowly, begging her to wake up, so I could fix everything. I don't know if she heard me or not. But I swore to mysel
Nicholas's POV I loved her more than anything in this world, and that would never change. I felt her faint heartbeat, trying to reconnect with the strength that once was. Gently, I held her hand tighter, hoping that my touch would bring a little warmth and hope amidst this darkness. “Sabrina,” I whispered, “I’m here. We’ll get through this together.” I stared at her pale face, trying to find any sign that she was listening. Deep in my heart, I believed that little by little, she would come back to me. Together, we will face all these fears, and our love will be the bridge to cross every obstacle.I held her hand again, my rough fingers touching her cold skin.“Sabrina, please wake up,” I whispered, almost like a prayer. “Charlie needs you. I… I need you too.”The silence in the room was oppressive. Only the thrumming of the medical machines could be heard, as if time had stopped between each faltering breath. My heart pounded, fighting
Sabrina's POV I tried to focus on the road, but the image of his face kept haunting me. I imagined how he was doing now, in London, facing heavy challenges. “Is he okay? Does he feel alone?” I asked myself.Every question haunted my mind, but I knew I had to be strong. For Charlie, for Nicholas, and for myself.Upon arriving home, I walked slowly to the living room, sat on the sofa, and reached for a small photo album lying on the table. I hadn’t opened the album in a long time, but today, for some reason, I wanted to see the smiles captured by the camera.The first thing I saw was a photo of Charlie as a toddler, hugged by Nicholas while smiling brightly. His little face full of happiness reminded me of those simple times. It felt like just yesterday when he was learning to walk, and Nicholas was always there to catch him whenever he fell.I continued to the photo from Charlie's first birthday. Nicholas and I stood in the background, ou
Sabrina's POVThis morning felt a bit quieter. There was no sound of Nicholas's footsteps usually heard from the bathroom to the kitchen, no sleepy smile as he pulled out a chair for breakfast. It was the second day without his presence, and I was still trying to adjust.Every corner of this house felt empty, as if everything had lost its color. I sat at the dining table, staring at the empty plate in front of me. The aroma of coffee that usually warmed the atmosphere now only reminded me of his absence. I tried to distract myself by reading a book, but the words on the pages felt flat and meaningless.I remembered the little moments with him—how he would often tease me when I was too serious, or how he always remembered little details about me. Without him, my days seemed dull and monotonous.Taking a deep breath, I stood up from the table. Maybe I needed to go out and get some fresh air. But before that, I glanced at our photo on the wall. His b
Nicholas’s POV Leaning back in the car seat, I took a deep breath. I knew this journey was not just about saving the project, but also about saving trust—trust from clients, trust from my family, and perhaps, my own trust in the people I had once considered important.I opened my phone again, staring at the wallpaper photo, me, Sabrina, and Charlie in the park last week. They were the reason I had to resolve all of this. I couldn’t fail.“I’ll be home soon,” I whispered to the screen now displaying the digital boarding pass. “For you.”The plane was set to take off in one hour, and I was already sitting in the airport waiting lounge, alone with my endlessly spinning thoughts. My laptop was on my lap, but not a single email I read truly registered in my mind. I just stared at the blank screen while my thoughts returned to one point—Hazel.Why did she do it? What was her motivation? I knew she loved Charlie. But this… this wasn’
Nicholas’s POV I suddenly sank back in my chair. My body felt stiff, and my head felt like it had been hit with a blunt object. The project with Mr. Harrington wasn’t just any project; it was a long-term strategic partnership that would expand our business network into Europe. Everything was almost finalized. And now, canceled?I squeezed my temples with both hands. The missing report, Hazel avoiding me, and now this. Everything felt clearer. But there was no time to get caught up in anger or shock.I had to move quickly. With my mind starting to focus, I reopened my laptop and began checking all the data related to the project. If there were discrepancies, I needed to find them before Mr. Harrington made his final decision.One thing was certain: I couldn’t let this end like this. I had to find Hazel, get an explanation from her, and perhaps—just perhaps—find a way to save this project.“Book the fastest flight to London for today!” I c
Nicholas’s POV I had been holding my phone for five minutes, staring at the screen with Hazel's name clearly displayed. Anger bubbled inside me, but there was also deep disappointment. Even so, I knew I couldn’t resolve this with just emotions. I needed clarity. I needed direct answers from her.So, with a deep breath, I pressed the green button and brought the phone to my ear. But she didn’t answer.Seconds ticked by, feeling more and more tense. I tried calling again, but the result was the same. The courage I had built up began to fade, replaced by anxiety and frustration.What should I do now? If she was indeed involved, maybe she already knew I was suspicious. With each passing second, negative thoughts gnawed at me.The ringing tone continued until I finally heard her voice on the other end. “Hello?” “Hazel, it’s Nicholas.” There was a brief silence, then I heard her usual tone. “Oh… why are you calling
Nicholas’s POV My heart began to race. This wasn’t just an ordinary document. Inside were details of the monthly report, fund allocation strategies, and financing plans for new projects. Everything was sensitive.I stood and walked to the shelf in the corner of the room, checking the extra folders I sometimes used to store copies. Still nothing. “Strange…” I muttered as I sat back down and rubbed my temples.My mind drifted to many things. I hadn’t opened that document yesterday. So who did? My secretary was always meticulous and wouldn’t randomly move important documents without my knowledge. And the only person in my office yesterday was Hazel.I shook my head quickly, trying to dismiss the suspicion that arose. But my mind was starting to be clouded with discomfort. I rarely made mistakes with paperwork, especially something so crucial.Quickly, I pressed the intercom button. “Please come to my office now.” “Sure, sir.”
Nicholas’s POV Today was long, and I had to be strong for everything. A sense of responsibility flowed within me, pushing me to remain steadfast. With each passing second, I was determined to give my best for our family.Charlie began to tell stories about his friends at school, his cheerful voice filling the car. I tried to listen, although my thoughts still wandered to heavier matters. However, seeing his smile made me feel a little better.“Papa, look! There’s a dog!” he suddenly exclaimed, pulling my attention back to the road.I smiled, trying to engage in his excitement. “Yeah, champ! The dog is cute, isn’t it?”As soon as the car stopped right in front of the school gate, Charlie eagerly unbuckled his seatbelt. “Charlie’s off to school now, Papa!” he exclaimed as he reached for his bag in the back seat. I turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder for a moment. “Wait a second.” Charlie stopped and looked at
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